WWE Legend Ric Flair Reveals He Has Skin Cancer
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WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has revealed to PEOPLE magazine that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer. This marks the second time in three years the wrestling icon has faced the illness.
"It's the second time in three years that I've been dealing with skin cancer," Flair stated. He confirmed, "I will be undergoing treatment next week."
Flair had initially denied reports about his health on X this past Thursday to keep the diagnosis private. He was now ready to share the news, telling PEOPLE that he does, "Appreciate the concerns!" from his many fans.
This is the latest in a series of significant health challenges for "The Nature Boy." Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Flair survived a near-fatal health crisis in August 2017.
He was hospitalized for stomach pains, which quickly escalated to the early stages of kidney failure and near congestive heart failure, a result of past alcohol abuse.
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At the time, Flair's family was told he had only a 20% chance of surviving. He was placed in a medically induced coma, had part of his bowel removed, and had a pacemaker inserted.
Ric Flair speaks onstage at The Roast of Ric Flair at Nashville Fairgrounds on July 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ric Flair speaks onstage at The Roast of Ric Flair at Nashville Fairgrounds on July 29, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.Flair later told PEOPLE that crisis was unlike any other he'd faced, including surviving a 1975 plane crash that broke his back. "I crashed in an airplane and broke my back, I've been hit by lightning," Flair said in 2017. "But this is totally different. Anything I've been through before is nothing like this."
Flair's health struggles and past battles with alcohol addiction were a central focus of his 2022 Peacock documentary, "Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair." In the documentary, his former partner Wendy Barlow commented on how he coped with the immense physical and emotional pain.
"I don't know how he survived. What he did was go back into Ric Flair, to be a character, so he didn't have to feel," Barlow said. Flair himself publicly thanked Barlow for her support through that period after they split in September 2024.
"I'll Never Ever Be Able To Thank Her Enough For Standing By My Side Through My Terrible Health Crisis In 2017," Flair wrote at the time. "She Never Left My Side! And For That I Will Always Be Grateful!"
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