DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCAST

Episode: Ric Flair Reveals the Truth About Hulk Hogan’s Final Days, His Hall of Fame Career & His Wildest Stories

Hosts: N3on & Mystic Zach

Guest: Ric Flair

Date: November 23, 2025

Overview

This episode features wrestling icon Ric Flair in a lively and candid conversation about his legendary career, the realities and legends of professional wrestling—including never-before-heard details about Hulk Hogan’s final days—his storied rivalries, wild personal stories, and life beyond the ring. The hosts and Flair delve into the evolution of wrestling, family legacies, and relationships with fellow sports and music superstars, all delivered with the wit and unapologetic tone expected from the “Nature Boy.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Athleticism in Wrestling, Then and Now

• [00:54–03:10]
  • Ric and the hosts open by discussing how pro wrestlers’ athleticism is now more widely recognized.
  • Ric lists Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio, and his daughter Charlotte as top-tier athletes.
  • Ric reminisces: "I don't wanna be in the ring the day Brock misses that vertical jump to the apron... almost made the Vikings." ([02:27])
• [02:56]
  • Flair praises Brock Lesnar: “He goes and wins the UFC championship. I mean, come on. And he's a tough kid, too.”

2. Flair’s Connections in Football & His Personal Life

• [03:15–04:25]
  • Ric talks about being friends with coaches like Jim and John Harbaugh, Mike Vrabel, Lane Kiffin.
  • Flair jokes about his marital past:
    • “Nobody will have me. 1.8 million in alimony and 1:1 in attorney fees.” ([04:21])
    • “$17,000 a month for one of my wives for a year... I was paying all the money to three women at one time. Hey, top that, Lawrence.” ([04:47])

3. Rap, Pop Culture & The "Ric Flair Drip"

• [05:41–06:44]
  • Ric tells the story behind recording the "Ric Flair Drip" music video with Migos after recovering from a hospital stay.
    • “I made 39,000. You made 48 million... He said, I made you famous. I said, you wrote the song about me. I was famous.” ([06:41])

4. Legends, Heroes, and Athletic Icons

• [07:09–09:03]
  • Flair expresses admiration for Wilt Chamberlain:
    • “Wilt Chamberlain... greatest athlete that ever played basketball... at Kansas... bench pressed 400 pounds... threw the shot put 68ft... He led the league in whatever he wanted.” ([07:39–08:40])
  • Also shouts out Bill Russell and the business acumen of Wilt, Arnold Palmer.

5. The Old-School Grind: Wrestling Schedules, Surviving the '80s

• [10:46–11:59]
  • Flair on today’s easier conditions:
    • “Thankful for all that [medical advances]. The guys have it easy today, but I'm happy they do... From '83 to '85, I had 17 days off.” ([10:46])
    • On his wild lifestyle: “When do you drink?” Psychologist asks. “When I work. When do you work? Every day.” ([11:06])

6. Plane Crash, Recovery, and Unbreakable Dedication

• [12:11–13:28]
  • Surviving a devastating 1975 plane crash and wrestling after:
    • “The doctor said I'd never wrestle again... went from 255 to 180... here I am.” ([12:29])
    • “From 83 to 85, I had 17 days off. Twice on Saturday, twice on Sunday...” ([10:46])

7. Fatherhood, Regrets, and Social Media’s Impact

• [13:04–14:20]
  • Ric admits regrets about missing time with his older children due to constant travel:
    • “No guaranteed contract. You don't go to work, you don't get paid.” ([13:21])
    • On surviving the 80s with today’s social media:
      • “I would have never, ever survived social media... In the '80s, we were the Beatles.” ([13:28–14:20])

8. Rivalries & Legacy: Dusty Rhodes and the Next Generation

• [14:38–17:27]
  • Legendary rivalry with Dusty Rhodes, their differences on- and off-screen.
    • “He was much more conservative than I was. He knew when to go to bed, I didn’t. I still don’t.” ([15:43])
  • Flair declares his daughter Charlotte “the greatest female wrestler of all time” and praises Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

9. Kayfabe, ESPN Spotlight, and Real Dangers of Wrestling

• [19:01–20:06]
  • Contrast between protecting kayfabe in the old days and today’s transparency.
  • On real injuries:
    • “Last three years, two broken necks... we've had seven broken necks in the last ten years... So it's not a game.” ([19:55])

10. Logan Paul, Social Media Stars & Wrestler Performers

• [20:20–21:39]
  • Flair respects Logan Paul’s rapid progress under Shawn Michaels: “He’s done great. Hats off to him.”
  • Regards Shawn Michaels as “the greatest of all time” and deep dives on “working both ways”—being both hero and villain.

11. Classic Matches & “Retirement” with Shawn Michaels

• [21:43–22:43]
  • On his WrestleMania retirement vs. Shawn Michaels:
    • “80,000 people up... he said, keep your mouth shut. Do exactly what I tell you.” ([22:28])
    • “Nobody will ever touch our retirement.” ([21:48])
  • Flair’s calling card: making others look good in the ring.

12. NWA Days: The Last Great Traveling Champion

• [25:20–28:12]
  • Grueling schedules, changing belts, and wrestling in multiple countries in a week.
  • “I wrestled a different guy every night for 10 years and for an hour.” ([27:45])
  • Stories of Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen:
    • “What do you think these kids would do with Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen right now? Jesus Christ.” ([27:44])

13. Big Men, Legends, and Mount Rushmore Reflections

• [29:03–31:47]
  • Flair names Undertaker as “the best big man ever.”
  • Considers being put on wrestling’s Mt. Rushmore a huge honor but notes the evolution of the style:
    • “We didn’t do moonsaults when I started... you were fighting for your life.” ([31:08])

14. Entertainers: Rock, Stone Cold, and the Nuts and Bolts of Being Over

• [32:10–33:27]
  • Flair on The Rock: “Nobody's more entertaining... not even close.” ([32:11])
  • Steve Austin out-drinking everyone: “He could drink like hell. You kidding me?” ([33:22])

15. Business Ventures & Vacation Destinations

• [33:43–35:56]
  • Ric’s "Wooooo! Energy" drink, Walmart deals, passion for Japan.
  • Favorite travel spots and how overexposure makes it hard to choose just one.
  • “I just have done so much and been so many places, but I have not been to Colombia...” ([35:25])

16. Celebrity Friends, Nashville, Kid Rock, and Wild Parties

• [36:04–39:14]
  • Ric’s Nashville exploits with Kid Rock, Post Malone, classic rockers (Waylon Jennings, Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses), and friendships with contemporary stars.
  • “Kid Rock... He’ll never cancel. He doesn’t give a about anything.” ([36:19])

17. Hulk Hogan’s Final Days: The Truth

• [40:30–43:38]
  • Ric reveals he spoke to Hulk the day before he died and shares the real cause:
    • “I talked to him the day before he died... What killed him was street drugs. When the doctor wouldn't prescribe anymore, he was in so much pain... they went and got the drugs off the street. His body just said, you know what? Bingo. I can't do it anymore.” ([40:38–41:29])
  • Details Hogan’s injuries, surgeries, and why dropping the leg drop ruined his back, not just lifting Andre.

18. On Loss, Health Scares & Longevity

• [44:00–46:41]
  • Flair underscores the toll of wrestling, and how many friends are now passing or suffering:
    • “Just hope to live another day and pray for your friends that are suffering now because a lot of people are.” ([44:00])
  • Hits on his own workout legacy, minimal steroid use, and surviving physically.

19. Strongest & Most Athletic Opponents

• [46:31–47:40]
  • Names Ken Patera as the strongest he’s encountered.
  • Praises modern strongmen like Cesaro, John Cena, and Kane.
    • “Ken Patera... first guy to ever push 500 overhead.” ([46:35])

20. Next Generation and Farewells

• [47:53–49:00]
  • Flair talks about Cena’s impending retirement:
    • “He did phenomenal. He’ll be missed.” ([48:56])
  • Flair’s admiration for younger stars, their charity work.

21. The Original Nature Boy & The Intergenerational Magic of Wrestling

• [49:18–51:38]
  • Ric’s relationship with Buddy Rogers and the legacy inheritance:
    • “Always tan, dressed immaculately... kid, there's only one diamond in this business. And you're talking to Buddy Rogers.” ([49:23])
  • On generational clashes: “Those older guys were tough as, man.” ([51:39])

22. Boxing, Celebrity Scenes, Stories of Toughness

• [51:56–55:30]
  • Flair’s boxing knowledge, from Sonny Liston to Emil Griffith.
  • Unexpected encounters: “I’m walking out the door and this guy is shining shoes, and I go, are you Emil Griffith?” ([53:10])
  • Anecdotes about celebrity meets, comedians in locker rooms, Snoop Dogg at fights.

23. Jake Paul, New-Age Boxing, and Fight Game Realities

• [54:40–55:30]
  • Ric’s thoughts on Jake and Logan Paul as legitimate tough guys, the age gap in a hypothetical Mike Tyson fight, and the unpredictability of the new boxing scene.
• Willingness to walk them to the ring: “…they wanted me to walk the ring with them this last time. So yeah, if they invite me again, I will.” ([56:36])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “From '83 to '85, I had 17 days off.” —Ric Flair ([10:46])
• “In the '80s, we were the Beatles. The bars were full of women. Now it’s a guy’s soap opera. You walk into the bar, 25 stiffs. Can we have your autograph? No.” — Ric Flair ([13:28–14:20])
• “My daughter is the greatest female wrestler of all time, and I truly believe she’s the best wrestler in the company right now.” —Ric Flair on Charlotte Flair ([16:14])
• “I talked to him the day before he died… What killed him was street drugs… When the doctor wouldn't prescribe anymore... they went and got the drugs off the street. His body just said, you know what? Bingo. I can't do it anymore.” — Ric Flair on Hulk Hogan ([40:38–41:29])
• “We didn't do moonsaults when I started. I'm sure I could have done it… you were fighting for your life… It's a different time.” — Ric Flair ([31:08])
• “Nobody's more entertaining. Not even close.” — Ric Flair on The Rock ([32:11])
• “He could drink like hell. You kidding me?” — Ric Flair on Steve Austin ([33:22])
• “Ken Patera... first guy to ever push 500 overhead.” — Ric Flair ([46:31])
• "You just hope to live another day and pray for your friends that are suffering now because a lot of people are." — Ric Flair ([44:00])

Important Segment Timestamps

• Hulk Hogan’s Final Days Revealed – [40:30–43:38]
• Flair's Plane Crash & Recovery – [12:11–13:28]
• Dusty Rhodes Rivalry – [14:38–15:56]
• Changing Nature of Wrestling/Kayfabe – [19:01–20:06]
• WrestleMania Retirement Match – [21:43–22:43]
• Traveling Champion Stories – [25:20–28:12]
• Strongest Opponents – [46:31–47:40]
• Reflections on Mount Rushmore – [31:08–31:47]
• Rock, Austin & Entertaining Mic Work – [32:10–33:27]
• Jake Paul in Boxing – [54:40–56:39]

Tone and Language

Flair is frank, unfiltered, and reminiscing, blending humor and pathos (“praying for friends that are suffering now”), full of bravado but often tinged with honesty about regrets and losses. The hosts keep the mood conversational and fan-driven, asking for stories while sharing their own admiration and wrestling knowledge.

This episode is a vivid, wide-ranging portrait of Ric Flair—his legendary highs and devastating lows, his place in the sport’s past and future, and inside stories you will not hear anywhere else. A must-listen for old-school fans and wrestling newcomers alike.