When you say the word wrestler, who comes to mind? Hulk Hogan? The Rock? John Cena? If you think about it for more than two seconds, you’ll realize that these names are far from being the greatest wrestler of all time. That honor belongs to the Nature Boy Ric Flair. The Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Greatest Wrestler of All Time
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Early life
Richard Morgan Fliehr was born on February 25, 1949, in Memphis, Tennessee. The son of an acrobat and a professional wrestler, Fliehr began training to be a wrestler at the age of 14. He made his professional debut in 1972 and soon began working for various promotions in the Mid-Atlantic region. In 1974, he adopted the moniker Ric Flair and won his first major championship, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Greatest Wrestler of All Time
Professional wrestling career
Fliehr began his professional wrestling career in 1972, wrestling for various promotions in the Mid-Atlantic region. In 1974, he was recruited by the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), where he was given the name Ric Flair. He soon became one of the promotion’s top stars. In 1981, Flair left the WWWF to join Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), which was renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1991.
World Championship Wrestling (1985–1991)
Flair’s first world championship reign came in 1986, when he defeated Harley Race to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. He quickly regained the title at Starrcade, and held it for most of the next year. In 1988, Flair vacated the title due to injuries sustained in a plane crash, but returned later that year and won the title back from Sting. He held the title until 1989, when he was defeated by Terry Funk.
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1992–2008)
In 1992, Flair made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation at the Royal Rumble. He quickly became one of the top stars in the company and feuded with wrestlers such as Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels. In 1996, he won the WWF Championship and held it for a record-setting 16 times. He left the WWF in 2008 after losing a retirement match to Shawn Michaels.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2009–2014)
After leaving WWE, Flair signed with rival promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2009. His first run with the company was short-lived, as he left TNA in January 2010 due to creative differences. He returned to the company in August 2011 and remained with TNA until 2014. During his second stint with the company, Flair became a member of the villainous faction Aces & Eights.
Return to WWE in 2015
After a year away from WWE, Flair made his return in 2015 at the age of 68. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame that year, and had a series of matches with some of the top names in the business. His return was short-lived, however, as he was forced to retire due to health issues.
NWA Hall of Fame (2016)
On April 2, 2016, at the NWA Legends Fanfest in Atlanta, Georgia, Flair was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame by his daughter, Charlotte. This was the first time he had been inducted into a wrestling Hall of Fame. In his speech, he said that he was the man who made wrestling cool, and that it was an honor to be inducted. He also said that he would never retire, and that he would keep wrestling until he couldn’t physically do it anymore.
Q.&A.
Q. When did you first get into wrestling?
A. I started watching wrestling when I was about six years old. My father was a big fan and used to take me to live matches. I was hooked from the very first match I saw. Every time we would go, he would explain what was happening in the ring, who all the wrestlers were, what they stood for and so on. To this day, I can still recite all that information because it had such an impact on me at a young age.
Did Ric Flair pass away?
On Monday, June 29th, 2020, it was reported that legendary wrestler Ric Flair had passed away. This news came as a shock to the wrestling world, as Flair was only 68 years old. While an official cause of death has not yet been released, it is believed that Flair had been suffering from health complications for some time.
How many wives has Ric Flair had?
Ric Flair has been married five times. His first marriage was to Leslie Goodman, with whom he has two children. He then married Elizabeth Harrell, with whom he has a daughter. His third marriage was to Tiffany Van Demark, and his fourth marriage was to Jacqueline Beems. He is currently married to Wendy Barlow.
How much money Ric Flair has?
Ric Flair is a legend in the world of professional wrestling. He has had an incredible career that has spanned almost 50 years. During that time, he has won numerous championships and become one of the most recognizable names in the business. He is also one of the richest wrestlers in the world, with an estimated net worth of $5 million.
At what age did Ric Flair retire?
Ric Flair retired from professional wrestling at the age of 66. He had an illustrious career that spanned almost 50 years, during which he was regarded by multiple peers and journalists as the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Flair’s retirement was marked by a special ceremony in which he was given a replica WWE Championship belt and ring.