Flair's WWE Raw Appearance Cancelled

Having to pull out of scheduled appearances for All Japan Pro Wrestling in January due to a blood clot in one of his legs, Ric Flair - who has suffered numerous injuries during a distinguished career, including a broken back caused by a plane crash in 1975, was forced to miss another pencilled in spot on WWE's Monday Night Raw broadcast last night.

Flair was due to appear during a segment also including other pro wrestling legends, Bret Hart and Jerry Lawler. The trio were booked to discuss the upcoming Wrestlemania rematch for the WWE Title between The Rock and John Cena, putting over the importance of the bout and lending their value in the eyes of the fans to make the match seem even more credible. WWE officials took a look at Flair during the afternoon, deciding when looking at his leg that he should be taken to hospital instead of appearing on TV.

Today's latest reports suggest it wasn't another blood clot, but instead another issue with the same leg. Flair was sent home to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he rested up yesterday evening and was scheduled to see doctors today for testing.

This is a blow for Flair, who at 64 years old has stated he still feels he has enough left physically to work lengthy matches for the top companies. Even though this is a separate, less-immediate issue than Jerry Lawler's widely reported heart attack last September, WWE may still be hesitant to allow Flair to wrestle, as they have been with Lawler. That in mind, there was no indication the company were interested in using "The Nature Boy" as an in-ring talent going forward. Stay with fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk for the latest on Flair's health.