• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

Bios

Ric Flair

Nickname: Nature Boy; The Dirtiest Player In The Game; The Real World's Champion; Slick

Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 243 lbs

From: Charlotte, NC

Birthday: Feb 25th

Pro Debut: December 10, 1972

Aliases: Ricky Rhodes, Rick Flair, Black Scorpion

Feds Worked For: AEW, AWA, ECW, MSW, NWA, NXT, TNA, WCCW, WCW, WWE, WWF, All-Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (Mexico), Big Time Wrestling (CT), Deep South Wrestling (GA), Iron Gate Wrestling (TN), Jim Crockett Promotions (TN), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (SC), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Ring of Honor, World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico),

Finisher: Figure Four Leg Lock

Signature Moves: Chops, Chop Block, Elbow Drop, Knee Drop, Back Suplex, Eye Gouge, Stalling Suplex, Low Blow

Career Highlights: -NWA Mid-Atlantic Champion (4x)
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (4x; 2 w/ John Studd, 1 each w/ Rip Hawk & Greg Valentine)
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Champion (2x)
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ Greg Valentine; 1 w/ Blackjack Mulligan)
-NWA Missouri Champion
-NWA United States Champion (5x)
-NWA World Champion (10x)
-WCW United States Champion
-WCW World Champion (7x)
-WWE Intercontinental Champion
-WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ Batista, 1 w/ Roddy Piper)
-WWF World Champion (2x)

Affiliates: Rip Hawk, Greg Valentine, John Studd, Blackjack Mulligan, Roddy Piper, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Ole Anderson, James J. Dillon, Lex Luger, Barry Windham, Hiro Matsuda, Woman, Bobby Heenan, Fifi, Woman, Paul Roma, Steve McMichael, Chris Benoit, Brian Pillman, Dean Malenko, Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, Buff Bagwell, Animal, Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Jimmy Hart, Dark Journey, Miss Elizabeth, Sherri Martel, Carlito, Queen Debra, David Flair, Reid Flair, Baby Doll, A. J. Styles, Beer Money, Desmond Wolfe, Gunner, Charlotte, Summer Rae, The Miz, Lacey Evans

Notable Feuds: Greg Valentine, Roddy Piper, Wahoo McDaniel, Ricky Steamboat, Buddy Rogers, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T. A., Sting, Barry Windham, Kerry Von Erich, Terry Funk, Lex Luger, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Curt Hennig, Vince Russo, Shane Douglas, Vince McMahon, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Steve Austin, Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Kane, Bill Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit, Randy Orton, Batista, Carlito, Triple H, Eric Bischoff, Big Van Vader, Mick Foley, Carlito, Buddy Landel, Jay Lethal

Other Facts: -Did not actually know his birth name, Fred Phillips, until 2019. He was placed up for adoption after birth in Memphis, TN. He has found different documents showing his birth name as Fred Demaree and Fred Stewart. When he was 6 weeks old, he was adopted by Dr. & Mrs. Richard Fleihr and was renamed Richard Morgan Fleihr.
-Former husband of pro wrestling personality Fifi the Maid
-Father of pro wrestlers David Flair, Reid Flair, and Charlotte Flair
-Father-in-law of pro wrestling podcaster Conrad Thompson
-Former father-in-law of pro wrestlers Thom Latimer and Andrade
-Former brother-in-law of pro wrestler Scott McGhee
-Not actually related to, but usually billed as the cousin of pro wrestlers Ole Anderson, Gene Anderson, Lars Anderson, and Arn Anderson
-Billed as the nephew of pro wrestler Rip Hawk
-While working as Ricky Rhodes, he used the nickname "Ramblin'" and was billed as the brother of Dusty Rhodes
-His father Dr. Richard Fliehr was a obstetrician and gynecologist and his practice was one of the biggest in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN area. He probably delivered thousands of babies including wrestling promoter Gary Juster, Superstar Billy Graham's daughter Capella, and both sons of former NWA World Champion Gene Kiniski, professional wrestlers Nick Kiniski and Kelly Kiniski.
-Competed in wrestling, football and track in high school. In 1966, he was Minnesota private school high school wrestling champion at 181 pounds. He was champion again in 1967 as a heavyweight.
-Arguably considered the greatest professional wrestler ever
-The common story was that he was a medical student at the University of Minnesota when he dropped out to train for professional wrestling under Verne Gagne. This is only partially true. He had actually flunked out of school his freshman year.
-After flunking out of school, he ended up as a roommate for a time with Bill Goldberg's older brother.
-Wrestled George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski to a time-limit draw in his debut match on December 10, 1972.
-Served for 2 years as Andre the Giant's driver.
-Has survived two events that have killed most other people. Was in a plane crash on October 4, 1975 in Wilmington, NC and broke his back in 3 places and was told he would never wrestle again. He returned to the ring in January 1976. The pilot of the private aircraft (a Cessna 310) involved in Flair's 1975 plane crash languished in a coma for a year before dying. It was discovered after the accident that the pilot was flying on a suspended license. Flair later sued the pilot's estate for damages and won. For years after, many wrestlers who would have been terrified during bumpy rides and bad landings weren't so worried when Flair was on board as they figured no man could down in an airplane twice in his lifetime. Additionally, in 1983, he was struck by lightning, which arced from the umbrella he was carrying into a man 10 feet behind him, killing that man.
-Took his trademark "Whooo!" expression from Jerry Lee Lewis and the song "Great Balls of Fire". Billy Graham's wife was the first to die his hair blonde, giving him part of his trademark look.
-Roddy Piper was the Best Man at Flair's first wedding in 1971. Arn Anderson was his Best Man at his 2nd wedding in 1983.
-One of the original members of The Four Horsemen along with Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, Tully Blanchard, and manager James J. Dillon. Flair and Arn Anderson are the only two to be involved with every incarnation of the faction.
-Got in trouble at WrestleMania VIII with Vince McMahon after he was caught blading on camera and was fined for that action.
-Made an uncredited appearance in the movie "The Wrestler" (1974)
-Appeared in the movies "The Wrestler" in 1974 and "Body Slam" in 1987, both playing himself. Also appeared on a 1996 episode of "Baywatch" also playing himself.
-Flair is sometimes seen attending the Carolina Hurricanes NHL ice hockey games at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. At home games when the Hurricanes score a goal, a short video appears on the arena's Jumbotron monitors, with Ric Flair saying: "That's a Carolina Hurricanes Goal! Wooo! Wooo! Wooo!"
-Winner of the 1992 Royal Rumble
-Wrestled Randy Savage in the main event of WrestleMania (the preeminent PPV of WWE) and Starrcade (the preeminent PPV of WCW). This is the only pairing to main event both of those events.
-Was featured in the WWE DVD "The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80's"
-WWE released a 3 disc DVD set entitled "The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection" in 2005
-Wrote his autobiography "To Be The Man" that was released in 2005.
-Former member of The Four Horsemen
-Former member of The Yamasaki Corportation
-Former member of The Magnificent Seven
-Former member of The Millionaire's Club
-Former member of Evolution
-Former leader of Fortune
-Former member of Immortal
-Former General Manager of World Stars of Wrestling
-Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996
-Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2006
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a singles wrestler in 2008. He was the first wrestler to be inducted while still active, although lost a Retirement Match to Shawn Michaels the next night at "Wrestlemania 24".
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008. He was not allowed to attend the induction ceremony because he was still under a WWE contract at the time.
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame again in 2012 as a member of The Four Horsemen (w/ Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, & J. J. Dillon). With his induction with The Four Horsemen, he became the first person to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. He was under contract with TNA at the time, but TNA and WWE reached an agreement for Flair to attend the induction ceremony.
-Inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2013
-Inducted into the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021
-Voted Wrestler of the Year by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1992
-Voted Rookie of the Year by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1975
-Voted Most Hated Wrestler by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1978 and 1987
-Won the Match of Year Award as voted by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1983 (vs. Harley Race), 1984 (vs. Kerry Von Erich), 1986 (vs. Dusty Rhodes), 1989 (vs. Ricky Steamboat) and 2008 (vs. Shawn Michaels)
-Won the Feud of the Year Award as voted by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1987 (w/ Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, & Lex Luger vs. Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, & The Road Warriors), 1988 (vs. Lex Luger), 1989 (vs. Terry Funk), and 1990 (vs. Lex Luger)
-Won the Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Award as voted by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 2008.
-Ranked # 3 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 3 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked # 6 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked # 3 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked # 20 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Ranked # 10 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Ranked # 35 in the 1997 PWI 500
-Ranked # 55 in the 1998 PWI 500
-Ranked # 42 in the 1999 PWI 500
-Ranked # 43 in the 2000 PWI 500
-Ranked # 34 in the 2002 PWI 500
-Ranked # 53 in the 2003 PWI 500
-Ranked # 30 in the 2004 PWI 500
-Ranked # 51 in the 2005 PWI 500
-Ranked # 24 in the 2006 PWI 500
-Ranked # 70 in the 2007 PWI 500
-Ranked # 19 in the 2008 PWI 500