16-time world champion, two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee

Eye surgery possible; fan event appearance set for next week

Active despite retiring from in-ring competition in 2022

Ric Flair (left) and his daughter Charlotte Flair attend the WWE Germany Live tour "Road to WrestleMania" at OVB Arena in Bremen, Germany, on Feb. 10, 2016 (local time). Charlotte has followed in her father's footsteps to become one of the top female wrestlers in the world. [Getty Images]
Ric Flair (left) and his daughter Charlotte Flair attend the WWE Germany Live tour "Road to WrestleMania" at OVB Arena in Bremen, Germany, on Feb. 10, 2016 (local time). Charlotte has followed in her father's footsteps to become one of the top female wrestlers in the world. [Getty Images]

Ric Flair, 77, a living legend of professional wrestling, is preparing to return to the public eye despite a string of health setbacks.

According to American pro wrestling media outlets, Flair is scheduled to appear at an NCG Wrestling independent event at the Harpos Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 22. It will be his first scheduled public appearance since he was hospitalized following a fall last month.

Flair fell outside a restaurant in Tampa, Florida, on Oct. 23, injuring his head and the area around his eye. Heavy bleeding required him to be transported by ambulance, though he was discharged after receiving treatment.

He later shared a photo of himself wearing an eye patch over his right eye, saying he was focused on recovery. On Oct. 28, he mentioned the possibility of an additional surgery and a skin graft, though it remains unclear whether the procedure was carried out or when he is expected to fully recover.

Before the fall, Flair had also been dealing with a blood clot in his leg. Doctors restricted his long-distance travel, forcing him to cancel planned fan event appearances. He also withdrew from Wrestlecade, an annual pro wrestling fan festival scheduled for later this month.

His return to public activity comes amid these overlapping health concerns. The appearance will not involve in-ring competition — Flair will be meeting and interacting with fans, not returning as an active wrestler.

Ric Flair (right) and Jeff Jarrett compete at "Ric Flair's Last Match" at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 31, 2022 (local time). The blood visible on Flair during the bout was the result of a deliberate blade job, a common practice in professional wrestling. [Getty Images]
Ric Flair (right) and Jeff Jarrett compete at "Ric Flair's Last Match" at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 31, 2022 (local time). The blood visible on Flair during the bout was the result of a deliberate blade job, a common practice in professional wrestling. [Getty Images]

Known by the nickname "The Nature Boy," Flair is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of professional wrestling.

He made his pro wrestling debut in 1972 and went on to capture the world heavyweight championship a total of 16 times across NWA, WCW and WWE — the figure officially recognized by WWE — a record that has long stood as one of the sport's defining achievements.

Flair was the marquee star of the NWA throughout the 1980s, engaging in celebrated rivalries with Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat and Sting. In 1985, he joined Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson and Tully Blanchard to form the Four Horsemen, a legendary villainous faction that left a lasting mark on professional wrestling.

In 1992, Flair entered the WWE Royal Rumble as the third entrant and survived for roughly 60 minutes to win the match and claim the WWE Championship — a victory over a field of major stars that remains one of the signature moments of his career.

His signature move was the Figure-Four Leglock, a submission hold that crosses an opponent's legs in the shape of the number four to apply pressure to the knees and legs. His thunderous chops to an opponent's chest, exaggerated mannerisms and cunning rule-breaking were equally defining trademarks.

Outside the ring, Flair cultivated a flamboyant image through elaborate robes, tailored suits and a supremely confident manner of speaking. His signature "Woooo!" cry spread far beyond professional wrestling into American popular culture — a rallying call comparable in its cultural resonance to soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo's "Siuuu!" goal celebration.

Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as an individual in 2008 and again in 2012 as a member of the Four Horsemen, making him the first person to receive the honor twice.

Ric Flair greets the crowd before Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on April 22, 2025 (local time). [Getty Images]
Ric Flair greets the crowd before Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on April 22, 2025 (local time). [Getty Images]

Looking back, Flair's career has been defined by injury and comeback. A plane crash in 1975 left him with fractures in three vertebrae and threatened to end his career, but after roughly six months of rehabilitation he returned to the ring. Unable to rely on acrobatic moves or feats of strength, he reinvented his style — a pivot that, far from ending his career, proved to be the turning point that made him a global star.

Flair announced his WWE retirement after his WrestleMania match against Shawn Michaels in 2008, yet he continued to compete. In 2022, at the age of 73, he teamed with his then-son-in-law Andrade to defeat Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal in what became his final match.

Now in his late 70s, Flair is fighting a different kind of battle — not for a championship belt, but for his health. Attention turns to whether the legend who overcame so many crises in the ring over decades can once again stand before his fans.


yjc@heraldcorp.com