May 4th 2024 02:45pm

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Wrestler has flair with crowd

Wrestler has flair with crowd

Posted: Oct 9th 2009 By: mikeiles

MOREHEAD CITY ? Along with Richard Petty and Michael Jordan, few North Carolina athletes are as universally popular among Tar Heel sports fans as Ric Flair, a former World Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.

That fact was validated Saturday at the N.C. Seafood Festival.

Although the official festival count won?t be ready for another few months, festival staff estimated the weekend?s crowd was between 150,000 and 200,000 and several hundred of those were there just to see Ric Flair.

Hundreds of Mr. Flair?s biggest fans waited in line from 2:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. to get autographs and meet the wrestling icon that is the new face of the N.C. Education Lottery (NCEL).

The ?Nature Boy,? as he is affectionately known by wrestling fans, was promoting the new ?WOOOOOOO!? scratch-off lottery ticket, which is named after his signature call, at the NCEL booth on 5th Street.

After signing autographs Mr. Flair walked around the line of fans, which started at the corner of 5th and Evans streets and wrapped around Arendell Street, to say ?hello? to the fans who had come hell or high-water, or even with a broken foot, to see the wrestler.

?I drove with my left foot all the way from Jacksonville just to see him,? said longtime-fan Tonya Paschall, who had recently broken her right foot.

?I?ve been a fan since I was 5 years old,? she said. She even asked Mr. Flair to sign her cast, which he did so happily.

Smyrna native Faith Hayes was another of Mr. Flair?s fan. But she wasn?t just meeting the new face of the lottery. She was meeting someone who has been an influence on 13 years of her life.

?I?m actually training to become a wrestler,? Ms. Hayes said. Currently training in New Bern, Ms. Hayes said Mr. Flair was a huge inspiration.

?He was pretty cool in the 70s and then after he was in a plane crash he continued to wrestle. His will to keep on going is inspiring,? Ms. Hayes said.

Mr. Flair, a Charlotte native, has visited the Crystal Coast on numerous occasions, but was attending the annual festival for the first time.

?This is awesome,? he said Saturday, unmistakable with his signature tan and platinum blond hair. ?I?m overwhelmed by it, really. It?s phenomenal. I had a ball today.?

Mr. Flair?s appearance trumpeted the lottery?s newest game, which made its debut on Sept. 22. It?s named after his legendary catchphrase and features 16 different scratch areas, representing the 16 separate championship belts that he has won during his career. Top prize is $100,000.

This is the first time the NCEL has used a wrestler as a personality to promote the education lottery, said Tom Shaheen, executive director of the NCEL.

?When we met Ric at the Lowe?s Motor Speedway, the appeal for Ric was just tremendous,? Mr. Shaheen said.

?We asked him if he would be interested,? in promoting the lottery. ?He said he?d like to be a part of this ? that was eight months ago.?

While Mr. Flair is a new face in the NCEL and the N.C. Seafood Festival, he is no stranger to the area, having wrestled in Carteret County on numerous occasions.

?I?ve been down here a number of times. In fact I wrestled at high schools here with Wahoo (McDaniel), Blackjack Mulligan and Greg Valentine during the 70s.?

Big-time-fan Scott Heuser of Beaufort remembers when Mr. Flair came to Carteret County to wrestle.

?Oh, yeah. I saw him when he went to West Carteret to wrestle in the 80s. He?s an icon of wrestling,? Mr. Heuser said.

The Beaufort fan also remembered Mr. Flair?s retirement match against Shawn Michaels in 2008.

So did Ms. Hayes.

?I cried when he lost that match,? she said.

Mr. Flair, now 60, retired in March 2008 but will soon return to the ring on a limited basis to resume his 36-year career.

?I?m going to come out of retirement to wrestle Hulk Hogan in Australia,? said Mr. Flair, who remains in good physical condition. ?But I?m not coming back full time. I?m enjoying myself too much to do that.?

Mr. Flair?s retirement from wrestling has allowed him to pursue new opportunities, such as corporate speaking engagements, product sponsorships and autograph shows for his loyal fans, many of whom approach him on a daily basis asking Mr. Flair to bellow out a ?Wooooooo!?

?Oh, that happens a lot,? laughed Mr. Flair. ?But it?s good. I?m glad they do. I?ll be sad if they ever stop.?

 

Tags: Ric Flair, Wahoo McDaniel, Greg Valentine

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

1
Fritz Von Erich and the Christmas Day Massacre

Fritz Von Erich and the Christmas Day Massacre

Among professional wrestling’s most infamous incidents and despicable angles, this will forever be remembered as one of th... Read More

All News

The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash weighed in on the warning sent to AEW by the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission. OSAC alleged that the company had viol... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion

Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
05-04
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th Today!
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th Today!
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th Today!
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Shane Rawls May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Payton Scott May 13th
  • Maggie Rae May 13th
  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Karl Krupp May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
  • Lars Manderson May 13th
  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Pete Maguire May 13th
  • Dave Ryda May 13th
  • Shawn Bragan May 14th
  • Steve Williams May 14th
  • Scott Irwin May 14th
  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
  • Big Van Vader May 14th
  • Joe Cuedo May 15th
  • Erwin IV May 15th
  • Andrew Bridge May 15th
  • Oscar Amazing May 15th
  • Koko May 15th
  • Kevin Von Erich May 15th
  • Alan Jefferson May 16th
  • Buddy Roberts May 16th
  • Buddy Knox May 16th
  • Ryan Martin May 16th
  • Ryker James May 16th
  • Billy Red Lyons May 17th
  • Wage May 17th
  • Mike Pappas May 17th
  • Dan Maestro May 17th
  • Kyle Hawk May 17th
  • J. B. Pain May 17th

More Look Back In History

Most Active Members

  • Striker
  • Michael York
  • The Mayne Event
  • cphs_sweethearts
  • Talon

Card Results

1