Ric Flair hospitalized after fall in Tampa, hours after revealing a blood clot; Charlotte Flair says he'll be OK

Wrestling legend Ric Flair was hospitalized Friday, Oct. 23, after falling outside a restaurant in Tampa, Florida, according to TMZ reports cited by USA Today and WFLA. The fall came only hours after the 77-year-old revealed he is dealing with a blood clot in his leg.

His daughter, WWE star Charlotte Flair, posted an update Friday night that he is “going to be ok.”

What happened

TMZ reported that Flair fell after leaving a restaurant in Tampa and was taken to a nearby hospital, according to USA Today. Video obtained by TMZ showed first responders tending to him, WFLA reported.

Per TMZ, as cited by Bleacher Report, Flair cut his head and eye in the fall and may have a concussion. Those details came from that report. There was no official medical statement from Flair’s team at the time of writing, and USA Today said it had reached out to his representative for comment.

Charlotte Flair’s update

Charlotte Flair shared a lighthearted post on X that also served as reassurance:

“Not my dad telling the doctor he fell bc of warrior dropping him on his head… (ps: he’s going to be ok)”

The joke referenced Flair’s old in-ring rivalry with the Ultimate Warrior. As of early Saturday, no further update on his condition or a discharge had been announced in the reports reviewed here.

The blood clot and the canceled appearance

Earlier on Friday, Flair posted an apology on social media for canceling his appearance at Washington State Horror Con, set for Oct. 24-25 in Puyallup, Washington, near Seattle.

“Unfortunately, I am dealing with a blood clot in my leg, and my doctors have limited my travel to 3–4 hours,” he wrote. “Seattle falls outside that range, and as disappointed as I am, I have to put my health and recovery first.”

He also wrote that “blood clots are extremely serious and can be life-threatening.” He pointed to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was ruled out for the season this week after blood clots were found in his lungs, SEScoops reported.

According to WFLA and SEScoops, Flair said he is scheduled for a procedure to remove the affected vein, which his doctors expect will clear him to travel farther again.

Not his first health scare

SEScoops reported that the clot first surfaced in August, when it kept Flair from attending the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas. The outlet also recapped earlier health battles:

• 2017: Hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma, with kidney failure and heart problems. He later received a pacemaker.
• 2019: Surgery to replace his pacemaker and remove a blood clot linked to an irregular heartbeat.
• 2025: Revealed a second skin cancer diagnosis in three years in June, then said he was cancer-free in July.

Bleacher Report, citing the New York Post, noted he had also mentioned dealing with “health issues” in May.

Is Ric Flair still alive?

Yes. There are no credible reports that Ric Flair has died. The reports above describe a hospitalization after a fall, and his daughter said Friday night that he is going to be OK. Be wary of social posts claiming otherwise unless they come from his family or established news outlets.

Who is Ric Flair?

Ric Flair, whose real name is Richard Morgan Fliehr, is one of the most famous figures in professional wrestling history. He is a WWE Hall of Famer and the father of WWE star Charlotte Flair.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.

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