Ric Flair hospitalized following 'serious' medical emergency, TMZ reports

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 26: Professional wrestler Ric Flair of ‘ESPN’s 30 for 30: “Nature Boy”‘ speaks onstage during the ESPN portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

by: Staff

Posted: May 16, 2019 / 05:18 PM EDT

Updated: May 16, 2019 / 05:18 PM EDT

ATLANTA (WNCN) – Ric Flair is in an Atlanta-area hospital after suffering a medical emergency, TMZ reports.

The 70-year-old from Charlotte was hospitalized in 2017 and married soon after he was released.

Details on his latest hospitalization are scant but TMZ says the situation is “very serious.”

Flair, whose real name is Richard Fliehr, holds the record for most world championship reigns in professional wrestling history with 16.

“The Nature Boy” held titles for the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment, National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, and has multiple inductions into wrestling halls of fame.

Flair wrestled in several main events at Raleigh’s Dorton Arena at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. In a January 1981 main event at Dorton, he lost the National Wrestling Alliance United States Championship to Rowdy Roddy Piper in front of a big crowd.

CBS 17 will update this story as it develops.