If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the rumors flying around. It happens every few months like clockwork. A headline pops up, someone shares a "rest in peace" post, and suddenly everyone is scrambling to Google asking is ric flair the wrestler dead or if the Nature Boy has finally styled and profiled his way into the great beyond.
Honestly? Ric Flair is very much alive.
As of early 2026, the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion is still kicking, though he’s definitely had more than his fair share of close calls. People get confused because Flair’s health has been a public roller coaster for years. Just when you think he’s down for the three-count, he kicks out at two. He's 76 years old now, and the lifestyle of a man who claimed to have "spent more money on spilled liquor" than most people make in a lifetime has certainly left its mark.
The 2025 Cancer Scare and Recovery
The most recent reason the "is Ric Flair dead" rumors started circulating again was a legitimate health battle he faced in mid-2025.
Flair actually had to cancel several public appearances—which is rare for him, as he loves the spotlight—to deal with a second bout of melanoma. In June 2025, he was pretty blunt about it on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He told fans that melanoma is "nothing to play with" and admitted he’d procrastinated on his health in the past.
For a few weeks, the wrestling world was genuinely worried.
But by July 2025, he was back. He posted a photo of himself, bandages and all, announcing he was officially cancer-free. This wasn't just a minor thing; it was his second fight with skin cancer in just three years. When you're in your mid-70s, those "all-clear" messages from doctors are basically the modern-day equivalent of winning a title belt.
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Why Do People Keep Thinking He’s Dead?
It’s kind of a mix of things. First, there’s the "Mandela Effect" of the wrestling world. We've lost so many legends recently. Hulk Hogan’s passing in late 2025 sent shockwaves through the industry, and sometimes people subconsciously lump all the icons of that era together.
Then there’s the 2017 incident.
That was the big one. The one where he actually almost did die. Flair was placed in a medically induced coma for 11 days after his intestine ruptured, leading to total kidney failure and signs of congestive heart failure. Doctors gave him a 20% chance of survival. He had part of his bowel removed and a pacemaker put in.
He survived that. Then he survived a heart procedure in 2019. Then he survived another cardiac event in 2023.
The man is basically a medical anomaly. He even admitted in early 2025 that he likely suffered a heart attack during his "Last Match" in Nashville back in 2022. He said he passed out three times during that match and thought he was just dehydrated. It turns out, a piece of his heart is actually dead tissue now.
Where is Ric Flair Now?
He’s still active, believe it or not. He’s been working with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in a "legends" role, though he's had to take some breaks. Most recently, in late 2025, he missed a scheduled appearance at the Blood & Guts event in Greensboro.
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Rumors started swirling immediately.
Was he back in the hospital? Was he gone?
Nope. He just tore his rotator cuff. He apologized to fans, saying he’d never intentionally disappoint them, but the pain was just too much to travel. Even a 76-year-old Nature Boy has limits when it comes to shoulder injuries.
He’s also been busy with his business ventures, particularly his "Wooooo! Energy" drink and his "Ric Flair Drip" cannabis line. He’s turned his persona into a massive brand that exists far outside the ring.
The Reality of the Nature Boy's Health
We have to be realistic here. Ric Flair has lived ten lives in one.
Between the 1975 plane crash that broke his back and the decades of heavy drinking, his body is a map of professional wrestling history. He suffers from alcoholic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart weakens due to long-term alcohol use. He’s been open about this, especially in his 2022 documentary Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair.
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So, when people ask is ric flair the wrestler dead, they aren't just being morbid. They're responding to the fact that he's been in "critical condition" more times than most people have been in the DMV.
But as of today, he’s still here. He’s still "stylin' and profilin'."
What to Keep an Eye On
If you want to stay updated on Flair’s actual status without falling for the clickbait "death hoaxes" that plague Facebook and X, here is what you should actually look for:
- Official Social Media: Ric is very active on his own accounts. If something happens, his family (especially his daughter, WWE star Charlotte Flair) or his official handles will be the first to post.
- Wrestling News Sites: Stick to reputable sources like POST Wrestling, Wrestling Observer, or Fightful. They don't run with "death" rumors unless they are 100% verified.
- The "Last Match" Context: Remember that he "retired" in 2008, 2011, and 2022. While he says he’s done wrestling, he’s still a performer at heart. Any "health update" is usually just a bump in the road for him.
Ric Flair is a survivor. He’s outlived his peers, his doctors' expectations, and several of his own organs. For now, the Nature Boy is still standing.
If you're looking for more info on the legends of the ring, you can check out the latest health updates on other icons or look into the upcoming AEW schedule where he’s expected to return once his shoulder heals up.