History Wrestling / RicFlair

* IconicItem: The Wrestling/BigGoldBelt is more associated with Flair than any of the other many wrestlers who have held it. This is likely because Flair was not only the first wrestler to hold the belt, but has also had the most number of title reigns with it. He even wore the original belt with him to the ring during his "last match" (it's owned by his son-in-law Conrad Thompson.)

* IconicItem: The Wrestling/BigGoldBelt is more associated with Flair than any of the other many wrestlers who have held it. This is likely because Flair was not only the first wrestler to hold the belt, but has also had the most number of title reigns with it.

Flair has four children -- two sons and two daughters -- that are or were all involved in wrestling to some capacity. His eldest son David[[note]]b. March 6, 1979[[/note]] worked for WCW from 1999 to 2001, and made several televised appearances for WWE during the 2002 run-up to ''Wrestling/WrestleMania 18''. His eldest daughter Megan[[note]]b. 1980s; DOB still unknown[[/note]] has worked as an actress, appearing in numerous wrestling TV shows and, during the mid-1990s, in ''WCW Monday Nitro''. His youngest son Reid[[note]]February 26, 1988 -- March 29, 2013[[/note]] was an accomplished wrestler in high school and continued his craft by working for a number of promotions, debuting for Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling two months before he tragically died at 25 from a drug overdose. His youngest daughter Ashley[[note]]b. April 5, 1986[[/note]] has gone on to garner the most success in the industry of all of Ric's kids, becoming one of the biggest names in WWE's women's division since the mid-to-late [=2010s=] as Wrestling/CharlotteFlair.

** Fans are always amazed at how much older he appears in the 2010s compared to, say, the late 90s or the turn of the millennium. What they don't typically notice is that he looks amazing for a man well into his late forties and early fifties and only during his mid-to-late fifties had age caught up with him more or less all at once.

-->''[stagger] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNfDSnX2mDw [faceplant]]]''

* TheFace: Though closely identified with WWE, Ric Flair's most memorable matches all took place in the AWA and WCW. Flair was their Cena; a significant amount of WCW viewers, particularly the Carolinas and surrounding region, mostly watched for Flair. He remained with them until the company shuttered its doors in 2001.

** I just want to ask you one question... WHO ARE YOU! TO EVER TELL ME! HOW TO WRESTLE!?!

[[caption-width-right:350:''"To be the Man, you've\\
got to beat the Man."'']]

** Ric Flair looks great for 73. His appearance has always confused people: when you go and watch his pre-2000 work, it's surprising by how young he looks. A life of touring, partying and getting dropped on the head for a living took its toll.

Flair has four children -- two sons and two daughters -- that are or were all involved in wrestling to some capacity. His eldest son David[[note]]b. March 6, 1979[[/note]] worked for WCW from 1999 to 2001, and made several televised appearances for WWE during the 2002 run-up to ''Wrestling/WrestleMania 18''. His eldest daughter Megan[[note]]b. 1980s; DOB still unknown[[/note]] has worked as an actress, appearing in numerous wrestling TV shows and, during the mid-1990s, in ''WCW Monday Nitro''. His youngest son Reid[[note]]February 26, 1988 -- March 29, 2013[[/note]] was an accomplished wrestler in high school and continued his craft by working for a number of promotions, debuting for Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling two months before he tragically died at 25 from a drug overdose. His youngest daughter Ashley[[note]]b. April 5, 1986[[/note]] has gone on to garner the most success in the industry of all of Ric's kids, becoming one of the biggest names in WWE's women's division during the mid-to-late [=2010s=] as Wrestling/CharlotteFlair.

* SelfDeprecation: You have to remember that there's Ric Flair and there's Richard Fliehr. Richard has a reputation for leaving promoters high and dry with money, be it ROH, Highspots, or countless other autograph/collectibles companies across the country. He was stupidly irresponsible with money, and now finds himself in a pile of debt which will likely just be transferred over to his estate when he dies. (Not to mention having to pay alimony to alllllllll his ex-wives...) To his credit, he's owned up to it and even incorporated it into his schtick.
-->'''Flair:''' Will Woo For Food.

** But wait... in 2022, he announced [[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wrestler-ric-flair-73-announces-231811818.html he was training for what he claims will be his last match ever]]. The ''Ric Flair's Last Match'' event was part of Starrcast, a fan convention in Nashville organized in part by his son-in-law Conrad Thompson and scheduled during WWE's [=SummerSlam=] weekend (the ''Last Match'' card was the night after [=SummerSlam=]). In that match, Ric teamed up with another son-in-law, [[Wrestling/AndradeCienAlmas Andrade El Ídolo]], and defeated Wrestling/JeffJarrett and Wrestling/JayLethal. The event as a whole was also notable for being the first time in more than 20 years that talent from practically major promotion running shows in the US appeared at a single event.[[note]]The complete list of promotions represented: AAA, AEW, Black Label Pro, DDT, Future Stars of Wrestling, GCW, Impact, MLW, NJPW, NWA, Ohio Valley Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Revolver, Progress Wrestling, ROH, Terminus, and WWE. The last previous show to feature talent from all major promotions was the third Wrestling/BrianPillman Memorial Show in 2000.[[/note]]

*** In a shoot interview promoting his Last Match event in 2022, he admitted that in the years after Reid's death, he self-medicated his grief by falling into serious alcoholism, which led to a near-life-ending medical crisis in 2018. (Ric was in intensive care for a month, with 14 of those days spent in a medically-induced coma.)

** But wait... in 2022, he announced [[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wrestler-ric-flair-73-announces-231811818.html he was training for what he claims will be his last match ever]]. The ''Ric Flair's Last Match'' event was part of Starrcast, a fan convention in Nashville organized in part by his son-in-law Conrad Thompson and scheduled during WWE's [=SummerSlam=] weekend (but not opposite the WWE event). In that match, Ric teamed up with another son-in-law, [[Wrestling/AndradeCienAlmas Andrade El Ídolo]], and defeated Wrestling/JeffJarrett and Wrestling/JayLethal. The event as a whole was also notable for being the first time in more than 20 years that talent from practically major promotion running shows in the US appeared at a single event.[[note]]The complete list of promotions represented: AAA, AEW, Black Label Pro, DDT, Future Stars of Wrestling, GCW, Impact, MLW, NJPW, NWA, Ohio Valley Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Revolver, Progress Wrestling, ROH, Terminus, and WWE. The last previous show to feature talent from all major promotions was the third Wrestling/BrianPillman Memorial Show in 2000.[[/note]]

** The Figure Four. He did beat lots of people with it back in the day, especially {{jobber}}s during the buildup to a feud with some [[{{Face}} babyface]]. They had to establish that the Figure Four was a death sentence, so that it was a big deal when the champ finally reversed it. (When he beat a name opponent with the Figure Four it was usually by pinfall, after they'd been KO'd by chicanery. Or, as in the case of Randy Savage when Flair beat him for the WWE Title in September 1992, "passed out" from the "pain".) As time goes on, though, any wrestling move starts to get taken for granted, and stops being impressive on its own. Especially after enough babyfaces counter it for the big win. So after a while, the Figure 4 went from "''OMG he just broke that guy's leg''" to basically a rest hold which started being countered all the time. Ric says the same on just about every podcast, uncertain why anyone would use the move, since he can't remember winning a single match with the Figure Four himself.

* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: [[InvertedTrope Inverted.]] Ric Flair's win-loss record when wearing red trunks is famously bad.

* RingOldies: Ric Flair is an historically-significant figure in wrestling. He was a 16-Time World Champion and had an in-ring career spanning nearly 50 years. Some of the companies he headlined in don't even exist anymore.

* SerialSpouse: As noted in the page lead, he's been married four times, all ending in divorce. While he had a fifth wedding ceremony in 2018, he and his partner (Wendy Barlow, aka Fifi in WCW) separated in 2021 and officially broke up in 2022, with both confirming that they never applied for a marriage certificate.

** Flair's older daughter Megan has appeared in a number of wrestling TV shows, including ''Monday Nitro''. Her husband Conrad Thompson is host/moderator of several prominent wrestling podcasts, and as noted above is involved in organizing the Starrcast fan convention in Nashville, whose 2022 edition will feature Flair's "final" match.
** Flair's younger daughter Ashley (now billed as Charlotte Flair) is a former NXT Women's Champion and WWE Divas Champion, as well as a four-time WWE Raw Women's Champion. (Note that the ''Raw'' Women's Championship is actually ''the'' WWE Women's Championship: the 2016 brand split took place during her first reign. During her second reign, the title was rechristened the Raw Women's Championship after the ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackDown SmackDown]]'' Women's Championship was created.) She turned out to be the second-generation Flair who made it in this business. Not to mention that she's married to [[Wrestling/AndradeCienAlmas Andrade El Ídolo]], who will tag-team with Ric in his "final" match in 2022.

** He's retired for real as of 2012, citing Wrestling/JerryLawler's heart attack as a warning against even a physically-fit man of his age subjecting himself to the rigors of the ring. These days, Flair is settling into the role of statesman--and manager for his daughter. (He's mostly stayed off TV, though, even though he got a decent reaction from the fans.)

** At ''Halloween Havoc'' '99, Kimberly Page, wife of [[Wrestling/DiamondDallasPage DDP]], mentioned that she invited David Flair to a hotel room, and Ric showed up to get touchy with her again part of the show which both DDP and Kim agreed to play along. Later that evening, as Ric is beating the crap out of Wrestling/EddieGuerrero with the crowbar, Wrestling/TorrieWilson tries to stop Flair and gets forcibly kissed for her efforts. But she smiles afterward so it's okay!

** "I have spent MORE MONEY! On BAR TABS! Than ALL THREE of you! WILL EVER! MAKE!" Just read through his biography, ''To Be The Man.'' Every other page has an example of real life indulgences beyond the dreams of avarice. (Rappers love him.)

* CoolOldGuy: As Wrestling/AJStyles intimated, Ric Flair may be older than him but acts younger: At 70 with admitted alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and still getting tossed out of bars, going to bed later than AJ, getting up earlier, doing the same stuff he was doing 30-40 years ago, and still finding time for the gym...while on the road. After he broke his back at age 26, he started working a much safer style; one would imagine it helped keep him much lower on the concussion count than many of his peers. It's hard to remember (what with his leaps from the top rope always failing), but one of Flair's quirks when he was NWA Champion was to flip over the top rope to the apron after being Irish Whipped. In some ways he displayed more agility when he was older, namely by adding a roll to his jumping knee drop after connecting.

** Due to playing the "ladykiller" gimmick well into his sixties he comes across as this. According to insider information, he's this in Real Life too; apparently flashing women is a backstage trademark of his. On the infamous Plane Ride From Hell, Ric Flair drunkenly stumbled around in nothing but his robe, WOO-ing at stewardesses. In a shoot interview with Missy Hyatt, she said Flair has the manners of a subway flasher, but has the ability to get "uptight women dancing on tables with their skirts above their heads."

In the world of [[ProfessionalWrestling pro wrestling]], there are superstars, there are legends...and then there's Ric Flair (known since infancy as Richard Morgan Fliehr; born February 25, 1949[[note]]Flair was adopted in infancy through an agency that, unknown to its clients, obtained children by means ranging from shady to outright illegal. He does not know his actual birth name.[[/note]]). With a career spanning four decades, 22 World Heavyweight Title reigns across three companies, legendary matches and feuds with some of the biggest names in the business, and a retirement sendoff which will never be duplicated in scope or emotional impact on fans, Flair is one of the most famous wrestlers who has ever lived, the [[Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance NWA]] equivalent of Wrestling/TheRock or Wrestling/HulkHogan, and a routine pick for the single greatest wrestler of all time.

Flair was the leader of Wrestling/TheFourHorsemen, and the voice of {{Wrestling/Evolution}}. He put Wrestling/DustyRhodes and his family through "hard times, daddy!" He worked in the [[Wrestling/AmericanWrestlingAssociation AWA]], NWA, and {{Wrestling/WCW}}, then joined {{Wrestling/WWE}}, all following a miraculous survival of what should have been a career-ending plane crash. He is the first man to be inducted into the Wrestling/WWEHallOfFame not once, but twice. He is the last-surviving star of the old school era, and has stayed relevant in the modern era. He's the reason behind the "Wooo!" chants every time a wrestler chops someone. He has truly done it all.

** But wait... in 2022, he announced [[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wrestler-ric-flair-73-announces-231811818.html he's been training for what he claims will be his last match ever]], working at Starrcast, a fan convention in Nashville organized in part by his son-in-law Conrad Thompson. Said match has since been announced as a tag-team match, with Ric teaming up with another son-in-law, [[Wrestling/AndradeCienAlmas Andrade El Ídolo]], to take on Wrestling/JeffJarrett and Wrestling/JayLethal.

** Due to playing the "ladykiller" gimmick well into his sixties he comes across as this. According to insider information, he's this in Real Life too; apparently flashing women is a backstage trademark of his. On the infamous Wrestling/PlaneRideFromHell, Ric Flair drunkenly stumbled around in nothing but his robe, WOO-ing at stewardesses. Sexual harassment is kind of his default. In a shoot interview with Missy Hyatt, she said Flair has the manners of a subway flasher, but has the ability to get "uptight women dancing on tables with their skirts above their heads."

** But wait... in 2022, he announced [[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wrestler-ric-flair-73-announces-231811818.html he's been training for what he claims will be his last match ever]], working at Starrcast, a fan convention in Nashville organized in part by his son-in-law Conrad Thompson.

** Flair's younger daughter Ashley (now billed as Charlotte Flair) is a former NXT Women's Champion and WWE Divas Champion, as well as a four-time WWE Raw Women's Champion. (Note that the ''Raw'' Women's Championship is actually ''the'' WWE Women's Championship: the 2016 brand split took place during her first reign. During her second reign, the title was rechristened the Raw Women's Championship after the ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackDown SmackDown]]'' Women's Championship was created.) She turned out to be the second-generation Flair who made it in this business. Not to mention that she's married to [[Wrestling/AndradeCienAlmas Andrade El Ídolo]].

* SlobsVsSnobs: Ric and Dusty had a great feud which defined their characters, right down to their purported favorite Basketball teams. Ric (dropping the "K" from his name, a chic and stylish spelling) represents the high life many wish they could live. Ric is a fan of the LA Lakers. The Lakers were (and still are) the team of the beautiful people, with players named "Magic" and A-List celebrities attending each game. On to Dusty Rhodes, the son of a plumber and the American Dream. Dusty is the common working man who knows "hard times". Even his name conjures images of the dust bowl from The Grapes of Wraith. And whose jacket did he wear? The Boston Celtics, the Lakers' perennial championship archrivals of the time whose star was nicknamed the "Hick from French Lick". Flair would even cite this in a promo as a reason why he hated Rhodes. And since the majority of their feud was in the 80's, it provided a great mirror of Wall Street vs. Main Street with the rise of yuppie culture.

In the world of [[ProfessionalWrestling pro wrestling]], there are superstars, there are legends...and then there's Ric Flair (known since infancy as Richard Morgan Fliehr; born February 25, 1949[[note]]Flair was adopted in infancy through an agency that, unknown to its clients, obtained children by means ranging from shady to outright illegal. He does not definitively know his actual birth name.[[/note]]). With a career spanning four decades, 22 World Heavyweight Title reigns across three companies, legendary matches and feuds with some of the biggest names in the business, and a retirement sendoff which will never be duplicated in scope or emotional impact on fans, Flair is one of the most famous wrestlers who has ever lived, the [[Wrestling/NationalWrestlingAlliance NWA]] equivalent of Wrestling/TheRock or Wrestling/HulkHogan, and a routine pick for the single greatest wrestler of all time.

The Man. Slick Ric. Dirtiest Player in the Game. The Nature Boy. Naitch. The sixteen-time World Heavyweight Champion... '''AND A LIMOUSINE-RIDIN', JET-FLYIN', WHEELIN', DEALIN', KISS-STEALIN' '''— '''''WOOOOO!''''' — '''SON-OF-A-GUN!'''

** Flair's younger daughter Ashley (now billed as Charlotte Flair) is a former NXT Women's Champion and WWE Divas Champion, as well as a four-time WWE Raw Women's Champion. (Note that the ''Raw'' Women's Championship is actually ''the'' WWE Women's Championship: the 2016 brand split took place during her first reign. During her second reign, the title was rechristened the Raw Women's Championship after the ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackDown SmackDown]]'' Women's Championship was created.) She turned out to be the second-generation Flair who made it in this business. Not to mention that she's engaged to [[Wrestling/AndradeCienAlmas Andrade El Ídolo]].

** Flair's younger daughter Ashley (now billed as Charlotte Flair) is a former NXT Women's Champion and WWE Divas Champion, as well as a four-time WWE Raw Women's Champion. (Note that the ''Raw'' Women's Championship is actually ''the'' WWE Women's Championship: the 2016 brand split took place during her first reign. During her second reign, the title was rechristened the Raw Women's Championship after the ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackDown SmackDown]]'' Women's Championship was created.) She turned out to be the second-generation Flair who made it in this business.

** Flair's daughter Ashley (now billed as Charlotte Flair) is a former NXT Women's Champion and WWE Divas Champion, as well as a four-time WWE Raw Women's Champion. (Note that the ''Raw'' Women's Championship is actually ''the'' WWE Women's Championship: the 2016 brand split took place during her first reign. During her second reign, the title was rechristened the Raw Women's Championship after the ''[[Wrestling/WWESmackDown SmackDown]]'' Women's Championship was created.) She turned out to be the second-generation Flair who made it in this business.

Flair has four children -- two sons and two daughters, each son-daughter pairing born of a different wife -- that are or were all involved in wrestling to some capacity. His eldest son David[[note]]b. March 6, 1979[[/note]] worked for WCW from 1999 to 2001, and made several televised appearances for WWE during the 2002 run-up to ''Wrestling/WrestleMania 18''. His eldest daughter Megan[[note]]b. 1980s; DOB still unknown[[/note]] has worked as an actress, appearing in numerous wrestling TV shows and, during the mid-1990s, in ''WCW Monday Nitro''. His youngest son Reid[[note]]February 26, 1988 -- March 29, 2013[[/note]] was an accomplished wrestler in high school and continued his craft by working for a number of promotions, debuting for Wrestling/AllJapanProWrestling two months before he tragically died at 25 from a drug overdose. His youngest daughter Ashley[[note]]b. April 5, 1986[[/note]] has gone on to garner the most success in the industry of all of Ric's kids, becoming one of the biggest names in WWE's women's division during the mid-to-late [=2010s=] as Wrestling/CharlotteFlair.

** But wait... in 2022, he announced [[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wrestler-ric-flair-73-announces-231811818.html he's been training for what he claims will be his last match ever]], working for an indy promotion in Nashville.

** Ric Flair looks great for 71. His appearance has always confused people: when you go and watch his pre-2000 work, it's surprising by how young he looks. A life of touring, partying and getting dropped on the head for a living took its toll.