WWE legend Ric Flair has suffered another frightening health scare after a fall outside a Florida restaurant left him with injuries to his face and sent him to the hospital, just hours after he revealed he was battling a potentially dangerous blood clot.
The 77-year-old wrestling icon, famously known as “The Nature Boy,” was hospitalized Friday, October 23, after falling while walking outside Wagamama in Tampa.
According to TMZ, Flair had been visiting the restaurant when he got up from the bar, left his phone and drink behind, and walked across the street.
Moments later, he fell, striking his head and injuring the area around his eye.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, where the former wrestling champion was photographed lying on the ground as paramedics treated him.
Flair reportedly suffered cuts to his head and face, with significant bleeding around one eye. Medical personnel transported him by ambulance to Tampa General Hospital for further evaluation.
The accident was particularly concerning because earlier that same day, Flair had publicly disclosed that doctors were treating him for a blood clot in his leg.
In a lengthy social media statement, he apologized to fans for canceling a scheduled appearance at Washington State Horror Con in Seattle.
Flair explained that his doctors had restricted his travel to no more than three or four hours because of the condition, making the cross-country trip impossible.
Although disappointed, he acknowledged that ignoring their advice could put his health at risk.
“Blood clots are extremely serious and can be life-threatening,” he told fans.
Flair also revealed that he was scheduled to undergo a procedure involving the affected vein, which he hoped would allow him to resume traveling and making public appearances.
The blood clot had reportedly been an ongoing concern for several months.
However, there has been no confirmation that the condition contributed to Friday’s fall, and the exact cause of the accident remains unclear.
As news of his hospitalization spread, concerned wrestling fans flooded social media with messages of support.
Fortunately, Flair’s daughter, WWE superstar Charlotte Flair, quickly offered some reassuring news.
In a lighthearted post on X, Charlotte said her father was already joking with medical personnel about his injury.
She explained that he had humorously blamed the fall on the late wrestling legend The Ultimate Warrior, claiming the former rival had dropped him on his head.
Charlotte ended the message by assuring fans that her father was going to be okay.
The following day, Flair himself provided an encouraging update, revealing that he had been released from the hospital and was concentrating on his recovery.
In a message shared Saturday, October 24, he thanked fans for their prayers and expressed gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Tampa General Hospital.
He said medical personnel had cared for him until approximately 4:30 a.m. before he was able to leave.
“I’m focused on my healing and recovery right now. I will be okay!” Flair wrote.
The update offered welcome relief to fans who have watched the wrestling legend overcome several major health challenges over the years.
In 2017, Flair nearly died after suffering serious complications from an intestinal rupture.
The medical emergency resulted in multiple organ problems and required him to spend more than a week in a medically induced coma.
He eventually recovered, later describing the experience as one of the most frightening periods of his life.
Flair has also dealt with cancer. In June 2025, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer for the second time in three years.
The following month, he announced that he was cancer-free.
Despite those setbacks, the retired wrestler has remained active in the entertainment industry, appearing at conventions, wrestling events and autograph signings.
Flair is considered one of professional wrestling’s greatest performers, having built a career spanning more than five decades.
A two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee, he became famous for his flamboyant personality, elaborate robes, championship victories and unmistakable “Woo!” catchphrase.
His influence continues through his daughter Charlotte, who has established herself as one of WWE’s most successful female wrestlers.
Now, following another unexpected trip to the hospital, Flair is concentrating on getting healthy enough to return to the public appearances he enjoys.
His upcoming medical procedure and travel restrictions remain important concerns, but his latest message suggests he is in good spirits despite the frightening accident.
For fans who feared the worst after seeing photographs of him receiving emergency treatment, the wrestling legend’s personal update brought some much-needed reassurance.