Ric Flair is one the greatest professional wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots.
His natural charisma, amazing mic skills, and in ring acumen were second to none. He won 16 World Titles across multiple promotions like the NWA, WCW, WWE, and more.
In the past few days, news broke that Flair was placed in a medically induced coma and needed surgery. A woman identified by several news outlets as Flair’s fiancee stated that the icon is dealing with multiple organ problems.
Legacy Talent, managers for Flair, sent out a Facebook post asking for prayers for the Hall of Famer. We wish Flair a speedy recovery and our prayers go out to the Flair family in this troubling time.
In his honor, let’s look back at some of the greatest moments in Ric Flair’s career.
Ric Flair and Jay Lethal have a “Woo!” Off
TNA was always known for running some pretty questionable angles but very rarely, they’d hit the nail on the head with comedy segments.
One of these included the GOAT Ric Flair and the charismatic Jay Lethal.
This had me cracking up from beginning to end with both men putting on an absolute comedy fest showcasing Jay’s natural mic skills and quick wit.
Jay’s impression of Flair is so spot on while he absolutely destroys Fortune, Ric’s TNA stable of young talent such as Beer Money Inc. and AJ Styles.
A perfect showcase of Ric’s incredible promos, as well as his signature crazy style of talking, this is one of the most underrated segments in TNA history.
Flair and Batista Win Tag Team Gold
Ric Flair began accompanying Batista to his matches once he came from Smackdown to Raw.
Flair and Batista would join Evolution alongside Triple H and Randy Orton. They were all managed by Flair as Evolution represented the past, present, and future of the WWE.
Batista lost his Armageddon encounter against Shawn Michaels even with interference from Flair. Flair promised Batista that they were winners.
The Dudley Boyz had just retained their tag titles when Eric Bischoff came out and announced that the match wasn’t over since the Dudleyz hadn’t fought every team.
Then he introduced Ric Flair and Batista as the last team.
Flair and Batista made quick work of the Dudleyz and became Tag Champs. It was simply a great moment as Batista won his first title in WWE and with a legend like Flair.
Ric Flair returns to WCW in 1998
Ric Flair was WCW. He lived WCW, breathed WCW, and bled WCW.
However, contract disputes as well as backstage problems with management led to their World Champion walking out with the belt.
He went to WWF and stayed there for awhile before returning to the company in 1995.
WCW had changed at the time with Eric Bischoff in charge and Hogan pulling the strings, Flair was made a joke by the hot New World Order.
Walking out after a dispute with Bischoff, Flair returned in 1998 after the Four Horsemen brought him out.
He cut a heartfelt promo first thanking the WCW fans and the Horsemen then flipped to an aggressive shoot at WCW management and Bischoff.
Definitely one of the best promos Flair ever cut in his career.
Flair turns on Sting
Sting and Flair were set to take on Brian Pillman and Arn Anderson in a tag match at Halloween Havoc ’95 when Flair was nowhere to be found.
Sting, being the heroic babyface, fought valiantly in a two on one situation. However, he was constantly getting beat down by the two men
Then Ric Flair showed up to a huge pop. He climbed up on the apron and it took a good 10 minutes for Sting to tag in Flair
The crowd reached a fever pitch as Flair bounded off the ropes and then hit Sting.
Pillman, Anderson, and Flair assaulted Sting afterwards. Flair did this to reform the Horsemen in WCW.
Sting found out the hard way why Ric Flair is the “Dirtiest Player in the Game.”
Flair Forms The Horsemen
The Four Horsemen are one of the greatest factions in wrestling history.
The original and best incarnation was comprised of Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, and Ole Anderson.
They lived the extravagant lifestyle outside the ring with jets, limos, and pretty ladies all day, everyday.
The Horsemen could also back it up in the ring as Ric was World Champion, Arn and Ole were Tag Champs, and Blanchard was Television Champion.
They broke Dusty Rhode’s hand and ankles and feuded with some of the best talent like Manum TA and Barry Windham.
One of the greatest factions of all time formed by one of the greatest wrestlers ever.
Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair
Ric Flair was told at the beginning of 2008 that the next match he lost, he would have to retire from in-ring competition.
Flair wanted his last match to be against Shawn Michaels, who at first didn’t want to be the man who ended Flair’s legendary career.
Then began an intense feud where Michaels claimed he was going to put Old Yeller (Flair) out of his misery at Wrestlemania 24.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNTXFtzDb4A
Their match was masterful storytelling at its finest and when Flair got up and told Shawn to give it to him and Michaels said “Im sorry. I love you” it was beautiful.
Michaels immediately vacated the ring to give Flair his moment alone in the ring.
As Flair tearfully stood up and waved his goodbye, he was given a standing ovation by the crowd.
The 1992 Royal Rumble
Flair was fresh out of WCW when Vince McMahon came and offered Flair a contract, which the wrestler accepted. He debuted in the WWF with Bobby Heenan as his manager.
The WWF Championship was vacated due to some shenanigans and was up for grabs at the ’92 Royal Rumble.
Flair entered at number three and lasted all the way until the end, last eliminating Sid Justice to win the vacant belt.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ndk8o
This led to Flair’s famous “With a Tear in my eye” promo and cemented him as one of the top wrestlers in any promotion whether in WCW or WWE.
Flair’s Farewell from the WWE
Flair had lost at Wrestlemania the night before and as per the stipulation, he had to retire.
He came out on Raw to a huge pop and entered the ring. He cut a heartfelt promo thanking the fans for their support.
Vince McMahon and the whole locker room came out to wish their farewells to Flair.
He did the signature jacket elbow drop and strutted across the ring to huge “Woo” and “Thank you Flair” chants.
Even the Undertaker broke kafaybe and came out to hug Flair in which Taker shed a tear.
One of the greatest sendoffs ever done by the WWE for a legend like Ric Flair.