Richard Morgan Fliehr [ 6 ] [ a ] born February 25, , known professionally as Ric Flair , is an American professional wrestler. Regarded by multiple peers [ 7 ] and journalists [ 8 ] as the greatest professional wrestler of all time, Flair has had a career spanning over 50 years in six decades. Since the mids, he has used the moniker "the Nature Boy". Fliehr was born on February 25, , in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Fliehrs decided to adopt due to Kathleen being unable to become pregnant after giving birth to a daughter who died shortly after. After ninth grade, he attended Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin for four years, where he participated in wrestling , football , and track. A successful amateur wrestler in his teens, Flair trained as a professional wrestler with Verne Gagne.
Brute Bernard substituted for an inactive Hawk during the title defense. Flair would then capture his first singles title on February 9, , by beating Paul Jones for the Mid-Atlantic Television Championship. After holding the title for six months, Flair lost the title back to Jones on August 8. After coming up short in several title opportunities, Flair finally defeated McDaniel for the title in a title vs. On October 4, , however, Flair's career nearly ended when he was in a serious plane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina that took the life of the pilot and paralyzed Johnny Valentine also on board were Mr.
Wrestling , Bob Bruggers, and promoter David Crockett. Flair would ultimately lose the title back to McDaniel on May 3, However, three weeks later, Flair regained the title by defeating McDaniel in a rematch on May In the midst of his tag team championship reign, Flair defeated Rufus R. Race retained the title after the match ended in a double count-out. Flair would lose the Mid-Atlantic Television Championship to Ricky Steamboat on June 15, beginning a lengthy and historic rivalry between the two.
Flair would defend the United States Heavyweight Championship against numerous challengers, including Steamboat, whom he wrestled in several matches, such as title versus title match for Flair's title and Steamboat's Mid-Atlantic Television Championship. On April 9, Flair defeated Mr.
