Flair, another cornerstone of wrestling history, took to X (formerly Twitter) to reflect on their deep bond. Despite the fierce rivalry they once shared in the ring, Flair made it clear that their friendship extended far beyond the squared circle. The two were companions in both triumph and hardship.

“I am absolutely shocked to hear about the passing of my close friend @HulkHogan! Hulk has been by my side since we started in the wrestling business. An incredible athlete, talent, friend, and father! Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me—even when I didn’t ask for him to be,” Flair wrote.

“He was one of the first to visit me when I was in the hospital with a 2% chance of living, and he prayed by my bedside. Hulk also lent me money when Reid was sick. Hulkster, no one will ever compare to you. Rest in peace, my friend!”

What happened to Hulk Hogan?

Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71. According to TMZ, emergency responders were dispatched to the WWE icon’s home in Clearwater, Florida early Thursday morning after a call regarding a “cardiac arrest.”

Reports indicate that Hogan was declared dead at the hospital shortly after. Prior to his passing, multiple police cars and EMT units were seen parked outside his residence. The legendary wrestler was carried out on a stretcher and treated by Clearwater Fire & Rescue personnel before being transported to a nearby medical facility, where he was later pronounced dead.

Hogan’s legacy

The news of Hogan’s passing has sent shockwaves through not only the world of WWE but the entire sports and entertainment community. Hogan’s influence spanned generations, and his legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of professional wrestling.

He headlined numerous WrestleMania events, played a crucial role in elevating WWE to mainstream popularity, and became the face of a movement with the rise of “Hulkamania.” His charisma and larger-than-life persona inspired millions of fans and countless future superstars.

As tributes continue to pour in from around the globe, it’s clear that Hogan’s impact both in and out of the ring remains unmatched. His passing marks the end of an era, but the legacy of Hulk Hogan will live on forever in the hearts of wrestling fans everywhere.

Nonetheless the stories about how Ric Flair would often spend the night partying and then go to a packed arena and wrestle for 45 minutes to 1 hour are endless. Even in his 40’s, when he went to the WWE, his then manager Bobby Heenan said Flair was just a party animal.

Still, for everything that went on outside the ring, inside the ring many promotions that Ric Flair worked for showed tremendous faith in him as he won an amazing 42 wrestling championships in his career. So which titles did Ric Flair win during his career? We will break down the 42 championships.

Ric Flair’s wrestling championships

Ric Flair won a total of 42 titles in his career, of which the belts include, WCW World Heavyweight Championship (7 times), WCW International World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (3 times), NWA (Mid Atlantic)/NWA Television Championship (2 times), NWA (Mid Atlantic)/WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (6 times), NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (3 times), NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (3 times), NWA World Heavyweight Championship (9 times), and NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time).

During his run in the WWE, Ric Flair was able to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (2 times), the WWE World Tag Team Championship (3 times), and the WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time). That’s a lot of bling, something Ric Flair is very used to.