In a recent interview with esteemed wrestling journalist Bill Apter, Ricky Steamboat explained exactly why he backed out of wrestling Ric Flair at the Ric Flair’s Last Match pay-per-view event in July.
Steamboat, who initially agreed to be involved, decided to pass on it once he discovered that “The Nature Boy” had a pacemaker. He said,
“Initially, you know, Conrad, who’s the promoter, we talked, we went to Nashville, and we had a sit down, and it was Conrad, his wife, and me and my wife, Sandy. I was still training pretty good and feeling pretty good. So I said okay, and we hadn’t signed or sealed the deal on the money part of it. But what put the nail in the coffin was a week after that when I found out Flair was wearing a pacemaker. All these years, I never knew, and I immediately said I don’t think I wanna’ do this. I don’t want my legacy to be, you know, I was in a ring with him when he happened to pass away or something went wrong.”
“So I have done some interviews after they found out that I said no, but you know, first time I’m coming public with this. I didn’t wanna’ throw Conrad or Flair under the bus. So I threw myself under the bus even when I was talking to you that I’m not the guy the fans remember me by. It’s like one of those old-timer boxers. They get in the ring, and after about the third round, the legs are gone. Everything’s sitting there and saying, ‘Man, you should have remained retired.’ So I used myself as the reason.”
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