WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair was reportedly taken to a Tampa-area hospital by ambulance on Friday after suffering a fall outside a restaurant in the Florida city.
The incident came only hours after Flair told fans that he would be unable to make a scheduled appearance at Washington State Horror Con in Seattle because of a blood clot in his leg. Flair indicated that the medical issue has limited his ability to travel and that he is expected to undergo a procedure on the affected vein.
Details regarding Flair's condition following the fall remain limited. He reportedly suffered facial injuries, including a cut to his head, after falling outside the restaurant Friday morning. There has been no public explanation for why he abruptly left the location before the fall, and it is not yet known whether the incident will affect the timetable for his planned vein procedure or his anticipated return to travel.
View the referenced post on X
Flair Put Health First Ahead Of Seattle Appearance
Before the reported hospital visit, Flair posted a statement explaining that he would not be able to attend Washington State Horror Con. The event was scheduled to take place in Seattle, but Flair said the distance of the trip was not possible because of the blood clot in his leg.
For more background on this topic, read Cody Rhodes Plans To Balance WWE Career With Acting After Street Fighter Role.
In his message, Flair expressed disappointment over having to miss the appearance while stressing that his immediate priority must be his health and recovery. He also thanked those who had planned to see him for their patience, understanding, and continued support.
“As disappointed as I am, I have to put my health and recovery first.”
Flair said he is scheduled to have a procedure on the impacted vein. While he did not give a date for that procedure, he shared that his doctors expect him to be cleared for more travel afterward. Friday's reported fall creates additional uncertainty around that plan until more is known about the extent of his injuries and his overall status.
For fans, the update was concerning on multiple levels. Flair's announcement about the blood clot was already a significant medical development, particularly given the travel restrictions it created. The report that he was subsequently transported to the hospital after a fall has placed further attention on the 77-year-old legend's well-being.
Reported Details From The Tampa Incident
Flair was reportedly at a restaurant bar in Tampa on Friday morning before leaving the establishment and walking across the street. He reportedly left his drink and phone behind when he exited. Shortly afterward, Flair fell outside and sustained injuries to his face, including the reported cut to his head.
An ambulance transported Flair to a local hospital. No update was immediately available on his condition after arriving there, and no reason has been publicly established for why he left the restaurant so suddenly.
It would be premature to draw conclusions about whether the fall was connected to the blood clot Flair discussed earlier in the day. The available information confirms only that Flair had disclosed the blood clot, said it had prevented him from traveling to Seattle, and was later reportedly hospitalized after the fall in Tampa.
Any further clarity will likely depend on an update from Flair, his representatives, or his medical team. Until then, the most important development is that Flair has acknowledged an ongoing health concern and has made clear that he is following medical guidance by putting travel and public commitments behind his recovery.
A Serious Health History
Flair is no stranger to major health scares. In 2017, he suffered a severe intestinal blockage that required surgery and led to a hospital stay that lasted roughly a month. The episode was widely viewed as one of the most frightening moments of his life outside the ring.
Flair later discussed the severity of that hospitalization and said he had been given just a 20 percent chance of surviving. He attributed the underlying health problems at the time to heavy drinking, speaking candidly about the changes he needed to make following the experience.
The 2017 ordeal became a defining personal chapter for one of professional wrestling's most recognizable figures. Flair had spent decades cultivating an extravagant, larger-than-life image as “The Nature Boy,” but the hospitalization underscored the real physical toll that can follow years of travel, athletic punishment, and lifestyle excess.
His past health issues naturally make Friday's developments especially sobering for wrestling fans. Flair has remained a prominent personality long after his full-time in-ring career ended, continuing to make convention appearances, participate in media opportunities, and connect with an audience that has followed him through several eras of the industry.
An Enduring WWE Legacy
Flair's standing in wrestling history is secure. A two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee, he is celebrated as one of the most influential performers the industry has ever produced. His body of work spans generations, territories, national television expansion, and the modern era of sports-entertainment.
Known for his signature robes, charismatic interviews, and the “Woooo!” that became synonymous with his persona, Flair helped define what a world champion could look and sound like. His influence has reached far beyond his own matches, with countless wrestlers citing his ring work, promo style, and championship presence as foundational inspirations.
Flair's career includes celebrated rivalries and marquee bouts across several major stages, and his name remains deeply connected to the lineage of world championship wrestling. Even for fans who came to WWE after Flair's prime in the ring, he has remained a familiar and recognizable figure through Hall of Fame appearances, special television moments, documentaries, interviews, and public events.
That long-standing connection helps explain the immediate concern whenever Flair faces a health challenge. His supporters have seen him confront serious adversity before, and Friday's sequence of events has again brought attention to the importance of his recovery.
What Is Known And What Remains Unclear
The confirmed public message from Flair is that a blood clot in his leg prevented him from making the trip to Seattle and that he has a procedure planned for the affected vein. He said his doctors expect he will be able to resume wider travel after the procedure.
The reported Tampa incident later the same day involved a fall outside a restaurant, facial injuries, and transport by ambulance to a hospital. At this stage, there is no confirmed public update on the severity of the injuries, the outcome of his hospital visit, or whether his medical procedure remains on the same schedule.
- Flair withdrew from Washington State Horror Con because of a blood clot in his leg.
- He said he is scheduled to undergo a procedure on the affected vein.
- He reportedly fell outside a Tampa restaurant Friday morning and suffered facial injuries.
- He was reportedly transported to a local hospital by ambulance.
- No official update has established how the fall may affect his recovery or future travel plans.
For now, fans awaiting more information will be hoping that Flair's injuries are not serious and that he can focus fully on treatment and recovery. His own statement earlier Friday made the priority clear: public appearances can wait when health demands attention.
Flair's legacy has always included resilience. From his storied championship career to the personal battles he has faced away from the ring, “The Nature Boy” has repeatedly remained in the public eye through both triumph and hardship. The wrestling world will now be waiting for a positive update as he deals with the latest concern.
In pictures
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.