Ric Flair Hospitalized After Fall in Tampa Hours After Revealing Blood Clot; Charlotte Flair Says He's 'Going to Be OK'

Ric Flair, the retired professional wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer, was taken to a hospital on Friday, Oct. 23, after falling outside a restaurant in Tampa, Florida, hours after he told fans he was dealing with a blood clot in his leg. The fall was first reported by TMZ Sports, and on Saturday, Oct. 24, Flair posted that he had been treated overnight at Tampa General Hospital and was "focused on my healing and recovery."

Flair, 77, whose legal name is Richard Morgan Fliehr, said in an Instagram post on Saturday that he spent the night in a Tampa hospital, NBC News reported. The outlet said he shared a photo of himself smiling with a patch covering one of his eyes.

What happened in Tampa

According to TMZ Sports, which cited sources with direct knowledge, Flair was at a Wagamama restaurant in Tampa on Friday morning when he got up from the bar, leaving his phone and drink behind, and walked across the street. The outlet reported that he suddenly fell outside, cut his head and eye, and was bleeding extensively from the eye. TMZ Sports reported that he may also have suffered a concussion and that he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital.

Deadline reported that TMZ published photos on Friday showing Flair on the ground surrounded by medical workers and being lifted into an ambulance. Flair has not publicly described what caused the fall.

In his Saturday post, as quoted by NBC News, Flair wrote: "Thank You All For The Messages And Prayers! I Will Get Back To You Each Individually As I Get Stronger. Thank You To All The Tampa General Hospital Staff And Doctors That Put Up With Me Until 4:30am. I Appreciate You All And Thank You For Everything You Did For Me!" He added, according to the same report, "I Am Focused On My Healing And Recovery Right Now," and "I Will Be Okay!"

Charlotte Flair and family give updates

Flair's daughter, WWE wrestler Charlotte Flair, posted about her father on X on Friday night. "Not my dad telling the doctor he fell bc of warrior dropping him on his head…(ps: he's going to be ok)," she wrote, as quoted by NBC News and Deadline.

Slam Wrestling reported that Conrad Thompson, Flair's son-in-law and former podcast co-host, also posted an update on X on Saturday stating, "He's home." The wrestling outlet reported that Flair appeared to have been released from the hospital.

Blood clot and canceled Seattle-area appearance

Hours before the fall, Flair announced on Instagram that he was canceling a scheduled appearance at Washington State Horror Con in Puyallup, Washington, on Oct. 24 and 25, USA Today reported. "Unfortunately, I am dealing with a blood clot in my leg, and my doctors have limited my travel to 3–4 hours," he wrote, according to USA Today. "Seattle falls outside that range, and as disappointed as I am, I have to put my health and recovery first."

In the same statement, Flair pointed to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. "We have seen this recently with Jalen Hurts and the complications involving blood clots in his lungs. It is a reminder that this is not something to take lightly, and I must follow medical advice," Flair wrote, according to USA Today. The outlet reported that Flair said he has an upcoming procedure to strip the affected vein, which his doctors said will likely clear him for more travel afterward. TMZ Sports, citing sources, reported that the clot is something Flair has been dealing with for months.

Hurts' condition was detailed in a joint statement from the Eagles and his agent, Nicole Lynn, on Monday, Oct. 19. The statement said Hurts was initially diagnosed by specialists in London with a left calf superficial vein thrombosis and that the current diagnosis is a deep vein thrombosis, as well as bilateral pulmonary emboli. "Jalen's prognosis is very good, and we expect a full recovery," the statement said, adding that he will not be allowed to participate in contact activities, including football, while on blood thinners.

Flair's career and past health scare

USA Today described Flair as a 16-time WWE champion. Deadline reported that his career spanned 50 years with at least 16 championships and that he retired from active wrestling in 2022.

Friday's hospital visit was not Flair's first serious health episode. TMZ Sports noted that he nearly died in 2017 after an intestinal rupture, spending weeks in intensive care, part of that time in a medically induced coma, before recovering. USA Today reported that it had reached out to Flair's representative for comment.