15 Wrestling Nightmares Somehow WORSE Than Imagined

Ric Flair was 73 years old, had nearly died from kidney failure in 2017, and had a pacemaker fitted after undergoing four heart surgeries over a two-month period in 2018 when he took to the ring for his "Last Match" in 2022. Starrcast promoted the bout under the Jim Crockett Promotions banner - they teamed Ric with then-son in law Andrade vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal.

Expectations weren't exactly high.

The earliest parts of the match protected Flair's obvious limitations, and it looked like Andrade would do the bulk of the work before tagging Ric in for some classic spots. However, the 'Nature Boy' bled so heavily that it looked like he was having trouble standing upright, and the whole thing was an extremely uncomfortable watch, especially towards the end.

Footage of a totally shattered legend using the ropes and turnbuckles to rest his head told the full story. There were serious worries when Flair looked motionless during the finish, but he was checked over by medics, cut a promo and reportedly showed up to a special afterparty later on in the evening. Of course he did. There was no way Ric was missing that.

It was clear that the match was ill-advised though. Imagine the sadness and legal problems had Flair passed away during what was billed as his "Last Match"?! That was a real possibility to viewers watching from home, and to those in attendance for the event. Fingers crossed Ric has the sense to make this his true final performance after all.

He surely cannot work again.