10 Wrestlers Who Returned From Injury Better Than Before
4. Ric Flair
Today, Ric Flair is known as – amongst other things – arguably the greatest pro wrestler in the history of the business. But that may not have been the case if it hadn’t been for a back injury sustained in a plane crash that forced him to alter his entire in-ring style.
On 4 October 1975, a Cessna 310 twin-engine plane went down in North Carolina. On board were a cast of pro wrestlers, including Jonny Valentine, who was paralysed for life as a result of the crash, and Flair, who suffered a broken back.
Doctors told Flair he may never wrestle again, and while he managed to make a comeback after just eight months out, the incident left a lasting impact – though it wasn't necessarily a negative one.
Prior to the crash, Flair had been a burly, muscle-bound brawler-type, but the injury saw him slim down considerably and adopt a slightly new tact. As such, the Nature Boy was born, and with the larger-than-life, flamboyant character came a more technical in-ring style – not to mention the small matter of 16 to 25 world titles (depending who you ask) in perhaps the most glittering career the industry has seen.