The WWE entertainment company, led by the McMahon family, is notoriously competitive.  Throughout the 1980s and 1990s (when its business peaked), the organization never gave any publicity to competing organizations, such as the late WCW organization.  However, everything changed in the 2000 era when the WWE became a wrestling monopoly and bought the bankrupt WCW and the smaller ECW organization. 

Since that time, only one touring competitor has actively competed against the WWE in the United States and that’s the TNA organization (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling), founded by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett.  (Jeff Jarrett is a current wrestler and former WWE superstar)  The organization is presided over by an executive team led by President Dixie Carter, and Bruce Prichard (who portrayed the Brother Live character in the 1980s) oddly enough.

Well, history will be made in 2012, as the Four Horsemen from the NWA/WCW past will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.  The original Four Horsemen consist of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and J.J. Dillon.  (Yes, that is five names…but this is wrestling logic we’re talking about!)  This is the first time the company has inducted a wrestler in a competing organization into its Hall of Fame show.

So the question is, will Ric Flair attend the ceremony, given that he is under contract to TNA and not the WWE?  It all depends on TNA, though at this point, it doesn’t seem as if TNA is barring the appearance.  Flair already stated in an autograph session in Florida that he will be “on stage” for the induction.  It has also been reported that both Vince McMahon and Triple H personally invited Flair to the Hall of Fame show.

Perhaps even more significant is that the WWE is interested in Ric Flair being part of the new WWE Network on cable.  So it’s quite possible that Flair and TNA will be parting ways soon.  (Unless of course, Flair plans to actively wrestle until he’s 90…and that would surprise no one in the sport)

Other WWE inductees expected for the show include a representative for the late Yokozuna and the recently retired Edge.  There’s nothing quite like seeing your favorite WWE and TNA superstars beating each other live and in person!