Ric Flair, 77, Hospitalized After Fall; Daughter Confirms Recovery Expected

Ric Flair, the 77-year-old WWE Hall of Famer, was hospitalized on Friday, October 23, 2026, after falling outside a restaurant in Tampa, Florida. According to TMZ, Flair fell while walking across the street near Wagamama restaurant after leaving the bar. He sustained cuts to his head and eye, with his eye bleeding extensively. Emergency medical personnel responded and transported him by ambulance to a local hospital. The fall may have also resulted in a concussion, though sources did not confirm severity.

The hospitalization occurred hours after Flair announced on social media that he was canceling a scheduled appearance at Washington State Horror Con in Seattle due to a blood clot in his leg. In his statement, Flair wrote that his doctors had limited his travel to 3–4 hours and that he needed to prioritize his health and recovery. He noted that blood clots are "extremely serious and can be life-threatening," referencing Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' recent diagnosis. Flair also stated he was scheduled to undergo a procedure to have the affected vein stripped, though it remained unclear how the fall might impact that treatment.

Later Friday evening, his daughter Charlotte Flair provided an update via social media, stating that her father "is going to be ok." She humorously suggested he had told doctors that his fall was caused by the Ultimate Warrior dropping him on his head—a reference to a wrestling match from 1992 between the two athletes. The quip drew attention as the Ultimate Warrior has been deceased for over a decade.

Flair's health struggles are not new. Sources told TMZ that the blood clot issue had been a concern for months prior to the fall. In May 2026, Flair had previously revealed he was dealing with unspecified "health issues" and was taking time to focus on recovery. In 2017, Flair suffered a severe intestinal rupture that required surgery and resulted in a month-long hospital stay, during which he was placed in a medically induced coma due to multiple organ failure. At that time, Flair attributed his condition in part to heavy drinking and said doctors had given him only a 20 percent chance of survival.