The only question I had about titling this post was how many letter “o’s” to use in the word “Woooooooooo!!” Because not only is that Ric Flair’s most famous catchphrase, but it is exactly how I felt when I finally got the chance to meet him on June 27, 2015 at the HorrorHound event in Indianapolis, Indiana. His appearances were not that common, and although he had been to the Hollywood Show one time, it was a time when I wasn’t there.
My Dad and I had been enjoying Flair’s antics all the way back to the early 1980’s when he would swing by Georgia Championship Wrestling and make an appearance that never failed to amuse as he strutted his stuff, stylin’ and profilin’. One of the most memorable storylines was when he got into an arm wrestling match with Bad Bad Leroy Brown… and naturally saw fit to attack him midway through.
When I tuned back into wrestling, Flair was still there as part of the WCW Monday Nitro ensemble, as part of the Four Horsemen feuding with Randy “Macho Man” Savage, helping to take on the nWo when they invaded, and still struttin’ that stuff – stylin’ and profilin’. You loved to hate him and hated to love him, but the one thing you always did was laugh wholeheartedly at his antics both inside and outside of the ring. Only Rowdy Roddy Piper paralleled his outrageousness.
After having met both Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan, I desperately needed Flair to complete the triumvirate Holy Trinity of wrestling. His appearance in a location as close as Indianapolis guaranteed that I’d finally get to do just that.
It was advertised that he’d only be there for a limited time that day, so I made sure to get there plenty early, which meant a long line to get into the show. Once we did, I found his table and slowly meandered around the room, surprised that no one had yet lines up for him. Then I found out that they had lined up… outside the signing room. In fact the line now stretched outside into the parking lot. But this was Flair, so I lined up too.
In the midst of signing I did see him walk to the restroom, and although I knew that the arrogant Flair that we’d often see in his ‘performances’ had to be in there somewhere, he did a remarkable job of restraining it, commenting only to his handler “wow, that’s a long line.”
It took a little under an hour to get to him, and although worried that my hair had been wind-blown, I only planned to take advantage of the photo op for $40 – not a professional one, but one with your own camera.
After I posed for my picture, I did what I always did and asked if Carolyn could get one too. He told me I’d have to ask the handler, but to my surprise, the handler said yes. Flair jokingly commented “I’d rather get a picture with her anyway” to which I responded “that’s why I did mine first!”
I told him quickly that I’d loved him since the Georgia Championship Wrestling days, and he looked me square in the eye and said “those were the best days.” Indeed they were.
I thought I was done with Flair, but after sending a photo of him to my cousin Craig, I found out that Craig wanted an autograph if possible. There was no way I could wait another hour in line, but later I noticed that the line had dwindled and nearly disappeared, so Craig offered the $50 he was charging to get the autograph. I happily obliged for another moment to be in the presence of greatness. Did we talk about fine clothes? Jet airplanes? Expensive cars? Nah, I just had him sign the picture to Craig’s boys Patrick and Carter as requested. Flair granted me another photo of him with the photo which I knew would make the coolest of mementos for the boys.
I didn’t say it because it would have been silly and trite, but in my head as I walked away from finally meeting Ric Flair, I was saying “Woooooooooo!!”
Celebrity encounters from the 2015 HorrorHound in Indianapolis will continue…
Thanks Cousin Brad!
Craig Farrell
August 8th, 2015