Ric Flair has spent decades being called one of the greatest to ever step into the ring, but he says there was a specific moment when he finally felt like he belonged at the top.
During his appearance on the Thanalysis Show, Flair was asked when he realized he was part of something special. Instead of pointing to his first world title win, he explained that it took time, experience, and a tough learning curve before he truly felt ready.
Flair broke down how his early run as champion exposed areas where he still needed to grow, especially when he was traveling and working long matches against opponents who weren’t always equipped for that style.
“In ’83. ’83. When I won the title for the second time. When I won it the first time I’d only been wrestling really good wrestlers in one area.”
He went deeper into what made that first run so challenging, explaining that being world champion meant constantly adapting in the ring, often carrying matches that went far longer than many performers were used to.
“And when you win the world championship and you take off somewhere and you’re wrestling a guy that’s never wrestled an hour for an hour because back then it was either you beat the guy or you had to wrestle an hour, right? And a lot of guys can’t wrestle an hour. So you can imagine it was a nightmare and I didn’t have the skill didn’t have the skill then.”
That experience ultimately became the foundation for his growth. By the time Flair captured the title for a second time, he said everything had changed — his confidence, his ability, and his understanding of what it meant to be the face of the business.
“But the second time I won it from Harley Race, I was ready and I you know, I traveled more…”
Looking back, Flair’s rise wasn’t instant. It was built through experience, tough lessons, and learning how to deliver at the highest level no matter who was standing across the ring.
Do you think Ric Flair’s second title run was the moment he truly became the top star in wrestling, or did he already prove that during his first reign? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you think.
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