CBS News' Jeff Glor speaks with veteran wrestling star Ric Flair, who intimately reveals some of his most memorable, rewarding, and painful memories while competing in the ring.
Seeing him get so emotional about realizing his wrestling career had to end makes it easy to understand why he is considered one of the best wrestlers of all time. How could he not be the best with such a deep love for his profession?
You all prolly dont give a shit but does anybody know a tool to get back into an instagram account? I stupidly forgot the login password. I love any assistance you can give me.
He's just an insecure guy that's been crying now for 30 years since he became too old to be the full time champ anymore. He wasnt crying in '86. Why would that break your heart?
I met Mr. Flair just a few weeks ago down near Atlanta. We were staying at the same hotel as him. Each morning I would see him drinking a Starbucks and we'd watch some Sportscenter together. We would also see him at the bar at night and I would chat with him for quite a while. Now I knew who Rick Flair was growing up but I would never categorize myself as a wrestling fan per say but watching this interview really sums up the man that I spent time chatting with a few weeks ago. The persona I watched on tv back in the late 80's/early 90's and the man I chatted with are two completely different characters in a lot of ways. Same in some ways but totally different in many respects. He seems like a truly nice guy and as you see in this video he really loves his craft and is very thankful for his career.
RIGHT ON ! I love to hear things like this......Ray Stevens WAS THE MAN 1st! I am now 55 and remember ! Ric made ALL THE $$ !! He iS class and helped many !
What a memory. I met Captain Lou Albano as a teenager outside my High School, I was heading to my bus and for some reason I turned around and saw Captain Lou talking to some Administrators, he was promoting an event at another High School in our district, so I went over to him and said "Excuse me, Captain Lou Albano? And he said "Yeah". So I said "I'm a big fan, can I have your autograph"? And he said "Sure", and signed it for me.
+Eric Ostling really the best of all time lol? He might have been great in the promos but in the ring when it comes to wrestling he was average or even below that. Thousands of better wrestlers out there.
+Eric Ostling are you on crack. I'm 41. I've seen them all. He's the best. Ever. Don't know many wrestlers who can wrestle 60 min matches twice a day. All over the world. Who do you think is the best? Let me guess. Brett hart? Stone cold. Undertaker.....
+Eric Ostling he was a performer more than a complete wrestler. With Flair for me it has been on and off, sometimes I liked him but sometimes I didn't. I never wish him any harm though.he may be a cool guy if I met him.
I have never appreciated Ric Flair more. Those are tears of gratitude and thankfulness. Its great when you are thankful for what life has given you especially when its all good. I consider myself very blessed and when I look back and think about the good that has been in my life I too get very emotional. I salute Rich Flair's humanity.
I worked part time at Gold's Gym (South Blvd & Tyvola Rd, Charlotte) from 1982 to 86 and Ric Flair was a true gentleman everytime he came in. One of the nicest, most respectful guys you would ever know and was at the height of his long career at that time. Many other wrestlers were the same, some not so nice, but Ric was always someone you looked forward to seeing. Thanks for all you have done for so many for so long, relax and enjoy!
I have no words... The love that man had, and still has, for wrestling, the sport, the life style... I want to have that passion, that love for something I do. It's just heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. Thank you Ric Flair.
Best mic skills. Entertaining, funny, he painted a picture of luxury life, good looking man with hot babes yet he'd go out there and threatened his opponents and made good on it. He gave his body and blood on every big match and without taking stupid chances of losing his life. What a pro!
This interview right here just goes to show why they’ll never ever be another that comes close to Ric Flair! He really is the best of all time! Thanks for all the great times you gave us Mr. Ric Flair!! Whooooo
Great Interview .Ultimate promoter showman that wrestling has ever seen. RIC FLAIR had passion for this sport of wrestling, there isn"t a wrestler alive today that he can be compared ,LEGEND.
Ric Flair a true class act, you can tell wrestling was his life and he loved every minute of it. I am 41 years old, and I remember my first encounter with Pro Wrestling it was seeing Rick Flair and the 4 Horseman destroying some guy in the ring (I believe it was Magnum TA) had to be when I was like 8 years old and I was hooked.. I always favored NWA and WCW as opposed to the WWF at the time. and the Main Draw for me was Mr. Flair. Hands down the best Showman and talker in Pro Wrestling ever. He could go on 25 minute rants and have everyone glued to every word he said. basically he was the pioneer of what all rappers talk about, Fine Women, German Cars, Rolex's G6's Champagne etc.. He should get royalties from the Hip Hop biz This interview was good and the end where he gets choked up about having to retire was very genuine. Flair would be a positive example of the business long term wise.. Its a shame Hulk Hogan didn't have the same exit.
I've been around long enough to have seen Snuka, Samartino, Rhoades, Piper, and only God knows how many others from coast to coast and around the planet and I can say, with absolute confidence that Flair, in getting over, being a heel, and especially in cutting promos, remains one of the absolute best. He did the whole custom made thing before Bockwinkle and others. He made the mold on how a champion should look. I have enormous respect for what he, and every other wrestler ever put themselves through, just to entertain people like me. To all of you who ever put on the tights, you have my undying gratitude.
+Damien Jones I learned about Bockwinkle through my travels during my 20's and 30's and grew to respect him and others. Unfortunately, I never got to watch him when I was a kid living in NYC since to my knowledge, he never came up that way, at least not on TV. I learned about Flair since I was lucky enough to have access to cable and thus, super station TBS. Yes, Buddy Rogers IS the original Nature Boy. No question. To me though, it's how Flair pulled all the elements together, (the robes, the suits, the promos, etc) to do his thing, especially when the Horsemen got started and wrestling's popularity exploded in the 80's and 90's. Didn't hurt that he had some great people to play off of, especially Dusty Rhoades.
I grew up in the late 70's & early 80's in the NY metro area. WWF dominated the airwaves, UNTIL....cable came along. I was accustomed to seeing greats like Andre, Putski, Rocky Johnson, George "The Animal" Steele, & Superstar Billy Graham on a weekly basis. And THEN,...through the "magic" of cable, came the greats of the AWA & NWA! Guys I'd only READ about in PWI, Inside Wrestling, etc. To finally see the "WOOOOOO!!!!....Nature Boy",...MAN,...I finally SAW what all the "hype" was surrounding this ENTERTAINING WRESTLER!! Flair was heal when I first saw him in '85 or '86 (4 Horsemen days), but the undeniable fact WAS,...the guy was #1 when it came to ENTERTAINING the crowd, and "SELLIN' IT"!! Comparatively,...at the time, I'd say the percentage was about 75/25, WWF to other federations, that were shown in the NY metro area. If I remember correctly, NWA & AWA programming was shown ONLY on the weekends, and ONLY on TBS and/or "premium package channels". Nevertheless, I would MAKE IT A POINT to catch any/all NWA & AWA programs that I could, since they were "limited showings". In the end,...just wanted to say, Ric Flair is TRULY,...a LEGEND!! A game-changer!! A wrestling ICON!! Thanks for the memories Mr. Flair!
Been combing through RU-vid listening to all of Rick Flair’s interviews. Enjoying them all immensely… Something about his stories and how he tells them and how he speaks. Thanks!
Ric Flair, truly lives and breathes, pro wrestling. It's in his blood, and he will forever be remembered for everything that he did for the business. I've never met Ric Flair, but still am hopeful that one day I do. I've always looked up to him as a pro wrestler, and anticipate the day, if it should ever come, to meeting one of the greatest performers in this sport. Great interview!!!
Ric, thank you so much for all you gave. Growing up in east Texas in the '80s, i always looked forward to your matches with the Von Erich clan. You set the bar so high, not even they could touch your greatness.
so much respect for this guy, had some of the funniest interviews ive ever seen and probably the best talker to step in the ring. Can see the passion in those tears at then there
For those of you who say Flair is too old..bullshit.. your never too old for this... when you are too old means you simply can not do it anymore.. and although Flair's Ring Game may be on its last legs... he can still work that mic...ffs when you done something for 40 plus years, and its been your lively hood, and your wife's clean you out.. what do you do then?...
This man bled sweated tears for us. The audience. His tears r real. He knows it’s over. That’s a tough pill to swallow. No more cheers. No more claps or boos. It’s over. 35 years he put his body thru 300 days a year. God bless him. Ric. Your the best to ever put on a pair of boots.
It surprises me to hear him say that he didn't give as much as he got back. I think that he did. Back in the day, he went out to the ring and gave it all he had in some epic matches. It surprises me that he could be so humble, considering that he is such a legend. When I was a kid, in the mid 80s, Ric Flair was bigger than life.
I definitely got a little choked up when he did at the end there…I’m 45 and this man gave me so much entertainment and excitement both as a child and as an adult. Flair is such a great human being, his spirit and energy... so much love in his heart you can feel it. Friggin sucks we all have to get old...but at the end of the day just gotta let out a WOO when no one is looking and makes it all feel a bit better. Love ya #RicFlair
The 1st I remember of Flair was watching NWA as a kid in the 80s in his feud with Dusty Rhodes. I hated him just as I was supposed to because he was the perfect heel. Now as an adult the appreciation I have for all his years of effort is unmatched. The thing that sets him apart from other top guys for me is unlike a politician such as Hogan, Cena, Michaels etc who stayed on top by kissing ass & using their clout to keep everyone else down, Flair understood his place & what was best for business. I've seen him put over countless guys who aren't even close to being in his league. I watched every week as he made guys like the Z man, Road Warrior Hawk, Lex Luger, Terry Taylor, & dozens others look like a million bucks & carry them through hour long time limit matches where he was about to be pinned as time expired or would cheat to get out with the belt making his opponent look stronger than him every night even as champ. Sting, Windom, Big Show, Funk, Rhodes, Hogan, Bret, Luger, Von Erich, Savage, Garvin, Butch Reed, & 100 other guys who became names in the business owe Ric Flair a huge debt for what Ric did for them.
Dont know what to say here but I will try. WRESTLING has been part of my life since I was 4 years old. I am 57 now. I've seen the best of the best and met alot of them and I even got a chance to Wrestle with the old NWA ,WWWF AND WWE. I never became a star but I had a dream fulfilled by making it there. I got trained by Killer Kowalski and went on the road. I met Ric Flair and I can say he loved this business like no one else. I really felt his passion at the end of the interview because it was genuine. Mad respect for all he gave and did because leaving your family for all those days and years to entertain fans takes more than anyone could ever ever ever imagine. Ric THANK YOU BROTHER.
im 57. i startedcwatching this guy as a teenager. i was lucky enough to get to know him in the late 70s, i was 19 & green. He was probably the first celebrity i ever met. over the years ive cherished those encounters and to see his reaction on this video made me cry. They shpuld find a job for him in the limelight. hes what made it a real show.
The fire still burned inside you can tell. He loved wrestling. Which is why he became the greatest. Walking away from something you love so much is hard. Thanks for all the memories Ric.
You know growing I was watching Goergia Championship Wrestling ..Ric Flair was always a draw for me.I never knew him from the other side as in this interview.I'm glad I took the time to see this.It is hard to see him emotional.Thanks for all those hard and sometimes scared times in the ring.You have been so great and awesome person to grow up to on television.It has been 50 years in the making for me as i'm turning 50 years in August 22 2020.
There are a lot things about my childhood in the 70's and 80's that made it great and Ric Flair was by far one of them and for that I will always have the utmost admiration and respect for him. Thanks for the memories Ric.
what a guy who gave so much passion and still wants to carry on risking his health for the fans. wow he got me choked up at the end wooooo what a inspiration for life.
@@richardbritton8891 back in the 70s my dad was number 2 on the Hampton police department for all security at the coliseum...I was a young teenager and I went to any event I wanted...ABA basketball with Dr J..snake river evil jump...Rick flair...concerts..circus..college basketball..globetrotters...professional hockey ...pay per view boxing...all I had to do is meet the coliseum general manager and act like I had some sense and he personally said I can come to any event...and my dad went by the name big john
@@nastyb.i.g.9041 I just saw the comment...I remember clear as day that I never heard his name before but he was the main event...he did his suit and tie deal in the ring with a microphone .he said he wasn't going to wrestle tonight because of a injury...a big fight broke out and his guy he was wrestling tore all his clothes off down to his pink man panties...but I was told by the police and the wrestlers that it wasn't real and they were all good friends years before
@@randyjohnson805 My first professional sporting event was at the Norfolk Scope watching Dr. J and The Iceman play for the Squires. TheySquires split games between Hampton and Norfolk back then. The major concert in the 70's and 80's were usually in one of those two arenas when someone toured Virginia. Great times!!!
Breaks my heart when he cries, I wish we could do it all over again . He brought me so much fun watching him wrestle thru the years. I knew the time would come when he had to retire, for me that sucks so bad I knew it then and now. I miss the 80's wrestling it will never be as good as it was then. I'm glad I got to be alive and see it. I miss Ric wrestling every time I see wrestling in the T.V. he was and is the GOAT thanks for letting me come along on the ride Ric.
No body and I mean no body gave as much to "wrestling" Ric. Im 38 years old and I still remember the first time I saw him when I was 9. I was hooked from then on. He still has as much compassion nkw as he did then. Woooooooo Woooooooooooooooooooo Woo Woo Wooooooooooo
***** yes, I've seen that too. the comment from Piper was in regards to Flair's drinking and partying and spending his money on all his fans. Flair needs to slow down, spend more time with his family and stop blowing money like it's water.
I think what makes Ric so good is that it isn’t just about what happens in the ring- it’s the effort and talent used outside of it that also matters- because it isn’t just a match, it’s an entire show- and Ric gave 200% in both. That’s why people love him. From the minute he leaves the locker room to the moment he returns to it: He’s locked in- and that’s what it takes to build a story like his. Is he perfect? Of course not. Has he made mistakes? Sure, but who hasn’t? He made it in and made it out alive. Well done sir. 👍
Thanks RIC you left fond memories through my childhood.. glad to see you still stuck around through some of my adulthood... I will never forget the figure 4... I put it on all my friends..and if I ever get the chance...1 more time.. thanks wooooooooooooo that horseman will ride forever
What a class act.....Thanks Ric, for all that you gave! I know I surely enjoyed you! "To Be The Man~~You Gotta Beat The Man!" (And you're not really "gone"! I still enjoy ya!)
It takes a real man to talk about all the great memories and cry about them. I think about all my memories with my family and people that inspired me and it always brings a tear to my eye. Thanks for the memories "Nature Boy".
last 2 min of the video is what wrestling is all about.. the passion for the business, I am not the biggest Ric Flair fan, but damn this video is really emotional and speaks the truth about Wrestling
I know this is old but.. my fiancé wear Gators right!! And I always say to him.. “ are you having A hard time keeping those Gators down” his response is yes! But he didn’t watch wrestling and does not know who Ric Flair is.. Wow 😯 😂
Shit, there will never be another ric flair, i dont really look up to movie stars rock stars, wrestlers etc, but i looked up to slick rick, still do. Ric... you are the man, and will always be the limo ridin jet flyin rolex wearin world champion. Fuckin Period. Damn i fucked so many people up in the fiqure four it aint funny, damn good times. Bow down hogan, cause flair will always be the real champ. Woooooooo.
Ric Flair always treats me like a million bucks, he saw me at the convention and called me right over to shake my hand and say hello, he signed my magazine photo of him wrestling Gino Hernandez which Gino had signed for my Aunt in the 1980's, so now it is complete and Ric was even amazed by it being signed by Gino. Ric Flair is a class act as always.
+Eric Ostling he wasn't one of my favourites in terms of wrestling in the ring but as a promo guy and the story line he was great. He is a Legend even though I like it or not. He has earned that.
I hope that when the curtain calls for me in life, for whatever I'm doing in my life, that J have the passion for my work as Ric Flair does for wrestling. Great interview, such as a great man who loved to give the fans a show.
LISTEN UP SCHIAVONE! All the women want to be with me, and all the men want to be like me BUT in order to be the man you have to beat the man.....and whether you like it or don't like it...learn to love it because that's all it will ever be......whooooooo! The Nature Boy and The American Dream Dusty Rhodes feud in the mid 80's might've been one of the greatest rivalries in N.W.A. or W.C.W. history. Not saying it was but pretty close. If anyone can think of other great rivalries from that organization please mention.
Not really a rivalry but, Mick Foley, aka Cactus Jack, aka Mankind, aka Dude Love, was one of the greatest of all time, and he's in my personal *Top 3* favorite wrestlers of ALL TIME. He was also just such a great, positive, loving family man outside of the ring, and inside, always gave it his all and did it over the top, not for him, not for the money, but for the sport itself and especially for the fans. He always did his best to make it as entertaining and fun as possible for the fans of wrestling man...such a great wrestler, and even better person/husband/father/friend.
The love he has for the business is why he tears... it made him who he is.. and after 42 year of knowing just wrestling.. how would one turn away and say, i am done with this cuz its all he has ever known...hogan too..
you say "wrestle" as if its easy to do.... tell me ... HOW many 60 minute matches and plane crashes and lightning strikes have YOU done or survived?? and your lil pic of warrior?? as if he was shit other than a flash in the pan who held vince up for money....and never worked a 60 min match ever in his life...
and as if you wouldnt have fucked as many woman or spent as much money as this guy made....IF you were ever in a position to do so..cuz incest for you must be going dull..
Hulk Hogan is a joke and a horrible wrestler. People forget that Flair was excellent at technical moves in the ring. Flair is hands down the best ever. Hogan needs to disappear forever with his cheesy leg drop...
Todd Richardson Hogan had as much to do with the globalization of professional wrestling as Flair. Give him credit. While wrestling ability has something to do with it, his character excelled past the business itself.
Lets just say they both needed each other to survive. The heat between the two was good for business. Both Hogan and Flair have the same contribute to wrestling. They are both Legends even though I am not a big fan of both. They deserve credit when its due.
Absolutely the greatest of all time. Saw him for the first time on Georgia Championship Wrestling on WTBS in 1983 and I was hooked. No one will ever surpass him in the ring or on the mic. Get well soon, Nature Boy. I am pulling for you.
