What Happened to Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (Charlotte Flair)?
Charlotte Flair, a prominent WWE superstar and daughter of wrestling legend Ric Flair, has continued her illustrious career despite facing significant injuries. After recovering from a torn ACL in late 2023 and winning the 2025 Royal Rumble, she remains an active competitor on the SmackDown brand, currently challenging for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships alongside Alexa Bliss as of April 2026.
Quick Answer
As of April 18, 2026, Charlotte Flair is an active and highly decorated WWE superstar on the SmackDown brand. She recently returned from a major knee injury sustained in late 2023, winning the 2025 Royal Rumble. Flair is currently in a tag team with Alexa Bliss, and they are slated to compete for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 42. She continues to express her passion for wrestling and plans to compete for many more years.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Signs with WWE Developmental
Ashley Fliehr signs a developmental contract with WWE and is assigned to NXT, adopting the ring name Charlotte.
Wins First NXT Women's Championship
Charlotte defeats Natalya in a tournament final to win her first NXT Women's Championship, marking her first major title in WWE.
Main Roster Debut
Charlotte Flair, alongside Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks, debuts on WWE's main roster as part of the 'Women's Revolution'.
Becomes Inaugural Raw Women's Champion
Charlotte wins the newly introduced WWE Women's Championship (later renamed Raw Women's Championship) at WrestleMania 32, becoming the inaugural champion.
Wins First SmackDown Women's Championship
Charlotte defeats Natalya to win her first SmackDown Women's Championship, becoming the only woman to hold the NXT, Divas, Raw, and SmackDown Women's Championships.
Wins First Royal Rumble Match
Charlotte Flair wins the 2020 Women's Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Shayna Baszler.
Takes Hiatus for Marriage and Health
After losing the SmackDown Women's Championship to Ronda Rousey, Flair takes time off to marry Manuel Andrade and address health issues.
Suffers Major Knee Injury
Flair tears her ACL, MCL, and meniscus during a SmackDown match against Asuka, sidelining her for over a year.
Divorces Manuel Andrade
Charlotte Flair and fellow wrestler Manuel Andrade (Andrade El Idolo) finalize their divorce.
Returns and Wins Second Royal Rumble
Flair makes her return from injury at the 2025 Royal Rumble, winning the match for the second time by eliminating Roxanne Perez.
Loses to Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41
After winning the Royal Rumble, Flair challenges Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 41 but is defeated.
Forms Tag Team with Alexa Bliss
Following WrestleMania 41, Charlotte Flair forms an entertaining and successful tag team with Alexa Bliss, winning tag titles together.
Misses SmackDown Due to Illness
Charlotte Flair misses a SmackDown appearance due to being 'very ill,' leading to a change in television plans.
Discusses Career Longevity
Flair states in an interview that she has 'many years left' in her wrestling career, expressing her continued passion for WWE.
Competes on SmackDown Ahead of WrestleMania 42
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss compete in a tag team match against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria on SmackDown, in preparation for their WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 42.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Charlotte Flair, born Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr, has solidified her legacy as one of the most decorated female wrestlers in WWE history, often referred to as 'The Queen.' Her career, spanning over a decade, has been marked by numerous championship reigns and groundbreaking matches. Flair is a 14-time women's world champion, holding the WWE Divas, Raw, and SmackDown Women's Championships, along with two NXT Women's Championships and two WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. She is also a two-time Royal Rumble winner, achieving victories in 2020 and 2025.
Flair's career faced a significant challenge in December 2023 when she suffered a severe knee injury, tearing her ACL, MCL, and meniscus during a match on SmackDown. This injury sidelined her for over a year, leading to speculation about her future in the sport. However, demonstrating remarkable resilience, Flair made her highly anticipated return at the 2025 Royal Rumble, where she entered at number 27 and won the match, becoming the first woman to win multiple Royal Rumbles. Following this victory, she challenged Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 41 but was unsuccessful.
The year 2025 saw Flair have an 'excellent season,' though she did not reclaim a singles world title. Entering 2026, Flair's presence in WWE remains impactful. She missed some television appearances in January 2026 due to illness, but her overall status was not a cause for concern, with WWE management reportedly being cautious about her appearances to prevent further injuries. As of April 2026, Flair has formed a tag team with Alexa Bliss, a partnership that has been ongoing since 2025. They are currently challenging for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships, with a match scheduled for WrestleMania 42.
Off-screen, Flair has openly discussed the difficulties of separating her dominant 'Queen' persona from her personal life, particularly during her divorce from fellow wrestler Manuel Andrade in 2024. A recent documentary series, 'WWE Unreal,' has helped fans gain a better understanding of her true self, providing her with 'peace of mind.' Despite turning 40 in April 2026, Flair has expressed a strong desire to continue wrestling for many more years, driven by her enduring passion for the business. She also found inspiration in a young fan battling cancer, Scarlett, who she has supported and who will be at WrestleMania 42. Her current focus includes her tag team endeavors and a stated ambition to complete a WrestleMania trilogy with Rhea Ripley.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr (Charlotte Flair) made different choices?