Ric Flair wasn't the first wrestler to bleach his hair blonde, wear ornate robes, or call himself the best while defending the world title in arenas near and far. Heck, he wasn't even the first "Nature Boy." He was, however, the best of all of them. Flair was, and still is, a larger-than-life character whose high-rolling ways are rooted in reality the Learjet flying and limousine riding is all true, and it doesn't come cheap. In between all the glitz and glamour of expensive watches and designer suits, though, was one of the toughest competitors to ever set foot in a wrestling ring. Flair famously broke his back in a plane crash in 1975 and was told he would never wrestling again. Six months later, he was back in the ring - and according to legend, he used the insurance money to buy a Cadillac. For forty-plus years, "The Nature Boy" has been the gold standard of excellence in the wrestling industry, both in terms of performance and character. He's an icon that's transcended the sport, with a signature "Whoooooo" call that fans and non-fans know the world over. He'll always be cool.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
