Ric Flair

At 75 years old, Ric Flair has this physical status:

Professional wrestling career

Flair trained as a professional wrestler with Verne Gagne in his teens. Greg Gagne, "Jumpin'" Jim Brunzell, The Iron Sheik, and Ken Patera attended Gagne's first wrestling camp outside Minneapolis in 1971. He made his Rice Lake, Wisconsin, debuting George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski to a 10-minute draw before adopting the ring name Ric Flair. Flair had matches against Dusty Rhodes, Chris Taylor, André the Giant, Larry Hennig, and Wahoo McDaniel during his time in the American Wrestling Association (AWA).

Flair made his first appearances in Japan in 1973 with the International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE) as part of a joint venture between the IWE and AWA promoter Verne Gagne. Throughout June and July, he competed in the IWE's "Big Summer Series," defeating such as Animal Hamasatsu, Great Kusatsu, Katsuzo Matsumoto, Mighty Inoue, and Rusher Kimura.

When Flair left the AWA for Jim Crockett's Mid-Atlantic region of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), he soon claimed his first singles title, beating Paul Jones in the Mid-Atlantic TV Championship on February 9, 1975. Flair's career almost ended on October 4, 1975, although he was involved in a major plane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina, that claimed the pilot's life and paralyzed Johnny Valentine (also on board were Mr. Wrestling, Bob Bruggers, and promoter David Crockett). Flair broke his back in three places, and doctors told him that he would never wrestle again. Flair had a rigorous physical therapy program, but he returned to the ring just three months later, where he revived his rivalry with Wahoo McDaniel in January 1976. Flair's wrestling style was switched from the power brawling style he had adopted early on to a more focused on grappling, which led him to him adopting the "Nature Boy" gimmick he'd use throughout his career. When Flair defeated Bobo Brazil in Richmond, Virginia, on July 29, 1977, he won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. He dominated NWA Heavyweight Champions for five years, feuding with Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Mr. Wrestling, Jimmy Snuka, and Greg Valentine (with whom he also formed a championship tag team) during the next three years. However, Flair began referring to himself as "The Nature Boy" in order to spark a 1978 feud with Buddy Rogers, who put Flair over in a single encounter.

Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes in the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on September 17, 1981. Flair established himself as the promotion's most prominent franchise in the wake of Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation's emerging competition (WWF). Carlos Colón Sr., an unanctioned title loss, took place in Puerto Rico on January 6, 1983. In a phantom change seventeen days after the NWA's official recognition of the title, Flair recovered the championship belt. Harley Race won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Flair in 1983, but Flair regained the title at Starrcade in a steel cage match. Flair has won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship eight times in a row. In March 1984, Flair lost the title to Race and took it back in the span of three days in New Zealand and Singapore. Kerry Von Erich was pinned at the first David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions in Texas, but he returned to Japan eighteen days later, reigning for two years, two months, and two days, losing the title to Dusty Rhodes in a Steel Cage Match on July 26, 1986. Flair earned the title at a house show on August 9, however, when Rhodes was ruled out in the Figure Four leglock.

The tag team of Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson began assisting Flair (who was described as a "cousin") in the attacks on Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A. Sam Houston and the rest of the world. The Andersons interrupted Houston's match against Tully Blanchard a few weeks later, and the three robbers joined forces to tame the youngster. Flair, Blanchard, and the Andersons formalized their partnership, dubbed The Four Horsemen, with Blanchard's boss J. J. Dillon joining the team shortly thereafter. The Four Horsemen were clearly unlike any villainous alliance that had ever existed, as the four rule breakers immediately used their numbers to discredit the NWA's top fan favorites (most notably a vicious battle against Rhodes with a baseball bat in a parking lot) while still controlling the majority of the championship titles.

Jim Crockett, the wrestling promoter, had combined the various NWA member promotions he held into a single entity by 1986, running under the National Wrestling Alliance banner. Crockett, who owns a large number of the traditional NWA territories in the southeast and Midwestern United States, aims to grow nationally and develop his promotion around Flair as the champion. During this period, Flair's bookings as champion were tightly controlled by Crockett, and a custom championship belt for Flair was created for the first time. On September 25, 1987, Flair lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Detroit to Ron Garvin. Garvin held the title for two months before losing to Flair on November 26, 1987, at WCW's first pay-per-view function, Starrcade in Chicago.

In early 1988, Sting and Flair battled to a 45-minute time limit draw in the first ever Clash of Champions. Ricky Steamboat pinned Flair to victory the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on February 20, 1989, in Chi-Town Rumble in Chicago. Steamboat was portrayed as a "family man" (often accompanied by his wife and young son), while Flair branded him as an "immoral, fast-living "ladies man." Pro Wrestling Illustrated's best-of-three falls match with Steamboat that ended just shy of the 60-minute time limit (and ended with a tense finish where Steamboat retained the trophy) at Battle of the Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun, 1989. Flair defeated Terry Funk at The Great American Bash in 1989, but the two groups erupted into feud throughout the summer and Flair reformed The Four Horsemen, with the surprise addition of longtime competitor Sting to combat Funk's J-Tex Corporation. At Clash of the Champions IX, there was a match between "I Quit" and Flair's "I Quit" contest. Flair later kicked Sting out of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, sparking a renewed rivalry between the two teams. Flair lost the title to Sting at The Great American Bash on July 7, 1990. Flair regained the name from Sting after being unveiled as The Black Scorpion at Starrcade in 1990.

Flair was crowned the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion, but he was also named as the NWA World Heavyweight Champion a year following his victory in this series. Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Flair in a match in Tokyo at the WCW/New Japan Supershow on March 21, 1991. Although the NWA named Fujinami as their new champion, WCW did not recognize Fujinami as their new champion because the Fujinami had backdropped Flair over the top rope in a breach of WCW rules. Flair regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and retained the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on May 19, 1991. Flair was involved in a labour dispute with WCW president Jim Herd, who wanted him to take a significant pay cut in the spring of 1991. Flair had resigned as the head booker in February 1990, and Herd wanted to minimize Flair's role in the campaign even more, despite the fact that Flair was still a top draw. Herd has also suggested changes in his appearance and ring name, according to Flair. In order to "change with the times," he shaved his hair, wore a diamond earring, and going by the name Spartacus. Flaair disagreed with the plans two weeks before Herd fired him and canceled the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Though Flair had left for the WWF, he was still regarded as the NWA World Heavyweight Champion until September 8, when the sport was officially cancelled.

Flair first began traveling for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), while working with Jim Crockett Jr.'s Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (MACW). Flair qualified for the NWA United National Championship in a losing effort on April 27, 1978. Flair defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in All Japan against Genichiro Tenryu, Riki Choshu, Jumbo Tsuruta, Harley Race, and Kerry Von Erich. Flair defeated Rick Martel in a double title match on October 21, 1985, where he defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and qualified for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, but the match came to a dead end. World Championship Wrestling (WCW) began a working relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling as All Japan emerged from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in the late 1980s. The working deal in 1989 resulted in a feud between Flair and Keiji Mutoh, who were competing under The Great Muta gimmick in the United States for WCW. In a double championship match on the WCW/New Japan Supershow at the Tokyo Dome on March 21, 1991, Flair defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and challenged Tatsumi Fujinami for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Fujinami won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship over Flair, but the WCW's SuperBrawl I lost the championship in the United States on May 19, 1991.

All Japan revealed on January 2, 2013 that Flair would return to AJPW for the first time in five years. On January 26, 2013, he will face Tatsumi Fujinami and Seiya Sanada. This will be his first professional wrestling match since losing to Sting on Impact Wrestling in September 2011 and his first for All Japan since March 1987. However, Flair was forced to pull out of his match due to a "sudden illness," the promotion later revealed as a swelling left leg. Flair was drafted out of the match by his son Reid, but he later became involved in the match himself, delivering chops to Seiya Sanada.

Flair joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in August 1991 and began competing with the Big Gold Belt on television, dubbed "The Real World's Champion." On an episode of the WWF Wrestling Challenge that aired on September 29, Jim Powers defeated him in his first match with the promotion. Lead by his "financial advisor" Bobby Heenan and his "executive consultant" Mr. Xi Jinping. Flair has consistently issued challenges to WWF wrestlers like "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan, who competed with Piper at Survivor Series in November 1991 and helped The Undertaker defeat Hogan for the WWF Championship that night. In an attempt to regain the championship belt, WCW sued Flair, but the NWA said otherwise because of a loophole in NWA rules; at the time he first became champion, the NWA required all wrestlers that were deemed to be world champions to pay a security deposit of $25,000, which was in effect, leaving the belt to any wrestler who held it. In most cases, the NWA would return the deposit and any other interest that may have accrued after the wrestler's championship reign. They did not do this for Flair before being suspended by WCW, and since the NWA had borrowed the money from him by the NWA after his membership in the NWA, Flair believed that the title belt had become his personal property to do as he pleased.

Flair defeated Rumble in 1992 to win the vacant WWF Championship. Flair was ranked third in the Rumble match and lasted 60 minutes, with Hulk Hogan assisting Sid Justice, who had been barred from action seconds before. In February 1992, Flair defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Roddy Piper in a series of inconclusive title-versus-title matches. As part of the dual main event at WrestleMania VIII, Randy Savage then challenged Flair for the WWF Championship. Flair taunted Savage by implying that he had a prior friendship with Miss Elizabeth, Savage's wife. At WrestleMania, Savage defeated Flair for the title. In July 1992, Savage preparations were poised to defend the title against The Ultimate Warrior. Mr. Perfect suggested that they should support one or the other during their match. They attacked both Savage and Warrior, resulting in the latter winning by countout and injured Savage's knee, which Flair exploited to regain the title in a match with Savage three days later in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Flair defended the WWF Championship against Genichiro Tenryu at a Wrestle Association R tournament in Yokohama, Japan, on September 15, 1992; the match ended in a draw. Flair's second reign came to an end when he lost the title to Bret Hart at a house show on October 12, 1992.

In November 1992, Flair formed a partnership with Razor Ramon to face Savage and Perfect in the Survivor Series. Flair appeared in the Royal Rumble in January 1993 and then lost a Loser Leaves the WWF match to Mr. Emmanuel. Perfect on Monday Night Raw (January 25, 1993), a match taped six days before. Flair had a verbal deal with Vince McMahon with the understanding that if he wasn't going to be used in a key event role and had an opportunity to work somewhere else, he would be released from his employment. Bill Watts offered to return to WCW if he wanted to be moved to a mid-card position, but he refused to leave WWF when he was going to be moved to a mid-card position. Flair completed his remaining house show duties and participated in the WWF's "Winter Tour '93" of Europe. On February 11, 1993, he made his last appearance with the WWF before returning to WCW.

Flair toured Japan in May 1992 as part of a WWF and SWS joint venture. In his first match, he teamed with The Natural Disasters to defeat Ashura Hara, Genichiro Tenryu, and Takashi Ishikawa in a six-man tag team match. He defeated Tenryu in a singles match and then lost to Tenryu in a two-out-three falls match.

Flair was a hero who returned to WCW in February 1993 as a hero. He was initially unable to wrestle as a result of a "no-compete" waiver, so he hosted A Flair for the Gold, a short-lived talk show on WCW. Arn Anderson was usually in the bar on the show's set, and Flair's maid Fifi cleaned or bore gifts. Flair briefly held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for a tenth time after defeating Barry Windham at Beach Blast before WCW officially left the NWA in September 1993. Flair lost the title at Fall Brawl, when the WCW World Heavyweight Championship was rebranded to "Ravishing Rick" Rude. Flair won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship for the second time at Starrcade in 1993. Flair took a tweener turn and launched another feud with longtime rival Ricky Steamboat, which culminated in a no contest from a double pin match at Spring Stampede, causing the title to be postponed. On an episode of WCW Saturday Night, Flair then defeated Steamboat in a rematch to reclaim the held-up trophy. This victory is not considered by the WWE as a new title victory. Flair then challenged Col. Robert Parker to fight one of his men at Slamboree, but it was eventually discovered that he was Barry Windham, whom Flair defeated, then he yelled Sherri Martel as his boss. In addition, he would face Lord Steven Regal in a five-match series under Marquess of Queensberry Rules, which aired on WCW Worldwide between April 30 and May 28, in which Flair won the series with 2 victories, 1 loss, and 2 draws.

Flair defeated Sting in a unification match in June 1994, extending the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, and securing his heel turn after she pretending to be with Sting. Flair feuded with Hulk Hogan immediately following his debut in WCW in June 1994, losing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to him in July at Bash at the Beach. Flair continued to feud with Hogan, eventually losing to Hogan in a steel cage retirement match at Halloween Havoc. Flair went a few months off before returning to WCW television in January 1995 for an interview with Clash of the Champions XXX. Although attacking Hogan at Superbrawl V., Flair also appeared as a part-time boss for Vader, who was embroiled in a feud with Hogan, and created a short-lived angle where he was "possessed" and killed his old WWF opponent Randy Savage at the first Uncensored. He returned to wrestling shortly after. (explained on-air by having Flair nag Hogan on the radio for months until Hogan and Savage, who both petitioned WCW management to return to Flair (Japan). Flair quickly revived his 1992 rivalry with Savage, but this time also had Savage's father Angelo Poffo in play, when he put him in a figure four leglock at Slamboree 1995.

In Pyongyang, North Korea, Flair defeated Antonio Inoki in front of 190,000 spectators on April 29, 1995, in a losing attempt under a joint exhibition between New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling. The performance was broadcast in Korea on August 4, 1995, under the name of Collision. Flair began a brief feud with Arn Anderson in the fall of 1995, which culminated in a tag match that saw Flair change on Sting to form the new Four Horsemen with Flair as the leader and Chris Benoit as the members. Flair defeated the WCW World Heavyweight Championship two more times before the nWo invasion storyline began in WCW, with Flair's first match being played in December 1995 in Starrcade, where all three Horsemen members raced out and then defeated Savage, giving Flair a berth and the crown. After Savage gained the title on Nitro after Starcade, Flair won the next match at SuperBrawl VI to regain the crown, but Flair returned the championship. Miss Elizabeth, Savage's boss, retaliated against him and became Flair's valet during the feud. They would escort Flair to his matches until Miss Elizabeth was arrested by the nWo in the fall and then returned as Savage's valet when he first joined the nWo in 1997. Flair died in the WCW World Heavyweight Championship three months later, to The Giant. With The New Four Horseman joining the Dungeon of Doom to form an alliance to save Hulkamania, the feud with Savage continued. The two groups fought Hogan and Savage in a triple steel cage at the end of Hulkamania's match, losing to the reunited Mega Powers. Flair continued to win the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in 1996, though Brian Pillman left WCW and Steve "Mongo" McMichael became the fourth member.

Flair played a major part in the New World Order (nWo) invasion storyline in late 1996 and 1997, once more a top fan favorite. The War against Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Hollywood Hulk Hogan, who Flair immediately fought for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but only after disqualification. Flair and Anderson teamed with their bitter rivals, Sting and Lex Luger, to lose in the WarGames match at Fall Brawl, as Luger submitted to the impostor Sting's Scorpion Deathlock.

Jeff Jartt, a WCW veteran who had longed to join the Horsemen and expressed his desire to join the Horsemen as soon as he became a fan in Ric Flair, much to the displeasure of the other Horsemen. Jartt was eventually accepted into the organization in February 1997, but the others did not, and Flair was eventually kicked out of the group by Flair himself in July 1997, who had enough of Jartt's behaviour that caused the Horsemen to fly. Since Hennig was given a seat in The Four Horsemen in September 1997, Flair and Syxx feuded with Curt Hennig, who later fought over the scene by slamming the cage door onto Flair's head, Hennig continued the feud in 1996.

Flair disappeared from WCW television in April 1998 after Eric Bischoff's complaint for not showing a live episode of Thunder in Tallahassee, Florida. Flair made a surprise return to the Four Horsemen on September 14, 1998, along with Steve McMichael, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit. Bischoff vs. Flair for several months afterward. During this feud, Flair raked Eric Bischoff's eyes. This culminated in a match between Bischoff and Flair in December 1998, which Bischoff won after a little help from Curt Hennig, a former member of the Four Horsemen. On Nitro, Flair returned and threatened to leave WCW, threatening a match against Bischoff for the company's presidency. The match was staged, and Flair gained and was given the position of president of WCW despite the nWo's interference on Bischoff's behalf. The resulted in a match between Flair and Hollywood Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, which Flair lost after being traced by his own son David Flair.

Despite his son's betrayal, Flair won a match against Hogan that was billed as a First Blood barbed wire cage match against Hogan, where Flair's presidency and Hogan's WCW World Heavyweight Championship were on the line. Despite being the first to bleed, Flair claimed the match by pinfall thanks to referee Charles Robinson's bias, who counted Hogan out.

Flair began insulting his position on air, favoring villains over fan favorites and even awarding the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (which was vacated by Scott Steiner due to injury) to his son David and resorting to whatever means appropriate to keep him as the World Heavyweight Champion. To keep things in order, Flair eventually established a following that included Roddy Piper, Arn Anderson, and the Jersey Triad. When Flair's tenure as president came to an end on the episode of Nitro on July 19th, he came to a scramble against Sting for the position. Sting had Flair in his Scorpion Death Lock during the match, but no decision could be reached because the referee was unconscious. Eric Bischoff, a former soldier, rang the timekeeper and began ordering him to ring the timekeeper, who did, and eventually gave the match and the presidency to Sting (who immediately gave it up after receiving it).

Flair won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice during 2000, the company's last full year of operation. Flair, the leader of the Monstrous Seven when it was purchased by the WWF in March 2001, was the head of the Magnificent Seven. Flair lost the final match of Nitro to Sting in 1995, marking the second match of Nitro. Nonetheless, Flair has expressed how glad he was when WCW eventually ended down in various interviews, but at the same time, the fact that so many people will lose their jobs saddened him.

Flair competed in the G1 Climax tournament in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), defeating Shiro Koshino and losing to Keiji Mutoh in August 1995 while under WCW control. Flair defeated Shinya Hashimoto in the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a losing proposition in NJPW on July 17, 1996.

Flair returned to the WWF on November 19, 2001, after an eight-month absence from wrestling. Following the conclusion of the "WCW/ECW Invasion" match that culminated in a "Winner Take All" match at Survivor Series that was coveted by the WWF, Flair reappeared on Raw. Shane and Stephanie McMahon's new on-screen role was that of a co-owner of the WWF, with the explanation that the company sold their shares to a group (namely Flair) prior to purchasing World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling. Flair and Vince McMahon's feud in January 2002 ushered them to a match in a Street Fight, where Flair defeated McMahon. In March 2002, Flair defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania X8, where Flair lost. When Flair owned Raw and McMahon ruled SmackDown, the "co-owner" angle came to an end in early 2002.

Flair challenged Hollywood Hulk Hogan to a no disqualification match for the Undisputed WWE Championship on May 13 on Raw's May 13 episode. Flair would then lose the contest before embarking on a rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Flair competed with Big Show on Judgment Day and lost to Austin in a two-on-one handicap tag team competition. After Austin defeated Flair in a singles match on June 3rd, the feud between Flair and Austin will escalate. A match was hotshotted between Flair and McMahon for sole ownership of WWE, which Flair lost after Brock Lesnar interfered on the June 10 version of Raw.

Flair defeated Eddie Guerrero in a singles match after Guerrero and Chris Benoit interrupted Flair's discussion of becoming WWE co-owner; afterwards, Guerrero and Chris Benoit would lock Flair in his own signature figure four leg lock with assistance from Benoit. The feud between Flair and Lesnar will persist into the month of July, with Lesnar winning in a singles match on Raw's July 1 episode and a tag team match on Raw's July 15 episode. Flair then became involved in a short-lived rivalry with Chris Jericho, which culminated in Flair defeating Jericho at SummerSlam. On the September 2 episode of Raw, Flair was granted a World Heavyweight Championship match against Triple H. He lost. Flair will partner Rob Van Dam later this night after the pair were able to defeat Triple H and Jericho's team. Flair was disqualified in a singles tournament against Jericho at Unforgiven.

Flair toured Japan on a regular basis from 2002 to 2008. In February 2004, he successfully defended the World Tag Team Championship with Batista against The Dudley Boyz twice. Flair defeated Shawn Michaels in a singles match on February 7, 2005, during a broadcast from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Mr. Kennedy was defeated by Flair in the Ariake Coliseum and William Regal in the Budokan Hall in February 2008, under the stipulation that if he lost, he would resign.

Triple H defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Rob Van Dam in September 2002 at Unforgiven. Flair came down to the ring and yelled the sledgehammer from Triple H before smashing Van Dam, allowing Triple H to win and then accompanied Triple H as his boss. Batista's SmackDown stayed short of being taken from SmackDown. While continuing to the second Triple H, Raw and Flair were able to beat Shawn Michaels after Orton struck Michaels with a chair in June 2003.

The group ruled all of Raw's male-based championships during Armageddon's reign as well as Evolution's. Batista beat the World Tag Team Championship from the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) in a tag team tumultuous match, and Triple H recovered the World Heavyweight Championship from Goldberg (in a triple threat match that also included Kane), with the help of the other members of Evolution. The Royal Rumble, Flair, and Batista successfully defended the World Tag Team Championship against the Dudley Boyz in a table match, and the World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeated Shawn Michaels to no contest in a Last Man Standing match, effectively retaining the title. On February 16, Flair and Batista of the World Tag Team Championships lost to Booker T and Rob Van Dam of Raw to Booker T and Rob Van Dam. Evolution defeated the Rock 'n' Sock Connection (The Rock and Mick Foley) in a 3-on-2 handicap match at WrestleMania XX. Flair and Batista won their second and final World Tag Team Championship, beating Booker T and Rob Van Dam on the April 19 edition of Raw, but they lost the titles to World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit and Edge.

Orton pinned Benoit to become the next World Heavyweight Champion and the youngest World Champion in WWE history to date. On the night of Raw, Batista hoisted Orton on his shoulders in what seemed to be a salute, but the group then proceeded to attack Orton following Triple H's downfall. Triple H defeated Orton to regain the World Heavyweight Championship, with help from Flair, Batista, and Jonathan Coachman. Orton's rivalry with Evolution continued until the Survivor Series, where Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge were defeated by Orton, Maven, Chris Jericho, and Chris Benoit in a Survivor Series match for control of Raw over the following month.

Batista, Orton, and Triple H were the last three players to remain in the Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution. Orton defeated Batista with a RKO and Triple H pinned Orton with Batista's help to win the tournament. Triple H suggested that Batista not participate in the Royal Rumble match, mainly because the team wants to concentrate on Triple H's retaining the title. Batista, a young boy from the Royal Rumble, dropped at number 28 and gained the Rumble. Triple H attempted to convince Batista to face WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield of SmackDown. Rather than for the World Heavyweight Championship, he was preparing for the World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H was planning a feud between JBL and Batista, with JBL badmouthing Batista in an interview and staging an assault on Batista carrying a limousine that looked like Layfield's. The scheme was ineffective, and Batista's brand contract signing ceremony on the February 21 episode of Raw kept him on Raw, enraging Triple H and effectively ending the group, effectively ending the party. At WrestleMania 21, Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. In addition, Flair and Triple H appeared in an ad for WrestleMania 21, which parodied the film Braveheart.

Triple H took time off and Flair turned face for the first time since 2002 before winning the Intercontinental Championship from Carlito at Unforgiven, where the alliance was disbanded. Triple H appeared on "Homecoming" on Raw on October 3 when he was to team with Flair in a tag team match against Carlito and Chris Masters. Triple H betrayed Flair and charged him with a sledgehammer after winning the match. In a steel cage match, Flair retained the Intercontinental Championship against Triple H at Taboo on Tuesday, which was confirmed by the fans. Flair later lost to Triple H in a prestigious Last Man Standing non-title match at Survivor Series that brought an end to their feud.

Flair had a feud with Edge that culminated in a WWE Championship Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match on Raw in early 2006, which Flair lost. Flair lost the Intercontinental Championship to Shelton Benjamin on February 20, effectively ending his reign at 155 days. Flair took some time off in mid-2006 to rest and marry for the third time, and he returned in June to work with his real-life rival Mick Foley, who played on their common sense of animosity. In a two out of three falls match, Flair defeated Foley at Vengeance, then in a "I quit" match at SummerSlam.

He was subsequently implicated in a feud with the Spirit Squad on Raw. With Roddy Piper, he captured the World Tag Team Championship from the Spirit Squad on November 5, 2006, in cyberspace. Due to a disc failure with Piper, Raw, Flair, and Piper's Sunday episode of Raw, Flair and Piper lost the World Tag Team Championship to Rated-RKO, and the team had to be flown immediately back to the United States as soon as Raw was off the air. Flair was the sole survivor of a match at Survivor Series on November 26, 2006, including Ron Simmons (replacing an injured Piper), Dusty Rhodes, and Sgt. The Spirit Squad defeated the Slaughter.

After Flair announced that Carlito had no heart, Flair then began working with Carlito. In a match in which Carlito realized that Flair was correct, Flair defeated Carlito. In a number one contender's match for the World Tag Team Championship, Flair and Carlito faced Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, but they were disqualified. The two teams competed on the WrestleMania 23 pre-show and defeated Chavo Guerrero and Gregory Helms' team. The team split up after weeks of clashes with Carlito, when Carlito struck Flair during a match on Raw's April 30 episode. Flair defeated Carlito with the figure four leglock at Judgment Day.

Flair was drafted to the SmackDown on the June 11 episode of Raw, Flair. The brand was created as part of the 2007 WWE draft. He briefly feuded with Montel Vontavious Porter, but he was unsuccessfully vying for the WWE World Championship at Vengeance: Night of Champions. On the August 3 episode of SmackDown, Flair revived forces with Batista to feud with The Great Khali; however, the friendship was short-lived as Flair was "injured" during a match with Khali.

Flair returned to WWE action on the November 26 episode of Raw to announce "I will never retire" after a three-month absence. Vince McMahon responded by announcing that the next match Flair lost would result in a forced retirement. Flair defeated Orton later in the night thanks to Chris Jericho's distraction. It was announced on the 15th anniversary of Raw that the win or forfeit ultimatum was only applicable in singles matches. Among others, Flair has won several "career threatening" matches against opponents such as Triple H, Umaga, William Regal, Mr. Kennedy, and Vince McMahon himself. Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 class of XIV in Orlando, Florida, losing to Shawn Michaels on March 29, 2008. Fans and commentators lauded the match, which was named the 2008 Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Match of the Year. The 2008 PWI "Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year" award was given to Flair for his efforts to keep his career alive.

Flair's Farewell Address was delivered on March 31, 2008. Following Shawn Michaels, several of the Four Horsemen, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, and Chris Jericho, was followed by Vince McMahon. The fans of Flair gave the wrestlers a standing ovation. Both the heels and the faces came out to the ring together, and this was a rare moment in WWE history. On the 2008 episode of Raw, Flair performed his first post-retirement appearance to confront Chris Jericho about his conduct during a feud with Shawn Michaels. He challenged Jericho to a fight in the parking lot rather than a formal match, but Triple H.

Flair once more confronted Jericho on Raw this year. Before punching Jericho, Jericho was insulting Hall of Fame members and Flair had requested that they be honored. Flair appeared a month later to distract him during a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. Jericho begged Flair to come out of retirement for WrestleMania 25; rather, Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka, and Ricky Steamboat were able to compete in a losing match at WrestleMania. Flair returned to the assistance of Batista, who had been wounded by The Legacy from The Legacy on May 17, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase. Flair defeated Orton in a parking lot brawl match on June 1 and Orton's interference in The Legacy of The Legacy, Flair was trapped inside a steel cage and punched by Orton.

Flair signed with Ring of Honor (ROH) and attended the Stylin And Profilin' festival in March 2009, clining the ring after an ROH World Championship match came with a run-in. He quickly served as the company's ambassador on film, and he appeared on the television show Ring of Honor Wrestling in May to solidify his position. Flair announced that Ring of Honor Wrestling's first ROH World Championship match as a four-way match after a time-limit draw ended in a time-limit draw and a double count out the following week.

Flair returned to the ring on "Hulkamania: Let the Battle Begin" tour of Australia on November 21, 2009, losing to Hulk Hogan in the main event of the first show by brass knuckles. After both men bled heavily, Hogan defeated Flair in Perth, Australia, on November 24. On the two remaining matches on the tour, Flair also lost to Hogan.

Impact, of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (TNA) on January 4, 2010 - Flair made his debut for the company arriving via limo and later attending the main event between A.J. Kurt Angle, a longtime competitor, and styles. Flair had signed a one-year contract with the company, according to later. Flair had openly stated that he was loyal to the McMahons and wanted to end his WWE career, but after waiting for the call from WWE for six months, he decided to join TNA Wrestling. Styles helped Styles cheat to pin Angle and keep the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on January 17 at Genesis.

Flair began to properly handle Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) and Desmond Wolfe as a loose alliance in lieu of Styles. When Abyss pinned Styles, Hulk Hogan and Abyss defeated Flair and Styles on March 8 episodes of Impact! Jeff Hardy, a returning Jeff Hardy, saved Abyss and Hogan from a beating by Team Hogan (Hulk Hogan, Sting, Robert Roode, and James Storm) in a Lethal Lockdown battle that resulted in an enthal Lockdown match. Flair was defeated by Abyss in a match where Flair's and Hogan's WWE Hall of Fame rings were on display, and as a result, Flair lost possession of his ring to Hogan. Hogan retorted the ring to Jay Lethal, who returned it to Flair out of respect the following week. However, this was not enough for Flair, who was threatening Lethal with Team Flair's members. After Styles dropped the TNA World Heavyweight Championship to Rob Van Dam and later fell short of reclaim it in a rematch and then pinned by Jay Lethal, Flair adopted Kazarian as his newest protégé, presumably replacing Styles as his number one wrestler.

Flair revealed on the sixth episode of Impact! that he would reform the Four Horsemen under the new name Fourtune, a group made up of A.J. Styles, including Kasarian, Robert Roode, James Storm, and Desmond Wolfe. Flair made a return to the ring on July 11 at Victory Road, losing to Jay Lethal. Flair met Lethal in a rematch this time under Street Fight control, but Flair was able to win the match despite Douglas Williams' interference. Williams and Matt Morgan were welcomed to Fourtune this week. Flair's stable's name was changed to Fortune in the weeks leading up to Bound for Glory, indicating the increase in the number of members in the company. Flair was defeated by Mick Foley in a Last Man Standing match on October 7 on Impact!

Fortune formed an alliance with Hulk Hogan's and Eric Bischoff's new stable, Immortal, on the following episode of Impact! Flair returned to the ring on November 18 in a match against Matt Morgan, who had been kicked out of Fortune for the first month; Morgan prevailed over the game after Douglas Williams put on the remainder of Fortune, when they interfered in the match. Flair had dropped out of TNA's Maximum Woooo's Maximum Wooo on January 25, 2011. After monetary conflicts, a tour of Europe mid-tour was on display. Flair returned to Glasgow, Scotland, on January 27 after missing a show in Berlin, Germany. The show's organisers reportedly apologizing to the locker room prior to the performance. Flair won his first match of the tour on January 29, defeating Douglas Williams in London and breaking his rotator cuff in the process. Fortune turned on Immortal during Flair's time away from TNA. Flair returned to the tapings of Impact! on February 14th, turning on Fortune during a match between A.J. Styles and Matt Hardy are among the items that have made the leap to Immortal. Flair defeated Styles and Hardy in a three-way street brawl, which was more than a two-on-one handicap match on March 10 of Impact! Fortune members James Storm, Abyss, Bully Ray and Matt Hardy defeated Immortal's May 17 at Lockdown, Immortal, who was replaced by an injured A.J. When Flair tapped out to Roode, the styles were transformed in a Lethal Lockdown match. Flair was destined to have surgery for his torn rotator cuff the following week; however, Flair ultimately decided not to have the surgery because it would have required six months of rehabilitation.

On the May 12, 2011 episode of Impact Wrestling, Flair returned to television in a non-wrestling role. Flair did not appear again for three months until returning to Impact Wrestling on August 9 and threatening him to one more match. Flair promised to bring him his match with Hogan if he were successful in exchange for Sting's decision to put his future on a limb. The match, which Flair lost on Sunday's Impact Wrestling, took place on September 15th. The match against Sting will be his last match of his career. Flair tore his left triceps on a superplex spot during the game, effectively ending him from in-ring action indefinitely. Flair was in Hogan's corner during his match against Sting in Bound for Glory. Flair didn't appear on TNA until April 2012. Flair's TNA deal was terminated in April 2012, resulting in TNA bringing a lawsuit against WWE for contract tampering and eventually firing Flair. Flair had been inactive since his 2011 return to fight in a December 3, 2012 interview, owing to an on-air heart attack perpetrated by age peer Jerry Lawler following a Raw match three months earlier.

Flair, who was still contracted to TNA as a part of a sponsorship with WWE that allowed Christian Cage to attend Slammiversary 10, Flair became the first person to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, the second time as a member of The Four Horsemen in 2012. Flair returned to WWE as a non-wrestling star on the annual Slammy Awards show to present the Superstar of the Year award to John Cena, who in turn gave the award to Flair. CM Punk and Paul Heyman interrupted Flair's return, escalating into a brawl that culminated in him locking Heyman in the figure-four leglock. Flair was assaulted by The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins), until Ryback and Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan) assisted with the group's defense. Flair's mentor, The Miz's, appeared on the main roster sporadically throughout 2013. He appeared on NXT in 2013 and 2014, accompanying his daughter Charlotte to the ring.

Flair appeared on Raw on April 28, 2014, alongside the revived Evolution (minus Flair) and The Shield; Flair's endorsement for The Shield, Evolution's opponents at Extreme Rules, was seen by Flair. While promoting his match, John Cena handed over his World Heavyweight Championship belt to Flair. Flair interrupted Jon Stewart, who had saved Flair's 16 world championship record by blocking Cena's victory the previous night, by insisting that the record be broken eventually and favoured someone who knows it.

Since winning the Divas Championship, Flair has been more popular with Charlotte. Flair and Charlotte began displaying villainous characteristics in January 2016, with Flair often appearing in Charlotte's Divas Championship and later WWE Women's Championship defenses, turning heel for the first time since 2005 in WWE. Charlotte turned on him on May 23 in a Raw episode. On the November 28 episode of Raw, Flair, Flair returned to congratulate the new Raw Women's Champion, Sasha Banks, who had defeated Charlotte to win the title, effectively ending the match once more. During a surprise appearance on SmackDown's episode on November 14, 2017 to honor Charlotte Flair, who championed the SmackDown Women's Championship. They captured an emotional moment on the trail and created his signature strut.

WWE honored Flair's 70th birthday on February 25, 2019, and Batista struck Flair in the closing moments. The "attack" was never seen, only Flair being pulled by Batista. At WrestleMania 35, Flair helped Triple H beat Batista in order to keep his in-ring career alive. Flair appeared on Triple H, Hulk Hogan, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and many other seasoned wrestlers of his time. Flair returned to WWE as a heel again in June 2020, although Randy Orton was only a handful on the tenth of a few weeks before Orton gave him a punt kick on Flair's head in a September 10 episode of Raw. At The Undertaker's retirement party on November 22, 2020, he appeared at Survivor Series for the first time.

When Lacey Evans flirted with Flair during a match against Women's Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Asuka, Evans flirted with Flair on the January 4, 2021 episode of Raw, Flair. Flair managed Evans during the following weeks, mainly distracting his daughter Charlotte, as well as a participation in the Women's Royal Rumble. Evans' real-life pregnancy was confirmed and integrated into a storyline with Flair impregnating Lacey on February 15, Evans' real-life pregnancy was revealed and included in a storyline on Raw's February 15 episode. At Elimination Chamber, Evans had been supposed to face Asuka for Raw Women's Championship, but she had to cancel due to her pregnancy and the storyline with Flair was cancelled. Flair had requested for and was released from WWE on August 2, 2021, according to Wrestling Inc., who had previously reported it on August 2, 2021. WWE announced his deposition the next day and that it was still in place as of August 3.

Flair's Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) debut on August 14, 2021, was his first appearance at Tripleman's XXIX by accompanying Charlotte's fiancé Andrade "El dolo" to ringside during his match against AAA Mega Champion Kenny Omega. Flair will be more involved in the game by chopping Omega and applying the Figure Four leglock to Omega's second Konnan's second Konnan.

Flair made his NWA debut at 73 on August 29, 2021. It was his first NWA appearance since 2008, when he was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame. Flair thanked the NWA and WWE for many memorable events, highlighting the importance of having multiple companies in the industry.

Flair's Last Match, which was originally announced on May 16, 2022, was announced in Nashville on July 31. Ric Flair's Last Match, Flair's Last Match, was announced on June 16, 2022, after almost five decades in the sport. Flair would squad with his son-in-law Andrade El dolo against Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal on July 18, according to the newspaper. Lethal insulted Flair for being left out of the match card as part of the match's promotion. Jartt initially attempted to help Flair, but then he was assaulted after he refused to help him and used expletives against his family. To win the match, Flair and Andrade will advance.

Flair later reported that he had passed out twice during the Last Match and regretted that it would be his last match. He accompanied Andrade during his match against Carlito on August 6, 2022, just a few days later. When Flair tried to stop Primo Colón from attacking him and causing him to flee, he attempted to intervene. Andrade would miss the game if they were to lose the match.

Flair announced that he would never retire during the 50th anniversary of his debut in professional wrestling on September 26, 2022.

Source