Ric Flair Hospitalized After Scary Fall in Tampa

Ric Flair was hospitalized in Tampa, Florida, on Friday, October 23, after a fall outside a restaurant left him with injuries to his head and face.

The 77-year-old WWE Hall of Famer went down outside Wagamama after leaving the restaurant earlier in the day. He suffered a cut to his head and the area around his eye, with significant bleeding reported at the scene. Emergency personnel treated him before he was taken to a hospital by ambulance. A possible concussion was mentioned in initial reports, though that has not been confirmed.

Charlotte Flair later posted a reassuring update on social media indicating her father was going to be okay, easing concern among fans who had been bracing for worse news.

Why This Fall Came on a Rough Day for Flair

The fall happened just hours after Flair revealed he had been sidelined by a separate health issue. Earlier Friday, he announced he was pulling out of Washington State Horror Con in Washington state because doctors had restricted his travel to roughly three or four hours due to a blood clot in his leg. Flair apologized to the convention organizers, his representatives and fans who had planned to see him, and said he was scheduled for a procedure to treat the affected vein, after which doctors hoped to clear him for longer trips.

Whether Friday's fall and hospitalization will push back that procedure has not been addressed publicly.

Who Is Ric Flair

Ric Flair, known as The Nature Boy, is one of the most influential performers in professional wrestling history, with championship runs in the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and WWE. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008 as a singles star and again in 2012 as a member of the Four Horsemen. His last match came in July 2022, teaming with Andrade El Idolo against Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal. His health has been a recurring concern for fans since a series of serious medical scares earlier in his life, which is part of why Friday's news spread so quickly across the wrestling world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Ric Flair in Tampa?

Ric Flair was hospitalized on Friday, October 23, after a fall outside a Tampa, Florida restaurant left him with cuts and bleeding to his head and the area around his eye.

Is Ric Flair going to be okay?

Charlotte Flair said on social media that her father was going to be okay, though full details of his treatment and recovery have not been released.

Did Ric Flair have other health issues before the fall?

Yes, earlier the same day Ric Flair announced he was canceling an appearance at Washington State Horror Con because doctors had restricted his travel due to a blood clot in his leg.