Biography for
Ric Flair More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

25 February 1949, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Birth Name

Richard Morgan Fliehr

Nickname

The Nature Boy
The REAL World's Champion
Slick Ric
The Greatest Wrestler Of All Time
The Dirtiest Player in the Game
Naitch
"Slick" Ric

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

Richard Morgan Fliehr isn't what you'd expect from a professional wrestler. A medical student at Minnesota University (his father was a doctor, his mother an actress), Flair dropped out college to train for the mat wars under legendary former AWA World champ Verne Gagne. He made his professional wrestling debut on December 10, 1972, wrestling "Scrap Iron" George Gadaski (real name: John Kosti) to a ten minute draw in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. After spending the first few months of his career with Gagne's Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club (which used the brand name "American Wrestling Association"), Flair moved on to Charlotte, North Carolina where he became a regular for Jim Crockett Promotions (a member of the worldwide sanctioning body known as the National Wrestling Alliance) under the direction of matchmaker (wrestling terminology for writer) George Scott. In 1981, he captured his first NWA World title (he would hold that belt officially nine other times). Later on, he would work for both World Championship Wrestling (a company formed by Ted Turner after buying the wrestling assets of JCP) and Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment. He has been officially recognized as a World champion (an honor which generally signifies that a wrestler is the top attraction in any given company) 21 times, garnering recognition from the NWA, WWE, and WCW (as well as the WCW spin-off group WCWI, or World Championship Wrestling International). He is the only man in wrestling history to hold all four versions of the title.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous

Spouse

Jackie Beems	(11 November 2009 - present)
Tiffany VanDemark	(27 May 2006 - 2009) (divorced)
Elizabeth Flair	(27 August 1983 - 2006) (divorced) 2 children
Leslie Goodman	(28 August 1971 - 18 July 1983) (divorced) 2 children

Trade Mark

Blonde peroxided hair.

His shouting of "Wooooooooooooooo!"

Wears ornate wrestling robes.

Frequently "faints" during a match after being hit

Usually uses eye pokes, low blows and other "illegal" cheating moves to win matches

The "Nature Boy" Strut

Finishing Move: Figure Four Leg Lock

Finishing move: Figure Four Leglock

Trademark move: Knife-edged Chop

Trademark move: Chop Block

Trademark move: Elbow Drop to the knee

Trademark move: Inverted Atomic Drop

Trademark move: Knee Drop

Trademark move: Shin Breaker

Trademark move: Stalling Butterfly Neckbreaker

Trademark move: Kick to Balls

Trademark move: Ball Shot

Trademark move: Thumb to the Eye

Trademark move: Testicular Claw

Trivia

Member of the Millionaires' Club.

On April 29, 1995, in North Korea, Ric Flair wrestled Antonio Inoki in a match attended by 190,000 people. The number is believed to be the highest ever to attend a professional wrestling card.

In 1997, (then) Minnesota governor, Arne Carlson declared a one-day 'Ric Flair Day' in the state. A year later, in 1998, Minneapolis mayor Sharon Sayles-Belton proclaimed a one-day 'Ric Flair Day' in the city.

Recently won his record breaking 14th title

Survived a plane crash in Wilmington, N.C., on Oct. 4, 1975. Suffered a broken back as a result and was told by doctors he would never wrestle again.

Ranked number 2 in a poll of 5 (non-WWF) wrestlers who should be in the WWF.

Children include David Fliehr and Reid Fliehr

Won his second WWF World Title by defeating Randy Savage.

Voted number 3 in a list of the "Best Wrestlers of the Century".

Submitted to Ricky Steamboat's Double Arm Chicken Wing during a best of 3 falls match in 1989. It was the first time he submitted during a title match until, he lost the WWF Title when he submitted to Bret "The Hitman" Hart's SharpShooter, which resulted in Hart winning the World Title for the first time.

Bills himself as a 16-time former World Champion, however different wrestling historians put the number at anywhere between 15 and 22, depending upon some officially unrecognized victories.

Entered the 1992 Royal Rumble at #3, lasted over an hour, and ended up winning the vacant WWF Championship.

In April 1998, Eric Bischoff encouraged World Championship Wrestling into a lawsuit (for breach of contract) against him after a series of no-shows at events. He had been working without a contract since February and had refused to sign a new one, citing differences between the document and the terms he had previously agreed to work under. He later filed a suit of his own in response, but the matter was settled out of court - he returned to television in September 1998.

He was voted number 2 in People online's most beautiful people in 1998. Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf beat him for it.

Ranked #2 in the "PWI 500" of the PWI Years (1979-1999) (Pro Wrestling Illustrated 20th Anniversary Special)

He was touted on WCW and NWA television as the cousin of Ole Anderson and Arn Anderson, however in actuality none of the three men are related.

1975 Wrestling Rookie of the Year.

10 NWA World title reigns, 8 WCW World title reigns, 2 WWF World title reigns, 1 WCW International World title reign, 6 NWA/WCW US title reigns, 2 NWA World tag team title reigns, 3 Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title reigns, 3 Mid-Atlantic tag team title reigns, 2 Mid-Atlantic Television title reigns, 1 Missisouri State Heavyweight title reign.

He has been a world champion 21 times.

1975 Inside Wrestling Rookie of the Year.

Considered a run for Governor of North Carolina but dropped out of the race when Jesse Ventura told Flair, a notorious partier, that the press would have a field day with his personal life.

Founding member of the Four Horsemen along with Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, and their manager James J. Dillon.

Has four children from two marriages. Oldest daughter Meegan (who's now married), David who also wrestles pro, Ashley who's an accomplished gymnast, and Reid.

He was from WCW fired in 1998 for missing a match to attend an amateur wrestling tournament that son Reid was in. It started an online effort that included a boycott of WCW.

He was voted number two in People Online's Most Beautiful People in 1998. Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf (from the Howard Stern Show) edged him out.

Lives in Tega Kay, South Carolina.

Lost the WWF Title when he submitted to Bret "The Hitman" Hart's sharpshooter, which resulted in Hart winning the World title for the first time.

Sued the estate of the pilot who caused his 1975 plane crash and won.

Survived a plane crash in Wilmington, N.C., on Oct. 4, 1975. Suffered a broken back as a result and was told by doctors he would never wrestle again.

Was taken to court (along with fellow wrestler 'Wahoo McDaniel') in 1981 after the two wrestlers beat up several people in a bar fight.

Cousin (at least in terms of wrestling storyline) of the Anderson family (Gene, Lars, Ole, and Arn). Also, the 'nephew' of wrestler Rip Hawk.

The movie Class Action (1991) shows archive footage of him battling Sting in a wrestling match.

The only persone to win the WWF, NWA, and WCW World Championships.

Has won and lost World Titles to Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Kerry Von Erich, Ron Garvin, Ricky Steamboat, Sting, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Vader, Hulk Hogan, Rick Rude, Barry Windham, Diamond Dallas Page, and The Giant (Paul Wight)

Stated that the greatest wrestler he ever was defeated by was Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

Roddy Piper was the best man at his wedding

In 1984 40,000 fans packed Texas Stadium to see him wrestle Kerry Von Erich at the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, the 2nd largest live wrestling audience in U.S. history at the time.

Briefly considered running for governor of North Carolina in 2000.

His daughter Megan and son David Fliehr are children from his first marriage, his daughter Ashley and son Reid Fliehr are children from his second marriage to Elizabeth Flair.

Has held the WWE Tag Team Championship (RAW) twice with Evolution member, Batista.

Recently published a autiobiography which has caught him a lot of heat for bashing Bret Hart and Mick Foley. He refers to Mick as no more than a "glorified stuntman" and said that he was ashamed to lose the WWF title to Bret because he is a terrible, repetitous wrestler. He also stated that Bret wasn't a draw like him and the other former champs were. Bret, in return, tore into Flair in a recent Calgary Sun column, and declared how he really felt.

Notable Title Wins Include: Mid-Atlantic Tag Team titles with Rip Hawk; Mid-Atlantic TV title (2); NWA Tag Team Championship with Greg Valentine (2) NWA Tag Team Championship with Blackjack Mulligan; NWA United States title (5); Missouri Heavyweight title; NWA World Heavyweight Title (10); WWF Royal Rumble winner; WWF Federation Title (2); WCW World Title (8) WCW United States Title; WWE World Tag Team titles with Batista (2); WWE Intercontinental Championship

Did an angle on WCW Monday Nitro which involved him having a heart attack on live television (the heart attack was, of course, scripted).

He was adopted at the age of three weeks and while he mentions in his autobiography that his birth surname varies from Phillips to Demaree to Stewart on various documents, his birth first name appears to have been Fred.

Allowed Carlos Colon. to defeat him for the NWA Championship in Puerto Rico in order to prevent a riot. Later on, the title was returned to him.

Stated in his Autobiography that Mick Foley would always be remembered as a "Glorified Stuntman".

Was trained for Pro Wrestling in Minnesota by the legendary Verne Gagne

Daughter, Ashley, plays volleyball at Appalachian State University.

He is a 6 time PWI wrestler of the year (1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992).

Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006.

Former World Tag Team Champion.

He became the WWE InterContinental Champion for the first time ever in his long and illustrated career when he defeated Carlito for the championship at Unforgiven 2005.

Was trained for Pro Wrestling in Minnesota by the legendary 'Verne Gagne'.

He became the WWE InterContinental Champion for the first time ever in his long and illustrated career when he defeated 'Carlito' for the championship at Unforgiven 2005.

Has held the WWE Tag Team Championship (RAW) twice with Evolution member, 'Batista'.

Won his second WWE World Title by defeating 'Randy Savage'.

In 1984 40,000 fans packed Texas Stadium to see him wrestle 'Kerry Von Erich' at the 'David Von Erich Memorial' Parade of Champions, the 2nd largest live wrestling audience in U.S. history at the time.

'Roddy Piper' was the best man at his wedding.

Stated that the greatest wrestler he ever was defeated by was 'Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat'.

Has won and lost World Titles to 'Dusty Rhodes', 'Harley Race', 'Kerry Von Erich', 'Ron Garvin', 'Ricky Steamboat', 'Sting', 'Randy Savage', 'Bret Hart', 'Vader', 'Hulk Hogan', 'Rick Rude', 'Barry Windham', 'Diamond Dallas Page', and 'The Giant' ('Paul Wight')

Lost the WWE Title when he submitted to 'Bret "The Hitman" Hart''s sharpshooter, which resulted in Hart winning the World title for the first time.

Founding member of the Four Horsemen along with 'Ole Anderson', 'Arn Anderson', 'Tully Blanchard', and their manager 'James J. Dillon'.

He was touted on WCW and NWA television as the cousin of 'Ole Anderson' and 'Arn Anderson', however in actuality none of the three men are related.

Submitted to 'Ricky Steamboat''s Double Arm Chicken Wing during a best of 3 falls match in 1989. It was the first time he submitted during a title match until, he lost the WWE Title when he submitted to 'Bret "The Hitman" Hart''s Sharpshooter, which resulted in Hart winning the World Title for the first time.

Entered the 1992 'Royal Rumble' at #3, lasted over an hour, and ended up winning the vacant WWE Championship.

Went to boarding school.

Hotwired and joyrode a car when he was 15.

Flair returned to WCW in February 1993, and hosted a short-lived talk show in WCW called A Flair For The Gold as a compromise to work around a no-compete clause in his previous WWF contract.

Has four children: Megan, David, Reid and Ashley.

In 2006, Jack Nicholson expressed interest in inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame, being his all time favorite wrestler.

Father-in-law of Carmel Macklin.

Became a grandfather in 2004 when his eldest daughter, Megan Fliehr-Ketzner, gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Morgan Lee Ketzner on May 9.

Supported Republican Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee.

He stated in his autobiography that, although he is adopted, he is considers his adopted father to be his father and his adopted mother to be his mother. He also states he isn't bothered to find out who his biological parents are.

Personal Quotes

In order to be the man, you have to beat the man.

I'm Ric Flair! The Stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' n' dealin' son of a gun!

If you don't like it, learn to *love* it!

Where Are They Now

(May 2003) On-air performer on "Raw is War" (1997) and still wrestling occasionally at age 54.

(December 2003) Is a member of the heel (bad guy) stable Evolution and at Armeggeddon 2003 he won only his second Tag Team Championship, with Batista.

(April 2004) Regained the Tag Team Titles on an episode of Raw this month again with Batista

(September 2005) Beat Carlito at Unforgiven to win his first Intercontinental Championship.

(February 2006) Will take part in the Road to Wrestlemania tournament to decide the #1 contender for the WWE Championship.

(November 2006) Ric Flair & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper defeated Spirit Squad for the World Tag Team Championship at Cyber Sunday.

(March 2008) Lost his "Career Ending" match against Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XXIV and is now officially retired from professional wrestling.

(March 2008) At Monday Night RAW saying his final goodbyes due to his loss to Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 24 on March 31, 2008.

(March 2008) Inducted into the World Wide Entertainment Hall of Fame on March 29, 2008.

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