Ric Flair was taken by ambulance to a hospital Friday after falling outside a Florida restaurant, according to TMZ. The hospital trip came only hours after the wrestling great told fans that a blood clot had forced him to scrap an upcoming appearance.
Flair, 77, suffered [1] cuts to his head and eye during the incident in Tampa. TMZ reported that he had walked outside the restaurant that morning when he “suddenly fell and injured his face.”
Not my dad telling the doctor he fell bc of warrior dropping him on his head…
(ps: he’s going to be ok)
— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) October 24, 2026 [2]
The fall marked another troubling health setback for the WWE Hall of Famer.
Friday had already begun with disappointing news for fans expecting to see Flair at Washington State Horror Con. He announced that he would not attend the event, which was scheduled to take place in the Seattle area.
In his social media update, Flair explained that a blood clot in his leg was restricting his ability to travel. The condition had disrupted his plans before the reported fall outside the Tampa restaurant later that morning.
Flair also outlined plans for a procedure intended to treat the vein affected by the clot. He expressed hope that the treatment would allow him to resume traveling and return to appearances.
The clot had already kept Flair from attending another gathering over the summer. He missed the Cauliflower Alley Club’s annual reunion because of the same health issue.
His reported fall occurred just hours after the latest update about the clot and his travel limitations. However, the available information did not establish whether the clot had anything to do with the incident outside the restaurant.
The hospital trip adds to a string of health problems for Flair. In 2017, he survived multiple organ failure after doctors placed him in a medically induced coma.
Earlier this year, Flair publicly acknowledged that he needed to make his health a priority. That acknowledgment came in May after a rant concerning an apparent trademark dispute involving his son.
During that May disclosure, Flair referred to “health issues” and said he was taking time to “focus on” his health. His comments signaled that he was stepping back to give greater attention to those concerns.
Friday’s developments brought both parts of Flair’s health situation into focus. First came the announcement that the blood clot would prevent him from traveling to Washington State Horror Con, followed hours later by the reported fall and ambulance trip.
Flair’s wrestling career spans the NWA, WCW, and WWE, where he became one of professional wrestling’s most decorated performers. His championship runs and prominent rivalries helped establish him as a marquee attraction for decades.
WWE recognizes Flair as a 16-time world champion. That record remains a central part of the career legacy described alongside his many years competing across the three wrestling organizations.
His legacy also includes two inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame. Flair was first inducted individually in 2008 before returning for another induction in 2012 as a member of the Four Horsemen.
Flair led the Four Horsemen faction alongside Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard. The group’s induction gave him a second place in the WWE Hall of Fame after his individual recognition four years earlier.
The immediate concern Friday remained Flair’s health following the fall in Tampa. He had sustained cuts to his head and eye, while the separate blood clot had already limited his travel and caused him to miss multiple scheduled gatherings.