Ric Flair is teasing a sensational wrestling return and fans are fearful he might actually die in the ring.
The WWE Hall of Famer, who is recognised as a 16-time world champion with Hollywood star John Cena currently tying his record, previously wrestled his ‘last match’ in July 2022 but he has now made it clear he’d like to do more.
The Nature Boy, 75, insisted he wanted to wrestle in AEW but boss Tony Khan snubbed the idea after finding out he was ‘on blood thinners’.
‘He wouldn’t let me in the ring,’ Flair – who first retired in 2008 after losing to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania – told the Five Star Podcast.
Asked if he has ‘one more match’ left in him, the veteran wrestler said: ‘Hell yeah, I do!’
While the former WCW and WWE legend seems keen to lace up his boots again, fans are all predicting just one outcome if he decides to step between the ropes for another retirement bout.
‘I truly believe Ric Flair wants to die in the ring,’ wrote @YEAHRevolution on X, while @EliteYW added: ‘My god Ric Flair is genuinely trying to die in the ring’
‘At this point I truly believe Ric Flair wants to die in a wrestling ring. He’s just scared to flat out say it,’ suggested @CountryDumb662, and @CurtisCutABihOf said: ‘If Ric Flair wrestles in 2025 that man is going to die…’
Meanwhile, @Atomalone wrote: ‘He almost died last time. That’s what he wants, btw. He absolutely wants to die in the ring so the legend can be Ric Flair died in the ring.
‘He doesn’t want to die at home. I kind of… admire that?! However, they can’t let him die in the ring in front of kids.’
Back in 2021, Flair outright said as much during an incredibly candid conversation with WWE and AEW broadcaster Renee Paquette on her Oral Sessions podcast.
‘I either wanna die in a ring or on top of Wendy,’ he said, referencing to his then-partner who he split from last year. ‘It’s A or B. What better way is there to go? What I did for a living or with the one I love?’
On July 31, 2022, Flair – whose career started back in the 1970s when he was initially working as a heavyweight – wrestled what he claimed was his last match during a special one off event under the legendary Jim Crockett Promotions banner.
He teamed up with his son-in-law Andrade – who is married to WWE superstar Charlotte Flair – to take on Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett in a winning effort.
However, he struggled during the bout, and has since admitted he lost consciousness twice, which has prompted many of the concerns around the idea of him stepping back in a ring.
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