When “Nature Boy” Ric Flair wrestled for TNA Wrestling late last decade, he delivered the following all-time one-liner: “When I die, it’ll be here [in a wrestling ring] or on top of a wild woman!”
Flair is thankfully not dead yet – not by a longshot, brother. According to the latest TMZ report at 4:47 p.m. Eastern Standard Time – the 16-time World Champion is “out of surgery and resting.”
Flair was put into a medically induced coma on Monday.
“[It’s] unclear how the surgery went but we’re told Ric’s family is by his side and they’re waiting to meet with doctors,” the TMZ report read.
There was an outpouring of support for Flair on Twitter on Monday, including many current WWE wrestling stars.
Just hearing all this news about @RicFlairNatrBoy sending every ounce energy to #TheMan and asking that all of you do the same #NeverGiveUp
— John Cena (@JohnCena) August 14, 2017
Flair was reportedly admitted to the hospital on Saturday for “heart issues.”
Many wrestlers over the years have marveled at the way Flair seemingly stayed so young despite his reputation for partying each and every night on the town. When Flair’s former manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame last decade, he said that he couldn’t keep up with Flair’s lifestyle.
“Here I was getting older, and [Vince McMahon] puts me on the road with Larry Flynt,” Heenan joked.
An ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on Flair will be broadcast nationally on Nov. 7. Flair retired from WWE in 2008.