Featured Image Credit: Jim Crockett Promotions
Topics: WWE, Film and TV
Lisa McLoughlin
Wrestling fans shared their concern over Ric Flair’s wellbeing after he was left covered in blood during his last ever match on Sunday (31 July).
The veteran wrestler was victorious in his retirement match inside Nashville Municipal Auditorium, defeating both Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal alongside Andrade El Idolo.
But the match wasn’t without its difficulties for the 73-year-old, who first received a blow to the head from Jarrett using his wife’s shoe.
Dazed by the wallop, Flair was vulnerable to Jarrett’s tricks, who soon buried the wrestling legend’s head into the guardrail, leaving him covered in blood.
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Although Flair managed to get of harm’s way by faking heart attack chest pain in a bid to poke Jarrett in the eye, he wasn’t off the hook that easy.
As the match progressed, Flair took his biggest bump of the night when Lethal performed a suplex on him, which left him exhausted on the ground and moments before he narrowly avoided a guitar over his head.
Taking to Twitter, a fan wrote: "I am terrified for Ric Flair. For his legacy, but more importantly for his physical health."
"No one is comfortable watching this especially with Ric Flair‘s condition," a second commented. "And his health scares over the past couple of years."
A third added: "Am I in the majority or minority, regarding ‘caring’ about Ric Flair’s ‘last match’ at like 70 years old?
"I fear more about him having a heart attack or something worse considering his health."
Despite fans concerns, Flair walked away victorious from his last ever match using his signature Figure Four Leg Lock and broke down as he thanked fans for their support throughout his five-decade long career.
Joined by his family and fellow wrestlers at the ringside, a blood-covered Flair reflected: “All my family is here.
“We've made jokes about me being married five times, all the kids are here, one wife, but all my granddaughters are here, my friends are here."
The 16-time world champion, who is said to be ‘spent’ but otherwise fine following the match, also hailed Nashville as one of the greatest wrestling towns anywhere in the world.
The Nature Boy wrestled his first retirement bout against Shawn Michaels at WWE's WrestleMania 24 in 2008.
However he couldn’t keep away from the ring for long and went onto perform for IMPACT Wrestling, with his final match there coming in September 2011 against long-time rival Sting.
For his final clash, Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, Mick Foley, The Undertaker and his wife Michelle McCool were all in attendance to see Flair bow out in style.
Replays of Ric Flair’s Last Match can be watched on Fite TV.
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