Ric Flair Reveals He's Battling Skin Cancer for the Second Time in Three Years
Ric Flair Reveals He's Battling Skin Cancer for the Second Time in Three Years

Published: June 6, 2025

Wrestling legend Ric Flair has been diagnosed with skin cancer, he tells PEOPLE exclusively, marking the second time he's dealt with the disease in three years.

The WWE star, 76, says he will start treatment next week. "It's the second time in three years that I've been dealing with skin cancer," Flair says. "I will be undergoing treatment next week."

Flair had initially denied reports that he had cancer on X on Thursday to keep his diagnosis private, but was ready to share the news, adding to PEOPLE: "Appreciate the concerns!"

Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Flair has previously dealt with significant health issues. In August 2017, Flair was hospitalized with stomach pains and was in the early stages of kidney failure and close to congestive heart failure, the result of alcohol abuse. His family members were told he only had 20% odds of surviving and he was put in a medically induced coma. His doctors later removed part of his bowel and inserted a pacemaker.

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    • Ric Flair. Credit: David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

    Flair's health issues and past alcohol addiction were a focus on his 2022 Peacock documentary Woooooo! Becoming Ric Flair. Barlow says in the documentary that diving into his WWE persona seemed to help Flair through.

    "I don't know how he survived. What he did was go back into Ric Flair, to be a character so he didn't have to feel."

    Wendy Barlow and Ric Flair in February 25, 2020. Allen Berezovsky/Getty

    When he and his partner of 13 years, Wendy Barlow, split in Sept. 2024, he thanked her for being with him through his 2017 health crisis.

    “I’ll Never Ever Be Able To Thank Her Enough For Standing By My Side Through My Terrible Health Crisis In 2017,” Flair wrote in a statement posted on his X and Instagram accounts on Monday, Sept. 23. “She Never Left My Side! And For That I Will Always Be Grateful!”

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