It was hot. Not just Nashville-in-July hot, but the kind of thick, humid air that sticks to your lungs. On July 31, 2022, the Nashville Municipal Auditorium was packed with 6,800 people who weren't just there for a wrestling show. They were there for a wake or a miracle. Ric Flair final match was finally happening, and honestly, nobody knew if the 73-year-old "Nature Boy" would walk out under his own power.
The atmosphere was heavy with nostalgia. You had legends like The Undertaker, Mick Foley, and Bret Hart sitting ringside. Kid Rock was hanging out in the locker room. This wasn't just another independent show; it was a revival of Jim Crockett Promotions, a name that hadn't carried weight in the industry for decades. But as the main event approached, the excitement turned into a collective holding of breath.
🔗 Read more: CBS Interview Bill Belichick: What Most People Get Wrong
The Match That Scared Everyone
Ric Flair teamed up with his son-in-law, Andrade El Idolo. They were facing Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal. On paper, it was a safety net. Andrade is a world-class athlete in his prime. Lethal is essentially the "Flair whisperer," having spent months training with the legend. Jarrett is a veteran who knows every trick in the book.
But wrestling is a physical tax that doesn't care about your legacy.
The entrance was vintage Flair. The robe was magnificent. The "Woo!" echoed through the rafters. But once the bell rang, reality set in. Flair looked every bit his age, and then some. He was moving in slow motion. There’s a moment early on where he tries to throw a punch and almost falls over. It was hard to watch.
Then came the blood.
Flair has never been shy about "wearing the crimson mask," but seeing a 73-year-old man with a pacemaker bleeding profusely down his face feels different than it did in 1985. It felt dangerous. The match went on for 27 minutes—way too long for a man in his condition—and the finish was a chaotic mess of brass knuckles and a Figure-Four Leglock that Flair could barely hold.
What Most People Didn't See
Here is the part that basically nobody knew until months later. Ric Flair didn't just look tired. He was dying. Or at least, he was close to it.
Flair later admitted on the JAXXON PODCAST that he suffered a legitimate heart attack during the match. He passed out twice. Not "pro wrestling" passed out. Actually unconscious.
"I didn't know myself until about six months ago... The guy takes me in and if you look at your heart like a round pie, there's a piece of my heart right here, this big, it’s black, it’s gone."
He thought he was dehydrated. He went backstage afterward, drank two bottles of Gatorade, and went to a party at Kid Rock's place. Meanwhile, he had a "blacked out" section of his heart from a cardiac event that occurred while he was trading chops with Jeff Jarrett. It is a miracle he didn't die in front of his granddaughters, who were sitting in the front row.
Why Ric Flair Final Match Still Matters to Fans
People criticize this event a lot. Critics called it a "train wreck" and "irresponsible." They aren't wrong. But to understand why the Ric Flair final match happened, you have to understand the ego of a performer who has spent 50 years being the center of attention.
- The Ghost of WrestleMania 24: Most fans think his match with Shawn Michaels in 2008 was the perfect ending. It was beautiful. "I'm sorry, I love you." But Flair hated that he didn't get to choose when he stopped. He went to TNA (Impact Wrestling) and wrestled for years after that, muddies the water of his "retirement."
- Financial and Emotional Need: Flair has been open about his struggles. He’s had five marriages. He’s had massive medical bills from a 2017 health crisis that put him in a coma. He needed the payday, sure, but he also needed the "Woo."
- The Family Tie: Having Andrade in the ring was personal. It was a bridge between the old territory days and the modern AEW/WWE era.
The match was a financial success, pulling in nearly 30,000 PPV buys. It proved that despite the scandals and the age, people still want to see the Nature Boy walk that aisle one last time. Even if it hurts to watch.
✨ Don't miss: 2024 Eagles depth chart: What Most People Get Wrong
The Physical Toll and the Pacemaker
Let’s talk about the pacemaker. Before the match, Flair was making jokes about it. He told reporters that if it came unplugged, he’d just "plug it back in." That's classic Ric. But medically, it was a nightmare. He had to stop taking his blood thinners days before the match so he wouldn't bleed out in the ring.
Imagine that. A man with a history of kidney failure, sepsis, and a pacemaker, intentionally thinning his blood and then getting punched in the face by Jeff Jarrett.
The match ended with Flair winning. He put Jarrett in the Figure-Four, and the referee counted the three. But the referee actually counted it even though Jarrett's shoulders weren't fully down, mostly because everyone just wanted the match to be over. They needed to get Ric to the back.
The Aftermath in 2026
Looking back from 2026, the legacy of this match has shifted. At first, it was a joke. A "WrestleCrap" winner. Now, it's seen as a cautionary tale. Flair has since had more health scares, including battles with skin cancer that he thankfully beat in 2025.
🔗 Read more: Mike Tomlin at William and Mary: What Really Happened Before the NFL
He still talks about wrestling. That’s the scary part. In his mind, he’s still the guy who can go 60 minutes in Greensboro.
If you're a fan who wants to remember the best of the Nature Boy, stick to the 1989 series with Ricky Steamboat. If you want to see a man defy death through sheer force of will (and a lot of luck), watch the Ric Flair final match. Just don't expect it to be pretty.
What You Should Take Away
If you’re looking for the technical brilliance of a 16-time World Champion, this isn't it. This match is a documentary of a man refusing to let go.
- Watch for the entrance: It’s the last time you’ll see the full pageantry of Jim Crockett Promotions.
- Respect the opponents: Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal did everything humanly possible to keep a 73-year-old man safe.
- Acknowledge the risk: Understand that what you are watching is a man having a heart attack in real-time.
For those wanting to dive deeper into the history of the "Big Gold Belt" or the territories, start by researching the 1980s NWA archives. That is where the legend was built. This final match was just the bill coming due.
To truly honor the career of Ric Flair, focus on the decades of work that made him a household name. Study his promos from the 80s and his legendary 1992 Royal Rumble win. Those are the moments that define him, not the stumbling finish in a Nashville auditorium.