WWE pulls footage of Ric Flair kissing Becky Lynch at the Royal Rumble PPV

[Big Red Machine]

Source: WrestleChat

By C.J. Quinn
– Posted on February 1, 2016Posted in: Photos & Videos, WWE

Footage of Ric Flair grabbing and kissing Becky Lynch at the Royal Rumble has been cut out of the replay video on the WWE Network. The clip was also on WWE’s YouTube channel, which has since been marked as private. The kiss itself was the thumbnail image of the video.

WWE likely took the step after a swathe of criticism from fans and media outlets who felt the move was sexist and inappropriate.

Instead of seeing the kiss, the camera just cuts to Flair wooing in Becky’s face. At the event he actually forcibly grabbed her, then pressed his lips hard against hers. The distraction was key to the match, allowing Charlotte to get back some control.

Whether WWE scripted the kiss, or if it was just Flair’s idea on the fly, isn’t known. However, it is a spot that’s happened a lot in wrestling, it isn’t like it is an unusual way for a heel to get heat. Flair’s character is the “kiss stealing” bad guy.

Some fans defended the kiss, saying criticism is another example of people being too politically correct. Furthermore, WWE isn’t real life. Ric Flair is just a television character, he does bad things just like a character in a drama show would do. While removal of the footage can be considered an over reaction, nowadays, WWE backs down whenever they draw attention that can negatively affect business.

[Big Red Machine]

Good to see WWE has finally realized that this sort of thing isn't cool.

I've got to disagree with this article in one place, though: It's not heels that we see do this sort of thing most of the time. It's babyfaces, which is even worse.

[NWK2000]

Yeah, it didn't seem like a spot that was planned. Also JBL fumbling trying to defend it made it obvious. The article itself makes me feel like it was written but one of those twits who wants the Attitude Era to come back.