Ric Flair had his last match on July 31st 2022, with fans certain they would see the end of the Nature Boy and watch him die in the ring. But did he die? Is Ric Flair still alive?
Is Ric Flair Still Alive?
Yes, Ric Flair is still alive. Despite looking like he died during his match at the “Ric Flair’s Last Match” show in July 2022, The Nature Boy was reportedly alive and well after the match. He was even said to be partying with Kid Rock, who appeared both at the show and at WWE Summerslam 2022 the night prior, backstage.
Ric Flair has had big health troubles in the recent years, almost dying on a number of occasions. A lifetime of partying, drinking and womanising looks to have caught up with Flair, but his love for the wrestling business is one thing that has remained.
Ric Flair’s Last Match took place at the age of 73, making him one of the oldest wrestlers of all time. However, he was beaten earlier this year for oldest wrestler, when Vince McMahon wrestled one last match at Wrestlemania 38.
The former WWE Chairman who retired from the company last week was known for his rivalries with Ric Flair, both in 2001 after WWE purchased WCW and in 2008, when McMahon forced Flair to retire once he stopped winning matches.
The pair had some iconic matches together too, despite their advancing ages. They battled in two street fights six years apart (in 2002 and 2008) which were surprise hits with the WWE fanbase. However, McMahon played no part in Flair’s final outing, with the assumption being that he didn’t want WWE associated with Ric Flair dying inside the ring (which thankfully did not happen).
Ric Flair almost died in 2018, however. He went to the hospital with issues of the heart and lung, and doctors did not think the Nature Boy had much time left. The 16 time World Champion had surgery to reverse an ileostomy procedure, due to his kidneys and heart failing.
It was so bad that doctors gave him a 20% chance of living at all, let alone with any quality of life. He lifetime of drinking, drugs and travelling had caused enormous wear and tear on his body, although there is no-one with more fight in them than the Nature Boy Ric Flair.
He fell into a coma, but eventually came out of it and made a full recovery. Despite the horrific ordeal he had been to, his mind and body seemed as good as ever, even posting a humorous video of himself on Twitter celebrating himself surviving.
After his health scare, he was determined to take it slow. He had been fitted with a pacemaker and was over 70 years old. He should have retired (and did for 3 years) before the call of one final match, his first for ten years, came calling and he simply could not say no.
He came out of retirement at the frightening age of 73 to wrestle at an event dubbed “Ric Flair’s Last Match”. The event was part of Starrcast V and in association with Impact Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions. Ric Flair had his final bout in the main event of the show, teaming with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to take on AEW’s Jay Lethal and WWE’s Jeff Jarrett.
It was his first match in 11 years. Many fans thought Ric Flair’s last match was in TNA, when he faced off against Sting on an episode of Impact. However, Ric Flair vs Sting would be his last singles match (as well as being the last WCW match ever) and his last match of his career (and life, if his health deteriorated due to the match) is his tag team match at “Ric Flair’s Last Match”
After his scary performance against Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett, fans will hope that Ric Flair’s career is over for good and it was truly his last match. Nobody wants to see Ric Flair die in the ring, although he seems to be content with basing the end of his life on the movie “The Wrestler”.