Ric Flair Says He’ll “Be Okay” After Hospitalization in Tampa

Ric Flair is recovering after a fall outside a Tampa restaurant sent him to the hospital on Friday, October 23, with the WWE Hall of Famer assuring fans on Saturday that he’s on the mend.

The fall reportedly came just hours after Flair had told fans he was unable to fly due to a blood clot. He was treated overnight at Tampa General Hospital before posting a statement on X thanking the medical staff and his supporters.

“Thank you all for the messages and prayers! I will get back to you each individually as I get stronger,” Flair wrote. “Thank you to all the Tampa General Hospital staff and doctors who put up with me until 4:30 a.m. I appreciate you all, and thank you for everything you did for me! I am focused on my healing and recovery right now. I will be okay!”

Flair also used the statement to address confusion caused by posts that appeared on his Facebook page during his hospital stay. He clarified that he no longer controls that account and apologized for what he called “reckless” and “completely inappropriate” content posted under his name while he was being treated.

At 77, Flair has dealt with a string of serious health scares over the years, including a 2017 hospitalization that nearly cost him his life and led to multiple surgeries. Those incidents turned into the backdrop for the 2017 ESPN documentary “Nature Boy” and prompted the wrestling world to rally around him in ways few other legends have experienced. This latest scare is a reminder of just how fragile things can be for a performer whose body absorbed four decades of bumps inside the ring, long before the toll of life on the road and outside of it is even factored in.

The “Nature Boy” remains one of the most recognizable and influential figures in wrestling history, a 16-time world champion whose career helped define the sport across multiple territories and eras. Even in retirement, he’s stayed a fixture at WWE events, in AEW appearances with his daughter Charlotte Flair’s storylines, and across the broader wrestling media landscape through podcasts and documentaries.

No further details on his condition or expected recovery timeline have been made public beyond his own statement. For now, Flair’s message to the wrestling world is simple: he’s focused on healing, and he wanted fans to know he appreciates the outpouring of support.

PW Exclusive will continue to pass along updates on Flair’s condition as they become available.

Thank You All For The Messages And Prayers! I Will Get Back To You Each Individually As I Get Stronger. Thank You To All The Tampa General Hospital Staff And Doctors That Put Up With Me Until 4:30am. I Appreciate You All And Thank You For Everything You Did For Me! I Am Focused… pic.twitter.com/QCIHyEnPDa

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) October 24, 2026