By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Ric Flair says he wants to wrestle again. He's not just saying it; he sent text messages to WWE chairman Vince McMahon and WWE VP of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis offering to replace any of the injured top stars in WWE.

"I want to wrestle again," Flair told Alex Marvez in an interview earlier this week. "I watch (WWE) and I can still do better than 90 percent of the guys there."

Flair says he doesn't want to be limited to just signing autographs and doing promotional appearances when he feels like he's in great shape and could make a ton of money wrestling again.

"People in Europe are offering me a fortune," Flair said. "I'm tired of signing autographs. I can make more money wrestling."

Flair said he went so far to text Vince McMahon asking him why he wasn't included in the recent WWE Draft to Raw, Smackdown, or ECW. "He said I'm retired," said Flair about McMahon's response.

Flair acknowledges the special send-off he received at WrestleMania 24 when he retired, but the tone of the retirement was that Flair didn't feel like he was ready to leave the ring. Flair says he needs WWE's full blessing to return to the ring, but he's itching to return.

"I respect Shawn (Michaels) ... so much that I wouldn't do anything to disrespect them," Flair said. "They would have to give me full approval. They put me in a special place. I think it's going to be a long time before we see something come across again like what they did for me. I didn't think it would be that big a deal. We'll see how this turns out."

Caldwell's Analysis: You knew this day was coming. WWE needs star power and Vince McMahon is a businessman, so if he feels like Flair coming out of retirement would not damage the send-off they gave Flair 14 months ago, I would not be surprised to see Flair back on Raw soon. With WWE's slipping TV ratings and weak momentum going into the Judgment Day PPV, McMahon might be desperate enough to give serious consideration to Flair's desire.

Link: Alex Marvez interview with Flair.

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