History of Ric Flair in Timeline
Ric Flair, born Richard Morgan Fliehr, is a highly celebrated, now-retired American professional wrestler. Often considered the greatest of all time by peers and journalists, his career spanned an impressive 50 years. Flair's wrestling persona was characterized by his flamboyant style, signature 'Wooo!' catchphrase, and in-ring performances. He achieved significant success, winning numerous championships across various wrestling promotions, solidifying his legacy as a wrestling icon.
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 born
On February 25, 1949, Richard Morgan Fliehr, known professionally as Ric Flair, was born. He is regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
August 28, 1971: Marriage to Leslie Goodman
On August 28, 1971, Ric Flair married his first wife, Leslie Goodman. They had two children, Megan and David.
1971: Trained as a professional wrestler 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, alongside other wrestlers.
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 and adopted 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), competing in IWE's "Big Summer Series".
May 13, 1974: Mid-Atlantic 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: Won Mid-Atlantic Television Championship
On February 9, 1975, Ric Flair captured his first singles title, beating Paul Jones for the Mid-Atlantic Television Championship.
October 4, 1975: Plane crash
On October 4, 1975, Ric Flair was involved in a serious plane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina, which nearly ended his career. He broke his back in three places.
January 1976: Returned to wrestling
In January 1976, Ric Flair returned to the ring after recovering from a broken back, resuming his feud with Wahoo McDaniel.
May 3, 1976: Lost Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship
On May 3, 1976, Ric Flair lost the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship to Wahoo McDaniel.
April 4, 1977: Won 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 the World 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 NWA United National Championship
On April 27, 1978, Ric Flair challenged for the NWA United National Championship, but was unsuccessful.
April 1, 1979: Won 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: Won 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 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 United States Heavyweight Championship 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 to win his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
January 6, 1983: Unsanctioned title loss to Carlos Colón Sr.
On January 6, 1983, Ric Flair lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in an unsanctioned title loss to Carlos Colón Sr. in Puerto Rico.
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 at the wedding. They had two children, Ashley and Reid.
March 1984: Title exchange with Harley Race
In March 1984, Ric Flair lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Harley Race in New Zealand, but regained it in Singapore three days later.
October 21, 1985: Double Title Match: Flair vs. Martel
On October 21, 1985, Ric Flair wrestled Rick Martel in a double title match, defending the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and challenging for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, but the match ended in a double countout.
July 26, 1986: Lost NWA World Heavyweight Championship 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, at WCW's first pay-per-view event, Starrcade in Chicago, Ric Flair defeated Ron Garvin to regain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
February 20, 1989: Flair vs. Steamboat at Chi-Town Rumble
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 Regains Title at WrestleWar
On May 7, 1989, at WrestleWar, Ric Flair regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ricky Steamboat 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, initiating a feud that would continue through the summer.
July 7, 1990: Flair Loses Title to Sting at The Great American Bash
On July 7, 1990, Ric Flair lost 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 NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Sting.
May 19, 1991: Flair Defeats Fujinami at SuperBrawl I
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 WWF
In August 1991, Ric Flair signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), marking a significant shift in his career.
February 1992: Flair vs. Piper Title Matches
In February 1992, Ric Flair faced Intercontinental Champion Roddy Piper in a series of inconclusive title-versus-title matches.
April 1992: Tour of 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, participating in several matches.
July 1992: Distrust Sown Between Savage and Warrior
In July 1992, as Randy Savage prepared to defend the title against The Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam, Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect sowed distrust between the two, leading to an attack on both wrestlers.
September 15, 1992: Flair Defends WWF Championship Against 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: Survivor Series Match
In November 1992, Ric Flair teamed with Razor Ramon to take on Randy Savage and Mr. Perfect at the Survivor Series.
1992: Co-headlined Wrestlemania
In 1992, Ric Flair co-headlined Wrestlemania, after winning that year's Royal Rumble.
January 1993: Royal Rumble Appearance
In January 1993, Ric Flair appeared in the Royal Rumble.
February 11, 1993: Flair's Last WWF Appearance
On February 11, 1993, Ric Flair made his last appearance with the WWF before returning to WCW, marking the end of his WWF run.
February 1993: Triumphant Return to WCW
In February 1993, Ric Flair triumphantly returned to WCW as a hero, hosting a talk show due to a "no-compete" clause.
September 1993: WCW Leaves the NWA
In September 1993, WCW left the NWA and at Fall Brawl, Ric Flair lost the title, now rebranded the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship, to "Ravishing Rick" Rude.
October 1993: Bret Hart criticizes Flair
In October 1993, Bret Hart gave a radio interview in which he said Ric Flair "sucks" and described WCW as "minor league", leading to an off-screen rivalry between them.
June 1994: WCW Championship Unification and Heel Turn
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 his heel turn after his alliance with Sherri was revealed. Flair then feuded with Hulk Hogan, eventually losing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to him in July at Bash at the Beach.
January 1995: Return to WCW Television and Involvement with Vader
In January 1995, Flair returned to WCW television for an interview at Clash of the Champions XXX. Following the interview, Flair attacked Hogan at Superbrawl V. Flair began managing Vader and had a brief angle where he was "possessed," even attacking Randy Savage at Uncensored.
April 29, 1995: Wrestling 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 under a joint show between New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling.
August 4, 1995: Collision in Korea Broadcast
On August 4, 1995, the wrestling event where Ric Flair wrestled Antonio Inoki in Pyongyang, North Korea, was broadcast on pay-per-view under the title of Collision in Korea.
December 1995: WCW World Heavyweight Championship Win at Starrcade
In December 1995, at Starrcade, Flair defeated Lex Luger and Sting by countout, then defeated Randy Savage after Arn Anderson knocked out Savage with brass knuckles. This allowed Flair to pin Savage and win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
1995: Nitro's Second Match Against Sting
During 1995, Ric Flair faced Sting in their second match on Nitro, an event that would later be recreated in 2001 during Flair's final Nitro match.
September 1996: WarGames Match at Fall Brawl
In September 1996, Flair and 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 at Fall Brawl when Luger submitted to the impostor Sting's Scorpion Deathlock.
October 1996: Jeff Jarrett's Arrival and Desire to Join the Four Horsemen
In October 1996, Jeff Jarrett came over to WCW from the WWF and expressed his desire to join the Four Horsemen. Ric Flair immediately became a fan, which created tension within the group.
1996: Appearance on Baywatch
In 1996, Ric Flair, along with other WCW wrestlers, made an appearance as himself in an episode of Baywatch.
1996: Changes in the Four Horsemen
In 1996, during Flair's WCW run, Brian Pillman left WCW and Steve "Mongo" McMichael became the fourth member of the Four Horsemen.
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 Jarrett's presence caused within the group.
September 1997: Curt Hennig's Betrayal at Fall Brawl
In September 1997, at Fall Brawl, Curt Hennig, after being offered a spot in The Four Horsemen, turned on Flair and The Four Horsemen by slamming the cage door onto Flair's head.
1997: nWo and Miss Elizabeth's Alliances
In 1997, Savage's manager Miss Elizabeth turned against him and became Flair's valet. She was later taken by the nWo in the fall and eventually returned as Savage's valet when he joined the nWo.
1997: Role in the NWO Invasion Storyline
Throughout 1997, Flair played a major role in the New World Order (nWo) invasion storyline, leading the war against Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
April 9, 1998: Ric Flair No-Shows Thunder Episode
On April 9, 1998, Ric Flair no-showed a live episode of Thunder in Tallahassee, Florida, leading to a lawsuit filed by Eric Bischoff.
April 1998: Disappearance from WCW Television
In April 1998, Ric Flair disappeared from WCW television due to a lawsuit filed by Eric Bischoff.
September 14, 1998: Surprise Return and Four Horsemen Reformation
On September 14, 1998, Ric Flair made a surprise return to WCW and ceremoniously reformed the Four Horsemen with Steve McMichael, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit.
December 1998: Match Against Bischoff at Starrcade
In December 1998, Ric Flair faced Eric Bischoff at Starrcade, but Bischoff won due to interference from Curt Hennig.
1998: Appearances of Elizabeth Harrell and children in WCW begin
In 1998, Elizabeth Harrell (Beth), Ric Flair's second wife, and their children began making periodic appearances in WCW.
1998: Stone Cold Steve Austin's Criticism
In 1998, wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin stated that Ric Flair had reached the "time to hang it up", as he had not been great for a "long time".
January 17, 1999: Tension with Hulk Hogan following Souled Out
On January 17, 1999, following a tag team match at WCW's Souled Out pay-per-view, tension arose between Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, stemming from an incident in Charleston, West Virginia.
1999: Article Criticizing Flair's Legacy
In 1999, John Molinaro of Slam! Sports wrote an article titled, "Ric Flair is tarnishing his legacy", expressing concerns about Flair's prestige.
1999: Mick Foley criticizes Flair's booking
In 1999, Mick Foley criticized Ric Flair's booking decisions in his autobiography, leading to tension between them.
1999: Named Greatest NWA World Heavyweight Champion of All Time
In 1999, Ric Flair was named the greatest NWA World Heavyweight Champion of all time by a large group of professional wrestling experts, analysts, and historians.
1999: David Flair joins WCW
In 1999, Ric Flair's elder son, David, began working for WCW as a professional wrestler.
2000: WCW World Heavyweight Championship Wins
During 2000, Ric Flair won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice during the company's last full year of operation.
2000: WCW Appearances of Elizabeth Harrell and children end
In 2000, Elizabeth Harrell (Beth), Ric Flair's second wife, and their children ended making periodic appearances in WCW.
2000: Exploration of running for governor
In 2000, Ric Flair explored the possibility of running for governor of North Carolina, but never filed the necessary papers.
2000: Death of Richard Reid Fliehr
In 2000, Richard Reid Fliehr, Ric Flair's adoptive father, passed away.
March 2001: Final Match of Nitro Against Sting
In March 2001, when WCW was purchased by the WWF, Ric Flair, as the leader of the Magnificent Seven, lost the final match of Nitro to Sting, recreating their second match from Nitro in 1995.
March 21, 2001: Flair's Previous Appearance on TBS
On March 21, 2001, Ric Flair last appeared on TBS, on the episode of WCW Thunder.
March 26, 2001: Wrestled in the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro
On March 26, 2001, Ric Flair wrestled in the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro.
November 19, 2001: Return to WWF as Co-Owner
On November 19, 2001, Ric Flair reappeared on Raw following the end of the "WCW/ECW Invasion" and was introduced as the co-owner of the WWF.
2001: David Flair leaves WCW
In 2001, Ric Flair's elder son, David, left WCW as a professional wrestler.
January 20, 2002: Victory over Vince McMahon at Royal Rumble
On January 20, 2002, Ric Flair defeated Vince McMahon in a Street Fight at the Royal Rumble.
September 2002: Heel Turn at Unforgiven
In September 2002 at Unforgiven, during a World Heavyweight Championship match between Triple H and Rob Van Dam, Flair turned heel by attacking Van Dam, allowing Triple H to win.
2002: Turning Face and Intercontinental Championship Win
After Vengeance, in 2002, Triple H took time off, and Flair turned face for the first time since 2002 before winning the Intercontinental Championship from Carlito at Unforgiven.
2002: "Plane Ride from Hell" incident
In 2002, Ric Flair was involved in the infamous "Plane Ride from Hell", accused of inappropriate behavior towards flight attendants, leading to a lawsuit that was settled out of court.
2002: Named Greatest Professional Wrestler of All Time in Book
In 2002, Ric Flair was named the greatest professional wrestler of all time in the book The Top 100 Wrestlers of All Time by John Molinaro, edited by Dave Meltzer and Jeff Marek.
2002: David Flair's WWF Appearances
In 2002, Ric Flair's elder son David made two televised appearances in the WWF during the run-up to WrestleMania X8.
June 2003: Victory Over Shawn Michaels at Bad Blood
In June 2003 at Bad Blood, Ric Flair defeated Shawn Michaels after Randy Orton interfered by striking Michaels with a chair.
2003: Death of Kathleen Kinsmiller Fliehr
In 2003, Ric Flair's adoptive mother, Kathleen Kinsmiller Fliehr, 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 Defenses in Japan
In February 2004, Ric Flair successfully defended the World Tag Team Championship with Batista against The Dudley Boyz twice in Japan.
June 29, 2004: Release of Autobiography
On June 29, 2004, Ric Flair released his autobiography, To Be the Man, named after his famous catchphrase.
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.
2004: Altercation with Mick Foley
In 2004, Ric Flair had an altercation with Mick Foley in Huntsville, escalating their ongoing issues.
February 7, 2005: Singles Match Loss to Shawn Michaels in Japan
On February 7, 2005, during an episode of Raw broadcast from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, Ric Flair lost to Shawn Michaels in a singles match.
December 2005: Arrest warrants issued for Flair after road rage incident
In December 2005, arrest warrants were issued for Ric Flair after a road rage incident in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he allegedly grabbed a motorist by the neck and damaged his vehicle. He was charged with two misdemeanors.
2005: Feud with Edge
In 2005, Flair had a feud with Edge that culminated in a WWE Championship Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match on Raw in early 2006, which Flair lost.
2005: Last Heel turn until 2016
Ric Flair had not turned heel since 2005, until he turned heel again in January 2016.
May 27, 2006: Marriage to Tiffany VanDemark
On May 27, 2006, Ric Flair married his third wife, Tiffany VanDemark, who was a fitness competitor.
November 5, 2006: World Tag Team Championship Win with Roddy Piper
On November 5, 2006, at Cyber Sunday, Ric Flair captured the World Tag Team Championship from the Spirit Squad with Roddy Piper.
November 26, 2006: Sole Survivor at Survivor Series
On November 26, 2006, at Survivor Series, Ric Flair was the sole survivor of a match featuring himself, Ron Simmons, Dusty Rhodes, and Sgt. Slaughter versus the Spirit Squad.
2006: Pro Wrestling Illustrated Writer's Comment
In 2006, Pro Wrestling Illustrated writer Frank Ingiosi suggested that Ric Flair had a "personal vendetta against his legend".
2006: Intercontinental Championship Loss and Feud with Mick Foley
In 2006, Ric Flair lost the Intercontinental Championship to Shelton Benjamin on the February 20th episode of Raw and later feuded with Mick Foley, defeating him at Vengeance and SummerSlam.
2006: "I Quit" match against Mick Foley
In 2006, Ric Flair worked a program with Mick Foley, culminating in an "I Quit" match at SummerSlam 2006 featuring barbed wire and thumbtacks.
September 2007: Opening of Ric Flair Finance
In September 2007, Ric Flair opened a financial business called Ric Flair Finance.
2007: Drafted to SmackDown! and Feud with Montel Vontavious Porter
In 2007, Ric Flair was drafted to the SmackDown! brand on June 11 and feuded with Montel Vontavious Porter, unsuccessfully challenging him for the WWE United States Championship at Vengeance: Night of Champions. He later teamed with Batista to feud with The Great Khali but was "injured" during a match.
2007: Reid Flair signs with WWE
Near the end of 2007, Ric Flair's younger son, Reid, 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, with the stipulation that he would retire if he lost either match.
February 18, 2008: Flair Announced as First Inductee into WWE Hall of Fame
On February 18, 2008, Shawn Michaels announced Ric Flair as the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2008.
March 31, 2008: Flair's 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 him, including Shawn Michaels, the Four Horsemen, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, and Chris Jericho, followed by The Undertaker and Vince McMahon. The fans gave Flair a standing ovation.
April 15, 2008: Flair Honored in Congress
On April 15, 2008, Ric Flair was honored in Congress by Representative Sue Myrick from North Carolina, who praised his career and contributions to the state.
June 16, 2008: Post-Retirement Appearance on Raw
On June 16, 2008, Ric Flair made his first post retirement appearance on Raw. He confronted Chris Jericho about his actions during a rivalry with Shawn Michaels and 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 filed for bankruptcy.
September 29, 2008: Flair's Robe Placed in National Museum of American History
On September 29, 2008, it was announced that Ric Flair's sequin-covered robe from WrestleMania XXIV would be placed in the pop culture section of the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
2008: Original Retirement at Age 59
Despite criticisms, Ric Flair originally retired in 2008 at the age of 59.
2008: WWE Hall of Fame induction
In 2008, Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for his individual career.
2008: Tiffany VanDemark files for divorce
In 2008, Tiffany VanDemark, Ric Flair's third wife, filed for divorce from him.
2008: WrestleMania 24 Match Praised
In 2008, the match between Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24 was named as the "match of the decade" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine.
2008: Support for Mike Huckabee in presidential election
In the 2008 presidential election, Ric Flair declared his support for the Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
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. He served as the company's ambassador in an on-screen authority role.
June 2009: Lack of Contact from WWE
In June 2009, Ric Flair had not had contact from WWE since and decided to sign with TNA after waiting for the call from WWE for six months.
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.
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. He lost to Hulk Hogan in the main event of the first show by brass knuckles.
2009: Return to Wrestling
In 2009, Ric Flair returned to the ring, breaking his previous vow to never wrestle again.
2009: Voice Acting in Command & Conquer
In 2009, Ric Flair voiced Commander Douglas Hill in the video game Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising.
January 4, 2010: TNA Impact! Debut
On January 4, 2010, Ric Flair made his debut appearance for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (TNA) Impact!, arriving via limo and observing the main event between A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle.
2010: Ring of Honor lawsuit against Flair
Following Ric Flair's debut in TNA, Ring of Honor (ROH) filed a lawsuit in 2010, alleging that Flair owed them over $40,000 and had not appeared at several contractually obligated events. The lawsuit was never resolved.
January 25, 2011: Pulled out of TNA's 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.
May 12, 2011: Return to TNA Television
On May 12, 2011, Ric Flair returned to television in a non–wrestling role on the Impact Wrestling episode.
May 2011: Arrest warrant issued for Flair
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. regarding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt.
September 2011: Injury During Match with Sting
In September 2011, during the match with Sting, Ric Flair tore his left triceps on a superplex spot, sidelining him indefinitely from in-ring action.
2011: Voice Acting in The Cleveland Show
In 2011, Ric Flair voiced himself in the animated series The Cleveland Show, in the episode "BFFs".
2011: Criticism from Shane Douglas and Kevin Eck
In 2011, Shane Douglas stated that Ric Flair had "been tarnishing his legacy since 1990". Kevin Eck of The Baltimore Sun criticized Flair for being unable to separate from his wrestling gimmick and tarnishing his legacy.
January 9, 2012: Four Horsemen to be Inducted into WWE Hall of Fame
On January 9, 2012, it was announced that the Four Horsemen would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, making Ric Flair a two-time Hall of Fame inductee.
March 31, 2012: Second 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, with The Four Horsemen.
April 2012: Contract Termination Attempt with TNA
In April 2012, Ric Flair tried to have his TNA contract terminated, which led to TNA filing a lawsuit against WWE for contract tampering.
May 17, 2012: Ashley Fliehr (Charlotte Flair) signs with WWE
On May 17, 2012, it was reported that Ric Flair's daughter Ashley Fliehr signed with WWE, adopting the ring name Charlotte, which was later changed to include the Flair surname.
July 8, 2012: Appearance Cut Short at Gathering of the Juggalos
On July 8, 2012, Ric Flair was scheduled to appear at Insane Clown Posse's 13th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos as a main stage host. However, his appearance was cut short after a water bottle was thrown from the crowd, and he left after announcing Tech N9ne.
December 3, 2012: Announcement of Permanent 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.
2012: Jim Ross's Defense of Flair's Legacy
In 2012, Jim Ross defended Ric Flair's legacy, citing his "passion and need to earn a living" as reasons for continuing to wrestle.
2012: Flair files for divorce from Jacqueline Beems
In 2012, Ric Flair filed for divorce from his fourth wife, Jacqueline "Jackie" Beems.
2012: Second WWE Hall of Fame induction
In 2012, Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of The Four Horsemen, marking his second induction.
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: Appearance in Stuff You Should Know Podcast
In 2013, Ric Flair appeared in the Stuff You Should Know podcast episode "Bacteriopolis" as Dr. Roland Grayson.
2013: Sporadic Appearances on the Main Roster
Throughout 2013, Ric Flair appeared on the main roster sporadically as The Miz's mentor.
April 28, 2014: Raw Appearance with Evolution and The Shield
On April 28, 2014, Ric Flair appeared on Raw alongside Evolution and The Shield. Flair endorsed The Shield, Evolution's opponents at Extreme Rules, turning his back on his old teammates.
2014: Appearances on NXT
In 2013 and 2014, Ric Flair occasionally appeared on NXT, accompanying his daughter Charlotte to the ring.
2014: Voice Acting in Uncle Grandpa
In 2014, Ric Flair voiced himself in the animated series Uncle Grandpa, in the episode "History of Wrestling".
2014: Divorce from Jacqueline Beems finalized
In 2014, Ric Flair's divorce from his fourth wife, Jacqueline "Jackie" Beems, was finalized.
May 2015: Start of 'WOOOOO! Nation' Podcast
In May 2015, Ric Flair began hosting a podcast titled 'WOOOOO! Nation'.
August 2015: Interruption of Jon Stewart on Raw
In August 2015, Ric Flair interrupted Jon Stewart, who had saved Flair's 16 world title record. Flair told him that the record would be broken eventually.
2015: The Honky Tonk Man's Opinion
In 2015, The Honky Tonk Man expressed his belief that viewers would remember only the later, "bad memories" of Ric Flair's career.
January 2016: Villainous Traits Displayed with Charlotte
In January 2016, Ric Flair and Charlotte began displaying villainous traits. Flair often got involved in Charlotte's Divas Championship and later WWE Women's Championship defenses, turning heel for the first time since 2005 in WWE.
April 2016: 'WOOOOO! Nation' Podcast Placed on Hiatus
In April 2016, specifically on April 1, the 'WOOOOO! Nation' podcast was placed on hiatus after 46 episodes.
July 2016: Named Greatest Professional Wrestler of All Time by Sports Illustrated
In July 2016, Luke Winkie of Sports Illustrated named Ric Flair the greatest professional wrestler of all time.
July 2016: Launch of 'The Ric Flair Show' Podcast
In July 2016, Ric Flair returned to podcasting with a new show called 'The Ric Flair Show' on MLW Radio.
December 16, 2016: Final Episode of 'The Ric Flair Show'
On December 16, 2016, the final episode of 'The Ric Flair Show' was uploaded, with Flair citing his inability to remain objective about WWE as the reason for quitting podcasting.
2016: Announcement of presidential run
In 2016, Ric Flair announced he was running for president with rapper Waka Flocka Flame as his running mate, but he did not file the official paperwork.
2016: Endorsement of Ted Cruz
In 2016, Ric Flair endorsed Ted Cruz during the presidential election.
2016: Flair's Regret About TNA
In 2016, Ric Flair stated that continuing to wrestle in TNA was the "number one" regret of his career.
August 14, 2017: Surgery and complications
On August 14, 2017, Ric Flair underwent surgery in Georgia to remove an obstructive piece of his bowel, which led to various complications, including kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment.
October 31, 2017: Release of "Ric Flair Drip" Single
On October 31, 2017, trap artists Offset and Metro Boomin released a single titled "Ric Flair Drip" from their collaborative album with 21 Savage, Without Warning. Flair appeared in the music video.
November 14, 2017: SmackDown Women's Championship Celebration
On the November 14, 2017 episode of SmackDown, Ric Flair made a surprise appearance to congratulate his daughter Charlotte Flair, who won the SmackDown Women's Championship.
December 2017: Appearance in Bad Bunny's "Chambea" Music Video
In December 2017, Latin trap artist Bad Bunny released a music video entitled "Chambea", in which Ric Flair appeared.
2017: ESPN Airs 'Nature Boy' Documentary
In 2017, ESPN aired Nature Boy, a 30 for 30 documentary about Ric Flair's career, directed by Rory Karpf.
August 2018: Endorsement Deal with TickPick
In August 2018, Ric Flair signed an endorsement deal with online ticket exchange marketplace TickPick. He agreed to make guest posts on TickPick's blog and appear in advertisements for the brand.
September 12, 2018: Wedding ceremony with Wendy Barlow
On September 12, 2018, Ric Flair had a non-legally binding wedding ceremony with Wendy Barlow (Fifi) at a resort in Florida.
February 25, 2019: WWE Celebrates Flair's 70th Birthday
On February 25, 2019, WWE celebrated Ric Flair's 70th birthday. During the closing moments, Ric Flair was attacked by Batista.
September 2019: Threat of legal action over "The Man" nickname
In September 2019, Ric Flair threatened legal action against WWE and filed a trademark for "The Man", being used by Becky Lynch, causing a rift 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, with undisclosed terms.
June 2020: Return to WWE Programming as a Heel
In June 2020, Ric Flair came back to WWE programming as a heel again, managing Randy Orton for a few weeks.
November 22, 2020: Appearance at Survivor Series
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 Begins
On the January 4, 2021 episode of Raw, Ric Flair started a storyline with Lacey Evans, where Evans flirted with Flair during a match against Charlotte Flair and Asuka.
April 2021: Advertising Campaign for CarShield Begins
In April 2021, Ric Flair began appearing in an advertising campaign for CarShield.
August 2, 2021: Granted Release from WWE
On August 2, 2021, Ric Flair asked for and was granted his release from WWE.
August 14, 2021: Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide Debut
On August 14, 2021, at Triplemanía XXIX, Ric Flair made his Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) debut by accompanying Andrade to ringside during his match against Kenny Omega. He later got involved in the match by chopping Omega and applying the Figure Four leglock to Konnan.
August 29, 2021: Return to the NWA at NWA 73
On August 29, 2021, Ric Flair made his return to the NWA at NWA 73. It was his first NWA appearance since 2008 when he was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame.
September 2021: CarShield Campaign Paused
In September 2021, CarShield paused its advertising campaign featuring Ric Flair following allegations of sexual assault made by Heidi Doyle against Flair.
November 2021: Revival of "WOOOOO! Nation" Podcast
In November 2021, Ric Flair brought back his podcast, renaming it "Wooooo Nation Uncensored" and co-hosting with Mark Madden.
December 2021: CarShield Campaign Resumes
In December 2021, CarShield resumed airing commercials featuring Ric Flair.
2021: Feud with Becky Lynch
In 2021, Ric Flair began feuding with Becky Lynch, accusing her of using "The Man" nickname without permission.
2021: Allegations discussed on Dark Side of the Ring
In 2021, the allegations from the "Plane Ride from Hell" were discussed on the Canadian documentary series Dark Side of the Ring, leading to Ric Flair releasing a statement denying the accusations and his removal from the WWE's intro signature.
January 2022: Revelation about marriage status with Wendy Barlow
In January 2022, Ric Flair and Wendy Barlow revealed they were never legally married, despite having a wedding ceremony in 2018, as they never applied for a marriage certificate.
January 31, 2022: Separation from Wendy Barlow announced
On January 31, 2022, Ric Flair announced that he and Wendy Barlow had separated.
March 2022: Mark Madden Quits Podcast
In March 2022, Mark Madden quit the "Wooooo Nation Uncensored" podcast.
April 2022: Podcast Revamped as "To Be the Man"
In April 2022, Ric Flair's podcast was revamped into "To Be the Man" with Conrad Thompson replacing Mark Madden as co-host.
May 2022: Reconciliation with Wendy Barlow
In May 2022, Ric Flair and Wendy Barlow reconciled after their separation.
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, retiring after nearly five decades in the ring.
June 2022: Endorsement Deal with Nu Image Medical
In June 2022, Ric Flair signed an endorsement deal with Nu Image Medical, an online telehealth and medical company, to promote its men's health products.
July 2022: Launch of Wooooo! Wings virtual restaurant chain
In July 2022, Ric Flair launched a virtual restaurant chain called "Wooooo! Wings" in Nashville, Tennessee, partnering with Kitchen Data Systems before his last match. The chain's name references Flair's signature exclamation, with food prepared by KitchPartner restaurants.
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 the 49th 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 when he tried to stop him, causing Carlos Colón to attack him and forcing him to flee.
August 2022: Expansion of Wooooo! Wings to six cities
In August 2022, the virtual restaurant chain Wooooo! Wings expanded to six American cities, with Conrad Thompson handling the launch and expansion.
September 26, 2022: Flair Announces He Will Never Retire
On September 26, 2022, during the 50th-anniversary celebrations of his professional wrestling debut, Ric Flair declared that he would never retire from wrestling.
October 2022: Launch of Ric Flair Drip cannabis line
In October 2022, Ric Flair partnered with Mike Tyson and Verano Holdings Corp. to launch his cannabis line, "Ric Flair Drip," under Tyson's cannabis brand "Tyson 2.0," in Arizona, Nevada, and California.
December 2022: Scout Comics Agrees to Publish Code Name: Ric Flair
In December 2022, Scout Comics agreed to publish the Code Name: Ric Flair comic book through its label after initially dropping it due to allegations against Flair.
January 2023: Flair Expresses Hesitation About Wrestling Again
In January 2023, Ric Flair expressed that he did not want to wrestle again, except for potentially redoing his 'Last Match'.
January 2023: Resolution of dispute with Becky Lynch
In January 2023, Ric Flair's dispute with Becky Lynch was resolved when he apologized to her.
April 2023: Release of Code Name: Ric Flair Comic Book
In April 2023, the comic book series Code Name: Ric Flair, written by James Haick III, was released.
July 2023: Release of Wooooo! Energy drink
In July 2023, Ric Flair partnered with Carma HoldCo and LGNDS to release a mushroom-infused energy drink called Wooooo! Energy.
October 25, 2023: Flair Appears on AEW Dynamite
On October 25, 2023, Ric Flair made his first appearance on TBS since March 21, 2001, on AEW Dynamite. He was introduced as a 'gift' from All Elite Wrestling (AEW) founder Tony Khan to Sting for his upcoming retirement.
November 2, 2023: Flair Signs Multi-Year Deal with AEW
On November 2, 2023, it was officially announced that Ric Flair had signed a multi-year deal with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
November 18, 2023: Flair Makes AEW PPV Debut at Full Gear
On November 18, 2023, Ric Flair made his AEW PPV debut at Full Gear, where he accompanied Sting, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland to the ring, and performed chops and a low blow to Christian Cage.
January 6, 2024: Flair Accompanies Sting and Allin on AEW Collision
On January 6, 2024, on AEW Collision, Ric Flair accompanied Sting and Darby Allin to the ring and later delivered a promo with Sting during the night.
January 10, 2024: Flair Performs Chops Inside AEW Ring
On January 10, 2024, Ric Flair accompanied Sting and Darby Allin during their match against Powerhouse Hobbs and Konosuke Takeshita. During the match, Flair delivered chops inside an AEW ring for the first time.
January 2024: Flair States No Return to the Ring
In January 2024, Ric Flair definitively stated that he would "no return to the ring ever".
March 3, 2024: Flair Accompanies Sting and Allin at Revolution PPV
On March 3, 2024, Ric Flair accompanied Sting and Darby Allin to the ring at the Revolution pay-per-view, held in the Greensboro Coliseum, the same venue where they faced each other for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in March 1988. During the match Flair received superkicks from The Young Bucks.
July 12, 2024: Flair Parts Ways with AEW
On July 12, 2024, it was reported by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Ric Flair had parted ways with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
September 2024: Second separation from Wendy Barlow
In September 2024, Ric Flair and Wendy Barlow separated again after having reconciled in May 2022.
October 26, 2024: Death of Sebastian Kidder
On October 26, 2024, Sebastian Kidder, Ric Flair's stepson, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, committing suicide.
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