WWE star Charlotte Flair performed a pregame ritual at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, before the Carolina Panthers faced the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. The 14-time champion emerged from the tunnel to a cheering crowd, executed her signature strut, and struck the Panthers' drum with a hammer.
Flair's presence in the stadium connects her wrestling career to her local roots. Born in Charlotte, she attended high school in the city, where she served as a two-time state champion and captain of the volleyball team. Her professional journey began with training in 2012 and an NXT debut in 2013.
The wrestler has spoken about the origin of her ring name in an interview with "The Ringer Wrestling Show" last year. She stated that she believed she was given the name Charlotte due to her and her father, Ric Flair, being from that city. Flair also noted that she proposed the name Elizabeth Reid as a tribute to her brother and the legendary valet Miss Elizabeth. The name "Flair" has since become an iconic identifier in professional wrestling.
Beyond her 14 world titles, Flair holds several other accolades. She is a two-time NXT women's champion, a two-time tag team champion, and a two-time winner of the women's Royal Rumble match. She was also the fourth women's Grand Slam champion and the fifth women's Triple Crown champion. Panthers fans expressed hope that her appearance would bring positive momentum to the team during the matchup.