History of Ric Flair in Timeline
Ric Flair, born Richard Morgan Fliehr, is a highly celebrated and now retired American professional wrestler. He's broadly recognized as one of wrestling's all-time greats, with a career that extended for half a century. Flair achieved significant success and acclaim in the professional wrestling world.
1918: Birth of Adoptive Parents
In 1918, both of Ric Flair's adoptive parents, Kathleen Kinsmiller Fliehr and Richard Reid Fliehr, were born.
February 25, 1949: Ric Flair's Birth
On February 25, 1949, Richard Morgan Fliehr, later known as Ric Flair, was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
1950: Early Life
In 1950, during the early part of his life, Richard Morgan Fliehr, later known as Ric Flair, was alive, experiencing the formative years of his childhood.
1969: Teenage Years
In 1969, Richard Morgan Fliehr, known as Ric Flair, was in his late teens experiencing regular teenage activities.
August 28, 1971: Marriage to Leslie Goodman
On August 28, 1971, Ric Flair married his first wife, Leslie Goodman. They later had two children before divorcing in 1983.
1971: Wrestling Training
In the winter of 1971, Ric Flair trained as a professional wrestler with Verne Gagne at his first wrestling camp outside Minneapolis.
December 10, 1972: Wrestling Debut
On December 10, 1972, Ric Flair made his professional wrestling debut in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, battling George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski to a 10-minute draw while adopting the ring name Ric Flair.
1973: First Appearances in Japan
In 1973, Ric Flair made his first appearances in Japan with International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE) as part of an agreement between IWE and AWA, competing in IWE's "Big Summer Series" against various opponents.
May 13, 1974: NWA Debut
On May 13, 1974, Ric Flair debuted in Jim Crockett's Mid-Atlantic region in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), defeating Abe Jacobs.
February 9, 1975: Mid-Atlantic Television Championship Victory
On February 9, 1975, Ric Flair won his first singles title, defeating Paul Jones for the Mid-Atlantic Television Championship.
October 4, 1975: Near-Fatal Plane Crash
On October 4, 1975, Ric Flair was involved in a serious plane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina, that nearly ended his career due to a broken back. Doctors initially told him he would never wrestle again.
1975: Career Defining Plane Crash
In 1975, Ric Flair faced a career-threatening plane crash on October 4 in Wilmington, North Carolina, resulting in a broken back and a prognosis that he might never wrestle again. Also in 1975, on February 9, Flair captured his first singles title by defeating Paul Jones for the Mid-Atlantic Television Championship, holding it until August 8 when he lost it back to Jones. Later in 1975, Flair defeated Wahoo McDaniel on September 20 for the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship in a title vs. hair match.
January 1976: Return to Wrestling
In January 1976, Ric Flair returned to the ring just three months after a near-fatal plane crash, resuming his feud with Wahoo McDaniel.
May 3, 1976: Loss of Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship
On May 3, 1976, Ric Flair lost the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship back to Wahoo McDaniel.
April 4, 1977: Second Mid-Atlantic Television Championship
On April 4, 1977, Ric Flair defeated Rufus R. Jones to win his second Mid-Atlantic Television Championship during his tag team championship reign.
March 30, 1978: Stripped of Tag Team Championship
On March 30, 1978, Ric Flair and Greg Valentine were stripped of the World Tag Team Championship by NWA management due to continuously ending their matches via disqualification.
April 27, 1978: Flair challenges for the NWA United National Championship
On April 27, 1978, Ric Flair challenged for the NWA United National Championship but was unsuccessful.
April 1, 1979: Third United States Heavyweight Championship
On April 1, 1979, Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat in a steel cage match to win his third United States Heavyweight Championship.
April 20, 1980: Fourth United States Heavyweight Championship
On April 20, 1980, Ric Flair defeated Jimmy Snuka to win the United States Heavyweight Championship for a fourth time.
January 27, 1981: Loss of US Title to Roddy Piper
On January 27, 1981, Ric Flair lost the United States Heavyweight Championship to Roddy Piper in a title versus title match, where Flair's title and Piper's Television Championship were on the line.
September 17, 1981: First NWA World Heavyweight Championship
On September 17, 1981, Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes for his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
January 6, 1983: Unsanctioned Title Loss
On January 6, 1983, Ric Flair experienced an unsanctioned title loss to Carlos Colón Sr. in Puerto Rico, which was not officially recognized by the NWA.
August 27, 1983: Marriage to Elizabeth Harrell
On August 27, 1983, Ric Flair married his second wife, Elizabeth Harrell. Jim Crockett Jr. served as the best man for the wedding. They had two children and later divorced in 2006.
March 1984: Title Exchanges in New Zealand and Singapore
In March 1984, Ric Flair lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Harley Race, but regained it in the span of three days in New Zealand and Singapore.
October 21, 1985: Flair wrestles Rick Martel in a double title match
On October 21, 1985, Ric Flair wrestled Rick Martel in a double title match, where Flair defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and challenged for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, but the match ended in a double countout.
July 26, 1986: Loss of Title to Dusty Rhodes
On July 26, 1986, Ric Flair lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Dusty Rhodes at The Great American Bash in a Steel Cage Match.
September 25, 1987: Flair loses NWA World Heavyweight Championship
On September 25, 1987, Ric Flair lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Ron Garvin in Detroit.
November 26, 1987: Flair regains NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade
On November 26, 1987, Ric Flair regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ron Garvin at WCW's first pay-per-view event, Starrcade, held in Chicago.
February 20, 1989: Ricky Steamboat wins NWA World Heavyweight Championship
On February 20, 1989, at Chi-Town Rumble in Chicago, Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
May 7, 1989: Flair defeats Steamboat to regain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
On May 7, 1989, at WrestleWar, Ric Flair regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ricky Steamboat. This match was voted 1989's "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
July 23, 1989: Flair defeats Terry Funk at The Great American Bash
On July 23, 1989, at The Great American Bash, Ric Flair defeated Terry Funk, which led to a feud and the reformation of The Four Horsemen.
July 7, 1990: Flair loses NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Sting
On July 7, 1990, Ric Flair dropped the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Sting at The Great American Bash.
January 11, 1991: Flair regains NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Sting
On January 11, 1991, after Sting was unmasked as The Black Scorpion at Starrcade in 1990, Ric Flair regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Sting.
May 19, 1991: Flair defeats Fujinami to reclaim the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
On May 19, 1991, at SuperBrawl I in St. Petersburg, Florida, Ric Flair defeated Tatsumi Fujinami to reclaim the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
August 1991: Flair signs with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
In August 1991, Ric Flair signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), marking a new chapter in his career.
February 1992: Flair faces Roddy Piper in inconclusive title-versus-title matches
In February 1992, Ric Flair faced Intercontinental Champion Roddy Piper in a series of inconclusive title-versus-title matches.
April 1992: Flair tours Japan with the SWS promotion
In April 1992, Ric Flair toured Japan with the Super World of Sports (SWS) promotion. He teamed with The Natural Disasters to defeat Ashura Hara, Genichiro Tenryu, and Takashi Ishikawa in a six-man tag team match.
July 1992: Flair and Mr. Perfect sow distrust between Savage and Warrior
In July 1992, as Savage prepared to defend the title against The Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam, Flair and Mr. Perfect sowed distrust between the two by suggesting that they would back one or the other during their match.
September 15, 1992: Flair defends WWF Championship against Genichiro Tenryu
On September 15, 1992, Ric Flair defended the WWF Championship against Genichiro Tenryu at a Wrestle Association R event in Yokohama, Japan; the match ended in a draw.
November 1992: Flair teams with Razor Ramon at Survivor Series
In November 1992, Ric Flair teamed with Razor Ramon to take on Savage and Perfect at the Survivor Series.
1992: WrestleMania Headliner
In 1992, Ric Flair co-headlined WrestleMania after winning that year's Royal Rumble, marking a significant achievement in his career.
January 1993: Flair appears in the Royal Rumble
In January 1993, Ric Flair appeared in the Royal Rumble.
February 11, 1993: Flair makes his last appearance with the WWF
On February 11, 1993, Ric Flair made his last appearance with the WWF before returning to WCW, fulfilling his remaining house show commitments and participating in the WWF's "Winter Tour '93" of Europe.
February 1993: Flair triumphantly returns to WCW
In February 1993, Ric Flair returned to WCW as a hero, hosting a talk show called A Flair for the Gold due to a "no-compete" clause.
September 1993: WCW leaves the NWA
In September 1993, WCW left the NWA, during Flair's tenth reign as NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
October 1993: Bret Hart's Radio Interview
In October 1993, Bret Hart gave a radio interview in which he criticized Ric Flair and WCW. This initiated an off-screen rivalry between them.
June 1994: Unification Match and Alliance with Sherri
In June 1994, at Clash of the Champions XXVII, Ric Flair defeated Sting in a unification match, merging the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. This solidified Flair's heel turn after his alliance with Sherri was revealed, when she helped him win the match after pretending to side with Sting. Subsequently, Flair feuded with Hulk Hogan.
April 29, 1995: Match Against Antonio Inoki in North Korea
On April 29, 1995, Ric Flair wrestled Antonio Inoki in front of 190,000 spectators in Pyongyang, North Korea, at the May Day Stadium. This was a losing effort in a joint show between New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling.
December 1995: WCW World Heavyweight Championship Win at Starrcade
In December 1995 at Starrcade, Ric Flair won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Flair defeated Lex Luger and Sting by countout and then defeated Randy Savage with help from the Four Horsemen, marking a significant milestone in his career.
July 17, 1996: Flair challenges Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
On July 17, 1996, Ric Flair challenged Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in NJPW but was unsuccessful.
September 1996: WarGames Match Loss at Fall Brawl
In September 1996, at Fall Brawl, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson teamed with Sting and Lex Luger to lose to the nWo (Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and an impostor Sting) in the WarGames match when Luger submitted to the impostor Sting's Scorpion Deathlock.
October 1996: Jeff Jarrett's Attempt to Join The Four Horsemen
In October 1996, Jeff Jarrett came over to WCW from the WWF and wanted to join the Four Horsemen. Flair was in favor, but the other Horsemen were not.
February 1997: Jeff Jarrett Joins the Four Horsemen
In February 1997, Ric Flair finally let Jeff Jarrett join the Four Horsemen, despite the other members' reluctance.
July 1997: Jeff Jarrett Kicked Out of The Four Horsemen
In July 1997, Ric Flair kicked Jeff Jarrett out of The Four Horsemen due to the instability he caused within the group.
September 1997: Curt Hennig Turns on Flair and The Four Horsemen at Fall Brawl
In September 1997 at Fall Brawl, Curt Hennig turned on Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen after being offered a spot in the group, slamming the cage door onto Flair's head.
April 9, 1998: No-Showing Thunder and Lawsuit
On April 9, 1998, Ric Flair did not appear for a live episode of Thunder in Tallahassee, Florida, leading to a lawsuit filed by Eric Bischoff.
September 14, 1998: Surprise Return and Reformation of the Four Horsemen
On September 14, 1998, Ric Flair made a surprise return to WCW television and ceremoniously reformed the Four Horsemen with Steve McMichael, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit.
December 1998: Loss to Eric Bischoff at Starrcade
In December 1998, Ric Flair lost a match to Eric Bischoff at Starrcade after interference from Curt Hennig.
1998: WCW Appearances with Beth and Children
Between 1998 and 2000, Ric Flair's second wife, Beth, and their children made periodic appearances in WCW.
January 17, 1999: Incident at Souled Out
On January 17, 1999, an incident at WCW's Souled Out pay-per-view in Charleston, West Virginia, following a tag team match between Flair and his son David and Curt Hennig and Barry Windham, led to tension between Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan.
1999: David Flair in WCW
From 1999 to 2001, Ric Flair's elder son, David Flair, worked for WCW as a professional wrestler.
1999: Late Career
In 1999, Ric Flair was approaching the later stages of his wrestling career, continuing to perform in various wrestling promotions, maintaining his presence in the wrestling world.
1999: Mick Foley's Autobiography
In his 1999 autobiography Have a Nice Day!, Mick Foley criticized Ric Flair's booking decisions in WCW, leading to tension between them.
2000: WCW Appearances with Beth and Children
Between 1998 and 2000, Ric Flair's second wife, Beth, and their children made periodic appearances in WCW.
2000: Exploration of Gubernatorial Run
In 2000, Ric Flair explored the possibility of running for governor of North Carolina, but he never filed the papers. Jesse Ventura stated that he urged Flair not to run, after Flair mentioned he'd received 143 speeding tickets.
2000: Death of Adoptive Father
In 2000, Richard Reid Fliehr, Ric Flair's adoptive father, passed away.
March 2001: Final Nitro Match Against Sting
In March 2001, Ric Flair lost the final match of Nitro to Sting, recreating their second match from 1995, marking the end of WCW before its purchase by the WWF.
November 19, 2001: Return to WWF as Co-Owner
On November 19, 2001, Ric Flair made a return to the WWF on Raw following the end of the "WCW/ECW Invasion," taking on the on-screen role of co-owner of the WWF.
2001: David Flair in WCW
From 1999 to 2001, Ric Flair's elder son, David Flair, worked for WCW as a professional wrestler.
January 20, 2002: Street Fight Win Against Vince McMahon at Royal Rumble
On January 20, 2002, at the Royal Rumble, Ric Flair defeated Vince McMahon in a Street Fight.
September 2002: Heel Turn at Unforgiven
In September 2002 at Unforgiven, during a World Heavyweight Championship match between Triple H and Rob Van Dam, Ric Flair turned heel by interfering and helping Triple H win.
2002: "Plane Ride from Hell"
In 2002, Ric Flair was involved in the infamous "Plane Ride from Hell" incident. He was accused of inappropriate behavior towards flight attendants, leading to a lawsuit against WWE, which was later settled out of court.
2002: David Flair in WWF
In 2002, Ric Flair's elder son, David Flair, made two televised appearances in the WWF during the run-up to WrestleMania X8.
June 2003: Win Over Shawn Michaels at Bad Blood
In June 2003 at Bad Blood, Ric Flair defeated Shawn Michaels after Randy Orton struck Michaels with a chair.
2003: Death of Adoptive Mother
In 2003, Kathleen Kinsmiller Fliehr, Ric Flair's adoptive mother, passed away.
January 2004: World Tag Team Championship Defense at Royal Rumble
In January 2004 at the Royal Rumble, Ric Flair and Batista successfully defended the World Tag Team Championship against the Dudley Boyz in a tables match.
February 2004: World Tag Team Championship Defense with Batista
In February 2004, Ric Flair successfully defended the World Tag Team Championship with Batista against The Dudley Boyz twice.
2004: Altercation with Mick Foley
In 2004, Ric Flair and Mick Foley had an altercation in Huntsville, leading to further tension between them.
2004: Ric Flair becomes a Grandfather
In 2004, Ric Flair became a grandfather at the age of 55, when his older daughter, Megan Fliehr Ketzner, gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Morgan Lee Ketzner, on May 9.
February 7, 2005: Singles Match Loss to Shawn Michaels in Japan
On February 7, 2005, Ric Flair lost to Shawn Michaels in a singles match on Raw, broadcast from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
December 2005: Arrest Warrants Issued After Road Rage Incident
In December 2005, arrest warrants were issued for Ric Flair after a road rage incident in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was charged with injury to personal property and simple assault and battery after allegedly grabbing a motorist by the neck and damaging his vehicle. The wrestler Edge later ridiculed the incident on WWE programming.
2005: Last Heel turn
Ric Flair turned heel for the first time since 2005.
May 27, 2006: Marriage to Tiffany VanDemark
On May 27, 2006, Ric Flair married his third wife, Tiffany VanDemark. Tiffany filed for divorce from Flair in 2008.
November 5, 2006: World Tag Team Championship Win at Cyber Sunday
On November 5, 2006, at Cyber Sunday, Ric Flair and Roddy Piper captured the World Tag Team Championship from the Spirit Squad.
November 26, 2006: Sole Survivor at Survivor Series
On November 26, 2006, at Survivor Series, Ric Flair was the sole survivor of a match against the Spirit Squad, teaming with Ron Simmons, Dusty Rhodes, and Sgt. Slaughter.
2006: "I Quit" Match at SummerSlam
In 2006, Ric Flair and Mick Foley worked a program where Flair took part in some of the bloodiest and most violent matches of his career, particularly at SummerSlam 2006, in an "I Quit" match featuring barbed wire and thumbtacks.
September 2007: Ric Flair Finance Opens
In September 2007, Ric Flair opened a financial business called Ric Flair Finance.
2007: Reid Flair Signs with WWE
Near the end of 2007, Ric Flair's younger son Reid Flair signed a developmental contract with WWE.
February 2008: Retirement Stipulation Matches in Japan
In February 2008, Ric Flair wrestled Mr. Kennedy and William Regal in Japan under the stipulation that he would retire if he lost.
March 31, 2008: Farewell Address on Raw
On March 31, 2008, Ric Flair delivered his farewell address on Raw. Many current and retired superstars came out to thank Flair, including Shawn Michaels, The Four Horsemen, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, and Vince McMahon.
June 16, 2008: Post Retirement Appearance on Raw
On June 16, 2008, Flair made his first post-retirement appearance on Raw to confront Chris Jericho about his actions during a rivalry with Shawn Michaels. He challenged Jericho to a fight in the parking lot, but Triple H stopped Jericho.
July 2008: Ric Flair Finance Files for Bankruptcy
In July 2008, Ric Flair Finance, the financial business opened by Flair in 2007, filed for bankruptcy.
2008: WWE Hall of Fame Induction
In 2008, Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for his individual career, marking a significant recognition of his contributions to professional wrestling.
2008: Tiffany Files for Divorce
In 2008, Tiffany VanDemark, Ric Flair's third wife, filed for divorce from him. The divorce was finalized in 2009.
2008: Support for Mike Huckabee
In the 2008 presidential election, Ric Flair declared his support for the Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
March 2009: Ring of Honor Debut
In March 2009, Ric Flair signed with Ring of Honor (ROH) and appeared at the Stylin' And Profilin' event, clearing the ring after an ROH World Championship match. He served as the company's ambassador and appeared on Ring of Honor Wrestling in May to cement his role.
June 2009: No Contact from WWE since June
In June 2009, Ric Flair had not had any contact from WWE. He had stated his loyalty to WWE but had waited six months for a call before deciding to sign with TNA.
November 11, 2009: Marriage to Jacqueline "Jackie" Beems
On November 11, 2009, Ric Flair married his fourth wife, Jacqueline "Jackie" Beems, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Flair filed for divorce from Beems in 2012.
November 21, 2009: Return to the Ring in Australia
On November 21, 2009, Ric Flair returned to the ring as a villain on the "Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin" tour of Australia, losing to Hulk Hogan in the main event of the first show.
January 4, 2010: TNA Debut on Impact!
On January 4, 2010, Ric Flair made his debut appearance for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on Impact!, arriving via limo and observing the main event between A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle. He later signed a one-year deal with the company.
2010: ROH Lawsuit
Following Flair's debut in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), his former employer, Ring of Honor (ROH), filed a lawsuit in 2010, alleging that Flair owed them over $40,000 and that he had not appeared at several events that he was contractually obligated to appear at. The lawsuit was never resolved.
January 25, 2011: Pulled out of TNA Maximum Wooo! Tour
On January 25, 2011, Ric Flair reportedly pulled out of TNA's Maximum Wooo! tour of Europe mid–tour after monetary disputes. He returned to the tour on January 27 in Glasgow, Scotland, and wrestled on January 29 in London.
May 12, 2011: Return to TNA Television
On May 12, 2011, Ric Flair returned to television in a non-wrestling role on an episode of Impact Wrestling.
May 2011: Warrant Issued for Contempt of Court
In May 2011, a warrant for Ric Flair's arrest was issued for being held in contempt of court for violating the terms of his settlement with Highspots Inc., who claimed Flair had given them the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt as collateral for a loan. If Flair had failed to comply, he could have potentially faced 90 days in jail.
September 2011: Last Match and Tricep Injury
In September 2011, Ric Flair had the last match of his career against Sting on an episode of Impact Wrestling, where he tore his left triceps on a superplex spot.
March 31, 2012: Second WWE Hall of Fame Induction
On March 31, 2012, Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for the second time, as part of The Four Horsemen, becoming the first two-time inductee.
April 2012: Contract Termination and Lawsuit
In April 2012, Ric Flair tried to have his TNA contract terminated, which led to TNA filing a lawsuit against WWE for contract tampering and eventually firing Flair on May 11.
May 17, 2012: Ashley Flair Signs with WWE
On May 17, 2012, it was reported that Ric Flair's daughter Ashley had signed with WWE, adopting the ring name Charlotte, which was later changed to include the Flair surname.
December 3, 2012: Announces Retirement
On December 3, 2012, Ric Flair announced in an interview that he would never wrestle again, owing chiefly to an on-air heart attack suffered by Jerry Lawler.
December 17, 2012: WWE Return at Slammy Awards
On December 17, 2012, Ric Flair returned to WWE at the Slammy Awards, presenting the Superstar of the Year award to John Cena, and later being assaulted by The Shield.
2012: Filing for Divorce from Jacqueline Beems
In 2012, Ric Flair filed for divorce from his fourth wife, Jacqueline "Jackie" Beems. The divorce was finalized in 2014.
2012: Second WWE Hall of Fame Induction
In 2012, Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time as a member of The Four Horsemen, further solidifying his legacy in professional wrestling.
March 29, 2013: Death of Reid Flair
On March 29, 2013, Ric Flair's son Reid died from a drug overdose of heroin, Xanax, and a muscle relaxant.
2013: Sporadic Appearances in WWE
Throughout 2013, Ric Flair appeared sporadically on WWE's main roster as The Miz's mentor, and also occasionally on NXT accompanying his daughter Charlotte.
April 28, 2014: Endorsement of The Shield
On April 28, 2014, Ric Flair appeared on Raw and showed his endorsement for The Shield, turning his back on Evolution.
2014: NXT Appearances
In 2014, Ric Flair occasionally appeared on NXT, accompanying his daughter Charlotte to the ring.
2014: Divorce from Jacqueline Beems Finalized
In 2014, Ric Flair's divorce from his fourth wife, Jacqueline "Jackie" Beems, was finalized after Flair filed in 2012.
August 2015: Interruption of Jon Stewart
In August 2015, Ric Flair interrupted Jon Stewart on Raw, telling him that the world title record would eventually be broken.
January 2016: Villainous Traits
In January 2016, Ric Flair and Charlotte began displaying villainous traits with Flair often getting involved in Charlotte's Divas Championship defenses, turning heel.
2016: Presidential Run Announcement
In 2016, Ric Flair announced that he was running for president, with rapper Waka Flocka Flame as his running mate. However, he did not file a Statement of Candidacy.
2016: Endorsement of Ted Cruz
In 2016, Ric Flair endorsed Ted Cruz during the presidential election.
August 14, 2017: Surgery for Bowel Obstruction
On August 14, 2017, Ric Flair underwent surgery in Georgia to remove an obstructive piece of his bowel. The surgery led to complications, including kidney failure, requiring dialysis and hospitalization. He was discharged from rehabilitation on September 21.
November 14, 2017: Appearance on Smackdown
On November 14, 2017, Ric Flair made a surprise appearance during SmackDown to congratulate his daughter Charlotte Flair, who won the SmackDown Women's Championship. They shared an emotional moment on the ramp and did his iconic strut.
September 12, 2018: Wedding Ceremony with Wendy Barlow
On September 12, 2018, Ric Flair had a non-legally binding wedding ceremony with Wendy Barlow at a resort in Florida. They later revealed they were never legally married.
2018: Reconciliation with Bruno Sammartino
Ric Flair and Bruno Sammartino reconciled and were friends until Sammartino's death in 2018, resolving a real-life disagreement over what reports call "the infamous backstage snub".
February 25, 2019: 70th Birthday Celebration
On February 25, 2019, WWE celebrated Ric Flair's 70th birthday on Raw. During the closing moments, Flair was attacked by Batista.
September 2019: Trademark Dispute over "The Man"
In September 2019, Ric Flair threatened legal action against WWE and filed a trademark for the term "The Man", which was being used by Becky Lynch. This caused a rift between Flair and his daughter Charlotte, who was Lynch's onscreen nemesis.
May 2020: Transfer of "The Man" Rights to WWE
In May 2020, Ric Flair transferred the rights to "The Man" nickname and gimmick to WWE. The terms of the transfer were undisclosed.
June 2020: Return as Heel
In June 2020, Ric Flair came back to WWE programming as a heel again, managing Randy Orton.
November 22, 2020: Survivor Series Appearance
On November 22, 2020, Ric Flair made an appearance at Survivor Series during The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.
January 4, 2021: Storyline with Lacey Evans
On January 4, 2021, Ric Flair started a storyline with Lacey Evans on Raw, where Evans flirted with him during a match against Women's Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Asuka. Flair managed Evans in subsequent weeks, often distracting his daughter Charlotte.
August 2, 2021: Release from WWE
On August 2, 2021, it was reported that Ric Flair had asked for and was granted his release from WWE, which WWE confirmed the following day.
August 14, 2021: Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide Debut
On August 14, 2021, Ric Flair made his Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) debut at Triplemanía XXIX, accompanying Andrade "El Ídolo" to ringside during his match against Kenny Omega and getting involved in the match.
August 29, 2021: Return to NWA
On August 29, 2021, Ric Flair made his return to the NWA at NWA 73, his first NWA appearance since his induction into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008. He thanked both NWA and WWE for memorable moments and emphasized the importance of having several companies in the industry.
2021: Feud with Becky Lynch
In 2021, Ric Flair began feuding with Becky Lynch, accusing her of using the term "The Man" without his permission, but their dispute was resolved with an apology from Flair in January 2023.
2021: Dark Side of the Ring Episode
In 2021, the Canadian documentary series Dark Side of the Ring aired an episode dedicated to the "Plane Ride from Hell", discussing the allegations against Ric Flair. Flair denied the allegations and was subsequently removed from the WWE's intro signature.
January 2022: Disclosure of Non-Legal Marriage
In January 2022, Ric Flair and Wendy Barlow revealed to People that they were never legally married, despite having a wedding ceremony in 2018.
January 31, 2022: Separation from Wendy Barlow
On January 31, 2022, Ric Flair announced that he and Wendy Barlow had separated.
May 2022: Reconciliation with Wendy Barlow
In May 2022, Ric Flair and Wendy Barlow reconciled after announcing their separation earlier in the year.
May 16, 2022: Announcement of Final Match
On May 16, 2022, it was announced that Ric Flair would wrestle his final match on July 31 in Nashville, called Ric Flair's Last Match.
July 2022: Launch of Wooooo! Wings
In July 2022, Ric Flair launched a virtual restaurant chain named "Wooooo! Wings" in Nashville, Tennessee, in partnership with Kitchen Data Systems, ahead of Ric Flair's Last Match. The chain's name is based on Flair's signature exclamation.
July 31, 2022: Heart Attack During Final Match
On July 31, 2022, Ric Flair suffered a heart attack during his final wrestling match.
August 6, 2022: Appearance at WWC Anniversary Show
On August 6, 2022, Ric Flair accompanied Andrade during his match against Carlito at the 49th WWC Anniversary show. Flair attempted to interfere before poking Primo Colón, causing Carlos Colón to attack him.
August 2022: Expansion of Wooooo! Wings
In August 2022, the virtual restaurant chain "Wooooo! Wings", launched by Ric Flair in July, expanded to six American cities. Conrad Thompson handled the launch and expansion.
October 2022: Launch of Ric Flair Drip
In October 2022, Ric Flair partnered with Mike Tyson and Verano Holdings Corp. to launch his own cannabis line called the "Ric Flair Drip" under Tyson's cannabis brand "Tyson 2.0". The line launched in Arizona, Nevada, and California.
January 2023: Apology to Becky Lynch
In January 2023, Ric Flair apologized to Becky Lynch, resolving their dispute over the use of the term "The Man."
July 2023: Release of Wooooo! Energy
In July 2023, Ric Flair partnered with Carma HoldCo and LGNDS to release a mushroom-infused energy drink called Wooooo! Energy.
September 2024: Separation from Wendy Barlow (again)
In September 2024, Ric Flair and Wendy Barlow separated again.
October 26, 2024: Death of Sebastian Kidder
On October 26, 2024, Sebastian Kidder, Ric Flair's stepson through his relationship with Barlow, died by suicide.
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