Ric Flair was hospitalized in Tampa on Friday after a sudden fall outside a restaurant left him with cuts to his head and face. The incident occurred hours after the 77-year-old wrestling legend cancelled a convention trip due to a serious blood clot in his leg.
Blood Clot Diagnosis Forces Sudden Travel Cancellation in Seattle
The sequence of events began on Friday morning when the 16-time world champion took to social media to announce he could no longer make a scheduled appearance at the Washington State Horror Con near Seattle. Organizers had booked the WWE Hall of Famer for the weekend convention running from October 23 to 25. Doctors restricted his travel windows after discovering the medical issue, making the cross-country trip impossible.
I Want To Sincerely Apologize To My Agent, Steve Solomon, Washington State Horror Con @wahorrorcon, @bigeventny, And Especially All My Fans In Seattle For Having To Cancel My Scheduled Appearance.Unfortunately, I Am Dealing With A Blood Clot In My Leg, And My Doctors Have…
Unfortunately, I Am Dealing With A Blood Clot In My Leg, And My Doctors Have Limited My Travel To 3–4 Hours. Seattle Falls Outside That Range, And As Disappointed As I Am, I Have To Put My Health And Recovery First.
Ric Flair, via Livemint
Flair pointed to high-profile athletic complications to stress the severity of the condition to his followers. He noted that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts recently faced pulmonary emboli in his lungs, serving as a reminder that vascular blockages require strict medical adherence.
Flair stated that he is scheduled to have a procedure to strip the affected vein, which his doctors expect will allow him to be cleared for more travel afterward. Within his online statement, he additionally offered his apologies to his representative, Steve Solomon, Big Event NY, the Washington State Horror Con, and his supporters located in Seattle. He noted that please know this decision was not made lightly, adding that he is truly sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment, and is incredibly grateful for patience, understanding, and continued support. He expressed that he looks forward to getting healthy and seeing everyone down the road, and thanked everyone for the love and support. The WWE inducted Flair into its Hall of Fame as a singles wrestler in 2008 and as a member of the Four Horsemen in 2012. He is widely regarded as one of professional wrestling’s greatest performers and is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer. Because a blood clot in his limb stopped him from undertaking journeys lasting five or six hours, Flair had earlier skipped the 60th gathering of the Cauliflower Alley Club in Las Vegas, an event meant to present him with the Iron Mike Mazurki Award. His medical background features a 2017 hospital stay involving a pacemaker insertion, kidney complications, and a medically induced coma, alongside a heart attack he stated he experienced during his final wrestling bout—where he partnered with Andrade El Idolo to defeat Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett—held in Nashville during July 2022.
Streetside Collapse Outside a Tampa Restaurant
Hours after breaking the convention news, Flair was hanging out at the Wagamama restaurant in Tampa, Florida. Sources told reporters that he stood up from the bar, left behind his phone and drink, and walked across the street before collapsing onto the pavement.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, treating open cuts on his head and around his eye where bleeding was reported to be extensive. Tampa Fire Rescue confirmed that an adult male was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a local hospital, though the department withheld specific patient details citing privacy regulations. Medical personnel transported him for further medical care amid concerns about a possible concussion, though the extent of his injuries and his recovery timeline remain unclear as no confirmed medical update following the fall has been provided.
Daughter Charlotte Shares Hospital Bedside Update
As speculation mounted regarding potential concussions and the unknown extent of his injuries, his daughter Charlotte Flair stepped in to calm supporters. She posted a lighthearted update on social media detailing how her father was interacting with medical staff.
Not my dad telling the doctor he fell bc of warrior dropping him on his head…(ps: he’s going to be ok)
Charlotte Flair, via Sports Illustrated
The reference to The Ultimate Warrior pointed back to decades of professional wrestling history for the veteran performer. Beyond the immediate head trauma from the fall, the medical timeline remains centered on his upcoming vascular treatment. Flair had previously stated an intention to undergo a procedure to strip the affected vein once cleared, though neither family representatives nor medical personnel have clarified whether Friday’s accident alters that schedule. He appears to be on track to fully recover from his latest injuries while continuing to make closer personal appearances on the East Coast and avoiding longer trips.
Not my dad telling the doctor he fell bc of warrior dropping him on his head…(ps: he’s going to be ok)