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Former Pro Wrestler Ric Flair Still Has Flair With Staten Island Fans

Posted: Jul 7th 2011 By: CMBurnham

The Bistro Restaurant on Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp, recently played host to one of the most legendary wrestlers of all-time, Ric Flair.

Flair, 62, greeted his Staten Island fans during a friendly "VIP" buffet lunch, followed by an autograph session that ultimately forced the restaurant to close its kitchen to the public for several hours.

The wrestling fans? cheers and laughter filled the small parking lot as they waited to meet their hero.

Those who purchased VIP tickets had lunch with Flair and got to meet, and talk with him, on a more personal level. Their ticket included a full lunch buffet and an exclusive question and answer session.

Tom Unger, operator of Sports Fan Promotions, brought Flair to Bistro and also provided merchandise for him to sign.

"We sold over 60 tickets for the VIP lunch, and we are expecting a really large turnout for the autograph session," Unger mentioned prior to the end of the luncheon.

And what a turnout it was!

Over a hundred additional people showed up for the autograph session. Flair took his time to speak with, and take pictures with, most of his supporters.

Fans of all ages swarmed the entrance to the restaurant carrying action figures, pictures, championship belts, and other Ric Flair memorabilia for him to sign.

An aging Flair placed permanent smiles on all his fans as he posed with them for pictures.

Flair, while retired from wrestling, is still under contract (non-competitive) with TNA Wrestling. He created a lasting impression on the sport decades ago.

Inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008, Flair was a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, and fought many classic matches against greats like, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and of course, Ricky Steamboat.

Arguably, his most notable match was against the late, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, a brief resident of New Springville, in which he lost his world championship belt on a controversial call during Wrestlemania XIII in 1992.

Flair was considered a fan favorite throughout his rollercoaster career that was always a bit confrontational. Flair was one of the few durable wrestlers who spanned a nearly 30-year career. He was able to be a contender in almost every major professional wrestling association.

Sports Fan Promotions, responsible for bringing Flair, and also Bret "The Hitman" Hart to Bistro a couple of weeks ago, can be contacted at 347-992-0038 or through their website www.Sportsfanpromotions.com.