"The Nature Boy," Ric Flair is one of the most well-known wrestlers in the entire world. His recent return to the ring was polarizing, but Flair's been a polarizing figure practically his whole career. He's one of the best heels to ever set foot in a wrestling ring and was the best promo guy for over a decade.

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Before he became a multiple-time world champion and two-time WWE Hall of Famer, Flair started his career in the early 70s, honing his craft. This list will examine ten facts wrestling fans should know about Ric Flair's early wrestling career in the 1970s.

10 First Wrestling Match Took Place On December 10, 1972

Flair's First Wrestling Match Took Place On December 10, 1972

The first "official" match of Flair's career happened, while he competed in the AWA. His first opponent was "Scrap Iron" George Gadaski who had been wrestling for over a decade and was 19 years older than the "Nature Boy."

According to Flair, the match was an impromptu bout, and he fought as the heel. The match ended in a ten-minute draw although Gadaski would defeat Flair in 1973.

9 Voted "Rookie Of The Year" In 1975

Ric-Flair-young-1

The potential for Flair to be a star was evident even in his early days. Not only was he a stand-out talent among other wrestlers, but Pro Wrestling Illustrated also voted him "Rookie Of The Year" in 1975.

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He would earn the distinction again over ten years later in 1987. PWI Magazine was first established in 1971 making Flair the fourth "Rookie Of The Year" ever.

8 Career Almost Ended In The 70s

Flair's Career Almost Ended In The 70s

In 1975, at the age of 26, Ric Flair suffered a huge injury after a plane crash that almost took his life and did take the life of the pilot. He ended up breaking his back in three places and was told by doctors he would never wrestle again.

As fans know from his 2022 match, where he had many physical troubles, Flair is not a quitter, and he rehabbed so well that he returned to the ring three months after the almost career-ending injury.

7 Wrestled Many Future Legends

Ric Flair and Andre The Giant in the 70s

Although many of his high-profile feuds against Hulk Hogan, Ricky Steamboat, and Roddy Piper became well known in the 80s and 90s, he fought all of them in the 70s.

The list of stars he battled with and against in the decade includes many current Hall of Famers like Dusty Rhodes, Andre The Giant, Larry Hennig, and Jimmy Snuka.

6 A Much Bigger Man In The 70s

Ric Flair in the 1970s

Although many fans have come to know Flair for his slimmer look in the 80s and 90s, "The Nature Boy" used to wrestle at almost 300 hundred pounds. The plane crash that almost took his life (and did break his back) caused him to trim down to 180 pounds to recover.

He hovered around that weight for most of his prime. Images from "The Nature Boy's" early career are almost unrecognizable.

5 Competed In Japan In 1973

Ric Flair 1973

Most Japanese fans remember his run in 1991 at NJPW where he competed for the IWGP Heavyweight Title, but these matches happened decades after his first matches in Japan. In 1973, Flair competed for the International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE).

He also competed in his first known Cage match at the company. IWE would become defunct in 1981, and Flair never returned after 1973.

4 Never Held A Major World Title In The 70s

Ric Flair Wins WCW And International Champion

Although Flair is recognized for holding 16 world titles (8 NWA world titles, 6 WCW world titles, and 2 WWE), he never had a single title run in the 70s. The most famous solo title he won in the 70s was the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, which he earned from wrestling icon Bobo Brazil.

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It wasn't until 1981 that Flair would finally win the NWA World Heavyweight Champion when he defeated Dusty Rhodes. He set himself on course for his multiple world title runs throughout various wrestling promotions in different decades.

3 Earned His First "Most Hated Wrestler of the Year" Award in 1978

Ric Flair 1973

Flair is regarded as one of the best heels and has even been called a "bad babyface." His skills as a heel started very early in his career since he was voted "Most Hated Wrestler of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1978.

He would earn the distinction again in 1987 becoming the second person to be voted most hated wrestler twice after Greg Valentine. He also earned the title before many other legendary heels of his era like Roddy Piper and Ted DiBiase.

2 Won Tag Team Titles With Four Different Tag Partners

Ric Flair Tag Team in 1970s

Although he was never a world champion, Ric Flair won tag team titles on various occasions in the 1970s. He held the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship with Rip Hawk. The two split, and he would hold the titles again with John Studd.

Two years later he earned the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Greg Valentine. They would have two title reigns and Flair would earn a third run with Blackjack Mulligan.

1 Adopted "The Nature Boy" Gimmick in 1978

Nature Boy Ric Flair 1970s

Many fans don't know that there was a "Nature Boy" before Ric Flair, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Although he's more often called "Buddy Rogers" than "Nature Boy" to avoid confusion, Buddy Rogers was a huge wrestling star who helped put Ric Flair over during a feud in 1978.

During the storyline, Flair began to refer to himself as "The Nature Boy" and it helped bolster his status as a heel and a star. Less than three years after calling himself "The Nature Boy" he was NWA World Heavyweight Champion.