1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:07,340 --> 00:00:08,591 - Okay, gentlemen. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 4 00:00:08,633 --> 00:00:09,551 - Okay. 5 00:00:15,765 --> 00:00:18,476 - Sound speed. - Sound speed, yes. 6 00:00:18,518 --> 00:00:20,103 - Okay. This is Ric Flair interview, 7 00:00:20,145 --> 00:00:21,479 take one. 8 00:00:23,314 --> 00:00:26,526 [dramatic music] 9 00:00:26,568 --> 00:00:28,737 * * 10 00:00:28,778 --> 00:00:30,780 - What is your name? 11 00:00:30,822 --> 00:00:32,365 - Richard Fliehr. 12 00:00:32,407 --> 00:00:35,243 - Who is Richard Fliehr? 13 00:00:36,661 --> 00:00:38,329 - I don't know. 14 00:00:38,371 --> 00:00:41,875 The luckiest--he's the luckiest guy in the world-- 15 00:00:41,916 --> 00:00:46,880 and who had a chance to become Ric Flair, for good or for bad. 16 00:00:46,921 --> 00:00:48,840 That's who Richard Fliehr was. 17 00:00:48,882 --> 00:00:50,675 - Who is Ric Flair? 18 00:00:52,969 --> 00:00:54,846 - The wildest son of a bitch who ever lived. 19 00:00:54,888 --> 00:00:57,891 [laughs] 20 00:00:57,932 --> 00:01:01,728 * * 21 00:01:01,770 --> 00:01:04,356 I've got the style 22 00:01:04,397 --> 00:01:07,233 and profile 23 00:01:07,275 --> 00:01:10,570 like never before! 24 00:01:10,612 --> 00:01:14,199 Let me go on record as telling the whole world, 25 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,285 to be the man, you gotta beat the man, 26 00:01:17,327 --> 00:01:19,913 and I'm saying, woo! 27 00:01:19,954 --> 00:01:21,414 [percussive beat] 28 00:01:21,456 --> 00:01:23,083 - He was, like, the standard-bearer 29 00:01:23,124 --> 00:01:24,501 for what a wrestler should be. 30 00:01:24,542 --> 00:01:27,003 - The Nature Boy--woo! 31 00:01:27,045 --> 00:01:28,630 Space Mountain in himself! 32 00:01:28,672 --> 00:01:31,049 - I think Ric Flair is the barometer 33 00:01:31,091 --> 00:01:33,468 of the greatest World Champion of all time. 34 00:01:33,510 --> 00:01:36,096 - Ric Flair is the champion again! 35 00:01:36,137 --> 00:01:37,430 - He was ahead of his time. 36 00:01:37,472 --> 00:01:40,141 He was very colorful. 37 00:01:40,183 --> 00:01:42,519 - He was just unbelievably captivating. 38 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,063 - It attracts you from the moment that you see him 39 00:01:45,105 --> 00:01:46,606 and hear him talk. 40 00:01:46,648 --> 00:01:48,983 - I can't help it that I look good, 41 00:01:49,025 --> 00:01:50,443 smell good--woo! 42 00:01:50,485 --> 00:01:52,445 Can dance all night long. 43 00:01:52,487 --> 00:01:56,616 - He was the most exciting, prolific shit-talker 44 00:01:56,658 --> 00:02:00,495 that all of sports entertainment has ever seen. 45 00:02:00,537 --> 00:02:04,624 - My shoes cost more than your house! 46 00:02:04,666 --> 00:02:09,295 - He was a guy that has been willing to do it his way, 47 00:02:09,337 --> 00:02:11,631 no matter what the consequences may be. 48 00:02:11,673 --> 00:02:13,967 - I got so wrapped up in being Ric Flair 49 00:02:14,009 --> 00:02:16,636 that I probably neglected my family a little bit. 50 00:02:16,678 --> 00:02:19,139 - I've never seen Ric Flair vulnerable, 51 00:02:19,180 --> 00:02:20,682 but I saw it that day. 52 00:02:22,684 --> 00:02:24,769 - I don't know how he survived 53 00:02:24,811 --> 00:02:26,813 all the things he was going through. 54 00:02:26,855 --> 00:02:29,983 I think what he did was just go back into Ric Flair: 55 00:02:30,025 --> 00:02:33,153 be a persona, be a character, so he didn't have to feel. 56 00:02:33,194 --> 00:02:35,405 It's a battle within him, 57 00:02:35,447 --> 00:02:39,075 'cause he has to be on all the time. 58 00:02:39,117 --> 00:02:42,996 - If anything, it was "My dad has to slow down." 59 00:02:43,038 --> 00:02:44,330 - Ric lived his gimmick. 60 00:02:44,372 --> 00:02:46,458 Ric is no longer Richard Fliehr. 61 00:02:46,499 --> 00:02:48,001 He's Ric Flair. 62 00:02:48,043 --> 00:02:50,420 * * 63 00:02:50,462 --> 00:02:52,547 - I don't think he knows who Richard Fliehr is. 64 00:02:52,589 --> 00:02:56,009 I think that was lost a long time ago. 65 00:02:56,051 --> 00:02:59,012 [dramatic music] 66 00:02:59,054 --> 00:03:03,933 * * 67 00:03:09,064 --> 00:03:11,649 - The Nature Boy, 68 00:03:11,691 --> 00:03:13,568 the jet-flying, kiss-stealing, 69 00:03:13,610 --> 00:03:15,862 wheeling, dealing son of a gun 70 00:03:15,904 --> 00:03:19,657 intertwined with sports, music, pop culture, 71 00:03:19,699 --> 00:03:21,826 America. 72 00:03:21,868 --> 00:03:24,829 When you say the name, you get a reaction. 73 00:03:24,871 --> 00:03:28,041 - 45 years of great entertainment! 74 00:03:28,083 --> 00:03:29,626 - Woo! - You're talking 75 00:03:29,668 --> 00:03:32,504 to the Rolex-wearing... - Kiss-stealing--woo! 76 00:03:32,545 --> 00:03:34,381 Limousine-riding, jet-flying son of a gun. 77 00:03:34,422 --> 00:03:36,257 - Now give me two claps and a Ric Flair! 78 00:03:36,299 --> 00:03:37,384 [all clap] all: Woo! 79 00:03:37,425 --> 00:03:38,385 all: Woo! - Woo! 80 00:03:38,426 --> 00:03:39,928 - Woo! - Woo! 81 00:03:39,969 --> 00:03:41,554 all: Woo! - What? 82 00:03:41,596 --> 00:03:44,724 Richard Fliehr, to be for real! 83 00:03:44,766 --> 00:03:47,227 But your name is Flair to us! 84 00:03:47,268 --> 00:03:49,437 It'll always be Flair to us! 85 00:03:51,690 --> 00:03:54,734 - Many know that man, 86 00:03:54,776 --> 00:03:58,238 but this is the story ofa man, 87 00:03:58,279 --> 00:04:01,449 the one behind the cameras and away from the limelight. 88 00:04:01,491 --> 00:04:03,326 This is the story of a man 89 00:04:03,368 --> 00:04:06,204 caught between a character and reality. 90 00:04:06,246 --> 00:04:13,461 * * 91 00:04:14,337 --> 00:04:18,008 It begins on Poplar Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. 92 00:04:19,718 --> 00:04:23,054 There are abandoned brick buildings here now. 93 00:04:23,096 --> 00:04:25,265 Seven decades ago, 94 00:04:25,306 --> 00:04:28,268 back in 1949, 95 00:04:28,309 --> 00:04:30,311 an orphanage stood here. 96 00:04:31,896 --> 00:04:36,901 This is where life began for the man we'd come to know 97 00:04:36,943 --> 00:04:38,319 as Ric Flair. 98 00:04:43,825 --> 00:04:46,995 What is your given name at birth? 99 00:04:47,037 --> 00:04:48,663 - Fred Phillips. 100 00:04:51,750 --> 00:04:53,793 I just found that out three years ago. 101 00:04:55,378 --> 00:04:56,629 - What was your birth mother's name? 102 00:04:56,671 --> 00:04:58,006 - Yeah. - The woman 103 00:04:58,048 --> 00:04:59,257 who gave birth to you. 104 00:04:59,299 --> 00:05:01,760 - I think it's in my bio somewhere. 105 00:05:01,801 --> 00:05:03,470 I think she was a nurse, and I think--I thought 106 00:05:03,511 --> 00:05:05,096 he was an architect. 107 00:05:05,138 --> 00:05:08,224 - Your birth mom, again, according to the biography, 108 00:05:08,266 --> 00:05:09,893 is Olive. - Kay, right. 109 00:05:09,934 --> 00:05:13,480 - And Luther-- the name of your father. 110 00:05:13,521 --> 00:05:15,398 - Luther--that is-- that's correct. 111 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,984 My brother actually reached out to me. 112 00:05:18,026 --> 00:05:21,321 - How did you find out you had a brother? 113 00:05:21,363 --> 00:05:23,323 - Someone reached out to Wendy 114 00:05:23,365 --> 00:05:24,866 through her social media. 115 00:05:24,908 --> 00:05:26,659 - [sighs] 116 00:05:26,701 --> 00:05:29,746 I would say about four or five years ago, 117 00:05:29,788 --> 00:05:33,208 there was a person who, um, had documents, 118 00:05:33,249 --> 00:05:35,627 and he got his adoption papers, 119 00:05:35,669 --> 00:05:38,797 and his mother was the same mother. 120 00:05:38,838 --> 00:05:41,174 He didn't want anything. He just wanted to let, 121 00:05:41,216 --> 00:05:42,967 you know, Ric know that, 122 00:05:43,009 --> 00:05:44,928 you know, they had the same mother. 123 00:05:44,969 --> 00:05:47,305 - Um, I just--she said, "Do you wanna meet him?" 124 00:05:47,347 --> 00:05:48,473 I said no. 125 00:05:50,141 --> 00:05:53,436 I don't have any curiosity. 126 00:05:53,478 --> 00:05:56,147 Got enough to be curious about 127 00:05:56,189 --> 00:05:58,066 without someone I've never met in my life 128 00:05:58,108 --> 00:06:01,361 and meet him now at 73. 129 00:06:01,403 --> 00:06:03,697 What are we gonna talk about? 130 00:06:03,738 --> 00:06:06,116 [chuckles] Ruin our life? 131 00:06:06,157 --> 00:06:07,617 You know, he probably only wanna meets me 132 00:06:07,659 --> 00:06:09,327 'cause I'm what I am-- 133 00:06:09,369 --> 00:06:10,954 whoever I am, 134 00:06:10,995 --> 00:06:12,872 if that makes sense. 135 00:06:12,914 --> 00:06:17,210 - He's always seen himself as "he's an only child," 136 00:06:17,252 --> 00:06:19,754 and rightfully so. He was raised an only child. 137 00:06:19,796 --> 00:06:22,674 So he didn't really connect with the person 138 00:06:22,716 --> 00:06:24,592 or find out any more. 139 00:06:24,634 --> 00:06:26,845 - Well, tonight's story is about babies right here 140 00:06:26,886 --> 00:06:29,264 in the United States in Memphis, Tennessee, 141 00:06:29,305 --> 00:06:30,807 in the 1940s, 142 00:06:30,849 --> 00:06:32,517 who were taken from their parents 143 00:06:32,559 --> 00:06:35,228 and not just handed over to other couples, 144 00:06:35,270 --> 00:06:37,564 but sold to other couples with the connivance 145 00:06:37,605 --> 00:06:39,232 of a corrupt judge. 146 00:06:39,274 --> 00:06:46,156 * * 147 00:06:46,197 --> 00:06:48,074 - Tennessee Children's Home Society. 148 00:06:48,116 --> 00:06:50,744 - Yeah. It was a adoption agency 149 00:06:50,785 --> 00:06:53,329 that was illegally founded, 150 00:06:53,371 --> 00:06:56,958 and they were selling babies, black market babies 151 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,086 that had been stolen from the mothers in hospitals. 152 00:07:00,128 --> 00:07:01,921 * * 153 00:07:01,963 --> 00:07:05,300 - You may have been stolen or taken 154 00:07:05,342 --> 00:07:07,635 from your birth parents. 155 00:07:07,677 --> 00:07:09,763 * * 156 00:07:09,804 --> 00:07:13,350 What's your reaction to that? 157 00:07:13,391 --> 00:07:16,895 - They put me up for adoption, and I went into an orphanage. 158 00:07:18,438 --> 00:07:19,773 And I was sold to the orphanage, 159 00:07:19,814 --> 00:07:21,441 and my parents bet-- 160 00:07:21,483 --> 00:07:24,194 I'm basically a black market baby. 161 00:07:24,235 --> 00:07:29,824 * * 162 00:07:29,866 --> 00:07:33,620 I'm adopted and couldn't have been adopted 163 00:07:33,661 --> 00:07:37,290 by two finer people. 164 00:07:37,332 --> 00:07:39,125 I'm not sure they knew that it was illegal or not. 165 00:07:39,167 --> 00:07:40,877 I doubt very seriously that they did. 166 00:07:40,919 --> 00:07:42,921 No, my parents were so honest and straight, 167 00:07:42,962 --> 00:07:44,923 but that's how it came about. 168 00:07:46,424 --> 00:07:48,635 As I got older, they wanted me to know more about it. 169 00:07:48,677 --> 00:07:50,512 I just said, "Mom and Dad, 170 00:07:50,553 --> 00:07:51,638 "you don't need to tell me anything. 171 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:53,139 I don't need it. I don't care." 172 00:07:53,181 --> 00:07:55,225 * * 173 00:07:55,266 --> 00:07:56,309 "I'm happy here." 174 00:07:56,351 --> 00:07:59,104 * * 175 00:07:59,145 --> 00:08:01,356 I got two of the greatest people in the world. 176 00:08:01,398 --> 00:08:03,983 * * 177 00:08:04,025 --> 00:08:06,653 I was raised by a medical doctor 178 00:08:06,695 --> 00:08:07,862 and a mother that had a master's 179 00:08:07,904 --> 00:08:09,698 in theater and English. 180 00:08:09,739 --> 00:08:12,534 My dad also had a PhD in theater and English. 181 00:08:13,326 --> 00:08:15,120 - They were very cultured, his parents, 182 00:08:15,161 --> 00:08:16,621 and very smart. 183 00:08:16,663 --> 00:08:18,748 Being surrounded in that environment 184 00:08:18,790 --> 00:08:22,002 helped boost what was inside of him. 185 00:08:22,043 --> 00:08:24,879 - My parents were both so smart. 186 00:08:24,921 --> 00:08:26,381 I didn't inherit any of their genes. 187 00:08:26,423 --> 00:08:29,009 I'm adopted, so 188 00:08:29,050 --> 00:08:31,011 I don't really know where my genes came from, 189 00:08:31,052 --> 00:08:34,806 but I didn't inherit theirs. 190 00:08:34,848 --> 00:08:37,183 But it wasn't from lack of effort. 191 00:08:37,225 --> 00:08:41,896 I had every opportunity to be a well-educated kid, 192 00:08:41,938 --> 00:08:44,357 but just a guy who just looked out the window. 193 00:08:44,399 --> 00:08:47,027 They called it daydreaming back then. 194 00:08:47,068 --> 00:08:49,863 I guess they call it A.D.D. now. 195 00:08:49,904 --> 00:08:52,032 - When did you first start drinking? 196 00:08:53,616 --> 00:08:56,077 - 15. 197 00:08:56,119 --> 00:08:57,287 Regularly. 198 00:08:57,328 --> 00:08:58,913 Without a 18-year-old ID, 199 00:08:58,955 --> 00:09:00,498 you could drink beer back then. 200 00:09:00,540 --> 00:09:02,584 I had a fake ID and drank beer all the time. 201 00:09:02,625 --> 00:09:04,627 I was... 202 00:09:04,669 --> 00:09:06,379 [sighs] Playing strip poker... 203 00:09:06,421 --> 00:09:07,797 [laughs] Shit like that. 204 00:09:07,839 --> 00:09:10,175 I mean, if it was available, 205 00:09:10,216 --> 00:09:12,093 I was doing it. 206 00:09:12,135 --> 00:09:14,054 - He was drinking at a young age. 207 00:09:14,095 --> 00:09:17,599 He was conforting with females at a very young age, 208 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,394 and, you know, this was a source of endless distress 209 00:09:21,436 --> 00:09:24,898 to his parents, because it was unthinkable 210 00:09:24,939 --> 00:09:27,025 in that family that they would have a child 211 00:09:27,067 --> 00:09:29,194 that was that rambunctious. 212 00:09:31,613 --> 00:09:32,739 - I was just so different. 213 00:09:32,781 --> 00:09:34,866 I was just wild as a kid. 214 00:09:34,908 --> 00:09:38,119 So they made the decision to put me in a private school. 215 00:09:38,161 --> 00:09:42,749 I went to Wayland Academy my freshman year. 216 00:09:42,791 --> 00:09:44,250 All the people in that school 217 00:09:44,292 --> 00:09:45,502 came from very wealthy families, 218 00:09:45,543 --> 00:09:47,420 huge backgrounds, 219 00:09:47,462 --> 00:09:50,173 and my friends were all-- at school, it was full of, 220 00:09:50,215 --> 00:09:51,758 like, family that owned the Blackhawks 221 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:53,426 in all of Chicago, 222 00:09:53,468 --> 00:09:55,095 Campbell soups, 223 00:09:55,136 --> 00:09:57,263 I mean, OshKosh B'gosh jeans, name it. 224 00:09:57,305 --> 00:09:59,891 That school was loaded with family with a lot of money. 225 00:10:00,975 --> 00:10:02,477 So I saw the lifestyle I wanted. 226 00:10:02,519 --> 00:10:04,229 I just had to figure out how to afford it. 227 00:10:04,270 --> 00:10:05,397 [chuckles] 228 00:10:06,272 --> 00:10:09,484 I was a state champion wrestler, 229 00:10:09,526 --> 00:10:11,069 all-state in football. 230 00:10:11,111 --> 00:10:12,570 All I wanted to do was play football. 231 00:10:12,612 --> 00:10:14,364 I mean, that was what I knew 232 00:10:14,406 --> 00:10:16,074 I wanted to do in college. 233 00:10:17,450 --> 00:10:19,994 I ended up going to University of Minnesota. 234 00:10:20,036 --> 00:10:22,205 Back then, they helped you a lot with your academics-- 235 00:10:22,247 --> 00:10:24,332 like, just go to class, and you'll pass. 236 00:10:25,875 --> 00:10:27,961 But I was just there for fun. 237 00:10:28,003 --> 00:10:29,921 I didn't give a damn about school. 238 00:10:31,339 --> 00:10:33,341 I lived in a fraternity That was the year after-- 239 00:10:33,383 --> 00:10:34,384 after I flunked out. 240 00:10:34,426 --> 00:10:35,343 My parents didn't know. 241 00:10:37,846 --> 00:10:40,849 - How did your parents react 242 00:10:40,890 --> 00:10:43,143 when you told 'em you'd flunked out? 243 00:10:46,855 --> 00:10:48,982 - Uh, they weren't shocked. 244 00:10:49,024 --> 00:10:51,109 They weren't shocked. 245 00:10:51,151 --> 00:10:54,320 I sold life insurance for a year after that. 246 00:10:54,362 --> 00:10:56,489 I never got my license, but I made 40 grand, 247 00:10:56,531 --> 00:10:58,700 'cause I just introduced all the general agents 248 00:10:58,742 --> 00:11:01,953 to my friends around town. [laughs] 249 00:11:01,995 --> 00:11:04,205 I never actually passed the test. 250 00:11:05,206 --> 00:11:07,834 - In 1971, Richard Fliehr 251 00:11:07,876 --> 00:11:10,003 did make a major life decision. 252 00:11:10,045 --> 00:11:13,131 He got married for the first time. 253 00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:14,758 - Leslie. She's a wonderful lady. 254 00:11:14,799 --> 00:11:16,301 We get along to this day. 255 00:11:18,011 --> 00:11:20,722 - The next year, they had their first daughter, 256 00:11:20,764 --> 00:11:22,182 Megan. 257 00:11:23,058 --> 00:11:26,186 Now a father, Ric was trying to find his way, 258 00:11:26,227 --> 00:11:29,064 searching for his life's purpose. 259 00:11:29,105 --> 00:11:32,275 He found it in a likely location: 260 00:11:32,317 --> 00:11:33,234 a bar. 261 00:11:34,736 --> 00:11:37,072 - Ric Flair was working as a bouncer 262 00:11:37,113 --> 00:11:40,492 in the Minneapolis area. 263 00:11:40,533 --> 00:11:41,868 - So I'm bouncing, 264 00:11:41,910 --> 00:11:43,286 and I'm sitting here with my elbow 265 00:11:43,328 --> 00:11:44,996 on the cigarette machine, on a stool, right? 266 00:11:45,038 --> 00:11:46,706 And in walks this guy, and I look-- 267 00:11:46,748 --> 00:11:48,500 [whispers] "Holy fuck." 268 00:11:48,541 --> 00:11:50,960 He's smoking a Salem cigarette 269 00:11:51,002 --> 00:11:53,546 and sits down and orders a double vodka 270 00:11:53,588 --> 00:11:55,382 and a soda. 271 00:11:55,423 --> 00:11:58,426 I said, "Fuck, that's Ken Patera." 272 00:11:58,468 --> 00:12:00,053 - Ken Patera was 273 00:12:00,095 --> 00:12:03,056 a very fabled Olympic weightlifter, 274 00:12:03,098 --> 00:12:05,725 and this Olympian starts engaging Ric Flair 275 00:12:05,767 --> 00:12:07,519 in conversation. 276 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:09,229 - I walk over, and I say, "You Ken Patera?" 277 00:12:09,270 --> 00:12:11,272 He said, "Yeah. What's your name?" 278 00:12:11,314 --> 00:12:13,566 I said, "Ric. Ric Fliehr." 279 00:12:13,608 --> 00:12:16,027 He goes, "How ya doing? You know this town very well?" 280 00:12:16,069 --> 00:12:17,487 I said, "Yeah, know it real well." 281 00:12:17,529 --> 00:12:20,824 - Before you know it, Ric Flair and Ken Patera 282 00:12:20,865 --> 00:12:22,575 are living together, 283 00:12:22,617 --> 00:12:25,954 and this Olympian, who was actually training 284 00:12:25,995 --> 00:12:27,914 for the professional wrestling world, 285 00:12:27,956 --> 00:12:30,667 was being sponsored by Verne Gagne. 286 00:12:30,709 --> 00:12:33,795 - Here's wrestling champion Verne Gagne. 287 00:12:33,837 --> 00:12:37,257 - Well, here I am. What's up? 288 00:12:37,298 --> 00:12:39,926 - Verne Gagne was the promoter 289 00:12:39,968 --> 00:12:44,305 for the American Wrestling Association, or AWA, 290 00:12:44,347 --> 00:12:47,892 which was a Minneapolis-based promotion. 291 00:12:47,934 --> 00:12:50,145 Every year, Verne Gagne would put 292 00:12:50,186 --> 00:12:52,564 a class of trainees together. 293 00:12:52,605 --> 00:12:54,149 - You still have the same shock that you had 294 00:12:54,190 --> 00:12:56,443 the first time someone threw you down, 295 00:12:56,484 --> 00:12:59,487 but you're building up a tolerance to it. 296 00:12:59,529 --> 00:13:02,699 - Well, I went to the camp, enthusiastic as possible, 297 00:13:02,741 --> 00:13:05,160 but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 298 00:13:05,201 --> 00:13:07,662 That--two months with those guys, 299 00:13:07,704 --> 00:13:09,205 legs were chafed. I couldn't walk. 300 00:13:09,247 --> 00:13:11,124 I mean, Gagne, you know, came over and got me, 301 00:13:11,166 --> 00:13:12,417 slapped me across the face. 302 00:13:12,459 --> 00:13:14,294 - You don't just walk out there, 303 00:13:14,336 --> 00:13:15,211 pick him up and lay him down. We wanna see some action, 304 00:13:15,253 --> 00:13:16,421 wanna see what you can do. 305 00:13:16,463 --> 00:13:17,464 I trained him. 306 00:13:17,505 --> 00:13:18,506 I'd start 'em out 307 00:13:18,548 --> 00:13:19,507 with just knee bends, 308 00:13:19,549 --> 00:13:20,800 and we'd do 50 309 00:13:20,842 --> 00:13:22,010 to 100 knee bends. 310 00:13:22,052 --> 00:13:24,471 Well, the guys--you know, at 50, 311 00:13:24,512 --> 00:13:26,014 they fell on their face. 312 00:13:26,056 --> 00:13:27,390 - Ugh, it was brutal. 313 00:13:27,432 --> 00:13:30,143 That was a-- I mean, first of all, 314 00:13:30,185 --> 00:13:32,354 I was 300 pounds. I mean, to this day, 315 00:13:32,395 --> 00:13:34,064 you take a good athlete and tell him to do 316 00:13:34,105 --> 00:13:39,778 500 free squats, 250 push-ups, 200 crunches. 317 00:13:39,819 --> 00:13:42,072 - 200. 318 00:13:42,113 --> 00:13:44,407 - And run two miles. 319 00:13:44,449 --> 00:13:47,660 How many good athletes can do that right now? 320 00:13:47,702 --> 00:13:50,080 Like 1%? Think about it. 321 00:13:50,121 --> 00:13:52,665 And we're doing this in 30-degree weather outside. 322 00:13:52,707 --> 00:13:54,668 - Come on, dig, dig, dig, dig! 323 00:13:54,709 --> 00:13:56,503 * * 324 00:13:56,544 --> 00:13:59,172 - He was training hard to become a pro wrestler, 325 00:13:59,214 --> 00:14:02,008 but step one in Fliehr's metamorphosis 326 00:14:02,050 --> 00:14:05,220 into the character began with a new name... 327 00:14:06,638 --> 00:14:09,641 Ric Flair. - Mm-hmm. 328 00:14:09,683 --> 00:14:11,351 - Where did the name come from? 329 00:14:11,393 --> 00:14:12,686 - Verne. 330 00:14:12,727 --> 00:14:14,062 I was so enamored 331 00:14:14,104 --> 00:14:15,814 with Dusty Rhodes. 332 00:14:15,855 --> 00:14:18,441 I said I wanted to call myself Rambling Ricky Rhodes. 333 00:14:18,483 --> 00:14:19,943 He got up, threw his glasses down, 334 00:14:19,984 --> 00:14:21,528 and said, "Rambling Ricky Rhodes? 335 00:14:21,569 --> 00:14:24,114 "What is it with you and Dusty Rhodes? 336 00:14:24,155 --> 00:14:26,449 "Your name is Ric Flair. That's fucking cool as shit-- 337 00:14:26,491 --> 00:14:27,742 Ric Flair." 338 00:14:27,784 --> 00:14:29,244 I said, "It is?" He said, "Yeah, 339 00:14:29,285 --> 00:14:31,204 just call yourself Ric Flair. Change the spot." 340 00:14:31,246 --> 00:14:33,415 [bell dings] [crowd cheering] 341 00:14:33,456 --> 00:14:37,877 I had my first match, Minneapolis Auditorium, 342 00:14:37,919 --> 00:14:39,546 ten minute draw, 343 00:14:39,587 --> 00:14:42,173 longest ten minutes of my life. 344 00:14:42,215 --> 00:14:46,302 I was excited about it, but I didn't know what I was doing. 345 00:14:46,344 --> 00:14:48,388 - What did you make for your first match? 346 00:14:48,430 --> 00:14:49,347 - 50 bucks. 347 00:14:50,974 --> 00:14:55,645 I spent it coming home. [laughs] 348 00:14:55,687 --> 00:14:59,774 Man, I have driven 3,000 miles for $210. 349 00:14:59,816 --> 00:15:03,695 I would drive to Winnipeg, 500 each way, 350 00:15:03,737 --> 00:15:06,740 drive back, get home at 5:00 in the morning, right, 351 00:15:06,781 --> 00:15:08,950 and get up at noon and leave for Des Moines, Iowa. 352 00:15:08,992 --> 00:15:11,119 [percussive beat] 353 00:15:11,161 --> 00:15:13,955 - In front of crowds of how many? 354 00:15:13,997 --> 00:15:18,251 - Oh, probably--in Winnipeg, it was almost always sold out, 355 00:15:18,293 --> 00:15:22,547 but everything else was, like, 50 and 100, maybe 150, 356 00:15:22,589 --> 00:15:24,716 but never-- 357 00:15:24,758 --> 00:15:27,385 I just barely--we lived, basically, off Leslie. 358 00:15:27,427 --> 00:15:30,472 She was a dental hygienist. 359 00:15:30,513 --> 00:15:32,557 I didn't have the experience. 360 00:15:32,599 --> 00:15:34,934 But once I got rolling, I mean, I liked it so much 361 00:15:34,976 --> 00:15:36,644 that I--when I wasn't booked, 362 00:15:36,686 --> 00:15:38,438 I would travel with Dusty Rhodes 363 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,106 and Dick Murdoch, just be their driver. 364 00:15:40,148 --> 00:15:42,359 I drove Andre for two years 365 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:43,693 when he was Jean Ferre. 366 00:15:43,735 --> 00:15:45,195 He actually broke in 367 00:15:45,236 --> 00:15:47,072 the same time I was breaking in, 368 00:15:47,113 --> 00:15:48,448 and I drove him everywhere, 369 00:15:48,490 --> 00:15:50,784 and when he'd get to the building, he'd go, 370 00:15:50,825 --> 00:15:53,078 "Boss, get me wine." 371 00:15:53,119 --> 00:15:54,621 One day, David Crockett said, 372 00:15:54,662 --> 00:15:57,040 "No, no, no wine till after the match." 373 00:15:57,082 --> 00:16:00,126 "Boss, there be no match. Wine." 374 00:16:00,168 --> 00:16:01,544 Naw, there was that night 375 00:16:01,586 --> 00:16:03,797 he drank 106 beers at The Downtowner. 376 00:16:03,838 --> 00:16:05,215 Verne had me drive him. It was great. 377 00:16:05,256 --> 00:16:07,217 [dramatic music] 378 00:16:07,258 --> 00:16:09,344 - Hanging out with Andre the Giant, 379 00:16:09,386 --> 00:16:11,429 riding with Dusty Rhodes, 380 00:16:11,471 --> 00:16:15,975 Ric Flair was traveling with the best in the business. 381 00:16:16,017 --> 00:16:20,146 - So this is 1974. 382 00:16:20,188 --> 00:16:23,525 So I get invited to go to the Carolinas, right? 383 00:16:23,566 --> 00:16:27,362 And I'm married at this point, and we had just had Megan. 384 00:16:27,404 --> 00:16:29,030 So I go to my dad. 385 00:16:29,072 --> 00:16:31,032 I said, "Can I have $400 to go down there?" 386 00:16:33,368 --> 00:16:36,413 So I flew down there in April of '74 387 00:16:36,454 --> 00:16:39,332 with 200 bucks in my pocket. 388 00:16:39,374 --> 00:16:41,543 Left Leslie 200 bucks. 389 00:16:41,584 --> 00:16:45,463 * * 390 00:16:45,505 --> 00:16:49,551 And I'd met this guy in a bar. 391 00:16:49,592 --> 00:16:52,512 * * 392 00:16:52,554 --> 00:16:54,764 He said, "You're Ric Flair?" And I said, "Yeah." 393 00:16:54,806 --> 00:16:56,516 He said, "You guys ever thought about flying? 394 00:16:56,558 --> 00:16:59,185 I hear you drive everywhere." I said, 395 00:16:59,227 --> 00:17:01,062 "Yeah, I thought about it. Why?" 396 00:17:01,104 --> 00:17:02,313 He said, "Well, I got a plane." 397 00:17:02,355 --> 00:17:04,274 I said, "You got a plane?" 398 00:17:04,315 --> 00:17:06,192 So I said, you know, "What are you talking about?" 399 00:17:06,234 --> 00:17:08,445 He said, "Well, there's five of you. 400 00:17:08,486 --> 00:17:10,613 I can carry five of you, only charge you $100 apiece." 401 00:17:10,655 --> 00:17:13,158 I said, "Only $100 apiece to fly?" 402 00:17:13,199 --> 00:17:14,242 I said, "How fast does it go?" 403 00:17:14,284 --> 00:17:16,119 He said, "250 miles an hour." 404 00:17:16,161 --> 00:17:17,871 I said, "You're kidding me. $100 apiece?" 405 00:17:17,912 --> 00:17:19,330 So bingo. 406 00:17:19,372 --> 00:17:23,418 I got five people, like, right away. 407 00:17:23,460 --> 00:17:25,712 - So Ric Flair and some of the other guys 408 00:17:25,754 --> 00:17:27,839 decided that they were gonna pool their money 409 00:17:27,881 --> 00:17:30,884 and hire a Vietnam veteran who is a pilot 410 00:17:30,925 --> 00:17:32,427 to transport them 411 00:17:32,469 --> 00:17:35,555 around the Charlotte wrestling territory, 412 00:17:35,597 --> 00:17:39,934 and this guy would load up his plane with talent, 413 00:17:39,976 --> 00:17:43,563 and these were big dudes, and it was a small plane. 414 00:17:43,605 --> 00:17:47,400 So now he had to compensate for the extra weight, 415 00:17:47,442 --> 00:17:49,527 and he did that by dumping 416 00:17:49,569 --> 00:17:51,738 some of the fuel from the plane. 417 00:17:51,780 --> 00:17:58,036 * * 418 00:17:58,078 --> 00:18:02,624 - We were in a six-passenger Cessna 310. 419 00:18:02,665 --> 00:18:04,042 * * 420 00:18:04,084 --> 00:18:05,543 We were flying to Wilmington 421 00:18:05,585 --> 00:18:09,381 for a night show on Sunday. 422 00:18:09,422 --> 00:18:12,425 So we got to what's called "the point of no return," 423 00:18:12,467 --> 00:18:14,469 which I've learned. 424 00:18:14,511 --> 00:18:17,722 In other words, he should've refueled in Raleigh. 425 00:18:17,764 --> 00:18:20,684 We were 1,400 pounds over gross, 426 00:18:20,725 --> 00:18:24,229 and so he compensated for that by carrying less fuel. 427 00:18:24,270 --> 00:18:26,773 All of a sudden, we're at 6,000 feet, 428 00:18:26,815 --> 00:18:30,026 and we're just starting to descend, and, uh, 429 00:18:30,068 --> 00:18:31,277 all of a sudden, the right engine, 430 00:18:31,319 --> 00:18:33,905 it went boop-boop-boop. 431 00:18:33,947 --> 00:18:35,740 I mean, it pinned. Bingo. 432 00:18:35,782 --> 00:18:38,368 Within ten seconds, it was dead, boom. 433 00:18:38,410 --> 00:18:41,037 Then he reached down-- I saw him grab-- 434 00:18:41,079 --> 00:18:42,497 he pulled the reserve tanks, 435 00:18:42,539 --> 00:18:44,332 forgetting he didn't have any reserve fuel. 436 00:18:44,374 --> 00:18:45,875 * * 437 00:18:45,917 --> 00:18:49,129 So the left one just went broop, boom, 438 00:18:49,170 --> 00:18:51,256 and man, we're, you know, 439 00:18:51,297 --> 00:18:53,800 I would say between 5,500 and 6,000 feet. 440 00:18:53,842 --> 00:18:54,801 I remember looking at it. 441 00:18:54,843 --> 00:18:56,803 * * 442 00:18:56,845 --> 00:19:00,974 - And at this point, there was real panic going on. 443 00:19:01,016 --> 00:19:02,684 The pilot began to freak out, 444 00:19:02,726 --> 00:19:05,145 and the great Johnny Valentine 445 00:19:05,186 --> 00:19:06,396 was sitting next to the pilot, 446 00:19:06,438 --> 00:19:08,148 and he, being a wrestler, 447 00:19:08,189 --> 00:19:11,067 he figured, "Well, I'll slap some sense into him," 448 00:19:11,109 --> 00:19:13,194 and he started slapping the pilot 449 00:19:13,236 --> 00:19:15,363 to try to get him to focus. 450 00:19:15,405 --> 00:19:18,533 [plane whirring rapidly] 451 00:19:27,917 --> 00:19:31,212 [plane whirring rapidly] 452 00:19:31,254 --> 00:19:32,756 - We were going so fast, 453 00:19:32,797 --> 00:19:34,674 probably over 300 miles an hour, 454 00:19:34,716 --> 00:19:37,052 that normally, when you hit a tree orchard, 455 00:19:37,093 --> 00:19:39,220 a small plane--it would cartwheel a small plane. 456 00:19:39,262 --> 00:19:42,349 We mowed the tree orchard down. 457 00:19:42,390 --> 00:19:44,893 - I think they barely missed the water tower, 458 00:19:44,934 --> 00:19:48,521 and they might have even landed safely 459 00:19:48,563 --> 00:19:50,940 had there not been some electric lines there. 460 00:19:50,982 --> 00:19:53,485 But because of the circumstances, 461 00:19:53,526 --> 00:19:55,487 they ended up crashing. 462 00:19:55,528 --> 00:19:57,989 [dramatic music] 463 00:19:58,031 --> 00:20:01,576 - And stuck in a railroad embankment 464 00:20:01,618 --> 00:20:06,081 one--or maybe 300 yards on the runway. 465 00:20:06,122 --> 00:20:08,208 - It was truly a calamity. 466 00:20:08,249 --> 00:20:11,336 [sustained tone] 467 00:20:15,298 --> 00:20:22,430 * * 468 00:20:23,223 --> 00:20:25,892 [faint siren wails] 469 00:20:25,934 --> 00:20:27,602 - Next thing I knew, I was getting put 470 00:20:27,644 --> 00:20:31,439 in one of these old military ambulances, 471 00:20:31,481 --> 00:20:35,110 and so the guy goes... 472 00:20:35,151 --> 00:20:37,696 "I think you better hurry. I think we're losing this one." 473 00:20:37,737 --> 00:20:39,572 Well, I'm sure we all thought the same thing. 474 00:20:39,614 --> 00:20:40,657 I thought he was talking about me, 475 00:20:40,699 --> 00:20:43,034 and actually, it was the pilot. 476 00:20:44,285 --> 00:20:47,414 - The pilot was in a coma 477 00:20:47,455 --> 00:20:50,458 and lingered there for about a year. 478 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:54,129 Johnny Valentine was paralyzed 479 00:20:54,170 --> 00:20:57,382 from the waist down for the rest of his life, 480 00:20:57,424 --> 00:20:59,926 and Ric Flair ended up breaking his back 481 00:20:59,968 --> 00:21:02,012 in several places. 482 00:21:02,053 --> 00:21:03,722 - I broke my back in three places 483 00:21:03,763 --> 00:21:06,057 and tore my stomach apart-- 484 00:21:06,099 --> 00:21:08,810 compression fracture. I used to be 6'2". 485 00:21:08,852 --> 00:21:10,562 So the vertebrae about this far apart, 486 00:21:10,603 --> 00:21:11,604 normally, in your back. 487 00:21:11,646 --> 00:21:13,106 So I had three of them 488 00:21:13,148 --> 00:21:14,357 that were all crunched together, 489 00:21:14,399 --> 00:21:17,986 so maybe two inches shorter. 490 00:21:18,028 --> 00:21:20,321 - What were you told, initially, in the hospital 491 00:21:20,363 --> 00:21:21,781 about your future? 492 00:21:21,823 --> 00:21:24,743 - Oh, I'd never wrestle again, never. 493 00:21:24,784 --> 00:21:27,037 - What was your first thought when you heard that? 494 00:21:27,078 --> 00:21:29,164 * * 495 00:21:29,205 --> 00:21:31,583 - "I'm screwed. 496 00:21:31,624 --> 00:21:32,667 "What am I gonna do? 497 00:21:32,709 --> 00:21:34,419 I got a wife and kid." 498 00:21:34,461 --> 00:21:36,838 I mean, I can remember me and my daughter Megan 499 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,591 walking up and down the street in my back brace, 500 00:21:39,632 --> 00:21:42,510 and then on that, laid on-- all I could do for rehab 501 00:21:42,552 --> 00:21:45,764 was I would lay on my stomach and do-- 502 00:21:45,805 --> 00:21:48,099 arch up. That's all I could do. 503 00:21:48,141 --> 00:21:49,392 That's the only rehab you could do. 504 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,563 - 1975, the plane crash 505 00:21:53,605 --> 00:21:56,191 severely damaged Ric Flair's body. 506 00:21:56,232 --> 00:21:59,402 His back was broken and his injuries extensive. 507 00:21:59,444 --> 00:22:02,781 He says he lost nearly 100 pounds. 508 00:22:02,822 --> 00:22:05,492 Flair had been wrestling for three years by then, 509 00:22:05,533 --> 00:22:08,620 and his career was in question. 510 00:22:08,661 --> 00:22:11,039 But Flair refused to quit. 511 00:22:11,081 --> 00:22:13,667 He worked harder, building back his strength, 512 00:22:13,708 --> 00:22:15,460 and within six months, 513 00:22:15,502 --> 00:22:19,172 Richard Fliehr had become Ric Flair once again. 514 00:22:19,214 --> 00:22:21,216 He was back in the ring. 515 00:22:21,257 --> 00:22:23,259 That is when he created the persona 516 00:22:23,301 --> 00:22:24,469 that would define him. 517 00:22:24,511 --> 00:22:26,388 * * 518 00:22:26,429 --> 00:22:28,264 The Nature Boy. 519 00:22:28,306 --> 00:22:30,100 * * 520 00:22:30,141 --> 00:22:34,354 - The Ric Flair who we all have in our mind 521 00:22:34,396 --> 00:22:36,481 came in steps. 522 00:22:36,523 --> 00:22:38,149 When he started training, 523 00:22:38,191 --> 00:22:41,361 he was kind of a chunky brown-haired guy. 524 00:22:41,403 --> 00:22:43,655 - Flair did have a couple matches under his belt, 525 00:22:43,697 --> 00:22:45,532 but yet he was a rookie, 526 00:22:45,573 --> 00:22:47,659 and a rookie is gonna make mistakes. 527 00:22:47,701 --> 00:22:51,287 - And then "Superstar" Billy Graham's wife 528 00:22:51,329 --> 00:22:53,665 dyed his hair blond. 529 00:22:53,707 --> 00:22:55,917 * * 530 00:22:55,959 --> 00:22:59,254 And ultimately, while he was working there, 531 00:22:59,295 --> 00:23:02,173 somebody said that he reminded them 532 00:23:02,215 --> 00:23:04,426 of the original Nature Boy, Buddy Rogers. 533 00:23:04,467 --> 00:23:06,011 [rock music] 534 00:23:06,052 --> 00:23:07,220 - And started to fly off the ropes 535 00:23:07,262 --> 00:23:08,972 but checked himself, 536 00:23:09,014 --> 00:23:12,100 and look at that Buddy Rogers strut. 537 00:23:12,142 --> 00:23:14,352 * * 538 00:23:14,394 --> 00:23:16,771 - When the good Lord made me, He threw the mold away 539 00:23:16,813 --> 00:23:18,732 when it comes to the wrestling business. 540 00:23:18,773 --> 00:23:20,567 - Who was Buddy Rogers? 541 00:23:20,608 --> 00:23:22,277 - The first Nature Boy, 542 00:23:22,318 --> 00:23:23,653 and he was cut, 543 00:23:23,695 --> 00:23:24,738 handsome, 544 00:23:24,779 --> 00:23:25,780 really good physique, 545 00:23:25,822 --> 00:23:26,865 tan all the time. 546 00:23:26,906 --> 00:23:28,742 I thought he was cool. 547 00:23:28,783 --> 00:23:31,077 - But there's one thing I want everybody to know. 548 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,079 [crowd booing] And that is, to a nicer guy, 549 00:23:33,121 --> 00:23:34,873 it couldn't happen. 550 00:23:34,914 --> 00:23:36,791 - That's part of where I got the clothing gig--from him. 551 00:23:36,833 --> 00:23:38,626 He was always dressed immaculately. 552 00:23:38,668 --> 00:23:41,463 I got that from him and Joe Namath. 553 00:23:41,504 --> 00:23:42,922 That's what I grew up on--Joe, 554 00:23:42,964 --> 00:23:44,883 and when I met him-- and I told him. 555 00:23:44,924 --> 00:23:47,969 I got a lot of attitude from him. 556 00:23:48,011 --> 00:23:51,306 Here I am, looking better than any man alive, 557 00:23:51,348 --> 00:23:54,642 the most gorgeous human being on the face of this earth. 558 00:23:54,684 --> 00:23:55,852 The great one, 559 00:23:55,894 --> 00:23:57,228 the golden-maned stallion, 560 00:23:57,270 --> 00:23:59,397 the new Ric Flair. 561 00:23:59,439 --> 00:24:01,566 - How did the character 562 00:24:01,608 --> 00:24:03,485 begin to evolve, Ric? 563 00:24:03,526 --> 00:24:05,987 * * 564 00:24:06,029 --> 00:24:07,864 - Uh, I don't know. Every day, it just got better. 565 00:24:07,906 --> 00:24:09,866 I just got more natural, 566 00:24:09,908 --> 00:24:13,703 and I--I felt much better about myself being 240 567 00:24:13,745 --> 00:24:16,623 than I did when I was heavier, 568 00:24:16,664 --> 00:24:18,708 and it really helped my work too. 569 00:24:18,750 --> 00:24:20,001 The more extravagant I was, 570 00:24:20,043 --> 00:24:21,586 the more attention I got. 571 00:24:21,628 --> 00:24:23,171 The first robe was $3,000-- 572 00:24:23,213 --> 00:24:24,839 that butterfly robe, the white one? 573 00:24:24,881 --> 00:24:26,341 And then I started going. 574 00:24:26,383 --> 00:24:27,759 I think the last one I paid for was, like, 575 00:24:27,801 --> 00:24:29,427 20 grand. You can buy these 576 00:24:29,469 --> 00:24:32,472 anytime you want for about $10,000, $11,000. 577 00:24:32,514 --> 00:24:34,140 I got 15 of 'em. 578 00:24:34,182 --> 00:24:37,352 I bought the governor's limousine in 1978 579 00:24:37,394 --> 00:24:39,229 and paid a guy 25 bucks. 580 00:24:39,270 --> 00:24:40,563 I got him late every night 581 00:24:40,605 --> 00:24:42,649 to drive me around in a limousine. 582 00:24:42,691 --> 00:24:43,983 You have just begun 583 00:24:44,025 --> 00:24:45,860 to find out what it's all about 584 00:24:45,902 --> 00:24:47,195 to tangle with the new 585 00:24:47,237 --> 00:24:49,030 Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions. 586 00:24:49,072 --> 00:24:50,073 Woo! 587 00:24:50,115 --> 00:24:51,741 Woo! 588 00:24:51,783 --> 00:24:54,327 Jerry Lee Lewis, "Great Balls of Fire"-- 589 00:24:54,369 --> 00:24:57,080 driving at night, that's all we do, is listen to music. 590 00:24:57,122 --> 00:24:59,916 "Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire, woo." 591 00:24:59,958 --> 00:25:01,376 That's where I got it from. 592 00:25:01,418 --> 00:25:03,211 - Ric "Nature Boy" Flair! 593 00:25:03,253 --> 00:25:05,046 [crowd cheering] 594 00:25:05,088 --> 00:25:08,633 By '78, '79, I was really feeling it. 595 00:25:08,675 --> 00:25:10,969 Woo, yeah! [crowd cheering] 596 00:25:11,011 --> 00:25:13,763 - He was just loud and could talk and was exciting, 597 00:25:13,805 --> 00:25:16,057 and every match he had was amazing. 598 00:25:16,099 --> 00:25:18,101 - Well, at first, they hate you, 599 00:25:18,143 --> 00:25:19,936 but after a while, if you're just good at what you do, 600 00:25:19,978 --> 00:25:21,104 they can't hate you, 601 00:25:21,146 --> 00:25:22,355 or you entertain 'em so much, 602 00:25:22,397 --> 00:25:23,314 they can't hate you. 603 00:25:23,356 --> 00:25:24,899 - Come on, Ric! 604 00:25:24,941 --> 00:25:27,610 A or B. In my case, it was both. 605 00:25:28,737 --> 00:25:30,780 - Ric Flair has won 606 00:25:30,822 --> 00:25:33,867 the World Heavyweight Championship. 607 00:25:33,908 --> 00:25:36,703 - Ric Flair defended his title 608 00:25:36,745 --> 00:25:38,121 in New Zealand, 609 00:25:38,163 --> 00:25:39,414 in Singapore, 610 00:25:39,456 --> 00:25:41,082 in Australia, 611 00:25:41,124 --> 00:25:42,042 in Japan, 612 00:25:42,083 --> 00:25:43,960 and when Ric Flair stepped 613 00:25:44,002 --> 00:25:46,004 in front of an audience somewhere, 614 00:25:46,046 --> 00:25:49,174 they felt it was like Muhammad Ali coming there. 615 00:25:49,215 --> 00:25:51,843 - When my name's on the marquee, baby, 616 00:25:51,885 --> 00:25:53,970 you know you seen the best there is. 617 00:25:54,012 --> 00:25:57,682 - This dude had you magnetized 618 00:25:57,724 --> 00:25:59,351 just from looking into the camera 619 00:25:59,392 --> 00:26:01,353 and talking to you with his shades on. 620 00:26:01,394 --> 00:26:04,814 - Ric Flair is the stuff! 621 00:26:04,856 --> 00:26:06,858 - And he could, you know, talk his shit, 622 00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:09,319 and he can back it up, which was the coolest part. 623 00:26:09,361 --> 00:26:12,072 - He talked major shit. 624 00:26:12,113 --> 00:26:13,948 He was talking like that before anybody. 625 00:26:13,990 --> 00:26:15,909 Nobody was talking shit like him. 626 00:26:15,950 --> 00:26:17,952 - When you're the World Champion, 627 00:26:17,994 --> 00:26:21,331 you just don't talk the talk! 628 00:26:21,373 --> 00:26:23,124 You walk the walk! 629 00:26:23,166 --> 00:26:25,627 - And the feuds with-- [scoffs] 630 00:26:25,669 --> 00:26:27,462 Who didn't he feud with? [chuckles] 631 00:26:27,504 --> 00:26:31,758 - Dusty Rhodes, my friend, if you get in my way-- 632 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,802 wap! You're gonna get one of those! 633 00:26:33,843 --> 00:26:36,471 - Now is the time that the talking stops 634 00:26:36,513 --> 00:26:37,931 and the fighting begins! 635 00:26:37,972 --> 00:26:40,600 - Steamboat, where are you, punk? 636 00:26:40,642 --> 00:26:42,185 I'm right here, baby doll. 637 00:26:42,227 --> 00:26:45,480 - I despise everything that you like, 638 00:26:45,522 --> 00:26:47,315 everything that you do, 639 00:26:47,357 --> 00:26:50,235 and what you represent National Wrestling Alliance 640 00:26:50,276 --> 00:26:52,362 as a champion. 641 00:26:52,404 --> 00:26:53,863 - I take 'em all on, 642 00:26:53,905 --> 00:26:55,657 and brother, when I'm done with 'em, 643 00:26:55,699 --> 00:26:58,076 they're all history. 644 00:26:58,118 --> 00:26:59,828 - In the early 1980s, 645 00:26:59,869 --> 00:27:01,538 Ric Flair had become an attraction 646 00:27:01,579 --> 00:27:03,039 across the globe, 647 00:27:03,081 --> 00:27:05,875 living his life on jets and runways. 648 00:27:05,917 --> 00:27:07,794 The man who survived a plane crash 649 00:27:07,836 --> 00:27:09,713 just a few years earlier 650 00:27:09,754 --> 00:27:12,007 had another moment that can only be described 651 00:27:12,048 --> 00:27:15,051 as cheating death once again. 652 00:27:15,093 --> 00:27:16,886 Ric, you're the only person 653 00:27:16,928 --> 00:27:18,471 I think I'll ever meet in my life 654 00:27:18,513 --> 00:27:20,932 about whom I can ask the following question 655 00:27:20,974 --> 00:27:23,393 and have it be marginal, 656 00:27:23,435 --> 00:27:26,730 as opposed to utterly central, to your story. 657 00:27:28,356 --> 00:27:31,818 When were you struck by lightning? 658 00:27:32,861 --> 00:27:34,529 - Well, here's the story. 659 00:27:34,571 --> 00:27:35,780 It's a very unusual story. 660 00:27:35,822 --> 00:27:37,532 [thunder rumbling] 661 00:27:37,574 --> 00:27:40,368 Getting out the plane in Richmond, Virginia, 662 00:27:40,410 --> 00:27:43,371 to wrestle Ricky Steamboat. It was '83. 663 00:27:43,413 --> 00:27:46,207 So I got out of the plane. I was, like, second. 664 00:27:46,249 --> 00:27:48,418 The guy behind me, maybe 10 feet behind me, 665 00:27:48,460 --> 00:27:50,211 and all of a sudden, my umbrella went on. 666 00:27:50,253 --> 00:27:52,380 I was like, "What's going on?" 667 00:27:52,422 --> 00:27:55,175 'Cause I'm carrying my robe, right? 668 00:27:55,216 --> 00:27:57,844 And I'm trying to carry the umbrella and my briefcase, 669 00:27:57,886 --> 00:27:59,054 and all of a sudden, I just went like this, 670 00:27:59,095 --> 00:28:00,889 and man, I dropped the briefcase, 671 00:28:00,930 --> 00:28:03,099 and my thing shot up, 672 00:28:03,141 --> 00:28:05,018 literally, you know, 50 feet in the air, 673 00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:06,269 and I went, "What the fu--" 674 00:28:06,311 --> 00:28:07,228 [lightning booms] 675 00:28:10,106 --> 00:28:12,108 And everybody starts screaming, 676 00:28:12,150 --> 00:28:14,861 and I turn around, the guy behind me-- 677 00:28:14,903 --> 00:28:17,238 it hit my umbrella, it hit the top of mine-- 678 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,240 hit him right in the eye and killed him. 679 00:28:19,282 --> 00:28:21,451 I just froze. I was embarrassed. 680 00:28:21,493 --> 00:28:23,119 Everybody running out there to save the guy, 681 00:28:23,161 --> 00:28:24,788 I just stood there, frozen, looking at him. 682 00:28:28,375 --> 00:28:29,876 People ask me all the time. They're like, 683 00:28:29,918 --> 00:28:31,127 "Are you fucking still alive?" 684 00:28:31,169 --> 00:28:33,129 I say, "Yeah, motherfucker, very much." 685 00:28:33,171 --> 00:28:35,173 Woo! 686 00:28:35,215 --> 00:28:38,176 - Alive and thriving. 687 00:28:38,218 --> 00:28:40,637 - Styling and profiling! 688 00:28:40,679 --> 00:28:42,013 Tearing it all up! 689 00:28:42,055 --> 00:28:44,307 - By the mid-'80s, Flair was increasingly 690 00:28:44,349 --> 00:28:47,018 spending money to raise the profile of his character 691 00:28:47,060 --> 00:28:50,605 and getting lost in the Nature Boy lifestyle. 692 00:28:50,647 --> 00:28:52,816 - When I started earning, I started spending. 693 00:28:52,857 --> 00:28:55,735 I spend more money on spilt liquor 694 00:28:55,777 --> 00:28:58,530 in bars from one side of this world to the other 695 00:28:58,571 --> 00:29:01,825 than you made in the last six months! 696 00:29:02,826 --> 00:29:04,536 I was living large. 697 00:29:04,577 --> 00:29:05,870 I wanted people to know 698 00:29:05,912 --> 00:29:07,706 that I wasn't fucking dicking around. 699 00:29:07,747 --> 00:29:09,791 I have to fulfill 700 00:29:09,833 --> 00:29:12,460 all the dreams, the desires, 701 00:29:12,502 --> 00:29:14,170 and the lusts 702 00:29:14,212 --> 00:29:17,549 of thousands of young women all throughout! 703 00:29:17,590 --> 00:29:20,260 Diamond ring-wearing, kiss-stealing-- 704 00:29:20,301 --> 00:29:21,845 woo-- wheeling, dealing, 705 00:29:21,886 --> 00:29:24,681 limousine-riding, jet-flying 706 00:29:24,723 --> 00:29:25,807 son of a gun! 707 00:29:25,849 --> 00:29:27,308 And I'm having a hard time 708 00:29:27,350 --> 00:29:29,394 holding these alligators down. 709 00:29:29,436 --> 00:29:30,520 Woo! 710 00:29:30,562 --> 00:29:32,147 - The suits, the Rolex, 711 00:29:32,188 --> 00:29:33,523 the ladies, the cars, 712 00:29:33,565 --> 00:29:34,941 the lifestyle-- 713 00:29:34,983 --> 00:29:37,027 he was just unbelievably captivating, 714 00:29:37,068 --> 00:29:39,237 and there just wasn't anything about him 715 00:29:39,279 --> 00:29:42,574 that didn't ooze charisma and fun. 716 00:29:42,615 --> 00:29:45,744 - I got the biggest house on the biggest hill 717 00:29:45,785 --> 00:29:47,120 on the biggest side of town! 718 00:29:47,162 --> 00:29:48,955 Every time I heard "no," 719 00:29:48,997 --> 00:29:50,415 I proved "yes." 720 00:29:50,457 --> 00:29:52,000 So this realtor said to me, 721 00:29:52,042 --> 00:29:54,127 "Your credit is never gonna be able 722 00:29:54,169 --> 00:29:55,045 to afford a $2 million house." 723 00:29:55,086 --> 00:29:56,546 I said, "Really?" 724 00:29:56,588 --> 00:29:58,673 I got a realtor and bought the house. 725 00:29:58,715 --> 00:30:02,177 I--and I borrowed 200 grand from my dad to help do it, 726 00:30:02,218 --> 00:30:04,304 because it was called, um-- 727 00:30:04,346 --> 00:30:05,889 original, right? 728 00:30:05,930 --> 00:30:08,683 And I paid him back, and he went, 729 00:30:08,725 --> 00:30:10,268 "I'm really proud of you," 'cause I borrowed money 730 00:30:10,310 --> 00:30:12,937 from him over the years and hadn't paid him back. 731 00:30:12,979 --> 00:30:15,732 And then, my parents came down from Minneapolis. 732 00:30:15,774 --> 00:30:18,526 My dad walked in the house and said, "Really? 733 00:30:18,568 --> 00:30:20,153 You need all this?" 734 00:30:20,195 --> 00:30:23,823 - They didn't really see the importance in that. 735 00:30:24,407 --> 00:30:27,911 - What's the point of the air through here? 736 00:30:27,952 --> 00:30:29,621 - That's the gimmick, Dad. 737 00:30:29,662 --> 00:30:32,540 - I think that he never felt good enough. 738 00:30:32,582 --> 00:30:34,292 - I don't know if they ever got it. 739 00:30:34,334 --> 00:30:35,794 They were very conservative. 740 00:30:35,835 --> 00:30:37,754 Me, not so much. [chuckles] 741 00:30:37,796 --> 00:30:38,880 - How many pairs of shoes? 742 00:30:38,922 --> 00:30:40,465 - Oh, in my lifetime? 743 00:30:40,507 --> 00:30:42,926 About 200 pairs of alligator leather shoes-- 744 00:30:42,967 --> 00:30:44,219 skin shoes. 745 00:30:44,260 --> 00:30:46,429 I know it's hard to believe, 746 00:30:46,471 --> 00:30:50,100 but I didn't want to ever wear the same thing on TV twice, 747 00:30:50,141 --> 00:30:51,768 and if you look back on tapes, 748 00:30:51,810 --> 00:30:54,896 you're gonna see very few things I wore twice. 749 00:30:54,938 --> 00:30:56,773 We taped once a week. 750 00:30:56,815 --> 00:30:59,859 So I probably bought four suits a week 751 00:30:59,901 --> 00:31:02,237 for 36 years. 752 00:31:02,278 --> 00:31:04,447 - He believed in looking the part 753 00:31:04,489 --> 00:31:07,409 and dressing for who you were and where you were going, 754 00:31:07,450 --> 00:31:09,619 as opposed to where you had come from. 755 00:31:09,661 --> 00:31:11,454 - Styling 756 00:31:11,496 --> 00:31:13,248 and profiling! 757 00:31:13,289 --> 00:31:14,958 - Why is it necessary? 758 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,336 - 'Cause I'm Ric Flair! 759 00:31:18,378 --> 00:31:20,088 Woo! 760 00:31:20,130 --> 00:31:21,965 I wanted to set the bar 761 00:31:22,007 --> 00:31:24,551 so high, nobody could ever get it. 762 00:31:24,592 --> 00:31:28,304 I represent the American way of life! 763 00:31:28,346 --> 00:31:29,973 I lived the gimmick and didn't understand 764 00:31:30,015 --> 00:31:31,099 the word "moderation." 765 00:31:31,141 --> 00:31:33,852 - How did you afford this? 766 00:31:33,893 --> 00:31:36,146 - Because I wasn't paying my taxes. 767 00:31:36,187 --> 00:31:39,524 I mean, I didn't-- I just didn't slow down. 768 00:31:39,566 --> 00:31:42,027 Totally my fault. Irresponsible. 769 00:31:42,068 --> 00:31:44,529 Woo! 770 00:31:44,571 --> 00:31:46,948 - The money, made and wasted, 771 00:31:46,990 --> 00:31:48,992 only added to his legend. - Woo! 772 00:31:49,034 --> 00:31:52,162 - Fame became his barometer. 773 00:31:52,203 --> 00:31:53,872 - Flair, Ric Flair. 774 00:31:53,913 --> 00:31:55,874 Now, like, a flight attendant me how to spell it, 775 00:31:55,915 --> 00:31:59,294 I go, "F-A-M-O-U-S." [snickers] 776 00:31:59,336 --> 00:32:01,796 As Ric Flair's name shined brightly in lights, 777 00:32:01,838 --> 00:32:04,090 the man once known as Richard Fliehr 778 00:32:04,132 --> 00:32:06,092 was nowhere to be found. 779 00:32:06,134 --> 00:32:09,721 The thin line separating life inside and outside the ring 780 00:32:09,763 --> 00:32:11,222 was no longer clear, 781 00:32:11,264 --> 00:32:12,682 and that only increased 782 00:32:12,724 --> 00:32:15,810 when Flair's next chapter exploded... 783 00:32:15,852 --> 00:32:17,020 nationwide. 784 00:32:23,902 --> 00:32:26,529 - We're talking about the cream of the crop, 785 00:32:26,571 --> 00:32:30,784 the most successful group of wrestlers 786 00:32:30,825 --> 00:32:32,994 anywhere in the world. 787 00:32:33,036 --> 00:32:35,413 - The Four Horsemen were a faction 788 00:32:35,455 --> 00:32:37,916 that kind of came together 789 00:32:37,957 --> 00:32:40,460 rather spontaneously. 790 00:32:40,502 --> 00:32:43,338 You had Ric Flair associate 791 00:32:43,380 --> 00:32:44,756 with Arn Anderson 792 00:32:44,798 --> 00:32:46,341 and Ole Anderson. 793 00:32:46,383 --> 00:32:49,010 Then you add Tully Blanchard, 794 00:32:49,052 --> 00:32:51,304 and they became 795 00:32:51,346 --> 00:32:54,265 the most charismatic faction of their generation. 796 00:32:54,307 --> 00:32:55,975 - We are the Horsemen. 797 00:32:56,017 --> 00:33:00,230 - The origin story of how you guys came together? 798 00:33:00,271 --> 00:33:02,065 - Arn just said it one day, 799 00:33:02,107 --> 00:33:03,233 just off the top of his head. 800 00:33:03,274 --> 00:33:05,151 You know, it wasn't planned. 801 00:33:05,193 --> 00:33:06,194 Arn just said, "This is the apocalypse. 802 00:33:06,236 --> 00:33:07,946 We're The Four Horsemen," 803 00:33:07,987 --> 00:33:09,239 and next week, there were guys in suits on-- 804 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:11,408 I mean, it was crazy. 805 00:33:11,449 --> 00:33:14,244 It was insane, and all because Arn did this. 806 00:33:14,285 --> 00:33:15,453 - We're a unit! 807 00:33:15,495 --> 00:33:17,914 The Four Horsemen are not four individuals! 808 00:33:17,956 --> 00:33:21,209 - We are the studs in professional wrestling! 809 00:33:21,251 --> 00:33:23,128 - We'd go into the ring, 810 00:33:23,169 --> 00:33:25,922 the whole front row dressed up in suits and ties. 811 00:33:25,964 --> 00:33:27,424 [percussive beat] 812 00:33:27,465 --> 00:33:30,468 And they're yelling, "Horsemen." 813 00:33:30,510 --> 00:33:33,596 - So whether you like it or not, 814 00:33:33,638 --> 00:33:37,183 learn to love it, because we're gonna be here 815 00:33:37,225 --> 00:33:39,185 for a long, long time. 816 00:33:39,227 --> 00:33:42,147 * * 817 00:33:42,188 --> 00:33:45,442 - He'd have a match, stay all night, 818 00:33:45,483 --> 00:33:47,318 make the plane to the next city, 819 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:49,988 get out, and then he'd go to the gym with me. 820 00:33:50,030 --> 00:33:51,448 Sometimes, literally, he and I would go 821 00:33:51,489 --> 00:33:53,616 three, four days at a time 822 00:33:53,658 --> 00:33:55,493 without sleeping, and wrestling in the night 823 00:33:55,535 --> 00:33:57,912 and go to the gym every day. 824 00:33:57,954 --> 00:34:00,123 - We walked into a bar that's in Chicago. 825 00:34:00,165 --> 00:34:01,499 Ric had walked in first, 826 00:34:01,541 --> 00:34:02,917 and he would take his credit card 827 00:34:02,959 --> 00:34:05,503 and slap it on the bar, 828 00:34:05,545 --> 00:34:10,759 and the bartender would pick the card up and... 829 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:12,510 "You don't need that in here." 830 00:34:12,552 --> 00:34:15,513 He said, "You see all those credit cards 831 00:34:15,555 --> 00:34:17,140 sitting behind me on the--" 832 00:34:17,182 --> 00:34:18,475 he said, "Those are the fans 833 00:34:18,516 --> 00:34:21,227 because you said you were coming in here." 834 00:34:21,269 --> 00:34:24,814 - I come from the nightclub business, where I drank a lot. 835 00:34:24,856 --> 00:34:27,984 Nothing compared to him-- 836 00:34:28,026 --> 00:34:31,488 every single night. 837 00:34:31,529 --> 00:34:33,615 - A thousand times, I had to wheel Ric in 838 00:34:33,656 --> 00:34:35,575 on the baggage cart to his room, 839 00:34:35,617 --> 00:34:37,786 whether he was naked or just completely drunk, 840 00:34:37,827 --> 00:34:38,953 passed out. 841 00:34:38,995 --> 00:34:40,663 - We are throwing a party! 842 00:34:40,705 --> 00:34:43,875 In other words, JJ Dillon has rented 843 00:34:43,917 --> 00:34:46,378 the whole top of the hotel! 844 00:34:46,419 --> 00:34:50,048 - Ric Flair lives like Ric Flair 845 00:34:50,090 --> 00:34:51,758 every day of the year. 846 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:53,718 [dramatic music] 847 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:57,013 - The Four Horsemen faction pushed Flair to the pinnacle. 848 00:34:57,055 --> 00:34:58,598 The persona was revered 849 00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:01,059 and was eclipsing the person. 850 00:35:01,101 --> 00:35:05,230 Flair was the living symbol of the rockstar lifestyle... 851 00:35:05,271 --> 00:35:08,024 nonstop and nationwide. 852 00:35:08,066 --> 00:35:10,985 Constant drink and countless women, 853 00:35:11,027 --> 00:35:14,364 and Flair was telling the world all about it 854 00:35:14,406 --> 00:35:16,199 on television, 855 00:35:16,241 --> 00:35:17,784 - I wanna inform the tourists, 856 00:35:17,826 --> 00:35:19,953 especially all the young ladies, 857 00:35:19,994 --> 00:35:22,914 you don't have to go to Disney World 858 00:35:22,956 --> 00:35:24,708 to find Space Mountain. 859 00:35:24,749 --> 00:35:25,709 It's right here. 860 00:35:25,750 --> 00:35:28,378 - When Ric Flair would go on TV 861 00:35:28,420 --> 00:35:31,131 and say where he was staying in town, 862 00:35:31,172 --> 00:35:33,717 and "Meet me in the penthouse at the Marriott," 863 00:35:33,758 --> 00:35:36,011 that was real! 864 00:35:36,052 --> 00:35:38,346 - "I'll be at the Marriott-- 865 00:35:38,388 --> 00:35:40,974 "18 to 28, no boyfriends, no husbands, 866 00:35:41,016 --> 00:35:43,101 you can ride Space Mountain all night long." 867 00:35:43,143 --> 00:35:46,271 [laughing] 868 00:35:48,940 --> 00:35:52,485 You know, I--I've been plugging Marriotts my whole life. 869 00:35:52,527 --> 00:35:54,279 My wife would say, "Why do you keep saying 870 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:55,864 we're gonna be at the Marriott?" 871 00:35:55,905 --> 00:35:57,449 I said, "Oh, they give us a discount on that. 872 00:35:57,490 --> 00:35:59,159 Some of them don't even charge us--free drinks." 873 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:02,704 [laughs] 874 00:36:02,746 --> 00:36:04,873 "Why aren't you wearing your wedding ring?" 875 00:36:04,914 --> 00:36:06,750 "I can't wear that on TV. That's not my gimmick." 876 00:36:06,791 --> 00:36:09,711 [laughing] 877 00:36:11,629 --> 00:36:14,758 When you get on Space Mountain, you'll be like this! 878 00:36:17,135 --> 00:36:19,346 - How would you characterize... 879 00:36:19,387 --> 00:36:20,597 - Women? - Yes. 880 00:36:20,638 --> 00:36:23,892 - I have a disease. I love women. 881 00:36:23,933 --> 00:36:26,353 [women screaming] 882 00:36:26,394 --> 00:36:27,354 Listen, look. 883 00:36:27,395 --> 00:36:28,438 You know--hey. 884 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:31,649 [laughing] 885 00:36:33,276 --> 00:36:34,277 I love women. 886 00:36:34,319 --> 00:36:36,071 To this day, I love 'em. 887 00:36:36,112 --> 00:36:39,407 Damn it. [laughing] 888 00:36:39,449 --> 00:36:42,535 I have four or five women every day of my life! 889 00:36:42,577 --> 00:36:45,038 I don't buy their love, 890 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:47,123 but I know how to talk to 'em. [chuckles] 891 00:36:47,165 --> 00:36:49,209 Even at 73, I can be Slick Ric. 892 00:36:49,250 --> 00:36:52,379 [laughing] 893 00:36:55,715 --> 00:36:58,635 - Everybody fantasizes about the cars, 894 00:36:58,677 --> 00:37:00,804 and you're usually seen with attractive women 895 00:37:00,845 --> 00:37:03,014 on either arm. Is that really the life, 896 00:37:03,056 --> 00:37:04,516 or is that the gimmick? 897 00:37:04,557 --> 00:37:07,811 - Um, well, I think, aside from the fact 898 00:37:07,852 --> 00:37:10,939 that my wife is--will be watching this program-- 899 00:37:10,980 --> 00:37:12,774 - Oh, I did not know that. Oh... 900 00:37:12,816 --> 00:37:15,110 - How many times have you been married? 901 00:37:15,151 --> 00:37:16,152 - Four. 902 00:37:16,194 --> 00:37:20,782 * * 903 00:37:20,824 --> 00:37:24,160 My first wife, Leslie-- great woman. 904 00:37:24,202 --> 00:37:25,412 I still talk to her today. 905 00:37:25,453 --> 00:37:29,708 * * 906 00:37:29,749 --> 00:37:31,584 She just said, "I can't live like this." 907 00:37:31,626 --> 00:37:35,255 * * 908 00:37:35,296 --> 00:37:36,715 - By the mid-1980s, 909 00:37:36,756 --> 00:37:38,758 Richard Fliehr had two children, 910 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:40,468 a son and daughter, 911 00:37:40,510 --> 00:37:42,929 and his family life was collapsing. 912 00:37:42,971 --> 00:37:44,848 For whatever was missing at home, 913 00:37:44,889 --> 00:37:47,308 Flair went all in at work, 914 00:37:47,350 --> 00:37:51,563 building the Ric Flair character without limits. 915 00:37:51,604 --> 00:37:54,190 Life on the road was a fantasy. 916 00:37:54,232 --> 00:37:56,192 Life at home 917 00:37:56,234 --> 00:37:57,861 was real. 918 00:37:57,902 --> 00:38:01,156 So he escaped whenever he could. 919 00:38:01,197 --> 00:38:03,950 - You know, it was just me and my mom and David. 920 00:38:03,992 --> 00:38:05,827 We didn't live in a fancy house, 921 00:38:05,869 --> 00:38:08,204 and we didn't drive fancy cars. 922 00:38:08,246 --> 00:38:09,956 So it was-- 923 00:38:09,998 --> 00:38:11,708 you know, my mom worked two jobs, 924 00:38:11,750 --> 00:38:15,378 and it was almost like you felt abandoned-- 925 00:38:15,420 --> 00:38:16,504 would maybe be the best word, 926 00:38:16,546 --> 00:38:18,631 and it wasn't by choice. 927 00:38:18,673 --> 00:38:21,217 We just never had that one-on-one time. 928 00:38:21,259 --> 00:38:23,887 - I got so wrapped up in being Ric Flair the last ten years 929 00:38:23,928 --> 00:38:26,765 that I probably neglected my family a little bit, 930 00:38:26,806 --> 00:38:31,269 but it's been successful for me in promoting myself 931 00:38:31,311 --> 00:38:33,313 and making me successful in professional wrestling. 932 00:38:33,355 --> 00:38:36,316 - His occupation has made it difficult at times 933 00:38:36,358 --> 00:38:38,068 to have a family. 934 00:38:38,109 --> 00:38:40,987 Now he is in the final weeks of an expensive divorce. 935 00:38:42,781 --> 00:38:44,783 - They grew up on their own without me. 936 00:38:46,284 --> 00:38:47,744 It was horrible. 937 00:38:47,786 --> 00:38:49,746 And I missed the shit. 938 00:38:49,788 --> 00:38:51,581 Megan, I mean, we laugh about it now. 939 00:38:51,623 --> 00:38:53,208 We don't laugh about it, but she-- 940 00:38:53,249 --> 00:38:54,751 I told her I'd be at a basketball game, 941 00:38:54,793 --> 00:38:56,044 and I didn't make it. 942 00:38:56,086 --> 00:38:58,755 * * 943 00:38:58,797 --> 00:39:00,924 And she had never forgotten that. 944 00:39:00,965 --> 00:39:03,885 - He spent more time being Ric Flair 945 00:39:03,927 --> 00:39:06,096 than he did Richard Fliehr, 946 00:39:06,137 --> 00:39:10,767 and so even when he would come home off the road, 947 00:39:10,809 --> 00:39:12,811 it was people reaching out for autographs 948 00:39:12,852 --> 00:39:14,771 or, "Can we do this? Can we do that?" 949 00:39:14,813 --> 00:39:16,022 - I'm conscious of the fans, 950 00:39:16,064 --> 00:39:18,233 and I'm conscious of their support, 951 00:39:18,274 --> 00:39:20,068 and I'm conscious of what they've made possible 952 00:39:20,110 --> 00:39:21,319 for me in my life. 953 00:39:21,361 --> 00:39:23,947 - What kind of father do you think you are? 954 00:39:23,988 --> 00:39:26,783 - When I was there, as good as could be. 955 00:39:26,825 --> 00:39:28,952 But how often was I there? 956 00:39:28,993 --> 00:39:32,330 So how can I--not even a fair-- 957 00:39:32,372 --> 00:39:36,167 I can't be judged on what I-- something I didn't do. 958 00:39:36,209 --> 00:39:37,335 I wasn't there. 959 00:39:37,377 --> 00:39:39,254 * * 960 00:39:39,295 --> 00:39:41,131 If you're Ric Flair for so long, 961 00:39:41,172 --> 00:39:43,466 how do you ever go back to being Richard Fliehr? 962 00:39:43,508 --> 00:39:45,468 I don't wanna be Richard Fliehr. 963 00:39:45,510 --> 00:39:48,096 Maybe when I'm dead. 964 00:39:48,138 --> 00:39:50,098 - I don't think he knows who Richard Fliehr is. 965 00:39:50,140 --> 00:39:53,852 I think that was lost a long time ago. 966 00:39:53,893 --> 00:39:56,479 - They get a glimpse of Richard when he cries, 967 00:39:56,521 --> 00:39:59,816 when he's emotional around 'em, 968 00:39:59,858 --> 00:40:02,736 but it doesn't last long. 969 00:40:02,777 --> 00:40:04,988 He's Ric Flair. 970 00:40:05,030 --> 00:40:09,784 He wants the world to always know who he is. 971 00:40:11,369 --> 00:40:13,997 - You can't have a family and be a pro wrestler. 972 00:40:14,039 --> 00:40:17,167 You can be married, but you're never home, 973 00:40:17,208 --> 00:40:20,587 and if you're the World Champion like I was-- 974 00:40:20,628 --> 00:40:23,798 365, twice on Saturday, twice on Sunday 975 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:27,010 for ten consecutive years. 976 00:40:27,052 --> 00:40:28,887 * * 977 00:40:28,928 --> 00:40:32,682 - Back in the day, when there were more than two dozen 978 00:40:32,724 --> 00:40:34,809 professional wrestling territories 979 00:40:34,851 --> 00:40:36,728 that were under the umbrella 980 00:40:36,770 --> 00:40:39,022 of National Wrestling Alliance, 981 00:40:39,064 --> 00:40:42,817 being the traveling champion meant he was expected to be 982 00:40:42,859 --> 00:40:45,278 in different parts of the world every day, 983 00:40:45,320 --> 00:40:48,406 and sometimes, different cities, twice a day. 984 00:40:48,448 --> 00:40:49,783 - Hello, everyone. 985 00:40:49,824 --> 00:40:51,076 Welcome to "Championship Wrestling." 986 00:40:51,117 --> 00:40:52,369 At ringside, this is Vince McMahon 987 00:40:52,410 --> 00:40:54,120 along with Mean Gene Okerlund, 988 00:40:54,162 --> 00:40:55,372 and this week-- 989 00:40:55,413 --> 00:40:58,166 - Vince McMahon saw an opportunity 990 00:40:58,208 --> 00:41:00,126 with cable television 991 00:41:00,168 --> 00:41:04,047 to promote the entire country 992 00:41:04,089 --> 00:41:05,632 off of 993 00:41:05,674 --> 00:41:07,717 one or two television shows. 994 00:41:07,759 --> 00:41:10,804 - Welcome to WrestleMania! 995 00:41:10,845 --> 00:41:13,098 - He was looking to expand, and did. 996 00:41:14,432 --> 00:41:19,938 At the end, it was pretty much just WWE and Jim Crockett 997 00:41:19,979 --> 00:41:22,607 out of Charlotte, North Carolina. 998 00:41:22,649 --> 00:41:25,735 Ted Turner ended up buying 999 00:41:25,777 --> 00:41:28,071 what Jim Crockett had, the NWA, 1000 00:41:28,113 --> 00:41:30,573 and turned it into World Championship Wrestling, 1001 00:41:30,615 --> 00:41:31,908 and they became, pretty much, 1002 00:41:31,950 --> 00:41:34,202 the last two standing 1003 00:41:34,244 --> 00:41:35,704 of any prominence 1004 00:41:35,745 --> 00:41:37,580 in the business. 1005 00:41:37,622 --> 00:41:40,208 - WWE was a family business, 1006 00:41:40,250 --> 00:41:43,128 and people who came from the McMahon family 1007 00:41:43,169 --> 00:41:46,923 were making the decisions in WWE. 1008 00:41:46,965 --> 00:41:51,594 WCW was part of a larger corporate entity, 1009 00:41:51,636 --> 00:41:53,430 and so you had executives, 1010 00:41:53,471 --> 00:41:56,433 who didn't necessarily have wrestling backgrounds, 1011 00:41:56,474 --> 00:42:00,937 making decisions that impacted the lives of the talent, 1012 00:42:00,979 --> 00:42:04,441 and I believe that Ric was a bit hurt by this. 1013 00:42:04,482 --> 00:42:08,111 - It was frustrating for him, because, I mean, obviously, 1014 00:42:08,153 --> 00:42:11,823 you're a wrestling organization producing TV, 1015 00:42:11,865 --> 00:42:14,034 and the next day, you're a TV organization 1016 00:42:14,075 --> 00:42:15,326 producing wrestling. 1017 00:42:15,368 --> 00:42:17,746 Things were changing. 1018 00:42:17,787 --> 00:42:19,414 - Having new people come in 1019 00:42:19,456 --> 00:42:24,002 and Jim Herd not knowing anything about the business-- 1020 00:42:24,044 --> 00:42:25,962 they just tried to change my character. 1021 00:42:26,004 --> 00:42:27,630 They wanted to call me Spartacus. 1022 00:42:27,672 --> 00:42:29,090 They cut my hair. 1023 00:42:29,132 --> 00:42:30,467 I didn't even know who I was anymore. 1024 00:42:30,508 --> 00:42:32,302 * * 1025 00:42:32,344 --> 00:42:34,929 - You know, they just kept trying to reinvent the wheel, 1026 00:42:34,971 --> 00:42:37,432 and this was a guy that was kind of a proven entity, 1027 00:42:37,474 --> 00:42:39,309 and it was just, like-- to him, it was baffling. 1028 00:42:39,351 --> 00:42:42,062 It's just like, "Well, I'm the Nature Boy, Ric Flair." 1029 00:42:42,103 --> 00:42:43,772 Like, "What are you doing?" 1030 00:42:43,813 --> 00:42:45,982 - He was asked to take a pay cut. 1031 00:42:46,024 --> 00:42:47,901 This deeply hurt Ric Flair, 1032 00:42:47,942 --> 00:42:50,487 and I think he actually experienced 1033 00:42:50,528 --> 00:42:51,946 legitimate anxiety. 1034 00:42:51,988 --> 00:42:54,324 He was having panic attacks. 1035 00:42:54,366 --> 00:42:57,911 He couldn't believe that he was being treated like this. 1036 00:42:57,952 --> 00:42:59,287 - I cut my hair. 1037 00:42:59,329 --> 00:43:00,663 I walked into the Charlotte airport. 1038 00:43:00,705 --> 00:43:02,040 Nobody knew me. 1039 00:43:02,082 --> 00:43:03,667 I didn't know myself. I mean, it just-- 1040 00:43:03,708 --> 00:43:06,169 it killed me. That was it. 1041 00:43:06,211 --> 00:43:08,505 I lost all my self-confidence that day. 1042 00:43:08,546 --> 00:43:09,756 I mean, I was-- 1043 00:43:09,798 --> 00:43:10,965 I--I literally--I-- 1044 00:43:11,007 --> 00:43:13,968 I fell out that day 1045 00:43:14,010 --> 00:43:16,805 because I gave in to a fucking idiot. 1046 00:43:16,846 --> 00:43:19,599 I was lost. 1047 00:43:19,641 --> 00:43:22,018 I was--I was just lost. 1048 00:43:22,060 --> 00:43:23,895 - He couldn't be Ric Flair 1049 00:43:23,937 --> 00:43:26,439 or the Ric Flair that he wanted to be 1050 00:43:26,481 --> 00:43:28,566 in WCW anymore 1051 00:43:28,608 --> 00:43:32,195 and felt he needed to go elsewhere, 1052 00:43:32,237 --> 00:43:35,865 and there was only one place, really, for him to go, 1053 00:43:35,907 --> 00:43:38,201 and that was WWE. 1054 00:43:38,243 --> 00:43:40,245 - Well, it was the only alternative, 1055 00:43:40,286 --> 00:43:42,372 and I--you know, I got to talk to Vince on the phone 1056 00:43:42,414 --> 00:43:45,083 and said, "I'm not crying wolf. 1057 00:43:45,125 --> 00:43:47,711 I will come if you want me." 1058 00:43:47,752 --> 00:43:48,878 He said, "I don't believe you." 1059 00:43:48,920 --> 00:43:50,380 I said, "I got the belt." 1060 00:43:50,422 --> 00:43:52,632 He said, "Send it, and I'll believe you." 1061 00:43:52,674 --> 00:43:55,427 I overnighted it to him. [chuckling] 1062 00:43:58,847 --> 00:44:00,515 [dramatic music] 1063 00:44:00,557 --> 00:44:02,475 - Everything's gonna run smooth tonight. 1064 00:44:02,517 --> 00:44:05,145 The real World Champion, Ric Flair's on my show. 1065 00:44:05,186 --> 00:44:07,814 The real World Champion, you got it? 1066 00:44:07,856 --> 00:44:08,815 Let's go. 1067 00:44:08,857 --> 00:44:10,400 * * 1068 00:44:10,442 --> 00:44:12,819 - Why don't we start from the top? 1069 00:44:12,861 --> 00:44:14,487 First of all, 1070 00:44:14,529 --> 00:44:17,115 I'm Ric Flair! 1071 00:44:17,157 --> 00:44:19,784 The real World's Heavyweight Champion. 1072 00:44:19,826 --> 00:44:21,745 Woo! 1073 00:44:21,786 --> 00:44:23,204 - I remember feeling chills. 1074 00:44:23,246 --> 00:44:26,708 Like, Ric Flair has actually come to the competition. 1075 00:44:26,750 --> 00:44:28,501 The man who was the symbol 1076 00:44:28,543 --> 00:44:31,212 of everything that was supposed to be 1077 00:44:31,254 --> 00:44:33,548 the counterpoint to WWE 1078 00:44:33,590 --> 00:44:36,426 was now part of WWE. 1079 00:44:36,468 --> 00:44:38,386 - I didn't have any guarantees from Vince on anything. 1080 00:44:39,888 --> 00:44:41,723 I just was Ric Flair. 1081 00:44:41,765 --> 00:44:43,558 He took me the way I was, 1082 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:45,018 and I'm lucky. 1083 00:44:45,060 --> 00:44:46,728 Exact words, he goes, 1084 00:44:46,770 --> 00:44:48,063 "Everybody knows who you are. 1085 00:44:48,104 --> 00:44:49,689 You don't need to impress anybody." 1086 00:44:49,731 --> 00:44:51,149 * * 1087 00:44:51,191 --> 00:44:55,153 - 1991, behind the scenes, 1088 00:44:55,195 --> 00:44:59,115 Flair the man had been experiencing self-doubt. 1089 00:44:59,157 --> 00:45:01,701 At age 42, Flair joined 1090 00:45:01,743 --> 00:45:03,661 the largest sports entertainment company 1091 00:45:03,703 --> 00:45:06,915 in the world, WWE. 1092 00:45:06,956 --> 00:45:10,794 Now a father of four, he was poised for his apex, 1093 00:45:10,835 --> 00:45:14,714 his self-proclaimed greatest moment in his life. 1094 00:45:14,756 --> 00:45:18,176 * * 1095 00:45:18,218 --> 00:45:21,262 - It's time to rumble! 1096 00:45:21,304 --> 00:45:25,975 It's time for the Royal Rumble! 1097 00:45:26,017 --> 00:45:29,896 - Welcome to the jam-packed Knickerbocker Arena! 1098 00:45:29,938 --> 00:45:32,315 [cheering fades] 1099 00:45:32,357 --> 00:45:37,445 - 1992, the WWE Championship is suspended, 1100 00:45:37,487 --> 00:45:41,908 and it's determined that a new titlist will emerge 1101 00:45:41,950 --> 00:45:43,576 from the Royal Rumble. 1102 00:45:43,618 --> 00:45:46,371 - The Royal Rumble is a match where it starts out 1103 00:45:46,413 --> 00:45:48,248 with two competitors in the ring, 1104 00:45:48,289 --> 00:45:51,918 and then another competitor joins every 90 seconds. 1105 00:45:51,960 --> 00:45:53,962 - Tell me, Mr. Flair, how did you fare 1106 00:45:54,004 --> 00:45:55,338 in the Royal Rumble draw? 1107 00:45:55,380 --> 00:45:57,257 - Lord Alfred, I drew number three. 1108 00:45:57,298 --> 00:45:59,634 That means I'll be in there close to an hour. 1109 00:45:59,676 --> 00:46:01,094 It makes no difference. 1110 00:46:01,136 --> 00:46:04,014 - He has to go through so many more competitors. 1111 00:46:04,055 --> 00:46:07,100 Can he really go that long? 1112 00:46:07,142 --> 00:46:09,394 [horn blares] 1113 00:46:11,312 --> 00:46:14,149 - Oh, yes! It's Ric Flair! 1114 00:46:14,190 --> 00:46:18,778 * * 1115 00:46:18,820 --> 00:46:21,614 No one ever, in the history of the Royal Rumble, 1116 00:46:21,656 --> 00:46:24,200 has drawn numbers one through five 1117 00:46:24,242 --> 00:46:26,244 and been there at the end! 1118 00:46:27,746 --> 00:46:29,414 Oh, yes, yes! 1119 00:46:29,456 --> 00:46:30,874 [crowd cheering] 1120 00:46:30,915 --> 00:46:34,794 The new World Wrestling Entertainment Champion, 1121 00:46:34,836 --> 00:46:37,797 Ric Flair! 1122 00:46:37,839 --> 00:46:41,343 - With a tear in my eye, 1123 00:46:41,384 --> 00:46:43,970 this is the greatest moment 1124 00:46:44,012 --> 00:46:45,263 in my life. 1125 00:46:45,305 --> 00:46:46,514 Oh, I just said, "Without a doubt, 1126 00:46:46,556 --> 00:46:48,475 this is the greatest day of my life." 1127 00:46:48,516 --> 00:46:50,518 You know, winning that thing that night, 1128 00:46:50,560 --> 00:46:52,896 and the next day, you know, being their champion, 1129 00:46:52,937 --> 00:46:54,230 I mean, I was a new man. 1130 00:46:54,272 --> 00:46:56,608 I don't know why. I'm lucky they chose me, 1131 00:46:56,649 --> 00:46:59,152 but I don't think but a few people understand 1132 00:46:59,194 --> 00:47:00,779 how much that impacted my life. 1133 00:47:00,820 --> 00:47:01,946 Woo! - You did it! 1134 00:47:01,988 --> 00:47:03,490 I was never so impressed with-- 1135 00:47:03,531 --> 00:47:05,116 - To some people, it was a big deal. 1136 00:47:05,158 --> 00:47:06,993 * * 1137 00:47:07,035 --> 00:47:09,746 But to the WWE audience, 1138 00:47:09,788 --> 00:47:11,247 Ric wasn't that big of a deal. 1139 00:47:11,289 --> 00:47:12,957 * * 1140 00:47:12,999 --> 00:47:17,712 Because it was an audience that only knew WWE. 1141 00:47:17,754 --> 00:47:20,423 To the WWE fan, 1142 00:47:20,465 --> 00:47:23,176 WCW was an inferior product. 1143 00:47:26,304 --> 00:47:28,598 Ric is an unbelievable performer 1144 00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:31,226 and one of the top ever in the world. 1145 00:47:32,769 --> 00:47:34,938 But at that time, he hadn't proven himself 1146 00:47:34,979 --> 00:47:36,398 to the WWE audience, 1147 00:47:36,439 --> 00:47:39,693 and it was too much, too fast, I think. 1148 00:47:39,734 --> 00:47:41,528 Ric had impact, but I don't know 1149 00:47:41,569 --> 00:47:43,822 that he had as big of an impact 1150 00:47:43,863 --> 00:47:49,077 as those inside the business thought it would be. 1151 00:47:49,119 --> 00:47:52,163 Ric thought he was gonna come in and be the top guy, 1152 00:47:52,205 --> 00:47:53,707 and he just wasn't. 1153 00:47:53,748 --> 00:47:56,292 * * 1154 00:47:56,334 --> 00:48:00,255 - During this period, there was what WWE 1155 00:48:00,296 --> 00:48:02,716 was marketing as a youth movement. 1156 00:48:02,757 --> 00:48:04,050 and that meant that 1157 00:48:04,092 --> 00:48:06,761 some of the more established superstars 1158 00:48:06,803 --> 00:48:10,724 were not going to be spotlighted anymore. 1159 00:48:10,765 --> 00:48:13,143 - Vince said that he was gonna go younger, 1160 00:48:13,184 --> 00:48:15,103 and I think I was, like, 43 then 1161 00:48:15,145 --> 00:48:17,188 or something like that, 44, 1162 00:48:17,230 --> 00:48:18,398 and I said, "Yeah." 1163 00:48:18,440 --> 00:48:21,735 He said, "They want you back in WCW." 1164 00:48:21,776 --> 00:48:23,570 'Cause they never stopped calling from the day I left. 1165 00:48:23,611 --> 00:48:25,447 They wanted me to come back. 1166 00:48:25,488 --> 00:48:28,366 He said, "You can stay. I'll have to, you know, 1167 00:48:28,408 --> 00:48:30,910 push you down the card, or you can leave on top," 1168 00:48:30,952 --> 00:48:34,914 and I said, "I'll go back. I appreciate the opportunity," 1169 00:48:34,956 --> 00:48:37,125 and left on good terms, 1170 00:48:37,167 --> 00:48:39,294 and I was out of there. 1171 00:48:39,336 --> 00:48:42,213 [crowd cheering] 1172 00:48:42,255 --> 00:48:45,425 * * 1173 00:48:45,467 --> 00:48:49,763 - The Nature Boy is back to rock and to roll! 1174 00:48:49,804 --> 00:48:53,683 [crowd cheering] 1175 00:48:53,725 --> 00:48:55,435 [dramatic music] 1176 00:48:55,477 --> 00:48:57,437 - Well, Tony, they're on their feet! 1177 00:48:57,479 --> 00:49:00,065 They're standing here in Charlotte! 1178 00:49:00,106 --> 00:49:01,941 - One, two, three! 1179 00:49:01,983 --> 00:49:04,778 - He won! [bell dings] 1180 00:49:04,819 --> 00:49:07,739 [crowd roaring] 1181 00:49:13,661 --> 00:49:15,205 - I don't mind telling you 1182 00:49:15,246 --> 00:49:17,749 this locker room is absolutely ecstatic. 1183 00:49:17,791 --> 00:49:19,459 Nature Boy here with your family-- 1184 00:49:19,501 --> 00:49:21,211 Beth, good seeing you. Happy holidays, 1185 00:49:21,252 --> 00:49:23,546 and what a happy holiday it turned out to be. 1186 00:49:23,588 --> 00:49:25,048 You, uh--you really... 1187 00:49:25,090 --> 00:49:29,803 - In 1993, Flair won the WCW title once again, 1188 00:49:29,844 --> 00:49:31,846 but this time, it was different, 1189 00:49:31,888 --> 00:49:34,432 as his family was there to see it. 1190 00:49:34,474 --> 00:49:36,351 This rare backstage moment 1191 00:49:36,393 --> 00:49:38,812 was not the Ric Flair character talking. 1192 00:49:38,853 --> 00:49:42,190 It was Richard Fliehr as a husband and father 1193 00:49:42,232 --> 00:49:43,983 of four children. 1194 00:49:44,025 --> 00:49:45,819 - Well, I'm kind of taken by the moment, obviously, 1195 00:49:45,860 --> 00:49:47,612 but I--I was, um, 1196 00:49:47,654 --> 00:49:48,530 really overwhelmed by the support, 1197 00:49:48,571 --> 00:49:50,490 and, uh, you know, first, 1198 00:49:50,532 --> 00:49:52,534 I never had my family on TV, so it's a big deal for me, 1199 00:49:52,575 --> 00:49:55,161 and thank you. - Woo! 1200 00:49:55,203 --> 00:49:57,497 * * 1201 00:49:57,539 --> 00:49:59,374 - I'm the middle child. 1202 00:50:00,583 --> 00:50:03,461 My oldest sibling is my sister, Megan, 1203 00:50:03,503 --> 00:50:05,755 then my big brother, David, 1204 00:50:05,797 --> 00:50:07,257 then my little brother, Reid. 1205 00:50:07,298 --> 00:50:13,513 * * 1206 00:50:13,555 --> 00:50:15,682 He had Reid and I later on in his career. 1207 00:50:15,724 --> 00:50:17,809 So he was home a lot more for Reid and I 1208 00:50:17,851 --> 00:50:20,562 than my sister and my older brother. 1209 00:50:20,603 --> 00:50:22,605 He had a different relationship 1210 00:50:22,647 --> 00:50:24,107 with all four of his kids. 1211 00:50:24,149 --> 00:50:26,192 The relationship we have 1212 00:50:26,234 --> 00:50:28,361 is different than the one he has with my sister. 1213 00:50:28,403 --> 00:50:29,779 The one he had with my little brother 1214 00:50:29,821 --> 00:50:31,322 is different than he has with me. 1215 00:50:31,364 --> 00:50:38,747 * * 1216 00:50:39,456 --> 00:50:40,790 - Dad would leave and go out of town. 1217 00:50:40,832 --> 00:50:42,292 You know, I'd wanna be with him. 1218 00:50:42,334 --> 00:50:43,293 I'd wanna go out of town with him, 1219 00:50:43,335 --> 00:50:44,711 you know, 30 days. 1220 00:50:44,753 --> 00:50:46,546 If my mom would've let me, I would have. 1221 00:50:46,588 --> 00:50:49,549 - Come here, boy. - Good luck, Daddy. 1222 00:50:49,591 --> 00:50:51,634 - Okay. - Mm-hmm. 1223 00:50:51,676 --> 00:50:54,054 - I'm gonna miss you guys. 1224 00:50:54,095 --> 00:50:55,472 - He's my role model, I guess you could say. 1225 00:50:55,513 --> 00:50:57,223 I'd love to--I'd love to do 1226 00:50:57,265 --> 00:50:58,224 everything just like him 1227 00:50:58,266 --> 00:51:00,727 if I could. 1228 00:51:00,769 --> 00:51:02,729 - [laughs] He loved me. 1229 00:51:02,771 --> 00:51:05,065 You couldn't scare Reid. He was tougher than shit. 1230 00:51:05,106 --> 00:51:07,692 On top of that, he was a real good amateur wrestler. 1231 00:51:07,734 --> 00:51:10,028 [crowd shouting] [whistle blows] 1232 00:51:10,070 --> 00:51:12,405 - Yes! Yes! - Whoo! 1233 00:51:12,447 --> 00:51:14,491 - I won the gold medal, wee! 1234 00:51:14,532 --> 00:51:17,994 - Reid won the gold medal-- state championship, AAU. 1235 00:51:18,036 --> 00:51:20,163 [crowd shouting] 1236 00:51:20,205 --> 00:51:22,457 Can I show a nervous daddy? 1237 00:51:25,543 --> 00:51:28,088 - You're doing so good. 1238 00:51:28,129 --> 00:51:30,423 - He's got all the athletic ability. 1239 00:51:30,465 --> 00:51:33,426 He just keeps moving. He never stops. 1240 00:51:33,468 --> 00:51:34,761 Keep your head on your shoulders, buddy, 1241 00:51:34,803 --> 00:51:37,097 you'll go a long way-- Reid Fliehr. 1242 00:51:37,138 --> 00:51:40,100 [applause] 1243 00:51:40,141 --> 00:51:44,396 * * 1244 00:51:44,437 --> 00:51:45,855 - There's a mountain. Who wants to go 1245 00:51:45,897 --> 00:51:47,691 this winter, kids, to ski up and down the mountain 1246 00:51:47,732 --> 00:51:49,526 right there. - Dad, move your hand. 1247 00:51:49,567 --> 00:51:50,568 [camera shutter clicks] 1248 00:51:50,610 --> 00:51:53,279 - Isn't this fun? - Yeah. 1249 00:51:53,321 --> 00:51:56,658 [crowd cheering] 1250 00:51:59,202 --> 00:52:01,204 - Ric Flair was back in WCW 1251 00:52:01,246 --> 00:52:02,997 as a main-eventer. 1252 00:52:03,039 --> 00:52:05,458 He was a box-office star once again, 1253 00:52:05,500 --> 00:52:07,627 working with legends Randy Savage, 1254 00:52:07,669 --> 00:52:09,504 Rowdy Roddy Piper, 1255 00:52:09,546 --> 00:52:11,923 and Hulk Hogan. 1256 00:52:11,965 --> 00:52:15,093 - In the mid-'90s, Eric Bischoff was put in charge 1257 00:52:15,135 --> 00:52:19,305 of WCW, which meant he was making creative decisions, 1258 00:52:19,347 --> 00:52:22,642 booking decisions, and business decisions as well. 1259 00:52:22,684 --> 00:52:24,602 - I mean, some of the best times 1260 00:52:24,644 --> 00:52:27,272 I've ever had in this industry 1261 00:52:27,313 --> 00:52:30,984 has been with Ric Flair when he was the Nature Boy. 1262 00:52:31,026 --> 00:52:32,736 - Woo! - Some of the worst times 1263 00:52:32,777 --> 00:52:35,155 I've ever had in this business 1264 00:52:35,196 --> 00:52:36,823 were with Richard Fliehr. 1265 00:52:36,865 --> 00:52:37,991 [laughs] 1266 00:52:38,033 --> 00:52:39,284 [crowd cheering] 1267 00:52:39,325 --> 00:52:40,994 - Hulkamania lives 1268 00:52:41,036 --> 00:52:44,205 in World Championship Wrestling! 1269 00:52:44,247 --> 00:52:47,500 - Ric Flair was instrumental in Hulk Hogan coming in, 1270 00:52:47,542 --> 00:52:48,918 and then once Hulk got there, 1271 00:52:48,960 --> 00:52:50,211 of course, we had the first match 1272 00:52:50,253 --> 00:52:51,463 with Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan. 1273 00:52:51,504 --> 00:52:52,839 - They are standing. 1274 00:52:52,881 --> 00:52:54,758 They are jammed to the rafters 1275 00:52:54,799 --> 00:52:59,637 at Orlando's Arena, awaiting the match of a lifetime. 1276 00:52:59,679 --> 00:53:00,722 - You know, I kind of stacked the deck 1277 00:53:00,764 --> 00:53:02,390 and brought Shaq in with me, 1278 00:53:02,432 --> 00:53:04,351 and I had a bunch of celebrities 1279 00:53:04,392 --> 00:53:06,686 kind of come in when I wrestled Ric that first night. 1280 00:53:06,728 --> 00:53:08,104 And Ric put me over, which gave us 1281 00:53:08,146 --> 00:53:10,148 that huge shot in the arm we needed. 1282 00:53:10,190 --> 00:53:13,109 [crowd cheering] 1283 00:53:13,151 --> 00:53:15,362 - Ric was ecstatic. 1284 00:53:15,403 --> 00:53:17,238 He couldn't have been happier. 1285 00:53:17,280 --> 00:53:20,033 But '96 comes around, 1286 00:53:20,075 --> 00:53:23,036 and this nWo thing starts catching fire, 1287 00:53:23,078 --> 00:53:25,955 and... 1288 00:53:25,997 --> 00:53:28,166 that's where all of the attention went. 1289 00:53:28,208 --> 00:53:32,087 - The new World order is taking over 1290 00:53:32,128 --> 00:53:34,130 professional wrestling! 1291 00:53:34,172 --> 00:53:36,549 - That was the new bright, shiny object 1292 00:53:36,591 --> 00:53:40,053 that was really, really working well. 1293 00:53:40,095 --> 00:53:46,601 All of a sudden, the focus goes from Ric Flair to the nWo, 1294 00:53:46,643 --> 00:53:49,062 and Ric Flair's character becomes a victim. 1295 00:53:50,480 --> 00:53:53,650 - It's tough when you're the man, 1296 00:53:53,692 --> 00:53:57,153 and you go by "the man," 1297 00:53:57,195 --> 00:54:00,615 and then you're not the guy? 1298 00:54:00,657 --> 00:54:02,575 Tough to swallow sometimes. 1299 00:54:02,617 --> 00:54:04,327 - He took one for the team. 1300 00:54:04,369 --> 00:54:05,787 You know, spray-painting Ric 1301 00:54:05,829 --> 00:54:07,831 or spray-painting his hair 1302 00:54:07,872 --> 00:54:10,000 or whatever chicanery we were doing. 1303 00:54:10,041 --> 00:54:11,960 He helped get that nWo thing going, 1304 00:54:12,002 --> 00:54:15,672 because to punk out a big star like that, 1305 00:54:15,714 --> 00:54:18,508 you know, it was just a setup for us--whoa. 1306 00:54:18,550 --> 00:54:20,468 I'll get you too! 1307 00:54:20,510 --> 00:54:23,054 - Ric was on the wrong side of that equation 1308 00:54:23,096 --> 00:54:24,973 at that particular time. 1309 00:54:25,015 --> 00:54:28,560 Everybody was getting punked. Everybody was getting beat. 1310 00:54:28,601 --> 00:54:30,687 Everybody was being disrespected. 1311 00:54:30,729 --> 00:54:32,564 - This is our show! 1312 00:54:32,605 --> 00:54:34,649 We're doing it our way! 1313 00:54:34,691 --> 00:54:38,278 - I wish I would've been better and more aware 1314 00:54:38,319 --> 00:54:41,948 of how talent is sometimes affected by certain things, 1315 00:54:41,990 --> 00:54:43,992 because to me, it was just all business. 1316 00:54:44,034 --> 00:54:47,328 - The nWo, not finished making a statement right here 1317 00:54:47,370 --> 00:54:48,788 to Ric Flair. 1318 00:54:48,830 --> 00:54:50,206 - He couldn't think of enough ways 1319 00:54:50,248 --> 00:54:52,459 to fuck me around. 1320 00:54:52,500 --> 00:54:54,419 That's all he did. 1321 00:54:54,461 --> 00:54:56,796 - Now they're shaving Ric Flair's head! 1322 00:54:56,838 --> 00:54:59,341 - What is the deal with, you know, shaving my head? 1323 00:54:59,382 --> 00:55:02,177 What did that accomplish? 1324 00:55:02,218 --> 00:55:03,553 - Well, what do you mean 1325 00:55:03,595 --> 00:55:04,554 you don't want to get your head shaved, 1326 00:55:04,596 --> 00:55:06,181 spray-painted black, 1327 00:55:06,222 --> 00:55:08,975 drug through town on the back of a pickup truck, 1328 00:55:09,017 --> 00:55:10,185 beat with sticks? What do you mean 1329 00:55:10,226 --> 00:55:11,519 you don't wanna do that? 1330 00:55:11,561 --> 00:55:13,646 That's money. That's a story! 1331 00:55:13,688 --> 00:55:15,648 Of course you wanna do that. 1332 00:55:15,690 --> 00:55:16,649 No. [chuckles] 1333 00:55:16,691 --> 00:55:18,068 Sometimes he didn't, 1334 00:55:18,109 --> 00:55:20,653 and there were a number of occasions 1335 00:55:20,695 --> 00:55:21,988 where we went too far. 1336 00:55:22,030 --> 00:55:23,615 Ric, in particular, took it real hard, 1337 00:55:23,656 --> 00:55:25,492 and it took its toll on Ric, 1338 00:55:25,533 --> 00:55:26,951 did some-- did some damage there. 1339 00:55:26,993 --> 00:55:28,453 I didn't know it at the time. 1340 00:55:28,495 --> 00:55:31,081 I wish-- I really wish I would have. 1341 00:55:31,122 --> 00:55:33,833 - In 1998, Ric Flair did something 1342 00:55:33,875 --> 00:55:35,794 he hadn't often done before. 1343 00:55:35,835 --> 00:55:37,420 He chose his family 1344 00:55:37,462 --> 00:55:40,298 over the professional wrestling business. 1345 00:55:40,340 --> 00:55:42,801 On a spring night, Flair didn't show up 1346 00:55:42,842 --> 00:55:45,887 to a WCW show, and instead, 1347 00:55:45,929 --> 00:55:49,349 went to his son Reid's amateur wrestling match. 1348 00:55:49,391 --> 00:55:52,143 - Ric and I got into a little bit of a debate. 1349 00:55:52,185 --> 00:55:53,895 He wanted some time off. 1350 00:55:55,146 --> 00:55:59,192 He, to this day, swears he requested it. 1351 00:55:59,234 --> 00:56:01,111 Everybody on my side of the equation said... 1352 00:56:01,152 --> 00:56:02,278 [chuckles] "Didn't hear anything 1353 00:56:02,320 --> 00:56:03,988 about this request." 1354 00:56:04,030 --> 00:56:05,782 Anyway, he just took the time off. 1355 00:56:05,824 --> 00:56:08,493 It escalated, and it got out of control. 1356 00:56:08,535 --> 00:56:11,788 - I am taking my son to an AAU national tournament 1357 00:56:11,830 --> 00:56:14,040 in Detroit. Of course, once I got there, 1358 00:56:14,082 --> 00:56:15,834 they decided I didn't have the time off. 1359 00:56:15,875 --> 00:56:17,210 Oh, it was a nightmare. 1360 00:56:17,252 --> 00:56:19,421 I've never been more fucked in my life 1361 00:56:19,462 --> 00:56:21,381 than Bischoff fucking me. 1362 00:56:21,423 --> 00:56:25,301 - I basically said, "Ric, either you show up, 1363 00:56:25,343 --> 00:56:27,053 "or I'm gonna sue you for breach of contract, 1364 00:56:27,095 --> 00:56:28,888 and I'm gonna sue you for every dollar you have." 1365 00:56:28,930 --> 00:56:30,306 - He fucked me out of millions. 1366 00:56:30,348 --> 00:56:32,058 One guy fucking your whole life up. 1367 00:56:32,100 --> 00:56:33,560 I mean, really-- 1368 00:56:33,601 --> 00:56:35,395 cost me a fortune. 1369 00:56:35,437 --> 00:56:36,730 - There were stories 1370 00:56:36,771 --> 00:56:38,440 in "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution" 1371 00:56:38,481 --> 00:56:39,941 about it, you know? 1372 00:56:39,983 --> 00:56:41,484 Everybody knew it. 1373 00:56:41,526 --> 00:56:43,361 Decided, "Okay, well, we can either pretend 1374 00:56:43,403 --> 00:56:44,612 "it didn't happen 1375 00:56:44,654 --> 00:56:45,947 "and hope people forget, 1376 00:56:45,989 --> 00:56:47,574 or..." 1377 00:56:47,615 --> 00:56:48,867 [vocalizes cash register] 1378 00:56:48,908 --> 00:56:50,744 "We can turn this into some money," 1379 00:56:50,785 --> 00:56:52,537 and we both decided to go with it 1380 00:56:52,579 --> 00:56:53,747 with a storyline. 1381 00:56:53,788 --> 00:56:55,623 - This is real! 1382 00:56:55,665 --> 00:56:58,460 This is not bought and paid for! 1383 00:56:58,501 --> 00:57:02,213 It's a real-life situation! 1384 00:57:02,255 --> 00:57:03,840 - It was some of the best work-- 1385 00:57:03,882 --> 00:57:05,425 not the best-- but some of the best work 1386 00:57:05,467 --> 00:57:08,219 that Ric's ever done, because it wasreal. 1387 00:57:08,261 --> 00:57:09,637 - You suck! 1388 00:57:09,679 --> 00:57:12,807 You, I hate your guts! 1389 00:57:12,849 --> 00:57:14,225 - Now, granted, we shook hands, 1390 00:57:14,267 --> 00:57:16,102 we put it behind us, and we agreed to make it 1391 00:57:16,144 --> 00:57:19,314 a part of a storyline, but the emotion didn't go away. 1392 00:57:19,356 --> 00:57:20,357 You're history! 1393 00:57:20,398 --> 00:57:22,817 - You are a liar! 1394 00:57:22,859 --> 00:57:24,444 You're a cheat! 1395 00:57:24,486 --> 00:57:26,279 You're a scam! 1396 00:57:26,321 --> 00:57:29,741 You are a no-good... - You're history! 1397 00:57:29,783 --> 00:57:30,784 - Son of a bitch! 1398 00:57:30,825 --> 00:57:33,953 [crowd erupts] 1399 00:57:34,996 --> 00:57:37,290 - Why'd he sue me for going, 1400 00:57:37,332 --> 00:57:38,875 and try to bankrupt me 1401 00:57:38,917 --> 00:57:40,335 for going to a wrestling tournament with my son? 1402 00:57:40,377 --> 00:57:41,920 Think about it. 1403 00:57:41,961 --> 00:57:43,546 You don't forget about shit like that. 1404 00:57:43,588 --> 00:57:45,632 [crowd cheering] 1405 00:57:45,674 --> 00:57:47,550 - I know who this is. 1406 00:57:47,592 --> 00:57:49,928 Being a friend of Ric Flair, I know exactly who this is. 1407 00:57:49,969 --> 00:57:51,971 It's his youngest son, Reid. 1408 00:57:52,013 --> 00:57:54,849 - Since he's been the center of all this controversy-- 1409 00:57:54,891 --> 00:57:56,518 would like to tell you why we're here. 1410 00:57:56,559 --> 00:57:58,019 Tell 'em, Reid. 1411 00:57:58,061 --> 00:58:01,106 - Since I heard you been cracking on my dad, 1412 00:58:01,147 --> 00:58:03,233 me and my uncle Arn came down here 1413 00:58:03,274 --> 00:58:05,735 so I can hit him with that light work. 1414 00:58:05,777 --> 00:58:06,903 - Wh-- 1415 00:58:06,945 --> 00:58:09,906 [crowd cheers] 1416 00:58:13,576 --> 00:58:17,288 - In 2001, due to WCW's poor ratings, 1417 00:58:17,330 --> 00:58:18,915 questionable booking decisions, 1418 00:58:18,957 --> 00:58:21,167 as well as the AOL merger, 1419 00:58:21,209 --> 00:58:25,630 Turner sells WCW to Vince McMahon and WWE. 1420 00:58:25,672 --> 00:58:29,134 WCW was going out of business. 1421 00:58:29,175 --> 00:58:34,681 - When WWE finally purchased WCW in 2001, 1422 00:58:34,723 --> 00:58:37,058 the final "Nitro" took place, 1423 00:58:37,100 --> 00:58:38,977 and the decision was made 1424 00:58:39,019 --> 00:58:43,773 to have the two legends of WCW, 1425 00:58:43,815 --> 00:58:47,444 Ric Flair and Sting, get in the ring together. 1426 00:58:47,485 --> 00:58:48,820 [bell dings] - Woo! 1427 00:58:48,862 --> 00:58:50,613 - Thing was that cosmetically, 1428 00:58:50,655 --> 00:58:53,658 Ric Flair didn't even feel like he should be in the ring. 1429 00:58:53,700 --> 00:58:56,077 Ric Flair kept his T-shirt on 1430 00:58:56,119 --> 00:58:58,329 because he didn't think he looked good enough, 1431 00:58:58,371 --> 00:59:03,001 and he didn't feel like he was even close to 100%. 1432 00:59:03,043 --> 00:59:05,587 [crowd cheering] [bell dings] 1433 00:59:05,628 --> 00:59:08,381 - Sting defeats Ric Flair here 1434 00:59:08,423 --> 00:59:13,553 on the final telecast of "WCW Monday Nitro"! 1435 00:59:13,595 --> 00:59:16,181 - When WCW closed, I was flat out. 1436 00:59:16,222 --> 00:59:18,558 I thought it was over. 1437 00:59:18,600 --> 00:59:20,477 I started-- 1438 00:59:20,518 --> 00:59:21,561 they call it day drinking. 1439 00:59:21,603 --> 00:59:22,896 Warner left WCW, 1440 00:59:22,937 --> 00:59:25,357 and then WWE didn't hire me for a year. 1441 00:59:25,398 --> 00:59:27,817 * * 1442 00:59:27,859 --> 00:59:29,402 And then Vince called me and said, 1443 00:59:29,444 --> 00:59:31,696 "You wanna go back to work?" I said, "Oh, please. 1444 00:59:31,738 --> 00:59:34,366 "Absolutely. When and where? 1445 00:59:34,407 --> 00:59:36,034 "I'd been waiting for a year, motherfucker. 1446 00:59:36,076 --> 00:59:39,496 Where've you been?" [laughs] 1447 00:59:45,126 --> 00:59:48,004 [fireworks booming] [crowd cheering] 1448 00:59:48,046 --> 00:59:49,964 - Welcome, ladies and gentlemen 1449 00:59:50,006 --> 00:59:51,591 around the world, 1450 00:59:51,633 --> 00:59:54,094 to WrestleMania! 1451 00:59:54,135 --> 00:59:56,388 - When Ric came back to the WWE, 1452 00:59:56,429 --> 01:00:01,101 Ric was a shell of the man that he was before. 1453 01:00:01,142 --> 01:00:03,019 - I remember Vince coming to me and saying, 1454 01:00:03,061 --> 01:00:04,396 "Who do you wanna work with? You wanna work with this guy, 1455 01:00:04,437 --> 01:00:06,022 or you wanna work with Ric Flair?" 1456 01:00:06,064 --> 01:00:07,565 And I was like, "I wanna work with Ric Flair. 1457 01:00:07,607 --> 01:00:09,234 Are you kidding me?" 1458 01:00:09,275 --> 01:00:11,695 - "'Taker wants to work with you at WrestleMania." 1459 01:00:11,736 --> 01:00:13,571 I said, "You're kidding me." 1460 01:00:13,613 --> 01:00:16,366 He said, "No, so what do you think?" 1461 01:00:16,408 --> 01:00:18,326 I said, "I don't know. Do you think I can do it?" 1462 01:00:18,368 --> 01:00:19,619 He said, "I know you can do it. 1463 01:00:19,661 --> 01:00:21,121 "You can do anything you wanna do. 1464 01:00:21,162 --> 01:00:23,540 You're the only one who doesn't get it." 1465 01:00:23,581 --> 01:00:25,041 Actually, when I got out there, 1466 01:00:25,083 --> 01:00:27,293 it turned out to be a hell of a match. 1467 01:00:27,335 --> 01:00:30,672 But you couldn't tell me that getting out there. 1468 01:00:30,714 --> 01:00:35,260 Self-confidence is such a big part of life in general. 1469 01:00:35,301 --> 01:00:37,554 - It was later on in Ric's career, 1470 01:00:37,595 --> 01:00:40,557 and I was like, "That's a no-brainer." 1471 01:00:40,598 --> 01:00:42,517 I mean, how many more opportunities am I gonna get 1472 01:00:42,559 --> 01:00:44,561 to work with Ric Flair, you know? 1473 01:00:44,602 --> 01:00:46,146 So that--I mean, that was special 1474 01:00:46,187 --> 01:00:48,023 for a whole 'nother reason. 1475 01:00:48,064 --> 01:00:51,609 - Not a Tombstone--no! - Ooh! 1476 01:00:51,651 --> 01:00:56,364 - 2002, WrestleMania X8. 1477 01:00:56,406 --> 01:00:58,241 Undertaker pinned the Nature Boy 1478 01:00:58,283 --> 01:01:00,910 in front of nearly 70,000 fans 1479 01:01:00,952 --> 01:01:03,121 at the Toronto SkyDome. 1480 01:01:03,163 --> 01:01:05,373 Not a headliner as much as a legend, 1481 01:01:05,415 --> 01:01:08,209 Ric Flair still needed the spotlight. 1482 01:01:08,251 --> 01:01:10,295 WWE had gone global, 1483 01:01:10,337 --> 01:01:12,756 and even at age 53, 1484 01:01:12,797 --> 01:01:16,843 Flair was traveling around the world once again. 1485 01:01:16,885 --> 01:01:20,597 [crowd cheering] 1486 01:01:20,638 --> 01:01:23,767 - When he returned to WWE for this run, 1487 01:01:23,808 --> 01:01:25,477 he was a bit older, 1488 01:01:25,518 --> 01:01:29,272 and he was scared that he couldn't live up 1489 01:01:29,314 --> 01:01:31,608 to the standard people expected. 1490 01:01:31,649 --> 01:01:33,985 - No, you fucking loser! [steel stairs bang] 1491 01:01:34,027 --> 01:01:35,904 You big fucking loser! 1492 01:01:35,945 --> 01:01:39,115 [crowd jeering] 1493 01:01:39,157 --> 01:01:41,576 You're a loser! Go home! 1494 01:01:41,618 --> 01:01:43,203 - Go home! 1495 01:01:43,244 --> 01:01:47,290 - Perhaps this goes back to his birth. 1496 01:01:47,332 --> 01:01:50,835 - He always kind of felt like 1497 01:01:50,877 --> 01:01:53,213 he wasn't worthy of something. 1498 01:01:53,254 --> 01:01:55,715 [dramatic music] 1499 01:01:55,757 --> 01:01:57,008 - When he came in the door here, 1500 01:01:57,050 --> 01:01:58,259 it was a different Ric Flair, 1501 01:01:58,301 --> 01:02:02,138 very, very unsure of himself, 1502 01:02:02,180 --> 01:02:04,140 unconfident. 1503 01:02:04,182 --> 01:02:07,310 I had no idea how much of a fragile 1504 01:02:07,352 --> 01:02:10,271 true ego that Ric had 1505 01:02:10,313 --> 01:02:13,358 and what a fragile human being he was, 1506 01:02:13,400 --> 01:02:16,569 that a lot of the Ric Flair persona was, 1507 01:02:16,611 --> 01:02:18,530 you know, a persona that he put in front 1508 01:02:18,571 --> 01:02:22,992 of being this really sensitive and anxious 1509 01:02:23,034 --> 01:02:24,160 and everything-else guy 1510 01:02:24,202 --> 01:02:26,204 that he truly is. 1511 01:02:26,246 --> 01:02:28,248 - If you don't have it here, nothing else works. 1512 01:02:28,289 --> 01:02:30,250 It just doesn't connect. 1513 01:02:30,291 --> 01:02:31,835 I had it here, 1514 01:02:31,876 --> 01:02:33,336 never lost it. 1515 01:02:33,378 --> 01:02:35,922 But if this isn't connected to this-- 1516 01:02:35,964 --> 01:02:38,675 and this connects to everything. 1517 01:02:38,717 --> 01:02:41,761 So many times since I lost my self-confidence, 1518 01:02:41,803 --> 01:02:43,513 walking back up the ramp, I'm going, 1519 01:02:43,555 --> 01:02:45,181 "God, this is the coolest thing in the world, 1520 01:02:45,223 --> 01:02:48,685 "but why couldn't I just 1521 01:02:48,727 --> 01:02:51,521 be me, be better?" 1522 01:02:51,563 --> 01:02:53,481 - I just wanted to help him and try to get him back 1523 01:02:53,523 --> 01:02:55,108 to being what he could be, you know? 1524 01:02:55,150 --> 01:02:56,860 I used to say to him all the time, 1525 01:02:56,901 --> 01:02:59,154 "You're the only guy here that doesn't know you're Ric Flair. 1526 01:02:59,195 --> 01:03:00,363 What's the matter with you?" 1527 01:03:02,323 --> 01:03:05,201 - It's the truth. He said it to me all the time, 1528 01:03:05,243 --> 01:03:06,494 and I said, "You can tell me that 1529 01:03:06,536 --> 01:03:09,581 all day long. I still don't." 1530 01:03:09,622 --> 01:03:14,210 I mean, that's five solid years of Eric just pounding me. 1531 01:03:14,252 --> 01:03:16,629 * * 1532 01:03:16,671 --> 01:03:19,924 - Well, I guess being around the business when I was young, 1533 01:03:19,966 --> 01:03:21,676 just listening to my-- 1534 01:03:21,718 --> 01:03:23,386 like, hearing my mom and dad's conversations, 1535 01:03:23,428 --> 01:03:26,097 like, yeah, he was pretty not-- 1536 01:03:26,139 --> 01:03:28,433 didn't feel like the man anymore. 1537 01:03:28,475 --> 01:03:31,144 - I think Ric Flair is the barometer 1538 01:03:31,186 --> 01:03:33,396 of the greatest World Champion of all time. 1539 01:03:33,438 --> 01:03:35,690 You are Ric Flair, 16-time World Champion, 1540 01:03:35,732 --> 01:03:37,942 and I respect that. 1541 01:03:37,984 --> 01:03:39,903 You know, it's hard to look at a guy like that 1542 01:03:39,944 --> 01:03:42,614 and think that there could be anything wrong with him, 1543 01:03:42,655 --> 01:03:44,824 because you kind of put him on a pedestal. 1544 01:03:44,866 --> 01:03:46,701 - He had so much, still, to give to the business, 1545 01:03:46,743 --> 01:03:48,328 and then, you know, when you're around him, 1546 01:03:48,370 --> 01:03:51,164 you can see guys wanting to pick his brain, 1547 01:03:51,206 --> 01:03:52,749 and guys wanting to work with him, 1548 01:03:52,791 --> 01:03:54,542 but he didn't have his confidence to help them, 1549 01:03:54,584 --> 01:03:58,588 and so it just started as something as simple 1550 01:03:58,630 --> 01:04:01,591 as me thinking, "Well, if we took a couple of young guys, 1551 01:04:01,633 --> 01:04:05,095 "and put us all together as a group, made a faction, 1552 01:04:05,136 --> 01:04:06,429 it can be incredibly good." 1553 01:04:06,471 --> 01:04:09,099 And what you see in this ring before you 1554 01:04:09,140 --> 01:04:13,269 is the greatest example of evolution you will ever see. 1555 01:04:13,311 --> 01:04:15,146 - Triple H says that his entourage 1556 01:04:15,188 --> 01:04:18,149 is the evolution of our business. 1557 01:04:18,191 --> 01:04:21,277 - That was a very unique quartet. 1558 01:04:21,319 --> 01:04:25,407 You had Ric Flair, who represented legacy. 1559 01:04:25,448 --> 01:04:28,660 Then you had Triple H, who was the present, 1560 01:04:28,702 --> 01:04:30,495 and then you had the future. 1561 01:04:30,537 --> 01:04:32,455 You had Randy Orton 1562 01:04:32,497 --> 01:04:36,251 and Batista-- future Hollywood star. 1563 01:04:36,292 --> 01:04:38,628 - I picked those guys' brains. [laughs] 1564 01:04:38,670 --> 01:04:40,505 I was like that annoying little kid in the back seat. 1565 01:04:40,547 --> 01:04:41,881 I never rode up front. 1566 01:04:41,923 --> 01:04:43,174 [laughing] I was always in the back seat. 1567 01:04:43,216 --> 01:04:45,301 - Wow, you got something special. 1568 01:04:45,343 --> 01:04:48,471 - I can tell you with complete honesty, 1569 01:04:48,513 --> 01:04:51,766 if I hadn't had access to their brains, 1570 01:04:51,808 --> 01:04:54,019 I never would have made it to the level that I did-- 1571 01:04:54,060 --> 01:04:55,687 not a chance. 1572 01:04:55,729 --> 01:04:58,523 - We are the best of the best. 1573 01:04:58,565 --> 01:04:59,649 Woo! 1574 01:04:59,691 --> 01:05:00,608 - I was young, and I didn't know 1575 01:05:00,650 --> 01:05:02,944 what it was to be champion. 1576 01:05:02,986 --> 01:05:04,696 You know, it got thrust upon me, 1577 01:05:04,738 --> 01:05:07,407 and I had a lot of learning on the job, 1578 01:05:07,449 --> 01:05:10,326 but I was around the best guys in the business for that. 1579 01:05:10,368 --> 01:05:12,203 - No fear, man. Let's go. 1580 01:05:12,245 --> 01:05:14,039 - I would stand in the backstage 1581 01:05:14,080 --> 01:05:15,623 with Richard Fliehr, 1582 01:05:15,665 --> 01:05:17,417 but when the curtain opened up, and we walked through, 1583 01:05:17,459 --> 01:05:19,044 I was with Ric Flair, 1584 01:05:19,085 --> 01:05:20,837 and he could feel it. 1585 01:05:20,879 --> 01:05:24,299 He just couldn't carry it all the time then. 1586 01:05:24,341 --> 01:05:26,009 But it was definitely-- as time went on, 1587 01:05:26,051 --> 01:05:29,471 he was definitely becoming the Nature Boy again. 1588 01:05:29,512 --> 01:05:31,723 - I'm 55 years old, and I'm in Evolution, 1589 01:05:31,765 --> 01:05:33,808 and I'm walking down the aisle. 1590 01:05:33,850 --> 01:05:36,353 It was almost like a rib with Hunter, Dave, and Randy-- 1591 01:05:36,394 --> 01:05:38,188 you know, immaculate, 1592 01:05:38,229 --> 01:05:39,814 and I'm physically, 1593 01:05:39,856 --> 01:05:41,566 I mean, "Please, this is a joke." 1594 01:05:41,608 --> 01:05:44,027 I just wore my robe as much as possible. 1595 01:05:44,069 --> 01:05:46,654 I never got it back totally. 1596 01:05:46,696 --> 01:05:49,157 It gave me life again. 1597 01:05:49,199 --> 01:05:50,116 It gave me life, 1598 01:05:50,158 --> 01:05:51,576 and I was ready. 1599 01:05:51,618 --> 01:05:54,037 - Flair's done it! Flair's done it! 1600 01:05:54,079 --> 01:05:57,582 The Nature Boy is the Intercontinental Champion! 1601 01:05:57,624 --> 01:05:59,084 - Where are we going? 1602 01:05:59,125 --> 01:06:00,377 Woo! It's LA, Vince. 1603 01:06:00,418 --> 01:06:01,544 We're going down to the strip. 1604 01:06:01,586 --> 01:06:02,837 It's a party! Woo! 1605 01:06:02,879 --> 01:06:05,507 With the champ! [laughter] 1606 01:06:06,424 --> 01:06:08,718 - It was easy to assume that at that time, 1607 01:06:08,760 --> 01:06:11,846 there just couldn't be that much gas left in the tank, 1608 01:06:11,888 --> 01:06:14,641 and yet, man, 1609 01:06:14,683 --> 01:06:18,812 it turned into a special next six, seven years 1610 01:06:18,853 --> 01:06:20,522 with so many memorable moments. 1611 01:06:20,563 --> 01:06:24,901 - And I love being the Nature Boy! 1612 01:06:24,943 --> 01:06:28,571 * * 1613 01:06:28,613 --> 01:06:31,282 - I don't remember the actual circumstances, 1614 01:06:31,324 --> 01:06:32,867 but, you know, it was getting to a point 1615 01:06:32,909 --> 01:06:36,162 where, you know, Evolution had kind of run its course, 1616 01:06:36,204 --> 01:06:38,123 and he was still kind of doing the things he was doing, 1617 01:06:38,164 --> 01:06:40,208 but I think he was getting to a point where people were 1618 01:06:40,250 --> 01:06:42,335 starting to worry about him in the ring. 1619 01:06:42,377 --> 01:06:44,087 - Ah, shit! 1620 01:06:44,129 --> 01:06:45,338 - I'm not sure he was fully, 1621 01:06:45,380 --> 01:06:46,798 in his mind, ready to retire. 1622 01:06:46,840 --> 01:06:49,551 I think Vince sort of broached 1623 01:06:49,592 --> 01:06:51,344 the subject with him. 1624 01:06:51,386 --> 01:06:52,595 Vince was like, "Look, there's a reason 1625 01:06:52,637 --> 01:06:54,180 "they put a jockey on a racehorse. 1626 01:06:54,222 --> 01:06:55,348 "Somebody's gotta pull the reins, 1627 01:06:55,390 --> 01:06:56,725 or they will run until they die." 1628 01:06:56,766 --> 01:06:58,518 So the decision was made. 1629 01:06:58,560 --> 01:06:59,728 Like, we'll put you in the Hall of Fame, 1630 01:06:59,769 --> 01:07:01,396 and then do your last match, 1631 01:07:01,438 --> 01:07:04,983 but that was tough for Ric. 1632 01:07:05,025 --> 01:07:08,111 Everything about Ric is the Nature Boy Ric Flair. 1633 01:07:08,153 --> 01:07:11,031 * * 1634 01:07:11,072 --> 01:07:14,325 - It's at a moment like this 1635 01:07:14,367 --> 01:07:15,869 when guys like me... 1636 01:07:17,787 --> 01:07:20,749 Say to themselves for all we've done wrong, 1637 01:07:20,790 --> 01:07:22,208 we must've done something right. 1638 01:07:22,250 --> 01:07:23,501 [chuckles] 1639 01:07:23,543 --> 01:07:27,464 So I can't tell you how much 1640 01:07:27,505 --> 01:07:29,257 all this means to me. 1641 01:07:29,299 --> 01:07:31,092 * * 1642 01:07:31,134 --> 01:07:33,845 I just wanted everybody to know along the way, 1643 01:07:33,887 --> 01:07:35,805 people in my life-- and I've had a long life, 1644 01:07:35,847 --> 01:07:37,265 a lot of people say "thank you." 1645 01:07:37,307 --> 01:07:39,142 * * 1646 01:07:39,184 --> 01:07:41,144 Shawn Michaels, 1647 01:07:41,186 --> 01:07:46,024 I want to wrestle you at WrestleMania. 1648 01:07:46,066 --> 01:07:48,902 - I think anybody that commits their life to something, 1649 01:07:48,943 --> 01:07:51,321 um, no matter what line of work it is, 1650 01:07:51,363 --> 01:07:53,782 but certainly, I think, 1651 01:07:53,823 --> 01:07:57,410 in the athletic field, it's a big and major decision. 1652 01:07:57,452 --> 01:08:00,330 I honestly wanted to honor all of that 1653 01:08:00,372 --> 01:08:01,498 in that last match. 1654 01:08:01,539 --> 01:08:03,208 - It would be my honor 1655 01:08:03,249 --> 01:08:05,502 to wrestle you at WrestleMania. 1656 01:08:08,421 --> 01:08:10,173 - Woo! 1657 01:08:10,215 --> 01:08:12,634 * * 1658 01:08:17,972 --> 01:08:19,391 - Programs! 1659 01:08:19,432 --> 01:08:21,518 [scanner beeping] 1660 01:08:21,559 --> 01:08:23,395 - Woo! 1661 01:08:23,436 --> 01:08:25,438 - My life is one incredible happening after another. 1662 01:08:25,480 --> 01:08:27,816 [dramatic music] 1663 01:08:27,857 --> 01:08:29,818 You know, it's like I said-- for all I've done wrong, 1664 01:08:29,859 --> 01:08:34,197 I must've done something right somewhere to get all this. 1665 01:08:34,239 --> 01:08:37,117 It's hard to say goodbye and leave 1666 01:08:37,158 --> 01:08:40,829 something you've done for so long. 1667 01:08:40,870 --> 01:08:43,206 - The decision for Ric to retire 1668 01:08:43,248 --> 01:08:45,834 may have been more Vince's than it was Ric's. 1669 01:08:45,875 --> 01:08:47,752 But also, at the same time, 1670 01:08:47,794 --> 01:08:51,798 I don't remember Ric fighting it too vigorously either. 1671 01:08:51,840 --> 01:08:53,133 Vince looked at it as, 1672 01:08:53,174 --> 01:08:54,551 "You've had a hell of a career, 1673 01:08:54,592 --> 01:08:56,845 "but you don't need to be taking bumps anymore. 1674 01:08:56,886 --> 01:08:58,638 "You don't need to be in the ring anymore, 1675 01:08:58,680 --> 01:09:00,682 "and let's give you the send-off 1676 01:09:00,724 --> 01:09:04,936 that's worthy of your career." 1677 01:09:04,978 --> 01:09:09,315 - 2008, WrestleMania XXIV. 1678 01:09:09,357 --> 01:09:12,027 After 36 years of wrestling, 1679 01:09:12,068 --> 01:09:16,781 the WWE ending for Ric Flair was upon him: 1680 01:09:16,823 --> 01:09:18,992 retirement, 1681 01:09:19,034 --> 01:09:22,537 and his family was ringside to see it all. 1682 01:09:28,877 --> 01:09:32,005 - He is the best at what he does, 1683 01:09:32,047 --> 01:09:35,258 and the word "proud" doesn't even describe, 1684 01:09:35,300 --> 01:09:36,926 you know, I guess, 1685 01:09:36,968 --> 01:09:38,553 how any of us feel in the family 1686 01:09:38,595 --> 01:09:40,930 about what he's done. 1687 01:09:40,972 --> 01:09:42,432 - He'll go down in history 1688 01:09:42,474 --> 01:09:44,476 as the greatest wrestler of all time. 1689 01:09:44,517 --> 01:09:47,854 - It's a great feeling to know that you have someone 1690 01:09:47,896 --> 01:09:49,147 that's in your family that's appreciated 1691 01:09:49,189 --> 01:09:50,607 by more than just you. 1692 01:09:50,648 --> 01:09:52,484 I mean, he's appreciated by so many people. 1693 01:09:52,525 --> 01:09:55,070 all: Woo! 1694 01:09:55,111 --> 01:09:56,988 - Ric Flair, baby! both: Woo! 1695 01:09:57,030 --> 01:09:59,616 - Woo! 1696 01:09:59,657 --> 01:10:01,701 - He'll be happy, but at the same time, 1697 01:10:01,743 --> 01:10:04,204 you know, sad, remorseful 1698 01:10:04,245 --> 01:10:06,915 that, you know, what he's done his whole life, 1699 01:10:06,956 --> 01:10:08,500 it's coming to an end. 1700 01:10:08,541 --> 01:10:12,212 * * 1701 01:10:12,253 --> 01:10:14,422 - I'm in Orlando, getting ready to wrestle Shawn, 1702 01:10:14,464 --> 01:10:15,965 and I was just nervous 1703 01:10:16,007 --> 01:10:18,802 and insecure as I've ever been in my life. 1704 01:10:18,843 --> 01:10:23,056 * * 1705 01:10:23,098 --> 01:10:26,768 - It was something that I really took seriously: 1706 01:10:26,810 --> 01:10:30,522 his image and his legacy, all of those things. 1707 01:10:30,563 --> 01:10:32,232 I understood and appreciated 1708 01:10:32,273 --> 01:10:33,983 how important those things were to him, 1709 01:10:34,025 --> 01:10:37,445 and I honestly wanted to honor all of that 1710 01:10:37,487 --> 01:10:38,571 in that last match. 1711 01:10:38,613 --> 01:10:40,365 * * 1712 01:10:40,407 --> 01:10:42,951 - He said, "Just shut up and listen to me tonight. 1713 01:10:42,992 --> 01:10:44,494 Don't say a word." 1714 01:10:44,536 --> 01:10:46,579 I went, "Well, okay." 1715 01:10:46,621 --> 01:10:49,249 No wrestler's ever said that to me. 1716 01:10:49,290 --> 01:10:51,292 And we--we're standing there, and he said, "Let's do this." 1717 01:10:51,334 --> 01:10:53,712 all: Woo! 1718 01:10:53,753 --> 01:10:55,296 - Went out there and made music. 1719 01:10:55,338 --> 01:10:57,090 Woo! 1720 01:10:57,132 --> 01:11:00,176 ["Also sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss] 1721 01:11:00,218 --> 01:11:07,142 * * 1722 01:11:12,355 --> 01:11:14,941 People were going crazy. 1723 01:11:14,983 --> 01:11:16,776 I started crying on the way down. 1724 01:11:16,818 --> 01:11:19,779 [dramatic music] 1725 01:11:19,821 --> 01:11:26,953 * * 1726 01:11:29,164 --> 01:11:31,875 - I really don't think I realized 1727 01:11:31,916 --> 01:11:35,837 how important my dad was to the wrestling world 1728 01:11:35,879 --> 01:11:38,465 until he retired. 1729 01:11:38,506 --> 01:11:40,717 To see 70,000 people crying 1730 01:11:40,759 --> 01:11:43,720 over this man was incredible. 1731 01:11:43,762 --> 01:11:49,559 * * 1732 01:11:49,601 --> 01:11:50,977 - Woo! 1733 01:11:51,019 --> 01:11:52,604 - Everybody's eyes watered up. 1734 01:11:52,645 --> 01:11:55,648 It is still one of those hallmark moments 1735 01:11:55,690 --> 01:11:58,068 that everybody who watches it 1736 01:11:58,109 --> 01:12:00,028 went back to where I went to, 1737 01:12:00,070 --> 01:12:03,490 which is being that 15-year-old wrestling fan. 1738 01:12:03,531 --> 01:12:08,787 * * 1739 01:12:08,828 --> 01:12:10,997 - Woo! 1740 01:12:11,039 --> 01:12:13,041 - There it is: vintage Flair. 1741 01:12:13,083 --> 01:12:15,001 [bell dings] Vintage Nature Boy! 1742 01:12:15,043 --> 01:12:17,337 Oh, look out! [laughs] 1743 01:12:17,379 --> 01:12:20,799 Flair wanted to be in the ring with the best. 1744 01:12:20,840 --> 01:12:23,426 - And now Flair climbing to the top! 1745 01:12:23,468 --> 01:12:24,386 - Look at this! 1746 01:12:25,637 --> 01:12:28,973 - To me, it was mostly trying to stay focused 1747 01:12:29,015 --> 01:12:32,519 and relatively unemotional. 1748 01:12:32,560 --> 01:12:33,812 - Uh-oh. - Oh! 1749 01:12:34,729 --> 01:12:36,773 - I know how much that match meant to Shawn, 1750 01:12:36,815 --> 01:12:38,274 'cause he felt the same way, 1751 01:12:38,316 --> 01:12:40,902 growing up, about Ric that I did. 1752 01:12:40,944 --> 01:12:42,195 I usually don't have the chance 1753 01:12:42,237 --> 01:12:44,030 to watch other matches at WrestleMania. 1754 01:12:44,072 --> 01:12:45,573 I watched every second of that match. 1755 01:12:45,615 --> 01:12:47,033 * * 1756 01:12:47,075 --> 01:12:49,035 - Michaels said that he was gonna 1757 01:12:49,077 --> 01:12:50,578 take Flair out behind the barn 1758 01:12:50,620 --> 01:12:51,955 and put him out of his misery, 1759 01:12:51,996 --> 01:12:53,665 but in the heart of Shawn Michaels, 1760 01:12:53,707 --> 01:12:54,874 can he do it? 1761 01:12:54,916 --> 01:12:58,003 * * 1762 01:12:58,044 --> 01:13:01,006 - What does Shawn say to you 1763 01:13:01,047 --> 01:13:03,591 before the match concludes? 1764 01:13:03,633 --> 01:13:09,597 * * 1765 01:13:09,639 --> 01:13:10,932 - "I'm sorry." 1766 01:13:12,392 --> 01:13:13,435 "I love you." 1767 01:13:13,476 --> 01:13:19,441 * * 1768 01:13:29,034 --> 01:13:30,118 [heartbeat thumps] 1769 01:13:32,454 --> 01:13:33,371 [heartbeat thumps] 1770 01:13:37,208 --> 01:13:38,585 [boom] 1771 01:13:38,626 --> 01:13:39,586 [bell dings] 1772 01:13:39,627 --> 01:13:42,547 [crowd cheering] 1773 01:13:49,637 --> 01:13:54,267 * * 1774 01:13:54,309 --> 01:13:56,436 - It is real, raw emotion, 1775 01:13:56,478 --> 01:13:58,396 and in a line of work 1776 01:13:58,438 --> 01:14:01,441 where we're all a bunch of grown freaking men 1777 01:14:01,483 --> 01:14:06,654 that are paid, sometimes, to put up walls and act tough, 1778 01:14:06,696 --> 01:14:09,491 that was just me, Shawn Hickenbottom, 1779 01:14:09,532 --> 01:14:11,493 telling Richard Fliehr, 1780 01:14:11,534 --> 01:14:12,786 "I think the world of you." 1781 01:14:12,827 --> 01:14:16,164 * * 1782 01:14:16,206 --> 01:14:19,959 [cheers and applause] 1783 01:14:20,001 --> 01:14:21,920 - Man, that reception... 1784 01:14:21,961 --> 01:14:24,047 I couldn't believe the response. 1785 01:14:24,089 --> 01:14:25,632 * * 1786 01:14:25,674 --> 01:14:27,634 I looked to my right, and there's my family. 1787 01:14:27,676 --> 01:14:34,557 * * 1788 01:14:37,352 --> 01:14:40,355 - It was the first time that my siblings 1789 01:14:40,397 --> 01:14:42,273 had all been together in a long time, 1790 01:14:42,315 --> 01:14:44,818 and seeing my dad wrestle-- 1791 01:14:44,859 --> 01:14:47,153 just what an emotional roller coaster, 1792 01:14:47,195 --> 01:14:49,781 and just seeing my little brother just, like, bawling 1793 01:14:49,823 --> 01:14:51,991 and my dad kissing him, and... 1794 01:14:52,033 --> 01:14:54,577 Like, I don't think many wrestlers 1795 01:14:54,619 --> 01:14:58,248 get to have a farewell like that. 1796 01:14:58,289 --> 01:14:59,916 - My heart just hurt for him. 1797 01:14:59,958 --> 01:15:01,668 I mean, I was so proud of him, 1798 01:15:01,710 --> 01:15:05,296 but knowing how he's dealt with some insecurities 1799 01:15:05,338 --> 01:15:07,215 about himself, it's like, 1800 01:15:07,257 --> 01:15:10,010 "First of all, I'm already older and doing this, 1801 01:15:10,051 --> 01:15:12,637 and what do I do now?" 1802 01:15:12,679 --> 01:15:14,931 It's like--it was just sad. 1803 01:15:14,973 --> 01:15:16,516 It was like the end of a movie. 1804 01:15:16,558 --> 01:15:23,481 * * 1805 01:15:29,821 --> 01:15:32,615 [crowd cheering] 1806 01:15:36,369 --> 01:15:40,832 - Over 70,000 fans paying their respects 1807 01:15:40,874 --> 01:15:45,086 to the greatest to ever lace a pair of boots. 1808 01:15:45,128 --> 01:15:48,048 [cheers and applause] 1809 01:15:48,089 --> 01:15:50,592 - After three decades in the business, 1810 01:15:50,633 --> 01:15:53,053 Ric Flair celebrated with his family, 1811 01:15:53,094 --> 01:15:54,471 who were sitting ringside, 1812 01:15:54,512 --> 01:15:56,306 embracing him as he reflected 1813 01:15:56,348 --> 01:15:58,641 on his hall-of-fame career. 1814 01:15:58,683 --> 01:16:01,478 It was an ending, but also the beginning, 1815 01:16:01,519 --> 01:16:04,147 as Richard Fliehr poured more of his time 1816 01:16:04,189 --> 01:16:06,775 into his son's career aspirations. 1817 01:16:06,816 --> 01:16:09,736 [crowd cheering] 1818 01:16:12,030 --> 01:16:15,158 - Reid's goal was to be in the WWE. 1819 01:16:15,200 --> 01:16:16,159 That was his goal. 1820 01:16:16,201 --> 01:16:17,827 * * 1821 01:16:17,869 --> 01:16:19,371 - He just had the character. 1822 01:16:19,412 --> 01:16:21,331 He just had the perfect character for it. 1823 01:16:21,373 --> 01:16:22,665 Like, he was just built for it. 1824 01:16:22,707 --> 01:16:24,918 I feel like he was just made for it. 1825 01:16:24,959 --> 01:16:27,003 - I put him in a private prep school. 1826 01:16:27,045 --> 01:16:28,755 When you go to a place 1827 01:16:28,797 --> 01:16:31,925 like Blair Academy-- it's in New Jersey-- 1828 01:16:31,966 --> 01:16:33,259 21 national championships-- 1829 01:16:33,301 --> 01:16:34,844 and prep-school wrestling 1830 01:16:34,886 --> 01:16:36,262 is tougher than high-school wrestling. 1831 01:16:36,304 --> 01:16:37,889 He wanted to do pro wrestling right away. 1832 01:16:37,931 --> 01:16:40,684 - I know Ric felt like he had a lot of potential, 1833 01:16:40,725 --> 01:16:43,561 but Ric was going to make him earn it, so to speak, 1834 01:16:43,603 --> 01:16:46,439 um, and not just hand everything over to him. 1835 01:16:46,481 --> 01:16:47,941 - Thank you. Thank you so much. 1836 01:16:47,982 --> 01:16:49,025 He's a good boy. - Thank you. 1837 01:16:49,067 --> 01:16:52,278 - Very good boy, yeah. 1838 01:16:52,320 --> 01:16:55,365 - He was doing a real, real, real good job 1839 01:16:55,407 --> 01:16:56,866 with the Shin Nippon Pro Wrestling, 1840 01:16:56,908 --> 01:16:58,618 New Japan Pro Wrestling. 1841 01:16:58,660 --> 01:17:01,371 If you can do a good job there, 1842 01:17:01,413 --> 01:17:03,248 believe me, you can wrestle anywhere. 1843 01:17:03,289 --> 01:17:05,917 - Second-generation wrestler Reid Flair. 1844 01:17:05,959 --> 01:17:08,253 If he's gonna follow in his father's footsteps, 1845 01:17:08,294 --> 01:17:10,922 though, he's got some big shoes to fill. 1846 01:17:10,964 --> 01:17:12,507 - I know I'm gonna have to work harder. 1847 01:17:12,549 --> 01:17:14,259 People are gonna be looking at me. 1848 01:17:14,300 --> 01:17:16,511 You know, they're gonna, I guess, expect a lot more 1849 01:17:16,553 --> 01:17:18,304 from me, in coming from this background, 1850 01:17:18,346 --> 01:17:20,390 but also at the same time, you know, 1851 01:17:20,432 --> 01:17:21,766 I've been around it my whole life. 1852 01:17:21,808 --> 01:17:23,351 I feel like it gives me an extra edge. 1853 01:17:25,395 --> 01:17:27,063 - Here comes Reid Flair! 1854 01:17:27,105 --> 01:17:28,732 * * 1855 01:17:28,773 --> 01:17:30,233 - He had it. He's tough. 1856 01:17:30,275 --> 01:17:31,568 He's good-looking. 1857 01:17:31,609 --> 01:17:32,861 Girls love him-- 1858 01:17:32,902 --> 01:17:33,903 ton of personality. 1859 01:17:33,945 --> 01:17:35,613 He'll nail it. 1860 01:17:35,655 --> 01:17:37,365 - He is the son of the Nature Boy, Ric Flair, 1861 01:17:37,407 --> 01:17:39,117 but make no mistake about it, 1862 01:17:39,159 --> 01:17:41,369 he is his own man. 1863 01:17:41,411 --> 01:17:43,413 - As Reid entered his 20s, 1864 01:17:43,455 --> 01:17:45,040 he wanted to be like his father, 1865 01:17:45,081 --> 01:17:47,667 who had crossed over from the wrestling world 1866 01:17:47,709 --> 01:17:49,210 to pop culture. 1867 01:17:49,252 --> 01:17:52,172 - Ric Flair is unquestionably 1868 01:17:52,213 --> 01:17:55,759 one of the greatest entertainers of all time. 1869 01:17:55,800 --> 01:17:58,261 - I think he did a good job of keeping up with the times, 1870 01:17:58,303 --> 01:17:59,763 keeping his name relevant. 1871 01:17:59,804 --> 01:18:01,848 - He made a lot of people happy. 1872 01:18:01,890 --> 01:18:03,350 He made me happy, 1873 01:18:03,391 --> 01:18:06,269 and he made people all over the world happy. 1874 01:18:06,311 --> 01:18:08,480 - Everything about him said, 1875 01:18:08,521 --> 01:18:12,275 "I'm here to make sure you are entertained." 1876 01:18:12,317 --> 01:18:14,986 - He made appearances on TV shows. 1877 01:18:15,028 --> 01:18:16,571 - You can't do that. 1878 01:18:16,613 --> 01:18:18,907 - Oh, little lady, that's where you're wrong. 1879 01:18:18,948 --> 01:18:20,241 I'm the Nature Boy. 1880 01:18:20,283 --> 01:18:21,785 - Cartoons. 1881 01:18:21,826 --> 01:18:23,661 - Woo, woo, woo, woo! 1882 01:18:23,703 --> 01:18:24,621 - Video games. 1883 01:18:24,662 --> 01:18:25,997 - Looks to me like a trainee 1884 01:18:26,039 --> 01:18:28,124 who could use a few pointers. 1885 01:18:28,166 --> 01:18:29,751 - Even in Hollywood. 1886 01:18:29,793 --> 01:18:33,296 For Reid, his father was his hero. 1887 01:18:35,548 --> 01:18:37,926 - Ric liked to have Reid around all the time, 1888 01:18:37,967 --> 01:18:40,804 but that also meant if you're with Ric 1889 01:18:40,845 --> 01:18:42,180 all the time, 1890 01:18:42,222 --> 01:18:44,683 you've got to deal with the persona, 1891 01:18:44,724 --> 01:18:47,894 and Reid wanted to be Ric Flair. 1892 01:18:47,936 --> 01:18:49,479 - The Figure Four, 1893 01:18:49,521 --> 01:18:52,023 just like his daddy always taught him. 1894 01:18:52,065 --> 01:18:53,983 - For Reid, there was some big push for him 1895 01:18:54,025 --> 01:18:57,404 to get him into WWE, I think, at that time. 1896 01:18:57,445 --> 01:19:00,490 - Reid was like, "We can do this together. 1897 01:19:00,532 --> 01:19:02,450 You've gotta do this." 1898 01:19:02,492 --> 01:19:06,162 I had no prior wrestling experience. 1899 01:19:06,204 --> 01:19:08,873 I don't know what made me say "okay"-- 1900 01:19:08,915 --> 01:19:10,625 whether it was all Reid's encouragement, 1901 01:19:10,667 --> 01:19:11,918 whether I thought that Reid and I were 1902 01:19:11,960 --> 01:19:13,586 gonna do this together... 1903 01:19:13,628 --> 01:19:17,340 I do believe he had a tryout prior to this 1904 01:19:17,382 --> 01:19:18,466 to be in the WWE. 1905 01:19:19,426 --> 01:19:20,885 - But, you know, 1906 01:19:20,927 --> 01:19:22,470 Reid had flunked two or three drug tests, 1907 01:19:22,512 --> 01:19:24,389 so they couldn't take him. 1908 01:19:24,431 --> 01:19:25,932 He had to sit home for a year. 1909 01:19:25,974 --> 01:19:29,602 * * 1910 01:19:29,644 --> 01:19:31,229 - He was really, really close 1911 01:19:31,271 --> 01:19:32,564 with my daughter, Morgan, 1912 01:19:32,605 --> 01:19:36,860 but he would start showing up to things 1913 01:19:36,901 --> 01:19:40,071 after using whatever it was he had used that day, 1914 01:19:40,113 --> 01:19:43,033 and he just--she--she just couldn't be around him. 1915 01:19:43,074 --> 01:19:45,994 I kind of just had to draw the line. 1916 01:19:46,036 --> 01:19:48,621 I had to set up boundaries. 1917 01:19:48,663 --> 01:19:50,665 - He had been out of every rehab center. 1918 01:19:50,707 --> 01:19:53,376 I mean, I could-- every six months, 1919 01:19:53,418 --> 01:19:56,796 he would have a meltdown and go off. 1920 01:19:56,838 --> 01:19:58,465 As I'm saying it, you come to realize 1921 01:19:58,506 --> 01:20:00,925 it's not a addiction. 1922 01:20:00,967 --> 01:20:02,427 It's a disease. 1923 01:20:02,469 --> 01:20:04,137 * * 1924 01:20:04,179 --> 01:20:07,599 You know when I finally realized how bad it was? 1925 01:20:07,640 --> 01:20:11,811 All he ever wanted was to wear my dad's Rolex watch, 1926 01:20:11,853 --> 01:20:13,396 which I had in a safety deposit box 1927 01:20:13,438 --> 01:20:15,857 for him. Actually, his mom did. 1928 01:20:15,899 --> 01:20:18,735 And he goes, "Dad, I--I," you know, 1929 01:20:18,777 --> 01:20:21,363 "I'm responsible enough now." 1930 01:20:21,404 --> 01:20:24,407 When he sold that to buy drugs, 1931 01:20:24,449 --> 01:20:25,784 I knew how bad it was. 1932 01:20:25,825 --> 01:20:32,707 * * 1933 01:20:32,749 --> 01:20:35,251 We were leaving the next day for WrestleMania. 1934 01:20:35,293 --> 01:20:36,586 He went back to the hotel, 1935 01:20:36,628 --> 01:20:39,089 and you know, he had his own room. 1936 01:20:39,130 --> 01:20:41,508 - Reid had called me and said, "Come into town. 1937 01:20:41,549 --> 01:20:42,884 "I'll meet you at the restaurant. 1938 01:20:42,926 --> 01:20:45,970 My dad will be there. Let's just all go together." 1939 01:20:46,012 --> 01:20:48,139 - He was there, and he wasn't drinking. 1940 01:20:48,181 --> 01:20:49,683 He was drinking water, 1941 01:20:49,724 --> 01:20:53,937 but a bag of pills fell out of his pocket. 1942 01:20:53,978 --> 01:20:55,397 So I picked up the pills, 1943 01:20:55,438 --> 01:20:56,731 and I just put 'em in my pocket. 1944 01:20:56,773 --> 01:20:58,608 - He was eating next to me, 1945 01:20:58,650 --> 01:21:01,361 and he just was out of it. He was not feeling good. 1946 01:21:01,403 --> 01:21:04,781 He said, "I'ma go back to the room." 1947 01:21:04,823 --> 01:21:07,283 Before he left the restaurant, 1948 01:21:07,325 --> 01:21:08,660 when he stood up, he said, 1949 01:21:08,702 --> 01:21:10,370 "Wendy, do me one favor." 1950 01:21:10,412 --> 01:21:11,871 I said, "What's that?" And he goes, 1951 01:21:11,913 --> 01:21:14,040 "Please take care of my father." 1952 01:21:16,418 --> 01:21:18,294 - I went back, and there he was. 1953 01:21:18,336 --> 01:21:19,838 Um, I knock on the door, 1954 01:21:19,879 --> 01:21:21,464 and he was laid back like this, 1955 01:21:21,506 --> 01:21:23,967 like I've seen him a thousand times. 1956 01:21:24,009 --> 01:21:25,635 So I just picked him up, laid him down on bed, 1957 01:21:25,677 --> 01:21:27,262 and I just had made up my mind-- 1958 01:21:27,303 --> 01:21:29,139 "I'm just not even gonna wake him up in the morning. 1959 01:21:29,180 --> 01:21:31,224 I have to finally do what they've been telling me to do." 1960 01:21:31,266 --> 01:21:33,476 They call it kicking him to the curb, 1961 01:21:33,518 --> 01:21:36,021 where you just cut 'em off. 1962 01:21:36,062 --> 01:21:38,815 - I stayed back, and I wish I would've gone in the room, 1963 01:21:38,857 --> 01:21:41,484 because then I would've saw the needle on the floor. 1964 01:21:41,526 --> 01:21:47,407 * * 1965 01:21:47,449 --> 01:21:51,327 - The next day, my dad met my daughter and I at Starbucks, 1966 01:21:51,369 --> 01:21:53,455 and he was so mad at Reid. 1967 01:21:53,496 --> 01:21:56,291 He's like, "He got messed up last night." 1968 01:21:56,332 --> 01:21:58,585 - Ric was mad, and he was like, 1969 01:21:58,626 --> 01:22:00,420 "We gotta get going. Reid's not up. 1970 01:22:00,462 --> 01:22:01,463 "You know, if he doesn't get going, 1971 01:22:01,504 --> 01:22:03,006 we're gonna leave him." 1972 01:22:03,048 --> 01:22:04,674 - I said, "I'm just gonna go see what he's doing," 1973 01:22:04,716 --> 01:22:07,761 and I walked in, and he was purple, 1974 01:22:07,802 --> 01:22:08,762 and I... 1975 01:22:10,138 --> 01:22:13,183 - And that's when Ric started screaming. 1976 01:22:13,224 --> 01:22:15,060 Ric knew right away. He knew. 1977 01:22:48,677 --> 01:22:50,220 - I just-- the guy came in and said, 1978 01:22:50,261 --> 01:22:51,388 "Ric, you need to leave the room for a minute," 1979 01:22:51,429 --> 01:22:53,014 you know? 1980 01:22:53,056 --> 01:22:54,140 And the guy walked out, and he said, 1981 01:22:54,182 --> 01:22:56,935 "Ric, he didn't make it." 1982 01:23:11,950 --> 01:23:14,536 I walked down the stairs to the lobby and bar. 1983 01:23:14,577 --> 01:23:15,829 I walked behind the bar, 1984 01:23:15,870 --> 01:23:17,789 and I threw a six pack down, 1985 01:23:17,831 --> 01:23:19,791 and I--I didn't stop. 1986 01:23:22,293 --> 01:23:23,920 [sobs] 1987 01:23:23,962 --> 01:23:26,006 - A professional-wrestling legend's world 1988 01:23:26,047 --> 01:23:28,842 shattered today, after police confirmed 1989 01:23:28,883 --> 01:23:31,094 Ric Flair's 25-year-old son 1990 01:23:31,136 --> 01:23:34,014 was found dead at this SouthPark hotel. 1991 01:23:34,055 --> 01:23:35,932 Reid Flair was found dead inside a room 1992 01:23:35,974 --> 01:23:37,934 at the Residence Inn around 10:30 this morning. 1993 01:23:37,976 --> 01:23:40,395 - My dad called me that Reid passed away. 1994 01:23:40,437 --> 01:23:45,734 * * 1995 01:23:45,775 --> 01:23:47,277 Like, part of me kind of always knew, 1996 01:23:47,318 --> 01:23:49,904 like, maybe that was his fate. 1997 01:23:49,946 --> 01:23:51,364 Like, maybe I was in shock. 1998 01:23:51,406 --> 01:23:53,742 Maybe I didn't know how to-- 1999 01:23:53,783 --> 01:23:55,702 I--I don't know. I gu-- 2000 01:23:55,744 --> 01:23:57,495 even to this day, I still think I put it in a drawer, 2001 01:23:57,537 --> 01:23:58,580 and I just closed the drawer. 2002 01:23:58,621 --> 01:24:00,582 Like, how do you-- 2003 01:24:00,623 --> 01:24:03,293 your brother, right? 2004 01:24:03,335 --> 01:24:10,508 * * 2005 01:24:12,844 --> 01:24:14,554 - I'm always gonna feel guilty 2006 01:24:14,596 --> 01:24:16,598 that I didn't call the ambulance that night. 2007 01:24:18,433 --> 01:24:20,018 You can't ever forgive yourself. 2008 01:24:20,060 --> 01:24:23,146 * * 2009 01:24:23,188 --> 01:24:25,065 Shit, he was-- 2010 01:24:25,106 --> 01:24:28,151 he may have been my best friend. 2011 01:24:28,193 --> 01:24:34,657 * * 2012 01:24:34,699 --> 01:24:36,034 I've come back to Charlotte. 2013 01:24:36,076 --> 01:24:37,452 It's really hard to go see Reid. 2014 01:24:37,494 --> 01:24:38,995 This will be the first time 2015 01:24:39,037 --> 01:24:42,499 since I went with Megan, um... 2016 01:24:42,540 --> 01:24:44,042 four years ago. 2017 01:24:44,084 --> 01:24:48,129 * * 2018 01:24:48,171 --> 01:24:49,506 You know, I used to go all the time, 2019 01:24:49,547 --> 01:24:50,507 but I just... 2020 01:24:50,548 --> 01:24:54,886 * * 2021 01:24:54,928 --> 01:24:56,513 It brings back so many memories. 2022 01:24:56,554 --> 01:24:57,722 It seems like a long time ago, 2023 01:24:57,764 --> 01:24:59,474 but it wasn't. 2024 01:24:59,516 --> 01:25:06,648 * * 2025 01:25:16,533 --> 01:25:23,665 * * 2026 01:25:33,550 --> 01:25:40,682 * * 2027 01:25:48,106 --> 01:25:50,525 - My dad was still in Charlotte, where I was, 2028 01:25:50,567 --> 01:25:52,402 and, um, 2029 01:25:52,444 --> 01:25:53,987 he was bad. 2030 01:25:54,029 --> 01:25:55,739 - I don't know how he survived 2031 01:25:55,780 --> 01:25:57,574 all the things he was going through. 2032 01:25:57,615 --> 01:26:01,745 I think what he did was just go back into Ric Flair-- 2033 01:26:01,786 --> 01:26:03,496 be a persona, be a character, 2034 01:26:03,538 --> 01:26:04,748 so he didn't have to feel. 2035 01:26:07,500 --> 01:26:09,669 - And when... [sniffles] 2036 01:26:09,711 --> 01:26:11,880 Reid passed away, 2037 01:26:11,921 --> 01:26:14,090 there were never any doubts 2038 01:26:14,132 --> 01:26:16,426 whether I was gonna keep doing it. 2039 01:26:16,468 --> 01:26:19,012 My focus was, "I'm gonna do this." 2040 01:26:19,054 --> 01:26:21,765 I don't know how, but I will. 2041 01:26:22,724 --> 01:26:24,601 - Because of Reid. 2042 01:26:24,642 --> 01:26:26,770 She's all there for Reid. 2043 01:26:26,811 --> 01:26:30,607 - I had started to make friends, 2044 01:26:30,648 --> 01:26:32,025 figure out, 2045 01:26:32,067 --> 01:26:33,568 like, "Oh, I really like this. 2046 01:26:33,610 --> 01:26:35,111 "I fit in. 2047 01:26:35,153 --> 01:26:36,863 This is really cool," but at the same time, 2048 01:26:36,905 --> 01:26:39,115 like, this is everything that he wanted to be doing. 2049 01:26:39,157 --> 01:26:41,743 I'll make you proud. - And you always do. 2050 01:26:41,785 --> 01:26:43,995 * * 2051 01:26:44,037 --> 01:26:48,375 - Charlotte Flair has furthered her father's legacy. 2052 01:26:48,416 --> 01:26:50,293 He had the Figure Four. 2053 01:26:50,335 --> 01:26:53,088 She did him one better, and she does the Figure 8. 2054 01:26:53,129 --> 01:26:54,964 She has the beautiful robes, 2055 01:26:55,006 --> 01:26:57,384 and she has that charisma. 2056 01:26:57,425 --> 01:27:00,220 There is nobody who wants to miss 2057 01:27:00,261 --> 01:27:02,389 Charlotte Flair's ring entrance, 2058 01:27:02,430 --> 01:27:04,641 because no one ever wanted to miss 2059 01:27:04,683 --> 01:27:06,810 Ric Flair's ring entrance. 2060 01:27:06,851 --> 01:27:08,978 - This is how you make an entrance. 2061 01:27:10,689 --> 01:27:12,941 - I think there's a little bit of a guilt for her with that, 2062 01:27:12,982 --> 01:27:14,109 because that was something 2063 01:27:14,150 --> 01:27:16,653 Reid wanted so, so, so bad, 2064 01:27:16,695 --> 01:27:18,279 and she got it. 2065 01:27:18,321 --> 01:27:20,782 - I'm living his dream, and he never got to be there. 2066 01:27:20,824 --> 01:27:22,742 That is very hard at the time 2067 01:27:22,784 --> 01:27:24,577 to not think about those things. 2068 01:27:24,619 --> 01:27:27,706 I just think it put certain things in my mind 2069 01:27:27,747 --> 01:27:30,166 in motion that maybe hadn't 2070 01:27:30,208 --> 01:27:32,002 necessarily been there before. 2071 01:27:32,043 --> 01:27:33,837 Like, now I'm not just fighting for myself. 2072 01:27:33,878 --> 01:27:36,631 I'm fighting for him. 2073 01:27:36,673 --> 01:27:38,091 * * 2074 01:27:38,133 --> 01:27:39,551 - So excited for her. 2075 01:27:39,592 --> 01:27:42,262 I love it-- 2076 01:27:42,303 --> 01:27:44,639 the greatest honor a father could ever have. 2077 01:27:44,681 --> 01:27:51,813 * * 2078 01:27:55,608 --> 01:27:56,568 - Woo! both: Woo! 2079 01:27:56,609 --> 01:27:57,485 - Woo! - Woo! 2080 01:27:57,527 --> 01:27:58,695 - Woo! 2081 01:27:58,737 --> 01:27:59,863 Whoa! - Ah! 2082 01:27:59,904 --> 01:28:03,074 [laughter] 2083 01:28:07,620 --> 01:28:10,165 - My dad--and this is where he spent his whole life. 2084 01:28:10,206 --> 01:28:11,624 You know, he had two boys that wrestled. 2085 01:28:11,666 --> 01:28:15,128 So I don't think that he pictured, you know, 2086 01:28:15,170 --> 01:28:17,589 walking out at WrestleMania with his daughter, 2087 01:28:17,630 --> 01:28:21,634 and my robe tonight has pieces of his last robe 2088 01:28:21,676 --> 01:28:23,428 that he retired in--in it. 2089 01:28:23,470 --> 01:28:27,182 Like, this is from his WrestleMania XXIV robe. 2090 01:28:27,223 --> 01:28:29,017 This is what he-- 2091 01:28:29,059 --> 01:28:30,477 you know, this is what he lived for-- 2092 01:28:30,518 --> 01:28:34,356 and I get to be an extension of that. 2093 01:28:34,397 --> 01:28:35,648 [dramatic music] 2094 01:28:35,690 --> 01:28:36,858 - 2016... 2095 01:28:39,027 --> 01:28:40,362 Dallas, Texas. 2096 01:28:40,403 --> 01:28:42,364 * * 2097 01:28:42,405 --> 01:28:45,241 30-year-old Ashley "Charlotte" Fliehr 2098 01:28:45,283 --> 01:28:49,204 had made it to the big time: WrestleMania. 2099 01:28:49,245 --> 01:28:51,581 Ric was there, in his mid-'60s, 2100 01:28:51,623 --> 01:28:54,167 by his daughter's side, mentoring her 2101 01:28:54,209 --> 01:28:56,628 on a rise to superstardom. 2102 01:28:56,670 --> 01:28:58,838 He was back on the road. 2103 01:28:58,880 --> 01:29:06,012 * * 2104 01:29:08,056 --> 01:29:11,351 - The life on the road for Ric Flair was tough, 2105 01:29:11,393 --> 01:29:15,021 and it was filled with some demons too. 2106 01:29:18,274 --> 01:29:21,569 - Ric was going through a lot that time. 2107 01:29:21,611 --> 01:29:24,155 He had lost his son, 2108 01:29:24,197 --> 01:29:26,074 and we-- from the outside looking in, 2109 01:29:26,116 --> 01:29:27,742 we don't know what that's like. 2110 01:29:27,784 --> 01:29:31,121 A parent losing a kid has to be the hardest thing 2111 01:29:31,162 --> 01:29:32,831 you could ever imagine. 2112 01:29:32,872 --> 01:29:34,124 I watched Ric. 2113 01:29:34,165 --> 01:29:36,001 He put himself through hell, 2114 01:29:36,042 --> 01:29:37,585 um, after that. 2115 01:29:37,627 --> 01:29:39,546 It was almost like he wanted to die. 2116 01:29:39,587 --> 01:29:42,632 It was almost like he wanted to just end it all. 2117 01:29:42,674 --> 01:29:44,759 * * 2118 01:29:44,801 --> 01:29:47,345 - If I drank a lot before my son died, 2119 01:29:47,387 --> 01:29:49,472 I drank wa-- 2120 01:29:49,514 --> 01:29:52,475 [sobs] 2121 01:29:54,144 --> 01:29:58,690 I drank 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m... [sobbing] 2122 01:29:58,732 --> 01:30:00,817 every day-- 2123 01:30:00,859 --> 01:30:02,277 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. 2124 01:30:02,318 --> 01:30:03,903 I didn't work out. I didn't do anything. 2125 01:30:03,945 --> 01:30:07,240 * * 2126 01:30:07,282 --> 01:30:10,118 - The only way he really knew how to deal with it 2127 01:30:10,160 --> 01:30:14,164 was to drown himself in liquor 2128 01:30:14,205 --> 01:30:17,167 and just get to the point 2129 01:30:17,208 --> 01:30:19,210 where he didn't have to think about it. 2130 01:30:19,252 --> 01:30:20,754 - I've never seen anything like it. 2131 01:30:20,795 --> 01:30:23,214 He, uh, 2132 01:30:23,256 --> 01:30:25,592 you know, enjoys drinking. 2133 01:30:25,633 --> 01:30:26,926 Um, but at this point, 2134 01:30:26,968 --> 01:30:28,720 it was from the time he woke up 2135 01:30:28,762 --> 01:30:30,430 to the time he went to bed. 2136 01:30:30,472 --> 01:30:33,475 He was just in a really bad place. 2137 01:30:33,516 --> 01:30:35,769 Like, he was not even taking care of himself. 2138 01:30:35,810 --> 01:30:36,853 He wasn't showering. 2139 01:30:36,895 --> 01:30:38,563 I mean, I just was like, 2140 01:30:38,605 --> 01:30:40,690 "I don't even know who this man is." 2141 01:30:41,483 --> 01:30:46,946 - I ended up calling WWE and reporting him, 2142 01:30:46,988 --> 01:30:49,449 and Hunter called me and said, 2143 01:30:49,491 --> 01:30:52,160 "Do we need to help him?" I said, "Yes." 2144 01:30:52,202 --> 01:30:54,037 - Hunter calls me, and he goes, 2145 01:30:54,079 --> 01:30:55,914 "Hey, where are you?" 2146 01:30:55,955 --> 01:30:57,707 I said, "In my car." 2147 01:30:57,749 --> 01:30:59,834 "Turn around, and go back to the airport." 2148 01:30:59,876 --> 01:31:01,294 "For what?" Does he want-- 2149 01:31:01,336 --> 01:31:02,879 I'm thinking he wanted me to go to "Raw" 2150 01:31:02,921 --> 01:31:04,631 or something, right? 2151 01:31:04,673 --> 01:31:05,715 "You're going to rehab." 2152 01:31:05,757 --> 01:31:07,300 I said, "No, I'm not. 2153 01:31:07,342 --> 01:31:09,344 I'm not going to rehab." He said, "Yes, you are. 2154 01:31:09,386 --> 01:31:11,388 You're gonna go to rehab, or never work here again." 2155 01:31:12,555 --> 01:31:14,307 I go, "Oh, boy." 2156 01:31:14,349 --> 01:31:17,435 I got a six-pack to go back to the airport-- 2157 01:31:17,477 --> 01:31:19,354 drank it before I got there. 2158 01:31:19,396 --> 01:31:22,565 I had three hours before the flight left. 2159 01:31:22,607 --> 01:31:24,109 I went into a bar there, 2160 01:31:24,150 --> 01:31:26,319 and I drank 2161 01:31:26,361 --> 01:31:30,824 ten double tequila cranberry and soda-- 2162 01:31:30,865 --> 01:31:31,991 ten doubles. 2163 01:31:32,033 --> 01:31:33,618 Right? 2164 01:31:33,660 --> 01:31:36,955 Got on airplane and drank eight Bloody Marys 2165 01:31:36,996 --> 01:31:38,456 to Tampa, 2166 01:31:38,498 --> 01:31:42,335 got off the plane and drank a six-pack, 2167 01:31:42,377 --> 01:31:45,255 and, uh, pulled into this place 2168 01:31:45,296 --> 01:31:47,382 at 2:00 in the morning. 2169 01:31:47,424 --> 01:31:49,634 I called Hunter and said, "I don't need to be here." 2170 01:31:49,676 --> 01:31:51,678 He said, "Don't call me again. Take his cell phone." 2171 01:31:51,720 --> 01:31:53,930 [laughs] And so-- 2172 01:31:53,972 --> 01:31:54,889 - How long were you there? 2173 01:31:54,931 --> 01:31:56,766 - 35 days. 2174 01:31:56,808 --> 01:32:00,228 I got the coin. I walked across the street... 2175 01:32:00,270 --> 01:32:01,771 [chuckling] And walked into a bar, 2176 01:32:01,813 --> 01:32:03,231 put it on a corner and said, 2177 01:32:03,273 --> 01:32:04,482 "I know you won't take this for a beer, 2178 01:32:04,524 --> 01:32:07,235 so I'll give you 10 bucks." [laughs] 2179 01:32:08,570 --> 01:32:10,780 Had a Miller Lite less than a block away. 2180 01:32:10,822 --> 01:32:11,948 Fuck you guys. 2181 01:32:11,990 --> 01:32:13,533 [laughs] 2182 01:32:13,575 --> 01:32:15,201 Screw this shit. 2183 01:32:15,243 --> 01:32:21,249 * * 2184 01:32:22,292 --> 01:32:23,752 - Hey, guys. 2185 01:32:23,793 --> 01:32:25,253 Thank you for having me. 2186 01:32:25,295 --> 01:32:27,297 I'm honored to be here in Shenzhen, 2187 01:32:27,339 --> 01:32:30,675 and, um, I'm ready to do it with flair in China. 2188 01:32:30,717 --> 01:32:34,220 I was in China. Wendy called and was like, 2189 01:32:34,262 --> 01:32:36,431 "Your dad's sick. You need to go home." 2190 01:32:36,473 --> 01:32:37,932 - I get a call. I had my phone there, 2191 01:32:37,974 --> 01:32:39,392 and he's downstairs. He's like, 2192 01:32:39,434 --> 01:32:41,353 "Wendy, something's not-- something's wrong." 2193 01:32:41,394 --> 01:32:43,021 Um, you know, "We gotta go to the hospital." 2194 01:32:43,063 --> 01:32:44,731 I'm like, "What are you talking about?" 2195 01:32:44,773 --> 01:32:46,107 He's like, "I don't feel good. Something's not right," 2196 01:32:46,149 --> 01:32:48,193 and he's just, like, vomiting, 2197 01:32:48,234 --> 01:32:49,235 like, green stuff. 2198 01:32:49,277 --> 01:32:53,365 * * 2199 01:32:53,406 --> 01:32:54,574 - They took me to the hospital, 2200 01:32:54,616 --> 01:32:56,785 and no matter what they did, 2201 01:32:56,826 --> 01:32:58,912 Wendy said they could hear me screaming. 2202 01:32:58,953 --> 01:33:00,288 I don't remember any of it. 2203 01:33:00,330 --> 01:33:01,581 - They immediately take him back, 2204 01:33:01,623 --> 01:33:04,084 and they say it's his intestines, 2205 01:33:04,125 --> 01:33:05,752 but then they go, "Wait a minute. 2206 01:33:05,794 --> 01:33:07,796 His heart's failing. His kidneys are failing." 2207 01:33:07,837 --> 01:33:10,048 Like, all of a sudden, his whole body was shutting down, 2208 01:33:10,090 --> 01:33:11,591 and he's in severe pain. 2209 01:33:11,633 --> 01:33:13,426 Like, we're, like, talking massive pain, 2210 01:33:13,468 --> 01:33:15,720 and Ric never feels pain. 2211 01:33:15,762 --> 01:33:17,472 So I'm thinking, "There's something wrong." 2212 01:33:17,514 --> 01:33:20,266 - Ruptured intestine, pneumonia-- 2213 01:33:20,308 --> 01:33:22,060 septic was the worst part-- 2214 01:33:22,102 --> 01:33:23,853 total kidney failure, 2215 01:33:23,895 --> 01:33:26,981 and, uh, respiratory failure 2216 01:33:27,023 --> 01:33:28,733 all at once. 2217 01:33:28,775 --> 01:33:30,568 - The doctors come in, and they said, 2218 01:33:30,610 --> 01:33:32,612 "He's slipping into a coma. 2219 01:33:32,654 --> 01:33:34,656 We're gonna have to do surgery right away." 2220 01:33:34,698 --> 01:33:39,494 I called Hunter, Ashley, Megan, and David. 2221 01:33:39,536 --> 01:33:42,831 - I drove, and it was about four hours, 2222 01:33:42,872 --> 01:33:45,959 and when I got there, he was not intubated yet. 2223 01:33:46,001 --> 01:33:48,044 So he--I don't know. 2224 01:33:48,086 --> 01:33:49,879 I maybe got five minutes with him. 2225 01:33:49,921 --> 01:33:51,297 - The nurses were explaining 2226 01:33:51,339 --> 01:33:54,509 to me, my sister, and my brother, 2227 01:33:54,551 --> 01:33:56,428 you know, that my dad might not make it. 2228 01:33:58,513 --> 01:34:00,890 Again, you go into, like, 2229 01:34:00,932 --> 01:34:02,017 self-preservation. 2230 01:34:02,058 --> 01:34:05,395 You go into survival mode. 2231 01:34:05,437 --> 01:34:10,233 I could not, like, mentally process that. 2232 01:34:10,275 --> 01:34:12,027 They gave us, like, all an opportunity 2233 01:34:12,068 --> 01:34:14,320 to say goodbye to him. 2234 01:34:14,362 --> 01:34:15,989 - They said, "There's probably 2235 01:34:16,031 --> 01:34:19,034 about 15% chance he's gonna make it through this," 2236 01:34:19,075 --> 01:34:20,827 and they wheeled him away. 2237 01:34:20,869 --> 01:34:23,538 - I just sat on the floor outside the ICU room 2238 01:34:23,580 --> 01:34:25,999 and just sat there crying. 2239 01:34:26,041 --> 01:34:29,044 - Everybody was worried. 2240 01:34:29,085 --> 01:34:31,421 You're talking about trending number one worldwide. 2241 01:34:31,463 --> 01:34:33,590 Everyone was prayers up for Ric Flair. 2242 01:34:33,631 --> 01:34:35,216 - We wanna pass on our best 2243 01:34:35,258 --> 01:34:36,760 to former pro wrestler Ric Flair, 2244 01:34:36,801 --> 01:34:38,720 who remains in critical condition. 2245 01:34:38,762 --> 01:34:41,806 - The 68-year-old's agent said he does have a long road 2246 01:34:41,848 --> 01:34:43,350 to recovery. 2247 01:34:43,391 --> 01:34:45,018 - He was in a coma. 2248 01:34:45,060 --> 01:34:47,187 I was with him for 31 days, just sitting there. 2249 01:34:47,228 --> 01:34:48,688 They set me up a little corner bed, 2250 01:34:48,730 --> 01:34:52,484 and I just--that was my home. 2251 01:34:52,525 --> 01:34:54,486 He, um, came out of the coma. 2252 01:34:54,527 --> 01:34:56,946 He was delusional. 2253 01:34:56,988 --> 01:34:58,281 - He was out of it. 2254 01:34:58,323 --> 01:35:00,700 He didn't recognize people. 2255 01:35:00,742 --> 01:35:03,036 He was, like, telling me to go to Taco Bell, 2256 01:35:03,078 --> 01:35:04,621 and telling Ashley to go. 2257 01:35:04,662 --> 01:35:06,873 I mean, it was just really random. 2258 01:35:06,915 --> 01:35:09,751 - In the hospital, he was going through massive detox... 2259 01:35:11,586 --> 01:35:14,923 Shaking-- I mean, violently shaking. 2260 01:35:16,591 --> 01:35:18,301 We're talking a man who was drinking 2261 01:35:18,343 --> 01:35:20,970 about 30 or 40 vodkas a day. 2262 01:35:21,012 --> 01:35:23,390 * * 2263 01:35:23,431 --> 01:35:26,226 - I mean, he's had other health issues, 2264 01:35:26,267 --> 01:35:28,353 really minor health issues, 2265 01:35:28,395 --> 01:35:32,148 but nothing that would've led to--to that. 2266 01:35:32,190 --> 01:35:33,608 So it's just kind of all... 2267 01:35:35,610 --> 01:35:37,237 It's from drinking. 2268 01:35:37,278 --> 01:35:38,405 - It was a tough room. 2269 01:35:38,446 --> 01:35:39,739 You know, this one dude's in one corner, 2270 01:35:39,781 --> 01:35:41,574 and his daughter's in the other, and... 2271 01:35:41,616 --> 01:35:43,368 I was sitting there, just holding his hand, 2272 01:35:43,410 --> 01:35:46,913 just, you know, talking to him. 2273 01:35:46,955 --> 01:35:48,873 And... 2274 01:35:48,915 --> 01:35:50,417 he would open his eyes, looked up, and he went, 2275 01:35:50,458 --> 01:35:51,584 "Hogan, Hogan, 2276 01:35:51,626 --> 01:35:52,794 go get me a six-pack." 2277 01:35:53,920 --> 01:35:55,171 And I looked at him, and I said, 2278 01:35:55,213 --> 01:35:56,256 "Are you out of your mind?" 2279 01:35:56,297 --> 01:35:58,758 * * 2280 01:35:58,800 --> 01:36:01,261 - How long were you in the hospital? 2281 01:36:01,302 --> 01:36:03,763 - 32 days, ICU, 2282 01:36:03,805 --> 01:36:06,099 and then I was in a rehab facility 2283 01:36:06,141 --> 01:36:08,393 for another 30 days, 2284 01:36:08,435 --> 01:36:10,228 learning how to walk. 2285 01:36:10,270 --> 01:36:13,356 I'd gone from 240 to 202. 2286 01:36:13,398 --> 01:36:15,608 I lost 40 pounds. 2287 01:36:15,650 --> 01:36:16,985 I had no strength at all. 2288 01:36:17,027 --> 01:36:19,446 I could not pop a top off a Diet Coke. 2289 01:36:21,573 --> 01:36:23,908 Isn't that amazing? 2290 01:36:23,950 --> 01:36:25,035 They thought that was because of drinking. 2291 01:36:25,076 --> 01:36:26,244 It wasn't at all-- 2292 01:36:26,286 --> 01:36:28,329 because of bowel obstruction. 2293 01:36:29,664 --> 01:36:31,291 - And it's an amazing thing 2294 01:36:31,332 --> 01:36:34,502 to be able to ask somebody this question 2295 01:36:34,544 --> 01:36:39,299 multiple seasons and moments in his life. 2296 01:36:39,341 --> 01:36:41,301 Why did you survive? 2297 01:36:41,343 --> 01:36:42,469 - I don't know. 2298 01:36:48,183 --> 01:36:49,392 Why am I here? 2299 01:36:50,852 --> 01:36:51,853 Strange. 2300 01:36:55,565 --> 01:36:56,858 But like I said, 2301 01:36:56,900 --> 01:36:59,069 after you've gone through something like that, 2302 01:36:59,110 --> 01:37:02,113 you just need-- it's very important, 2303 01:37:02,155 --> 01:37:05,784 I think, to let people that you care about 2304 01:37:05,825 --> 01:37:08,244 know how much you care about 'em. 2305 01:37:08,286 --> 01:37:12,957 - What did it mean to you that your daughters were there? 2306 01:37:12,999 --> 01:37:14,501 - Everything. 2307 01:37:14,542 --> 01:37:16,127 Ashley came from China. 2308 01:37:18,213 --> 01:37:20,215 It took her 22 hours to get there. 2309 01:37:20,256 --> 01:37:22,509 * * 2310 01:37:22,550 --> 01:37:24,344 Between Ashley and Megan and Wendy, 2311 01:37:24,386 --> 01:37:26,262 how do I ever forget that? 2312 01:37:26,304 --> 01:37:27,430 - We have good news tonight. 2313 01:37:27,472 --> 01:37:29,599 WWE star and Atlanta favorite Ric Flair 2314 01:37:29,641 --> 01:37:30,975 is out of the hospital. 2315 01:37:31,017 --> 01:37:32,852 - How's he doing? - He's doing much better. 2316 01:37:32,894 --> 01:37:34,479 To be honest, it's a miracle. 2317 01:37:34,521 --> 01:37:36,523 - Hey, to all my fans out there, 2318 01:37:36,564 --> 01:37:39,818 let it be known worldwide that Nature Boy-- 2319 01:37:39,859 --> 01:37:41,820 woo! Is back up and running, 2320 01:37:41,861 --> 01:37:43,613 looking as only I can look. 2321 01:37:43,655 --> 01:37:45,740 I wanna tell all my fans out there, 2322 01:37:45,782 --> 01:37:47,992 thank you for all the love, support, 2323 01:37:48,034 --> 01:37:49,536 and I will see you 2324 01:37:49,577 --> 01:37:53,164 in the very, very, very, very, very, very 2325 01:37:53,206 --> 01:37:54,165 near future. 2326 01:37:54,207 --> 01:37:55,875 Woo! 2327 01:37:55,917 --> 01:37:58,878 - When Ric got out of ICU, it took about 18 months 2328 01:37:58,920 --> 01:38:01,172 from ICU on, where he started 2329 01:38:01,214 --> 01:38:03,925 to feel like he wanted to be the life of the party. 2330 01:38:05,760 --> 01:38:07,846 - Given what you'd been through, 2331 01:38:07,887 --> 01:38:10,015 why drink? 2332 01:38:10,056 --> 01:38:11,558 - Because I enjoy it. 2333 01:38:14,519 --> 01:38:16,396 Why play golf? 2334 01:38:16,438 --> 01:38:18,023 Why drive my boat? 2335 01:38:18,064 --> 01:38:20,400 After I work out, there's nothing to do-- 2336 01:38:20,442 --> 01:38:22,861 Just waiting for 5:00. 2337 01:38:22,902 --> 01:38:25,071 I'm on a time frame. 5:00, 2338 01:38:25,113 --> 01:38:26,781 Ultra--Michelob Ultra till 7:00. 2339 01:38:26,823 --> 01:38:30,076 Vodka, Ketel One soda, 2340 01:38:30,118 --> 01:38:33,288 cranberry, and a lime, 2341 01:38:33,329 --> 01:38:34,664 and at 8:00, red wine 2342 01:38:34,706 --> 01:38:36,583 till 10:00-- upstairs to bed. 2343 01:38:38,501 --> 01:38:39,627 Sometimes alone, 2344 01:38:39,669 --> 01:38:42,255 sometimes with... 2345 01:38:42,297 --> 01:38:43,965 company. [laughs] 2346 01:38:45,467 --> 01:38:47,802 I'm a guy that's gonna go over and... 2347 01:38:47,844 --> 01:38:49,971 meet somebody and have fun again tonight. 2348 01:38:52,640 --> 01:38:54,100 - In his late 60s, 2349 01:38:54,142 --> 01:38:57,228 he'd somehow cheated death yet again. 2350 01:38:57,270 --> 01:39:00,231 The Nature Boy character had become his legacy, 2351 01:39:00,273 --> 01:39:03,610 and it began impacting the music industry. 2352 01:39:03,651 --> 01:39:06,112 There were songs written about him. 2353 01:39:06,154 --> 01:39:08,698 The lifestyle, the bling, the drip-- 2354 01:39:08,740 --> 01:39:10,533 it was pervasive. 2355 01:39:10,575 --> 01:39:14,537 Singers, musicians, the rap world-- 2356 01:39:14,579 --> 01:39:16,206 they couldn't seem to get enough 2357 01:39:16,247 --> 01:39:17,707 of Ric Flair. 2358 01:39:19,000 --> 01:39:22,504 - Ladies and gentlemen-- - Capture this on film. 2359 01:39:22,545 --> 01:39:25,256 - To the great Post Malone! 2360 01:39:25,298 --> 01:39:29,094 Took the time out of his very busy schedule 2361 01:39:29,135 --> 01:39:33,181 to come out to my home with my wife and her children 2362 01:39:33,223 --> 01:39:34,724 to visit me... - Woo! 2363 01:39:34,766 --> 01:39:37,310 - When I had just gotten out of the hospital. 2364 01:39:37,352 --> 01:39:39,562 I couldn't drink then, but I'm drinking now. 2365 01:39:39,604 --> 01:39:41,815 [laughter] Post Malone, my man! 2366 01:39:41,856 --> 01:39:43,066 - Always. - Woo! 2367 01:39:43,108 --> 01:39:44,484 all: Woo! 2368 01:39:44,526 --> 01:39:45,860 - He's just the coolest dude 2369 01:39:45,902 --> 01:39:47,696 that you'll ever meet in your life. 2370 01:39:47,737 --> 01:39:50,240 Ric Flair transcending into, like, pop culture, 2371 01:39:50,281 --> 01:39:51,616 hip-hop culture, 2372 01:39:51,658 --> 01:39:54,160 he's always been the coolest motherfucker 2373 01:39:54,202 --> 01:39:55,328 in the room. 2374 01:39:55,370 --> 01:39:56,496 - Ric Flair is probably 2375 01:39:56,538 --> 01:39:59,332 the swaggiest of them all. 2376 01:39:59,374 --> 01:40:03,169 He--he transcended to this era. 2377 01:40:03,211 --> 01:40:04,421 - Woo! 2378 01:40:04,462 --> 01:40:05,922 - I was a fan, you know? 2379 01:40:05,964 --> 01:40:07,382 You know, who did I look up to? 2380 01:40:07,424 --> 01:40:09,009 You know, limousine-riding, jet-- 2381 01:40:09,050 --> 01:40:11,553 [laughing] I wanted to be that too. 2382 01:40:11,594 --> 01:40:14,264 Ric Flair lived a superstar life. 2383 01:40:14,305 --> 01:40:15,974 Man, it's that Ric Flair drip-- 2384 01:40:16,016 --> 01:40:18,059 limousine-riding, jet-flying. 2385 01:40:18,101 --> 01:40:20,687 Ric Flair was talking about that before any of these guys. 2386 01:40:20,729 --> 01:40:23,440 - They all wanna be--woo! 2387 01:40:23,481 --> 01:40:26,818 like the Nature Boy, 2388 01:40:26,860 --> 01:40:30,113 but there can only be one. 2389 01:40:30,155 --> 01:40:31,406 - People are gonna look at Ric and say 2390 01:40:31,448 --> 01:40:32,699 he was a trendsetter. 2391 01:40:32,741 --> 01:40:34,159 He's also a business guy. 2392 01:40:34,200 --> 01:40:36,911 He knows what he's doing and very sharp on his feet. 2393 01:40:36,953 --> 01:40:38,621 He's a marketing genius. 2394 01:40:38,663 --> 01:40:39,914 People know that, 2395 01:40:39,956 --> 01:40:41,875 and they--they wanna be a part of that. 2396 01:40:41,916 --> 01:40:43,335 - [laughs] - Just one time. 2397 01:40:43,376 --> 01:40:44,294 - Woo! both: Woo! 2398 01:40:44,336 --> 01:40:45,670 - There you go. 2399 01:40:45,712 --> 01:40:49,132 - He just hit a nerve, man, with mainstream society. 2400 01:40:50,175 --> 01:40:52,719 I've always said that Hulkamania would live forever, 2401 01:40:52,761 --> 01:40:54,220 but it's more, woo! 2402 01:40:54,262 --> 01:40:55,638 [chuckling] Ric Flair's gonna live forever. 2403 01:40:55,680 --> 01:40:57,807 - Woo! 2404 01:40:57,849 --> 01:41:02,145 - Ric Flair drip, I would say a Shakespearean swagger. 2405 01:41:02,187 --> 01:41:04,606 It's a very-- a very elegant gown. 2406 01:41:04,647 --> 01:41:06,983 You got no shirt on-- 2407 01:41:07,025 --> 01:41:08,401 chains-- 2408 01:41:08,443 --> 01:41:10,487 chains, rangs, thangs. 2409 01:41:10,528 --> 01:41:13,490 I guess the Ric Flair drip is confidence. 2410 01:41:13,531 --> 01:41:15,784 - I think every time you hear the name "Ric Flair," 2411 01:41:15,825 --> 01:41:17,660 like, everyone's like, "I think I need a Rolex." 2412 01:41:17,702 --> 01:41:20,080 Like, "Why do I not have a Rolex watch on right now? 2413 01:41:20,121 --> 01:41:22,040 Like, I mean, I think all of sports, 2414 01:41:22,082 --> 01:41:23,500 to an extent, are affected by Ric. 2415 01:41:23,541 --> 01:41:25,710 - And the whole crowd of 18,000 going-- 2416 01:41:25,752 --> 01:41:26,753 - Woo! 2417 01:41:26,795 --> 01:41:28,380 - Ric Flair! 2418 01:41:28,421 --> 01:41:29,798 Ric Flair! 2419 01:41:29,839 --> 01:41:32,759 - You can go into an NFL locker room 2420 01:41:32,801 --> 01:41:34,969 or an NBA locker room right now, 2421 01:41:35,011 --> 01:41:38,723 and folks can quote Ric Flair. 2422 01:41:38,765 --> 01:41:41,101 all: Woo! And I'm having a hard time 2423 01:41:41,142 --> 01:41:42,936 holding these alligators down! 2424 01:41:42,977 --> 01:41:45,355 - And even if you're not a wrestling fan, 2425 01:41:45,397 --> 01:41:47,107 like myself, you know who Ric Flair is, 2426 01:41:47,148 --> 01:41:49,442 so, um, I think that says it all right there. 2427 01:41:49,484 --> 01:41:51,027 - Ric Flair! 2428 01:41:51,069 --> 01:41:53,196 - Woo! 2429 01:41:53,238 --> 01:41:55,073 Like Snoop said, 2430 01:41:55,115 --> 01:41:56,783 I was bling before bling was bling. 2431 01:41:56,825 --> 01:41:59,452 You gotta look at the total influence 2432 01:41:59,494 --> 01:42:00,620 that Ric Flair has. 2433 01:42:00,662 --> 01:42:02,914 - He's kind of become a, uh, 2434 01:42:02,956 --> 01:42:04,874 multicultural cat. 2435 01:42:04,916 --> 01:42:06,793 - Go 49ers! Woo! 2436 01:42:06,835 --> 01:42:09,045 all: Woo! [applause] 2437 01:42:09,087 --> 01:42:10,296 - Looking at his schedule, I'm going, 2438 01:42:10,338 --> 01:42:12,173 "How the hell is he doing this?" 2439 01:42:12,215 --> 01:42:15,802 - Styling and profiling-- blinging, 2440 01:42:15,844 --> 01:42:17,429 private jet-flying. 2441 01:42:17,470 --> 01:42:18,388 Woo! 2442 01:42:20,056 --> 01:42:21,558 - You know, he's at the Rose Bowl. 2443 01:42:21,599 --> 01:42:22,851 He's at the Super Bowl game. 2444 01:42:22,892 --> 01:42:24,227 He's here. He's there. 2445 01:42:24,269 --> 01:42:26,354 He's wrestling. He's on car commercials. 2446 01:42:27,522 --> 01:42:29,524 - Woo! 2447 01:42:29,566 --> 01:42:32,527 - The guy's pushing just as hard as he ever did. 2448 01:42:32,569 --> 01:42:34,029 So he's not done yet. 2449 01:42:34,070 --> 01:42:36,031 - I've certainly had my problems along the way, 2450 01:42:36,072 --> 01:42:37,949 but I'm on my feet now, 2451 01:42:37,991 --> 01:42:40,493 and, uh, probably in the best position 2452 01:42:40,535 --> 01:42:42,078 I've ever been in-- 2453 01:42:42,120 --> 01:42:45,498 still the man. [chuckles] 2454 01:42:45,540 --> 01:42:46,583 [bell ringing] 2455 01:42:46,624 --> 01:42:48,501 Woo! 2456 01:42:48,543 --> 01:42:49,878 all: Woo! 2457 01:42:49,919 --> 01:42:51,838 - Red Raiders! 2458 01:42:56,551 --> 01:43:00,221 [assault bike whirring] 2459 01:43:00,263 --> 01:43:01,264 - Time. 2460 01:43:01,306 --> 01:43:03,224 - 2022... 2461 01:43:04,851 --> 01:43:06,853 Ric Flair has lived a life 2462 01:43:06,895 --> 01:43:08,271 most can only dream of... 2463 01:43:10,065 --> 01:43:12,901 And shows no signs of slowing down. 2464 01:43:12,942 --> 01:43:14,194 - Five, six, seven, 2465 01:43:14,235 --> 01:43:16,780 eight, nine, a hundred. 2466 01:43:16,821 --> 01:43:19,657 - Working and grinding, 2467 01:43:19,699 --> 01:43:22,118 styling and profiling. 2468 01:43:22,160 --> 01:43:25,622 At age 73, he still proclaims 2469 01:43:25,663 --> 01:43:27,207 diamonds are forever, 2470 01:43:27,248 --> 01:43:29,250 and so is Ric Flair. 2471 01:43:29,292 --> 01:43:31,628 - Nature Boy--can you fix my hair a little bit? 2472 01:43:31,670 --> 01:43:34,381 [dramatic music] 2473 01:43:34,422 --> 01:43:37,133 - This is a man who can never stop, 2474 01:43:37,175 --> 01:43:39,552 um, doing what he does. 2475 01:43:39,594 --> 01:43:42,389 -It's a weird job, and weird people do this. 2476 01:43:42,430 --> 01:43:44,432 It either gets ahold of you, or it doesn't, 2477 01:43:44,474 --> 01:43:46,976 and it's--it's sometimes hard to walk away from it. 2478 01:43:47,018 --> 01:43:48,853 - We did two Monday nights, 2479 01:43:48,895 --> 01:43:51,981 and then I found out I'm going to Saudi again in four weeks. 2480 01:43:53,191 --> 01:43:57,195 - It's hard to walk away, because some of us-- 2481 01:43:57,237 --> 01:44:00,281 this is our life. It's in our blood. 2482 01:44:00,323 --> 01:44:04,661 - Father Time or Mother Nature is undefeated, 2483 01:44:04,703 --> 01:44:06,121 and that's hard, 2484 01:44:06,162 --> 01:44:09,082 because you wanna hold on. 2485 01:44:09,124 --> 01:44:11,668 It's not even to the noise of the crowd. 2486 01:44:11,710 --> 01:44:14,170 It's to the youth that came along with it. 2487 01:44:14,212 --> 01:44:16,256 But it doesn't matter how old he gets. 2488 01:44:16,297 --> 01:44:18,341 Whatever that is, that it that he has, 2489 01:44:18,383 --> 01:44:20,218 that umph--it never leaves him. 2490 01:44:20,260 --> 01:44:22,804 - Oh! 2491 01:44:22,846 --> 01:44:24,014 Woo! 2492 01:44:25,682 --> 01:44:26,683 Woo! 2493 01:44:26,725 --> 01:44:27,726 - It's so inspiring. 2494 01:44:27,767 --> 01:44:29,728 It's so mind-blowing. 2495 01:44:29,769 --> 01:44:31,062 But on the other hand, 2496 01:44:31,104 --> 01:44:33,773 I hope, deep down, 2497 01:44:33,815 --> 01:44:34,941 that he doesn't feel like 2498 01:44:34,983 --> 01:44:36,776 he has anything left to prove. 2499 01:44:36,818 --> 01:44:40,113 - Ric's whole life is about proving himself 2500 01:44:40,155 --> 01:44:42,240 and earning respect. 2501 01:44:42,282 --> 01:44:45,201 I think, in some ways, 2502 01:44:45,243 --> 01:44:47,370 um, in his life story, 2503 01:44:47,412 --> 01:44:49,247 it was constantly about earning that respect, 2504 01:44:49,289 --> 01:44:51,624 and then he gets into the business, 2505 01:44:51,666 --> 01:44:53,043 and everything about him 2506 01:44:53,084 --> 01:44:54,794 is about earning everybody's respect. 2507 01:44:54,836 --> 01:44:56,296 - It's tough being a legend. 2508 01:44:56,338 --> 01:44:58,506 It's tough being a folk hero. 2509 01:44:58,548 --> 01:45:02,344 It's tough making a million dollars a year! 2510 01:45:02,385 --> 01:45:05,930 - What is Ric Flair's legacy? 2511 01:45:05,972 --> 01:45:07,724 Two words-- 2512 01:45:07,766 --> 01:45:08,725 the man. 2513 01:45:08,767 --> 01:45:09,893 - Woo! 2514 01:45:09,934 --> 01:45:11,436 - Simple. 2515 01:45:11,478 --> 01:45:13,063 * * 2516 01:45:13,104 --> 01:45:16,024 - The 16-time World Champion, 2517 01:45:16,066 --> 01:45:19,694 the greatest of all time. 2518 01:45:19,736 --> 01:45:23,490 - He will be the greatest wrestler of all time, 2519 01:45:23,531 --> 01:45:26,076 because he is. 2520 01:45:26,117 --> 01:45:28,745 There's nobody else. 2521 01:45:28,787 --> 01:45:31,664 - I don't know that he'll ever, you know, truly grasp 2522 01:45:31,706 --> 01:45:34,459 and appreciate the influence that he's had. 2523 01:45:36,127 --> 01:45:37,337 But I think he understands it 2524 01:45:37,379 --> 01:45:39,547 far better now than he once did. 2525 01:45:39,589 --> 01:45:42,258 - Thank you for everything. - Thank you. 2526 01:45:42,300 --> 01:45:44,177 - I do a lot of public speaking now. 2527 01:45:44,219 --> 01:45:47,263 I can be even in a big church, 2528 01:45:47,305 --> 01:45:48,932 and I'll just mention the name, "Ric Flair," 2529 01:45:48,973 --> 01:45:50,433 and they all go, "Woo!" 2530 01:45:50,475 --> 01:45:52,268 All those deacons in front row at church, 2531 01:45:52,310 --> 01:45:53,770 with their suit and ties on, 2532 01:45:53,812 --> 01:45:55,063 they're wooing. 2533 01:45:55,105 --> 01:45:57,357 I just mention Ric's name. 2534 01:45:57,399 --> 01:46:00,443 - There is no one in this entire industry 2535 01:46:00,485 --> 01:46:04,114 that is more respected than Ric Flair. 2536 01:46:04,155 --> 01:46:10,203 * * 2537 01:46:12,497 --> 01:46:17,502 - Richard Fliehr, the man-- he's more caring. 2538 01:46:17,544 --> 01:46:20,797 He's more of a kind person, 2539 01:46:20,839 --> 01:46:24,217 and he wants to be loved 2540 01:46:24,259 --> 01:46:26,970 and cared for and taken care of, 2541 01:46:27,012 --> 01:46:29,222 and everybody just sucks him out 2542 01:46:29,264 --> 01:46:31,641 to be this, like, character. 2543 01:46:31,683 --> 01:46:35,478 They won't allow him to be a normal, good person. 2544 01:46:35,520 --> 01:46:37,272 - I didn't feel good last week... 2545 01:46:37,313 --> 01:46:40,066 [chuckling] and Wendy said, "You've got anxiety 2546 01:46:40,108 --> 01:46:41,735 about going to 'Raw.'" 2547 01:46:41,776 --> 01:46:44,529 I said, "No, I have anxiety about being alive." 2548 01:46:44,571 --> 01:46:46,948 People keep reminding me that I should be dead. 2549 01:46:46,990 --> 01:46:49,200 - He has a great relationship with his granddaughter. 2550 01:46:49,242 --> 01:46:50,827 He spoils her. 2551 01:46:50,869 --> 01:46:53,038 I think she was, like, ten, and he bought her a cell phone, 2552 01:46:53,079 --> 01:46:54,372 and I was like, "Dad, she--" he's like, 2553 01:46:54,414 --> 01:46:55,665 "Well, I need a way to call her. 2554 01:46:55,707 --> 01:46:57,125 "I'm gonna call her. She needs to call her papa 2555 01:46:57,167 --> 01:46:58,168 "when she needs him. 2556 01:46:58,209 --> 01:47:00,295 She's calling her papa." 2557 01:47:00,337 --> 01:47:03,631 - Is there a person that isn't Ric Flair? 2558 01:47:03,673 --> 01:47:05,175 Well, yes, Dad, 2559 01:47:05,216 --> 01:47:06,634 but Dad still... 2560 01:47:08,970 --> 01:47:11,097 Has Ric Flair-isms. 2561 01:47:11,139 --> 01:47:13,975 [chuckling] Like, he still woos at the end of the phone call. 2562 01:47:14,017 --> 01:47:15,101 - Woo! 2563 01:47:15,143 --> 01:47:16,644 - [laughs] 2564 01:47:16,686 --> 01:47:18,313 I don't look at it as Ric Flair. 2565 01:47:18,355 --> 01:47:20,023 I look at it as Dad, 2566 01:47:20,065 --> 01:47:23,026 like, and how's he wired, 2567 01:47:23,068 --> 01:47:26,029 and what makes him him. 2568 01:47:26,071 --> 01:47:27,989 - How is your health overall? 2569 01:47:28,031 --> 01:47:29,157 - Phenomenal. 2570 01:47:30,992 --> 01:47:32,160 Phenomenal. 2571 01:47:33,828 --> 01:47:34,746 I don't hurt anywhere. 2572 01:47:36,331 --> 01:47:37,332 I don't hurt anywhere-- 2573 01:47:37,374 --> 01:47:39,417 no knees, back, nothing. 2574 01:47:39,459 --> 01:47:42,629 Who would've ever thought I'd be sitting here again? 2575 01:47:42,671 --> 01:47:46,216 - How would you define "identity"? 2576 01:47:46,257 --> 01:47:48,051 - I would say identifying yourself 2577 01:47:48,093 --> 01:47:50,136 as waking up in the morning 2578 01:47:50,178 --> 01:47:51,346 and... 2579 01:47:53,598 --> 01:47:56,476 And--and feeling good about yourself, 2580 01:47:56,518 --> 01:47:59,312 which hasn't happened to me 2581 01:47:59,354 --> 01:48:00,480 in my whole life. 2582 01:48:01,564 --> 01:48:03,233 - Why? 2583 01:48:04,567 --> 01:48:06,277 - Um, 2584 01:48:06,319 --> 01:48:08,238 I don't know. 2585 01:48:08,279 --> 01:48:11,408 Because I--I definitely am aware of the fact 2586 01:48:11,449 --> 01:48:13,952 I made some bad choices in life, 2587 01:48:13,993 --> 01:48:15,120 and, uh... 2588 01:48:17,455 --> 01:48:18,581 But I've never done anything 2589 01:48:18,623 --> 01:48:20,583 to intentionally hurt anybody. 2590 01:48:20,625 --> 01:48:22,085 I've lived in a world of embellishment 2591 01:48:22,127 --> 01:48:23,586 for my whole life. 2592 01:48:23,628 --> 01:48:25,714 But when I'm telling-- everything I've told you today 2593 01:48:25,755 --> 01:48:27,382 is the God-honest truth. 2594 01:48:27,424 --> 01:48:29,592 It doesn't mean I can explain how it happened or what, 2595 01:48:29,634 --> 01:48:32,137 but everything I'm telling you is the God-honest truth. 2596 01:48:32,178 --> 01:48:35,098 Woo! 2597 01:48:35,140 --> 01:48:38,309 - Who is Richard Fliehr? 2598 01:48:38,351 --> 01:48:39,728 - I don't know. 2599 01:48:39,769 --> 01:48:41,980 The luckiest--he's the luckiest guy in the world, 2600 01:48:42,022 --> 01:48:44,858 who had been raised by his mom and dad, 2601 01:48:44,899 --> 01:48:47,152 and who had a chance to become Ric Flair 2602 01:48:47,193 --> 01:48:48,611 for good or for bad. 2603 01:48:48,653 --> 01:48:51,448 From the lightning to the plane crash, 2604 01:48:51,489 --> 01:48:54,200 being on top of the business, 2605 01:48:54,242 --> 01:48:56,911 that's who Richard Fliehr was: 2606 01:48:56,953 --> 01:48:59,289 the luckiest son of a bitch alive. 2607 01:48:59,330 --> 01:49:01,833 Everything I said on TV, I lived. 2608 01:49:01,875 --> 01:49:03,209 I mean, 2609 01:49:03,251 --> 01:49:04,627 that's why it probably comes across 2610 01:49:04,669 --> 01:49:06,129 and why it's so memorable now. 2611 01:49:06,171 --> 01:49:09,382 It's because I was doing it. 2612 01:49:09,424 --> 01:49:11,551 I'm doing it now. 2613 01:49:11,593 --> 01:49:14,429 I'm sitting here and wearing a $6,000-custom-made suit 2614 01:49:14,471 --> 01:49:16,765 just for you, for the interview. 2615 01:49:16,806 --> 01:49:18,224 [chuckles] 2616 01:49:18,266 --> 01:49:20,101 Who does that? Ric Flair. 2617 01:49:20,143 --> 01:49:21,853 [laughs] 2618 01:49:26,441 --> 01:49:28,818 - There's a Richard, 2619 01:49:28,860 --> 01:49:30,403 and there's a Ric. 2620 01:49:32,697 --> 01:49:33,615 Who are you? 2621 01:49:35,033 --> 01:49:36,201 - [sighs] 2622 01:49:39,204 --> 01:49:40,830 - * Hey, here we go now * 2623 01:49:40,872 --> 01:49:43,750 ["Ric Flair" by Tom McGuire & the Brassholes] 2624 01:49:43,792 --> 01:49:48,463 * * 2625 01:49:48,505 --> 01:49:50,924 - How are you with being retired? 2626 01:49:50,965 --> 01:49:52,509 - Terrible. 2627 01:49:52,550 --> 01:49:55,011 I could work every weekend. [chuckles] 2628 01:49:55,053 --> 01:50:01,976 * * 2629 01:50:12,070 --> 01:50:16,324 * * 2630 01:50:16,366 --> 01:50:18,618 - * Comes walking home * 2631 01:50:18,660 --> 01:50:21,121 * Thus spoke Zarathustra * 2632 01:50:21,162 --> 01:50:22,622 * Pulls it off * 2633 01:50:22,664 --> 01:50:25,250 * Wearing alligator shoes, yeah * 2634 01:50:25,291 --> 01:50:27,252 * You better beware * 2635 01:50:27,293 --> 01:50:29,546 * It's a jungle in there * 2636 01:50:29,587 --> 01:50:31,214 * Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ring * 2637 01:50:31,256 --> 01:50:33,883 * Mr. Ric Flair * 2638 01:50:33,925 --> 01:50:36,094 - Rolex-wearing, diamond-ring-wearing, 2639 01:50:36,136 --> 01:50:39,806 limousine-riding, private-jet-flying, 2640 01:50:39,848 --> 01:50:42,183 kiss-stealing, wheeling, dealing, 2641 01:50:42,225 --> 01:50:43,143 son of a gun-- 2642 01:50:43,184 --> 01:50:44,936 Woo! 2643 01:50:44,978 --> 01:50:47,105 - * Get any pretty woman in the world he wants * 2644 01:50:47,147 --> 01:50:49,065 * Just like that * 2645 01:50:49,107 --> 01:50:50,275 - Gold around my neck, 2646 01:50:50,316 --> 01:50:52,068 Rolex watch around my wrist, 2647 01:50:52,110 --> 01:50:53,236 looking so fine! 2648 01:50:53,278 --> 01:50:57,907 I'm a multimillionaire! 2649 01:50:57,949 --> 01:50:59,325 Like Snoop said, 2650 01:50:59,367 --> 01:51:00,910 I was bling before bling was bling. 2651 01:51:00,952 --> 01:51:04,664 This sport coat cost $800, and that cost $200! 2652 01:51:04,706 --> 01:51:05,665 And I don't know what that cost! 2653 01:51:05,707 --> 01:51:07,250 I'd be ashamed to wear it! 2654 01:51:07,292 --> 01:51:09,669 - Hey, he just rifled a Gucci shoe. 2655 01:51:09,711 --> 01:51:11,254 - [laughs] 2656 01:51:11,296 --> 01:51:14,090 - * Woo, sporting that pink underwear * 2657 01:51:14,132 --> 01:51:15,592 - * Ric Flair! * 2658 01:51:15,633 --> 01:51:16,593 - * Woo! * - * Woo! * 2659 01:51:16,634 --> 01:51:17,969 - * Oh, glorious * 2660 01:51:18,011 --> 01:51:18,928 * Platinum hair * 2661 01:51:18,970 --> 01:51:21,181 - Woo! 2662 01:51:21,222 --> 01:51:23,224 Woo! 2663 01:51:23,266 --> 01:51:24,351 Thank you very much. 2664 01:51:24,392 --> 01:51:26,102 * * 2665 01:51:26,144 --> 01:51:27,479 - I appreciate you. 2666 01:51:27,520 --> 01:51:29,064 - Oh, thank you. - Thank you for doing this. 2667 01:51:29,105 --> 01:51:30,774 - Ladies, we better be off. 2668 01:51:30,815 --> 01:51:33,943 We don't wanna keep 'em waiting in that next city. 2669 01:51:33,985 --> 01:51:35,362 Take care now. 2670 01:51:35,403 --> 01:51:37,614 Remember one thing: 2671 01:51:37,655 --> 01:51:39,657 diamonds are forever.