| Name | Ric Flair |
| Occupation | Professional wrestler |
| Achievements | Respected in the industry, but did not achieve the same level of nationwide fame and influence as his counterpart in the primary timeline |
| Active years | Primarily in regional wrestling promotions in the Southeastern United States |
| Recognized for | Technical abilities and charismatic persona |
Ric Flair, born Richard Morgan Fliehr, is a former American professional wrestler who was active primarily in the Southeastern United States during the 1970s and 1980s. While a skilled and charismatic performer, Flair was unable to achieve the same level of national and global stardom as his counterpart in the primary timeline.
Born in 1949 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Flair grew up in a middle-class family and initially pursued a career in football, even earning a scholarship to the University of Minnesota. However, he eventually found his true calling in professional wrestling, breaking into the regional circuit in the early 1970s.
Flair honed his skills working for various promotions in the Southeastern United States, including the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the [[Federation of American Wrestling (FAW)]. He quickly developed a reputation as a skilled technical wrestler with a charismatic, flamboyant persona that resonated with regional audiences.
Known as "The Nature Boy", Flair's in-ring style was characterized by his ability to blend technical prowess with high-impact maneuvers and dramatic flair. His signature "Figure Four Leglock" submission hold and his ability to deliver captivating, trash-talking promos helped cement his status as a regional star.
Flair's "Nature Boy" persona - an ostentatious, womanizing playboy who lived a life of luxury - made him a polarizing figure, drawing the ire of working-class fans and heroes alike. However, this character never quite transcended the regional circuit and achieved the same level of widespread popularity as it did in the primary timeline.
Over the course of his career, Flair engaged in notable feuds with wrestlers such as Dusty Rhodes, Jerry Lawler, and Ted DiBiase. While these rivalries produced some memorable matches and storylines, they primarily unfolded within the confines of the Southeastern territories, never reaching the national stage.
Flair's accomplishments include winning multiple regional championships, including the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on several occasions. However, his reign as the preeminent world champion was never as dominant or influential as it was in the primary timeline. He remained a top star in the Southeast, but failed to break out into the national spotlight.
Ric Flair's legacy in this timeline is that of a skilled, charismatic wrestler who was highly respected within the regional wrestling scene, but never achieved the same level of crossover mainstream success as his counterpart. While his flamboyant persona and technical abilities are still fondly remembered by fans of the era, his transformative impact on the industry as a whole is significantly diminished.
After retiring from active competition in the early 1990s, Flair continued to work in various roles within the regional wrestling promotions, but never emerged as the prominent creative force or commentator that he became in the primary timeline. His legend lives on primarily among hardcore fans of the sport's "old school" era, but his influence on the modern wrestling landscape is far less pronounced.
