Ric Flair Cites 5,000 Matches After Tampa Fall

Ric Flair completed 5,000 professional wrestling matches over his career, a statistic he cited on Friday to address concerns about his recent health scare. The 77-year-old former WWE champion was hospitalized in Florida late last month after falling outside a bar in Tampa. The incident injured his face and may have caused a concussion, leading to his admission at a local hospital.

Flair addressed the public reaction to the fall on X, noting that many fans asked how he was still alive. He contrasted the recent incident with his extensive history of severe injuries. He listed his 2,400 one-hour matches and five 90-minute bouts. He also referenced a round-trip flight to Japan where he wrestled three one-hour draws in 24 hours.

The legend detailed his survival of a plane crash in 1975. He spent 31 days in the intensive care unit and 14 days on life support before undergoing 35 days of rehabilitation. Flair added that he was struck by lightning at least once and suffered a heart attack during his final match in 2022. He nearly died in 2017 after his intestines ruptured.

The wrestler has been open about recent blood clot issues that limit his ability to travel for more than four hours. Despite these conditions, he has maintained an active lifestyle that has worried fans. He was seen wearing an eye patch over his right eye following the Tampa fall.

Flair concluded his post by questioning the level of concern over the recent fall. He wrote, "And You Are Worried About Me Falling Down And Hitting My Eye? WTF." The 16-time world champion remains active in the pro wrestling world despite his age and medical history.