Ever the controversial figure, the legend of Ric Flair may be set for one last hurrah. Although still very much in the talking stages, the world has been talking about Ric Flair’s retirement match, and if it’s the right thing to do. Is it safe? Does he really need it? And should he not be left to do what he wants? Seeing as it’s his life, and we aren’t forced to watch it.
Ric Flair has had a lifetime of wrestling, and while WWE gave him a proper sendoff (against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania), he just wasn’t ready to hang up the boots. Now the time has come to make peace with the fact that this is the last chapter for Ric Flair as a wrestler. No matter what we think of the man, his legacy is as successful as it was glamorous. Some may think that wrestling at 73 years old is a risk too far. How could he possibly do this and know it will be safe?
The fact is, it doesn’t matter if you’re 23 or 73, there is always a risk when you step in the ring. Also, wrestling isn’t like sports. Much like Ric Flair, there have been many septuagenarians, and even octogenarians, who have stepped in the square circle. Did you know? None of them died or were critically injured.
Yeah, we’re not getting any 5-star classics, but so long as they can do the absolute basics and aren’t winning any titles? Then why not. Here’s a list of just some of many wrestlers who have stepped through the ropes at an age similar or older than Ric Flair. Let’s start with the oldest ladies team of all time.
Mae Young & The Fabulous Moolah
From 1999 to 2001, this unlikely duo regularly appeared and wrestled during the WWF Attitude Era between the ages of 77 to 79. And this continued rarely after, with their last match happening on a 2004 episode of SmackDown. Moolah was 81 years old, and it was the last time she stepped in the ring.
Mae Young worked a 16-Divas tag match in 2008, but understandably had a limited part. At 87, Mae’s last was a Falls Count Anywhere 2-on-1 Handicap Match against LayCool on WWE’s Old School Raw. She got a ton of help from the Divas, and all she did was throw a punch and pin one of them with her boot. Nevertheless, it counts as a match, even if they never got to the ring.
Did I forget to mention Mae Young taking tables spots? She did it more than once. Anything could have happened, but WWE thought well… if they want to get in the ring, let’s do it.
Killer Kowalski
A true wrestling legend, and not just for what he did in the ring. He is known for training many of the wrestlers we know today, including but not limited to: Triple H, Chyna, Perry Saturn, John Kronus, Big John Studd, Christopher Nowinski, Albert, Kazarian, Kenny Dykstra, Tommaso Ciampa, Damien Sandow and Fandango.
When he was 66, Kowalski’s last match took place in 1993 in a losing effort to Baron Von Raschke at an event in Livingston, New Jersey. However, he was declared the winner of an encounter in 2008, when he fought Gino Giovanni in Top Rope Promotions. The 81-year-old Kowalski stuck the claw hold on him. Whether it was a match isn’t important. Kowalski was proving you can get physical in to your eighties after debuting way back in 1947.
Vintage
Other wrestlers who worked well in to old age (80 or close to it) include Dominic DeNucci, Tinieblas, Dave Kidney and Great Kojika. “Bullet” Bob Armstrong won his last against The Assassin at 79. Dory Funk Jr. teamed up with The Steiner Brothers to win a six-man tag. As most will know, a 76-year-old Vince McMahon defeated Pat McAfee at WrestleMania, before taking the worst Stone Cold Stunner in history.
Mr. McMahon is picking apart @PatMcAfeeShow at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/WWPZ1X1QM8
— WWE (@WWE) April 4, 2022
What most won’t know is there are half a dozen active wrestlers in this age group with Ric Flair, including Bushwacker Luke (75), Kim Duk (74), Yoshiaki Fujiwara (73), El Satanico (72), Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler (72) and Bob Orton Jr (71).
One match I really admire is when Lou Thesz (74) took on his student and former nWo member Masahiro Chono for New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002. It was an impressive performance by the original undisputed World Heavyweight Champion! There are so many other older wrestlers I could name, but you get the point.
Training
We should know that Ric Flair has always trained hard and wouldn’t want to disappoint. His retirement match isn’t about entertaining fans, but about bringing closure for a man who has struggled for years having to stand back and watch. Flair has been training in recent months with former ROH World Champion and current AEW star Jay Lethal. Do you think he’s ready? He looks so happy and can still take bumps.
A few years ago, Ric Flair said he had medical procedures to insert a pacemaker and remove a previously unidentified blood clot which could help him live to 95. He told TMZ Sports he feels:
“Great. This is the fourth time I’ve been in in seven weeks. They finally figured out what type of pacemaker to put on me. Which I found out just how important the operation of your heart is. Ya can’t breathe if your heart’s not working.”
While there are some concerns that Flair should not be wrestling with a pacemaker, this week he stated:
“I just want to address a few things that I think people need to hear about. I would say it’s 70% positive. But for the 30% of people that are worried about me getting in a ring and wrestling again, first of all, I assure you that I’ve been in the ring a lot more than I’ve shown on social media. I have to get quicker. I have to get faster. I’m in better shape now because I train with Rob, John Cena’s personal trainer, than I’ve ever been in my life in terms of cardio. I’ve never been a cosmetic wonderboy so I am going to wear a shirt, but I can assure you that in two and a half months, I will put on a clinic of what real wrestling should be about.”
There you have it. So long as he’s medically cleared and trains as hard as he can… what’s the problem? Let him go. After all, this is his life’s work. Who are we to say he shouldn’t do what he loves? It will be interesting to see what he can do if/when his time arrives. What do you think? Would you like to see Flair’s last match? Or is it too dangerous? Please let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading!
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