The Tragic Life and Times of Ric Flair

#2 The infamous plane crash

A plane crash nearly ended Flair's life before he even had a chance to make his mark on the industry.

In 1975, Flair faced another tragedy when a plane he was on crashed.

He was on his way to a show for NWA when the plane carrying himself and several others crashed in Wilmington, North Carolina. The pilot was killed, Johnny Valentine was paralyzed and Flair broke his back in three places at age 26.

Three others were on the plane including promoter David Crockett. Because of the damage caused by the plane crash, doctors allegedly informed Flair that he would never wrestle again.

Flair would prove them wrong, however, returning to the ring eight months later after the crash.

Flair looked remarkably different before the plane crash that nearly killed him.

It can be said that Flair made lemonade out of the lemons from the crash. He was forced him to alter his wrestling style from brawling powerhouse to one who relied more on technical moves and character work.

Because of this change in style, Flair would soon create the 'Nature Boy' persona that he would become world famous for. It even propelled him into a feud with the original 'Nature Boy', Buddy Rogers, in which the latter put the younger Flair over, thus ceding the name in 1978.

He would win the United States title five times before winning the NWA/WCW World Championship for the first time in 1981 when he beat perennial rival Dusty Rhodes. This run made Flair the focal point of the promotion until his departure in 1991.

During his run as the franchise, he would go on to form the Four Horsemen in 1985 alongside Arn and Ole Anderson and later Tully Blanchard. And thus, history, and perhaps the greatest faction of all time, was created. He would also win the World Championship eight times before leaving for WWF in 1991.