History of Ric Flair in Timeline
Ric Flair, born Richard Morgan Fliehr, is a highly celebrated retired professional wrestler. Revered by many as the greatest of all time, his career stretched across five decades. Flair is known for his flamboyant persona, in-ring skills, and numerous world championships across various wrestling promotions, solidifying his place as an icon in professional wrestling history.
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: Richard Morgan Fliehr's Birth
On February 25, 1949, Richard Morgan Fliehr, known professionally as Ric Flair, was born. He became a renowned American retired professional wrestler.
1971: Training with Verne Gagne
In the winter of 1971, Ric Flair began training as a professional wrestler with Verne Gagne at Gagne's wrestling camp outside Minneapolis.
December 10, 1972: Ric Flair's Wrestling Debut
On December 10, 1972, Ric Flair made his professional wrestling debut in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, battling George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski to a draw.
1973: First Appearances in Japan
In 1973, Ric Flair made his first appearances in Japan with International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE), competing in the "Big Summer Series".
May 13, 1974: Mid-Atlantic Region Debut
On May 13, 1974, Ric Flair debuted in Jim Crockett's Mid-Atlantic region, defeating Abe Jacobs.
February 9, 1975: First Singles Title Win
On February 9, 1975, Ric Flair won his first singles title, beating 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, which nearly ended his career due to breaking his back in three places.
January 1976: Return to Wrestling After Plane Crash
In January 1976, just three months after a near-fatal plane crash, Ric Flair returned to wrestling, resuming his feud with Wahoo McDaniel.
May 3, 1976: Lost Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title
On May 3, 1976, Ric Flair lost the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title 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.
March 30, 1978: Stripped of World Tag Team Championship
On March 30, 1978, Ric Flair and Greg Valentine were stripped of the World Tag Team Championship by NWA management.
April 27, 1978: Flair challenges for NWA United National Championship
On April 27, 1978, Ric Flair challenged for the NWA United National Championship in a losing effort while working for Jim Crockett Jr.'s Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.
April 1, 1979: Third United States Heavyweight Championship
On April 1, 1979, Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat 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 his fourth United States Heavyweight Championship.
January 27, 1981: Lost United States Heavyweight Championship
On January 27, 1981, Ric Flair lost the United States Heavyweight Championship to Roddy Piper in a title versus title match.
September 17, 1981: First NWA World Heavyweight Championship
On September 17, 1981, Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes to win his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
January 6, 1983: Unsanctioned Title Loss to Carlos Colón Sr.
On January 6, 1983, Ric Flair had an unsanctioned title loss to Carlos Colón Sr. in Puerto Rico.
March 1984: Title Exchange with Harley Race
In March 1984, Ric Flair lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Harley Race in New Zealand and won it back three days later in Singapore.
October 21, 1985: Flair wrestles Martel in double title match
On October 21, 1985, Ric Flair wrestled Rick Martel in a double title match where he defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and challenged for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, but the match ended in a double countout.
1985: Formation of The Four Horsemen
In late 1985, Ric Flair formed The Four Horsemen with Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, Tully Blanchard, and J.J. Dillon, marking a significant alliance in professional wrestling.
July 26, 1986: Lost NWA 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 to Ron Garvin
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 from Garvin
On November 26, 1987, Ric Flair defeated Ron Garvin at Starrcade in Chicago to regain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
March 1988: NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Ric Flair faced Sting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Clash of the Champions I in March 1988
February 20, 1989: 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, beginning a heated rivalry.
May 7, 1989: Flair defeats Steamboat to regain NWA World Heavyweight Championship
On May 7, 1989, Ric Flair regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ricky Steamboat at WrestleWar, in a match that 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, Ric Flair defeated Terry Funk at The Great American Bash, leading to a continued feud and the reformation of The Four Horsemen.
July 7, 1990: Flair drops the title to Sting at The Great American Bash
On July 7, 1990, Ric Flair dropped the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Sting at The Great American Bash.
January 11, 1991: Flair regains title from Sting
On January 11, 1991, after Sting was unmasked as The Black Scorpion at Starrcade in 1990, Ric Flair regained the title from Sting.
May 19, 1991: Flair defeats Fujinami at SuperBrawl I
On May 19, 1991, Ric Flair defeated Tatsumi Fujinami at SuperBrawl I in St. Petersburg, Florida to reclaim the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
August 1991: Flair signs with WWF
In August 1991, Ric Flair signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), marking a significant shift in his career.
April 1992: Flair tours Japan with SWS
In April 1992, Ric Flair toured Japan with the Super World of Sports (SWS) promotion as part of an agreement between the WWF and SWS.
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 Tenryu in Japan
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: Headlined WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble
In 1992, Ric Flair co-headlined WrestleMania after winning that year's Royal Rumble, a significant milestone in his WWF career.
January 1993: Flair loses to Mr. Perfect in Loser Leaves the WWF match
In January 1993, Ric Flair appeared in the Royal Rumble in January 1993, then lost a Loser Leaves the WWF match to Mr. Perfect on the January 25 episode of Monday Night Raw.
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.
February 1993: Flair returns to WCW
In February 1993, Ric Flair triumphantly returned to WCW as a hero, marking a new chapter in his career.
September 1993: WCW leaves the NWA
In September 1993 WCW finally left the NWA and Ric Flair lost the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship to "Ravishing Rick" Rude at Fall Brawl
October 1993: Rivalry with Bret Hart Begins
In October 1993, Bret Hart initiated an off-screen rivalry with Ric Flair by criticizing Flair's wrestling ability and WCW in a radio interview.
June 1994: Flair defeats Sting in unification match
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.
January 1995: Flair returns to WCW television
In January 1995, Ric Flair returned to WCW television for an interview at Clash of the Champions XXX after taking a few months off.
April 29, 1995: Flair Wrestles 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, losing the match. It was a joint show between New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling.
August 4, 1995: Collision in Korea Broadcast
On August 4, 1995, the event where Flair wrestled Antonio Inoki in North Korea was broadcast on pay-per-view under the title of Collision in Korea.
December 1995: Flair Wins WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade
In December 1995 at Starrcade, Ric Flair won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Lex Luger and Sting, then Savage with help from the Four Horsemen.
July 17, 1996: Flair challenges Hashimoto for IWGP Heavyweight Championship
On July 17, 1996, Ric Flair challenged Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a losing effort in NJPW.
September 1996: Flair and Anderson team with Sting and Luger vs nWo in WarGames match
In September 1996, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson teamed with Sting and Lex Luger to lose to the nWo in the WarGames match at Fall Brawl when Luger submitted to the impostor Sting's Scorpion Deathlock.
October 1996: Jeff Jarrett Joins WCW, Expresses Desire to Join the Four Horsemen
In October 1996, Jeff Jarrett moved to WCW from the WWF, expressed his desire to join the Four Horsemen, gaining Ric Flair's support but facing opposition from other members.
February 1997: Jeff Jarrett Joins the Four Horsemen
In February 1997, Ric Flair allowed Jeff Jarrett to join the Four Horsemen, despite the other members' disapproval.
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 his presence caused.
September 1997: Curt Hennig Turns on Flair and the Four Horsemen
In September 1997, Curt Hennig, after being offered a spot in The Four Horsemen, turned on Flair and The Four Horsemen at Fall Brawl, slamming the cage door onto Flair's head.
April 9, 1998: Flair no-shows Thunder episode, lawsuit filed
On April 9, 1998, Ric Flair no-showed a live episode of Thunder, leading to a lawsuit filed by Eric Bischoff.
April 1998: Flair Disappears from WCW Television Due to Lawsuit
In April 1998, Ric Flair disappeared from WCW television due to a lawsuit filed by Eric Bischoff.
September 14, 1998: Flair Returns to WCW, Reforms Four Horsemen
On September 14, 1998, Ric Flair made a surprise return to WCW and ceremoniously reformed the Four Horsemen.
December 1998: Flair Loses to Bischoff at Starrcade
In December 1998, Ric Flair lost to Eric Bischoff at Starrcade after interference from Curt Hennig.
January 17, 1999: Tension with Hulk Hogan After Match
On January 17, 1999, tension arose between Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan following a tag team match at WCW's Souled Out pay-per-view.
1999: Mick Foley's Criticism in Autobiography
In 1999, Mick Foley criticized Ric Flair's booking decisions in his autobiography, leading to tension between the two.
2000: Potential Gubernatorial Run
In 2000, Ric Flair explored the possibility of running for governor of North Carolina but ultimately did not file the necessary paperwork.
2000: Flair Wins WCW World Heavyweight Championship Twice
In 2000, Ric Flair won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice, marking his last world title wins.
2000: Death of Richard Reid Fliehr
In 2000, Richard Reid Fliehr, Ric Flair's adoptive father, passed away.
March 2001: WCW purchased by WWF
In March 2001, WCW was purchased by the WWF. Flair was the leader of the villainous group called the Magnificent Seven.
March 21, 2001: Last Appearance on WCW Thunder
On March 21, 2001, Ric Flair made his last appearance on TBS on WCW Thunder before appearing again on AEW Dynamite in 2023.
March 26, 2001: Final episode of WCW Monday Nitro appearance
Ric Flair wrestled in the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro on March 26, 2001 with Sting.
November 19, 2001: Flair Returns to WWF as Co-Owner
On November 19, 2001, Ric Flair returned to the WWF as the co-owner of the company.
January 20, 2002: Flair Defeats McMahon at Royal Rumble
On January 20, 2002, Ric Flair defeated Vince McMahon in a Street Fight at the Royal Rumble.
September 2002: Flair helps Triple H win at Unforgiven, Turning Heel
In September 2002 at Unforgiven, Ric Flair turned heel by helping Triple H win against Rob Van Dam by hitting Van Dam with a sledgehammer.
2002: Flair Turns Face After Vengeance
After Vengeance in 2002, Ric Flair turned face for the first time since 2002.
2002: "Plane Ride from Hell" Incident
In 2002, Ric Flair was involved in the infamous "Plane Ride from Hell" incident, accused of inappropriate behavior towards flight attendants, leading to legal action against WWE that was later settled out of court.
June 2003: Flair defeats 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 Kathleen Kinsmiller Fliehr
In 2003, Kathleen Kinsmiller Fliehr, Ric Flair's adoptive mother, passed away.
January 2004: Flair and Batista Defend World Tag Team Championship 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: Flair Successfully Defends World Tag Team Championship 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 had an altercation with Mick Foley in Huntsville, escalating their ongoing issues.
February 7, 2005: Flair Loses 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: Road Rage Incident and Arrest Warrant
In December 2005, an arrest warrant was issued for Ric Flair following a road rage incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he allegedly assaulted a motorist and damaged their vehicle. He was charged with misdemeanors, and the incident was mocked on WWE programming.
2005: Feud with Edge
In 2005, Ric Flair had a feud with Edge that culminated in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match on Raw in early 2006, which Flair lost.
November 5, 2006: Flair and Piper Capture World Tag Team Championship
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: Flair 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.
2006: Program with Mick Foley
In 2006, Ric Flair and Mick Foley worked a program culminating in a violent "I Quit" match at SummerSlam, 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: Flair Drafted to SmackDown!
In 2007, Ric Flair was drafted to the SmackDown! brand as part of the WWE draft.
February 2008: Career Threatening 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: Flair Delivers Farewell Address
On the March 31, 2008 episode of Raw, Ric Flair delivered his farewell address.
June 16, 2008: Flair Confronts Chris Jericho on Raw
On June 16, 2008, Ric Flair made his first post retirement appearance on Raw to confront Chris Jericho about his actions during a rivalry with Shawn Michaels.
July 2008: Ric Flair Finance Files for Bankruptcy
In July 2008, Ric Flair Finance 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 honor and recognition of his contributions to professional wrestling.
2008: Support for Mike Huckabee
In the 2008 presidential election, Ric Flair declared his support for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, praising him as a "quality person" with a "great vision" for the country.
March 2009: Ring of Honor Appearance
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 ended with a run-in, marking the start of his involvement with the company.
June 2009: No Contact From WWE
In June 2009, Ric Flair had not had any contact from WWE, which eventually led him to sign with TNA after waiting for a call for six months.
November 21, 2009: Hulkamania Tour Loss
On November 21, 2009, Ric Flair returned to the ring as a villain, losing to Hulk Hogan in the main event of the first show of the "Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin" tour of Australia.
January 4, 2010: TNA Debut
On January 4, 2010, Ric Flair debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), observing the main event and later signing a one-year deal with the company.
2010: Lawsuit from Ring of Honor
In 2010, Ring of Honor (ROH) filed a lawsuit against Ric Flair, alleging that he owed them over $40,000 and had not appeared at several contractually obligated events. The lawsuit was never resolved.
January 25, 2011: TNA Tour Dispute
On January 25, 2011, Ric Flair reportedly pulled out of TNA's Maximum Wooo! tour of Europe mid-tour after monetary disputes.
May 12, 2011: TNA Return
On May 12, 2011, Ric Flair returned to television in a non-wrestling role on an episode of Impact Wrestling.
May 2011: Arrest Warrant for Contempt of Court
In May 2011, an arrest warrant was issued for Ric Flair for being held in contempt of court, accused of violating the terms of a settlement with Highspots Inc., who claimed Flair used the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt as collateral for a loan.
September 2011: Torn Tricep Injury
During a match on the September 2011 Impact Wrestling episode, Ric Flair tore his left triceps on a superplex spot, sidelining him indefinitely from in-ring action.
March 31, 2012: WWE Hall of Fame Induction
On March 31, 2012, Ric Flair became the first person to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, as part of The Four Horsemen.
April 2012: Contract Termination Request
In April 2012, Ric Flair tried to have his TNA contract terminated, leading to a lawsuit and his eventual firing in May.
May 17, 2012: Ashley Flair signs with WWE
On May 17, 2012, Ashley Flair, Ric Flair's daughter, signed with WWE. She adopted the ring name Charlotte, which was later changed to include the Flair surname.
December 3, 2012: Retirement Announcement
On December 3, 2012, Ric Flair announced he would never wrestle again, chiefly due to Jerry Lawler's on-air heart attack.
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 cementing his legacy in professional wrestling.
March 29, 2013: Reid Flair's Death
On March 29, 2013, Reid Flair, Ric Flair's son, passed away due to a drug overdose involving heroin, Xanax, and a muscle relaxant.
2013: Mentor Role
Throughout 2013, Ric Flair appeared sporadically on the main roster as The Miz's mentor.
April 28, 2014: Endorsement of The Shield
On April 28, 2014, Ric Flair appeared on Raw, endorsing The Shield against Evolution, effectively turning his back on his old teammates.
2014: NXT Appearances
In 2013 and 2014, Ric Flair occasionally appeared on NXT, accompanying his daughter Charlotte to the ring.
August 2015: Interruption of Jon Stewart
In August 2015, Ric Flair interrupted Jon Stewart on Raw, discussing his world title record.
January 2016: Villainous Traits with Charlotte
In January 2016, Ric Flair and Charlotte began displaying villainous traits, with Flair often getting involved in Charlotte's defenses.
2016: Presidential Candidacy Announcement
In 2016, Ric Flair announced his candidacy for president, with rapper Waka Flocka Flame as his running mate. However, he did not officially file a Statement of Candidacy.
2016: Endorsement of Ted Cruz
In 2016, Ric Flair endorsed Ted Cruz during the presidential election.
August 14, 2017: Bowel Obstruction Surgery
On August 14, 2017, Ric Flair underwent surgery in Georgia to remove an obstructive piece of his bowel, which led to kidney failure, dialysis, and hospitalization. He was discharged from rehabilitation on September 21.
November 14, 2017: SmackDown Appearance
On the November 14, 2017, episode of SmackDown, Ric Flair appeared to congratulate his daughter Charlotte Flair, who won the SmackDown Women's Championship.
2018: Reconciliation and Friendship with Bruno Sammartino
Ric Flair and Bruno Sammartino reconciled after a long-standing disagreement. They were friends until Sammartino's death in 2018.
February 25, 2019: 70th Birthday Celebration
On February 25, 2019, WWE celebrated Ric Flair's 70th birthday on Raw, during which he 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 Man", used by Becky Lynch, causing tension with his daughter Charlotte.
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 under undisclosed terms.
June 2020: Managerial Role
In June 2020, Ric Flair came back to WWE programming as a heel, managing Randy Orton.
November 22, 2020: Survivor Series Appearance
On November 22, 2020, Ric Flair appeared at Survivor Series during The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.
January 4, 2021: Storyline with Lacey Evans
On January 4, 2021, Ric Flair began a storyline with Lacey Evans on Raw, involving her flirting with Flair.
August 2, 2021: WWE Release
On August 2, 2021, Ric Flair asked for and was granted his release from WWE.
August 14, 2021: AAA Debut
On August 14, 2021, Ric Flair made his Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) debut, accompanying Andrade El Ídolo to ringside and getting involved in the match.
August 29, 2021: NWA Return at NWA 73
On August 29, 2021, Ric Flair made his return to the NWA at NWA 73, thanking both the NWA and WWE for memorable moments.
2021: Feud with Becky Lynch
In 2021, Ric Flair began feuding with Becky Lynch, accusing her of using "The Man" nickname without his permission.
2021: Allegations Discussed on Dark Side of the Ring
In 2021, the allegations from the "Plane Ride from Hell" were discussed on Dark Side of the Ring, leading to Ric Flair releasing a statement denying the accusations and being removed from WWE's intro signature.
May 16, 2022: Final Match Announcement
On May 16, 2022, it was announced that Ric Flair would wrestle his final match on July 31 in Nashville.
July 31, 2022: Heart Attack During Final Match
On July 31, 2022, Ric Flair suffered a heart attack during what was billed as his final wrestling match.
August 6, 2022: WWC Anniversary Appearance
On August 6, 2022, Ric Flair accompanied Andrade at the WWC Anniversary show and got involved in a physical altercation.
September 26, 2022: 50th Anniversary Celebration
During the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Ric Flair's debut in professional wrestling on September 26, 2022, Flair announced that he would never retire.
January 2023: Resolution of Dispute with Becky Lynch
In January 2023, Ric Flair resolved his dispute with Becky Lynch after apologizing to her.
January 2023: Regret Over Final Match
In January 2023, Ric Flair stated that he did not want to wrestle again aside from wanting to redo the Last Match.
October 25, 2023: AEW Dynamite Appearance
On the October 25, 2023, episode of AEW Dynamite, Ric Flair appeared as a "gift" from Tony Khan to Sting for his upcoming retirement.
November 2, 2023: AEW Contract Signing
On November 2, 2023, it was announced that Ric Flair signed a multi-year deal with AEW.
November 18, 2023: AEW PPV Debut
On November 18, 2023, Ric Flair made his AEW PPV debut at Full Gear, accompanying Sting, Darby Allin and Adam Copeland to the ring.
January 6, 2024: AEW Collision Appearance
On January 6, 2024, Ric Flair accompanied Sting and Allin to the ring on AEW Collision and later delivered a promo with Sting.
January 10, 2024: In-Ring Chops on AEW
On January 10, 2024, Ric Flair delivered chops inside an AEW ring for the first time during Sting and Allin's match against Powerhouse Hobbs and Konosuke Takeshita.
January 2024: Definite Retirement Statement
In January 2024, Ric Flair stated "no return to the ring ever".
March 3, 2024: AEW Revolution Appearance
On March 3, 2024, Ric Flair accompanied Sting and Allin to the ring at the Revolution pay-per-view and received superkicks from The Young Bucks.
July 12, 2024: Parting Ways with AEW
On July 12, 2024, it was reported that Ric Flair had parted ways with AEW.
October 26, 2024: Sebastian Kidder's Death
On October 26, 2024, Sebastian Kidder, Ric Flair's stepson through his relationship with Barlow, died by suicide from a gunshot wound.
