AJ Francis Defends Ric Flair Amid Cameo Backlash

Ric Flair may be catching heat for some chaotic Cameo videos, but at least one wrestling star is coming to his defense — and he’s not holding back.

In an update to the growing controversy surrounding Flair’s $500 Cameo appearances, current TNA wrestler AJ Francis (formerly WWE’s Top Dolla) stepped in to publicly defend the Nature Boy, dismissing the backlash as misguided outrage. Francis wrote:

“Getting mad at Ric Flair for Ric Flair doing some obviously and traditionally Ric Flair s**t shows me you don’t really know ball…”

That one sentence quickly went viral in wrestling circles, as fans debated whether Ric’s infamous over-the-top antics — including being visibly drunk, slurring words, and misreading Cameo instructions — should be expected at this point or called out.

The backlash began after several one-star reviews surfaced on Flair’s Cameo profile. One furious customer claimed Flair butchered a Christmas greeting by calling his dad “Barf” instead of “Buff,” while sitting blasted in a restaurant and reading instructions word for word.

Another user spent nearly $1,000 for a wedding message, only to have Flair allegedly tell the groom to “remain a girlfriend” and say he was “making a mistake,” all while reportedly too intoxicated to speak clearly.

Others slammed Flair for low-effort videos where he appeared drunk, half out of frame, and clearly just going through the motions.

Despite the negative feedback, plenty of fans still see value in Flair’s videos — for better or worse, they’re authentically Ric Flair. As AJ Francis pointed out, that chaotic energy is part of what makes him a cultural icon.

Flair, a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, isn’t bound by WWE’s restrictions on third-party content, which means his Cameo bookings continue independently. And with fans paying premium prices for just a few seconds of his time, it seems many know exactly what they’re getting — even if others are left disappointed.