Viewers applaud as megastar ‘goes off script’ on Netflix after unexpected and brutal Raw trolling from fan

Charlotte Flair won Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble but doesn’t look like she’ll be heading to WrestleMania showered by fan support.

The decorated veteran performer made a long-awaited return from injury in Indianapolis on Saturday, entering at number 27 and battling for 15 minutes before going on to win the multi-women melee.

Charlotte Flair was back talking in front of WWE audiences on Monday nightCredit: WWEThat means she’ll be guaranteed a WrestleMania title bout but, if Monday night’s fan reaction is anything to go by, this isn’t something the proverbial WWE Universe is thrilled about.

Some facts of the matter are clear: Charlotte Flair is one of the greatest WWE performers of all time, with or without the added caveat of being on the female roster, and her in-ring ability and qualities are undeniable.

Equally, Flair has, for the vast majority of her career, played the heel – the wrestling term for a bad guy – so fans aren’t routinely used to cheering for her.

So what what went wrong on Monday? The strength of the negative sentiment aimed at her on Raw this week looked to catch even the experienced campaigner off guard as she was forced to pause and adjust during her in-ring promo during the broadcast on Netflix.

READ MORE WWESensing the lukewarm mood in the arena in Cleveland Arena, she attempted to brush off the boos as she began speaking but, partway through the address, lowered her microphone and looked visibly irritated by the reaction given to what was an emotional dialogue.

She was speaking of her battle back from a serious injury that saw her miss over a year of action having suffered torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus in a brutal fall from the ropes during a match on SmackDown but got little sympathy from the crowd who only offered boos in return.

“Last year sucked,” she began. “Actually, up until last year I really thought I was unbreakable but no, last year broke me mentally and physically.”

The 38-year-old then tried to continue before having to break off, clearly annoyed. She then, more rushed in her delivery, added: “There was a point last year where I didn’t know if my knee was going to get better.

“I didn’t know if I was going to make it to [November’s] Survivor Series, I didn’t know if I was going to make it to WrestleMania.”

The 38-year-old then seemed to halt her own monologue with a wagging finger at the crowd before suddenly going into full heel mode, telling fans their reaction didn’t change that she was WWE’s greatest ever star – then urging them to boo her.

The multi-time former world champ was a big winner at Royal RumbleCredit: WWE

Flair’s curious exchange with fans was interrupted by champ Rhea RipleyCredit: WWEThe change in her tone was evident, so much so that viewers believe Flair made the conscious decision to change up her own character while on air having sensed there was no use persisting with her previous attempt at gaining sympathy as a babyface – or good guy.

“I feel for her,” one fan said. “She was trying so hard to be genuine here and the crowd booed her.” A second chimed in: “Cleveland crowd didn’t hold back!”

Another said: “I think she turned heel mid promo,” while a third added: “Definitely called an audible, and one more agreed, stating: “I think Charlotte just turned heel.”

WWE stars LA Knight and Logan Paul crash Royal Rumble as Drew McIntyre gets eliminated by Damian Priest

Quite whether Flair, who recently filed for divorce from wrestler husband Andrade, did take it upon herself to go off script on Raw isn’t crystal clear, but plenty picked up on the uneasy exchange between her and the Raw crowd, some applauding her as: ‘the GOAT’ for the switch, while another posted: “[You] can boo her all you want… she’s still Charlotte Flair and she’s still the greatest woman wrestler of all time!”

Regardless of whether she’s booed or cheered, Flair will be a part of WrestleMania 41 which airs on Netflix internationally in April.