?The Nature Boy? Ric Flair stops in Albany, says he?s returning to ring
Posted: Jul 22nd 2011 By: mikeiles
Ric Flair, one of the world?s most famous pro wrestlers, not only drops by the Albany Wal-Mart on Ledo Road on Thursday for a meet-and-greet with fans, but he gives The Herald a bit of breaking news: ?The Nature Boy? is making a comeback.
ALBANY ? ?To be the man you gotta beat the man.?
And for the better part of four decades, Ric Flair was the man.
Flair, one of the most recognized professional entertainment wrestlers in the world, penned several catchphrases over the years, including ?Wooooo!? and ?to be the man you gotta beat the man,? which inspired his 2004 autobiography, ?To Be The Man.?
On Thursday evening, the 62-year-old wrestler spent two hours at Wal-Mart on Ledo Road signing autographs and posing for pictures for hundreds of fans during a joint promotional event sponsored by Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart.
After he was done signing autographs, Flair told The Albany Herald that he plans to return to the ring in September, quieting those who thought his storied wrestling career was finished.
He had been sidelined for the previous three months with a shoulder injury.
?I don?t know for sure, but it will be either Sting or Kurt Angle,? Flair said about the prospective opponent in his comeback match. ?It just depends on whoever wins between them on Aug. 6. You got the scoop right there, brother.?
Fans both young and old lined up outside of Wal-Mart?s Garden Center to meet Flair. He took pictures with members of the crowd and signed everything from mock title belts to his book.
?This is very rewarding to meet the people who have followed me for four decades, four generations of people,? said Flair, who has won 16 World Heavyweight Championships in the WWF, WCW, TNA and PWI. He?s also a member of the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame, being inducted after WWE was formed by merging WWF and WCW.
Surrounded by an entourage of body guards and Wal-Mart employees, Flair ? known for trademark moves like the ?Flair Chop? and the figure four leglock ? walked into the store amidst a chorus of ?Woooos!? by hundreds of wrestling fans who had been lined up more than three hours to meet the wrestler commonly known as ?The Nature Boy.?
Albany?s Ryan Ortiz, who was first in line to meet Flair, said he had been waiting with memorabilia in hand for three and a half hours.
?I have just been a huge fan, and anytime I get a chance to meet a legend, I just jump at it,? Ortiz said.
Flair?s journey from one professional wrestling circuit to the next eventually landed him at TNA?s Impact!, where he last wrestled April 16, tapping out to Robert Roode. Writers of the show used Flair?s loss to temporarily write him off the show while he recouped from a torn rotator cuff. According to the ?Pro Wrestling Torch? website, Flair returned to Impact! on May 12 in an out-of-the-ring role along with wrestling legends Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley.
The opponent in Flair?s next match won?t be decided until Sting, the current TNA Heavyweight World Champion, and Angle battle during TNA?s Hardcore Justice, which will be aired live on pay-per-vew from Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
TNA?s Impact! airs each Thursday night on Spike TV and is the program?s No. 1-rated show.
Several live TNA events will be held in Georgia this year when the Impact Wrestling World Tour performs at the Columbus Civic Center on Aug. 18, the Forum Civic Center in Rome on Aug. 19 and the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Aug. 20.
Matches will be taped for television on Oct. 26 when the tour will be at the Macon Coliseum.
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Title
- 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 2025 Frankie Lee def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
Week of Sun 06-07 to Sat: 06-13
- 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Title
- 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 06-07 2025 Frankie Lee def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2024 Billie the Kiid became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
- 06-08 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 06-08 2024 Eddie LeVaughn def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Heavyweight Title
- 06-08 2024 Michael Duplanti became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 06-08 2024 Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Manico) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Title
- 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Title
- 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
- 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
- 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Title
- 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
- 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Title
- 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Title
- 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
- 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
- 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
- 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- Morgan Levay Jun 7th Today!
- Stevie Caballero Jun 7th Today!
- Mick Foley Jun 7th Today!
- Gideon Vane Jun 7th Today!
- Steve Hartley Jun 7th Today!
- Michele Leone Jun 8th
- Eddie Sullivan Jun 8th
- Rick Vyper Jun 8th
- Mustafa Bin Akbar Jun 8th
- Jamie Jun 9th
- Jim Barnett Jun 9th
- Mark Wilson Jun 9th
- Dutch Savage Jun 9th
- Dick Listener Jun 9th
- Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th
- Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
- Dick Dunn Jun 10th
- J. D. Richards Jun 11th
- Mathmagician Jun 11th
- Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
- King Parsons Jun 11th
- Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
- Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
- Baby Blimp Jun 12th
- Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
- Zac Royal Jun 12th
- Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
- D'Licious Jun 12th
- Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
- John Pfanz Jun 13th
- Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
- Mikey D Jun 13th
- Neo Genesis Jun 13th
- Bill Ash Jun 13th
- Alex Shepard Jun 13th
- Geronimo Jun 13th
- Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
- Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
- Trey the Bae Jun 15th
- Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
- Paul Linam Jun 15th
- Sean Ryan Jun 15th
- Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
- Brock Landers Jun 16th
- Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
- Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
- Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
- Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
- Jef Tiger Jun 16th
- Leslie Lorenzo Jun 16th
- Paul Jones Jun 16th
- Rob Justice Jun 17th
- Talos Jun 17th
- Mario Galento Jun 17th
- Ray Martinez Jun 17th
- Andy Dalton Jun 18th
- Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
- Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
- Bad Boy Jun 18th
- Cam the CODA Jun 18th
- Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
- Johnny Angel Jun 18th
- Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
- Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
- Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
- Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
- Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
- Billy the Kid Jun 19th
- Mike Two Jun 19th
- David Kyzer Jun 20th
- Jon Cross Jun 20th
- Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
- Professor Ito Jun 20th
Tag Cloud
Lester WelchRoy Lee WelchDoink the ClownMatt BorneBam Bam BigelowJerry LawlerWWFWWEJake RobertsMick FoleyMae Young
Top Viewed Bios
