This was a well-researched book on The Nature Boy. I found the biography dragged in spots due to the amount of details it provided on aspects which didn't bring the story of Ric Flair to life (such as the monthly results for matches against foes). Good, not great book.

This is the most comprehensive written account of Flair’s life and career, but feels less than the sum of its parts.

As readers of Hornbaker’s previous books on the NWA, the territories and the early years of the WWF will know, he is meticulous in his research but has tended to favour detail over narrative. That’s certainly the case with the sections here about Flair’s family history and life before wrestling. There are so many dates of birth and middle names of ancestors reproduced in the book that the detail obscures what if anything we should learn about Flair’s background.

Fortunately, that approach is scaled back as Flair’s career begins and although it’s still packed with references (which take up nearly the final 25 percent of the book and often add detail that it’s hard to imagine anyone caring about), there’s more of a story being told and the detail is often used to illustrate a point. The strongest section of the book is on Flair’s rise in the industry and his adjustment to both wealth and life on the road as an NWA champion, particularly with the insane multi-territory schedule of the early 80s when he was indeed “the last real world champion.”

Once the book gets to Flair becoming a near exclusive with Crockett, it becomes more of a whistlestop tour of his major matches and storylines, with less analysis and revelations. In particular, these sections often verge into sounding like a kayfabed, in-story account, not as a misleading piece of writing but simply to avoid repeatedly having to note that a particular outcome or title triumph was the decision of bookers.


Given Hornbaker’s historian approach, it was always going to be fresh revelations that could make a biography stand out. In this case it’s the financial details of Flair’s money woes that bring something new to the table, notably the fact he was already borrowing heavily to take care of unpaid taxes by the early 1980s.

Ultimately the book achieves what Hornbaker’s states in the acknowledgements that he set out to do, giving a comprehensive and largely comment-free account of Flair’s career. However, it doesn’t necessarily have a lot to offer to people familiar with Flair’s career and has no real narrative arc beyond a conclusion that effectively says he had his personal problems but is a nice guy.

Parts of this book such as the financial records or the reality of the territorial schedule would have made for fascinating extended essays, but as an overall autobiography many potential readers may find it doesn’t bring enough that’s new in either detail or big picture story.

Ric Flair’s career spans over FIVE decades (only recently ending), during which he has earned numerous accolades and championships. From his early days in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) to his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and ultimately his stints in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), Flair has left an indelible mark on the industry. His flamboyant larger-than-life persona has captivated audiences for decades, making him one of the most recognizable figures in the world of professional wrestling. He’s one of those rare cases where he truly transcends the sport, becoming a household name in many parts of the country. Known for his charismatic promos and his ability to captivate the crowd, Ric Flair’s in-ring skills and entertaining performances have solidified his status as a wrestling legend.

While recent controversies may have tarnished Flair’s reputation to some extent, I think it is negligent to entirely dismiss the man out of hand. Ric Flair’s contributions to professional wrestling cannot be ignored or denied. His legacy will forever be etched in the annals of the sport, and his impact will continue to be felt for years to come. Tim Hornbaker has taken great care to analyze the entire life of Flair, from his upbringing in the 1950’s Midwest, to his school days, and most notably his pro wrestling career. The Last Real World Champion: The Legacy of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair is perhaps the most well-researched book on Flair that I have ever read, and one that should be in any wrestling fan’s library.

Ric Flair had a life that could have taken a completely different path from the one he ultimately embarked upon. A lot of people may not realize this, but Flair was abandoned as a child and adopted by Kathleen and Dr. Richard Reid Fliehr. As a young man, Flair stood out as a charismatic and popular high school football star, drawing attention with his athletic prowess and magnetic personality. His ability to charm and captivate others was evident from an early age, making him a true standout among his peers. However, despite his undeniable talent and charm, Flair struggled in the academic sphere. This likely was frustrating to his parents, who where in the academic sphere, his father being a doctor and his mother being a journalist and writer.

School was never a priority for him, and he found himself on the verge of failing out multiple times. In fact, he was even held back a year during his senior year of high school due to academic challenges. He made it into college, but wasn’t particularly focused on his studies, and moved from school to school chasing an elusive football spot. When this alluded him due to his GPA, he chose a rather unique college experience – one that involved spending most of his time in the fraternity dormitory (even after leaving school entirely), indulging in the carefree lifestyle of parties and socializing. This setback could have discouraged many, perhaps even leading him to a life being a washed-out loser, but Flair’s determination and resilience ultimately led him down a different path. When reading this book, I couldn’t help but realize that Flair’s life embodies the old adage that it’s the unexpected turns, the road less traveled, that lead to the most extraordinary destinations.

For Ric, that destination was professional wrestling. Flair had familial and personal connections to Verne Gagne through his school and his mother’s theater work, and a friendship with Ken Patera after a chance encounter at a bar where he was bouncing. After learning of Patera’s goals to be a cross-over professional wrestling star (Patera was an Olympic athlete), Ric Flair was intrigued enough to convince Gagne to allow him to join a training camp. Ric was worried his family would be upset but gained the blessing of his wife and his parents. Ric’s father said, “Go ahead, do it. Just make sure you are the best.” After training in grueling conditions in a barn on rural property, Flair had his debut match against “Scrap Iron” George Gadaski in 1972 for the AWA, and the rest was history.

Eventually, Ric Flair would come across numerous wrestling stars of the time, including a man that would start out as his mentor and eventually become perhaps his most notorious rival – Dusty Rhodes. Dusty took Flair under his wing, providing guidance and mentorship to the aspiring wrestler. Rhodes recognized Flair’s talent and potential, and he saw something special in the young athlete. Over time, their bond grew stronger, with Rhodes teaching Flair the tricks of the trade and helping him refine his in-ring skills. At one point, Ric Flair even expressed interest in portraying Dusty Rhodes’ kayfabe brother, “Rambling” Ricky Rhodes. Thankfully, that idea never came to fruition.

The majority of this book talks about Flair’s greatest triumphs in his career, something that came in the aftermath of a 1975 plane crash that nearly ended his life. Considering the fact that a man like Flair was able to re-invent himself and surpass everyone’s expectations when most men would have retired entirely is impressive to say the least. The book goes over the build up to, and subsequent win of his NWA Heavyweight Championship, and eventually his move to Jim Crockett Promotions which would later become World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The book concentrates on this time period, and largely does not stray too far past the death of WCW.

Those later years are touched on, including the less than great episodes in his life such as the infamous “plane ride from hell” and other accusations that currently plague his career. The book is not a hit piece by any means, and the book strongly advises one to look at the full picture of Flair’s life. Whether you are a fan of his or not, I appreciate that the book pulls no punches and shows both sides of the man, the good, the bad, and everything in-between. I appreciate this approach a lot and it goes to show how good Tim Hornbaker is at his craft.

Tim Hornbaker has really established himself as a prominent figure within the realm of wrestling-related biographies and historical books. His illustrious career spans numerous releases, each fleshed-out with his characteristic attention to detail and meticulous sourcing of facts. As an avid reader and enthusiast of wrestling, I find myself consistently appreciating the depth and accuracy that Hornbaker brings to his writings. He is an author that I really look up to in many ways, and as I venture into graduate school this winter, I’d really like to do something like him even though I am old and contending with a nine to five job.

Hornbaker’s prowess as a historian is evident in his ability to make sense of old news articles, many of which often dismissed or disregarded the world of professional wrestling. By carefully examining these primary sources, he unveils hidden narratives, debunking misconceptions and shedding light on historical events that might have otherwise been overlooked. If he is unable to find something he says it, even though it would be easy to ride on with hearsay or assumptions. It is this attention to detail that sets Hornbaker apart and solidifies his position as an accomplished wrestling historian. Through his writing, Hornbaker not only preserves the legacy of wrestling but also showcases the significance of its cultural impact.

I know there are other Flair books out there, such as Ric Flair: To be the Man written by Flair and Keith Elliot Greenberg. While that book was fine, you could tell it was pumped full of things written in-character and some pretty big tall-tales, an issue I find with the large majority of the books written under the WWE Umbrella. The Last Real World Champion: The Legacy of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair by Tim Hornbaker treads on similar territory at times, but goes at everything from an investigative angle. No rock is left unturned, and even the unflattering moments of Ric’s life are discussed. I appreciate this a lot, and as a result I found this book to be far superior. If you are looking for a great book on the life of Ric Flair, you really can’t do much better than this book, and I’d highly recommend it for any wrestling fan.

ECW Press ALWAYS makes great wrestling books, including The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers: The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling, Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik, Wreslecrap, and the classic The Death of WCW, just to name a few. To see all these and more that I’ve read, click HERE.

Note: I was provided a free copy of this book by ECW Press in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks to them for their consideration.

Full review here: https://arcadiapod.com/2023/12/07/review-the-last-real-world-champion-the-legacy-of-nature-boy-ric-flair-2023/

I thought this book was ok with all the video biographies I feel that any true wrestling fan already knows all of the things mentioned in this book. I feel this would be a great book for the newer generation of wrestling fans .


I just reviewed The Last Real World Champion by Tim Hornbaker. #TheLastRealWorldChampion

Just a tremendous deep dive into one of the most important and fascinating pro wrestling careers ever.

I enjoyed what I read of this, but it was archived before I got to finish it… I will be purchasing this so I can find out how it ends!

An extensive, deeply researched ride through the unparalleled career of the one and only Ric Flair. Wooooooo!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this book, as a girl that grew up watching wrestling Ric Flair(The Nature Boy) has always been a name known in my house. He's the stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' n' dealin' son of a gun. You gotta love Ric Flair

Comprehensive exploration of the storied and colorful career of one of the best professional wrestlers in history.

A comprehensive, complete chronical on the career of legendary professional wrestling "real world" champion, Ric Flair!

Hornbaker's book comes with extreme detail and recaps, something that is particularly more challenging to come by for Flair's earlier years of wrestling. The amount of coverage makes this a long and thorough read, but also a must-read for professional wrestling fans.

"The Last Real World Champion: The Legacy of 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair" is an enthralling biography that delves deep into the life of one of wrestling's most iconic figures. Written by celebrated wrestling historian Tim Hornbaker, this book offers a comprehensive and unflinching look at Ric Flair's journey through the world of professional wrestling.

Hornbaker's meticulous attention to detail and exhaustive research shine through as he uncovers the truth behind Flair's incredible in-ring achievements and the often tumultuous hardships he faced outside the ring. The narrative doesn't shy away from the controversies and struggles that marked Flair's life and career, providing readers with a candid and honest portrayal of the man behind the Nature Boy persona.

What makes this biography truly compelling is its ability to capture the essence of Ric Flair's impact on the world of sports entertainment. Flair's pioneering career and his transformation into an iconic figure are expertly chronicled, offering readers a deeper understanding of his lasting legacy. Whether you're a die-hard wrestling fan or someone interested in the intersection of sports and popular culture, this book is a must-read.

Tim Hornbaker has crafted a gripping portrait of a wrestling legend, one that will resonate with readers and leave them with a newfound appreciation for the enduring legacy of Ric Flair. This biography stands as a testament to the enduring influence of one of the sport's greatest performers, making it a valuable addition to the libraries of wrestling enthusiasts and sports aficionados alike

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW press for this advanced copy.

If you are a fan of wrestling, you must read this book. Ric Flair is touted as one of the greatest champions of all time. He lived his gimmick. Woooooooo! I'm Ric Flair! The Stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' n' dealin' son of a gun!

As we wind down 2023, Tim Hornbaker has crafted one hell of a resume when it comes to wrestling books. Not only has he covered the rise of the McMahon family within the wrestling industry (CAPITOL REVOLUTION), he's also written about the history of the NWA (NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE MONOPOLY THAT STRANGLED PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING) as well as the death of the territorial system (DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES) that had fostered a wealth of talent and garnered influence for generations.

Having already written an exhaustive biography of "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers (MASTER OF THE RING), Hornbaker looks to the other "Nature Boy" in Ric Flair, for his new book, THE LAST REAL WORLD CHAMPION. Examining the life and career of Ric Flair, Hornbaker looks to uncover and bring to light as much factual information about an individual who has captured the attention of wrestling fans and journalists for decades.

It should be noted that if you're looking for a book filled with stories of debauchery, this isn't the book for you. In fact, in 2004, Flair (along with Keith Elliot Greenberg), published a memoir that certainly has its share of a few tall tales and stories of benders the likes of which you can't possibly fathom. Hornbaker's goal is to showcase the rise of Flair and how he likely prolonged the life of the NWA and its world championship as a result of an unrivaled work ethic the likes of which we will likely never see again. Sure, there were countless guys in that era working well over three hundred days a year, but how many were jet-setting all over the world and wrestling hour-long matches on a nightly basis. One such occasion had Flair traveling to Japan and back again before immediately leaping back on the plane and heading back across the world to work in Japan once again. The non-stop travel was extraordinary to say the least.

The book tells of Flair's work as NWA Champion and his gradual move over to Jim Crockett Promotions as his home territory in the mid-80s. From there we get the introduction and the success of The Four Horsemen, his work with Terry Funk, Ricky Steamboat and his part in elevating Sting, the man who would become WCW's premier star. While a contract dispute and notorious creative differences with Jim Herd (asking Flair to rebrand himself as a gladiator-style wrestler named Spartacus) would lead to him leaving WCW for McMahon's WWF in the early 90s, Flair would find himself back in WCW in 1993 with a tumultuous decade to follow where Flair would butt heads with Eric Bischoff with legal woes causing the Nature Boy to lose nearly 6 months of his career as fans were clamouring for his return.

While the book is heavily weighted to his life and career pre-2000, the final ten percent is dedicated to the last twenty-three years, so you can imagine much is glossed over. Hornbaker does call into question much of Flair's actions outside of the ring by touching on issues such as the "Plane Ride from Hell" - a subject that had Flair briefly ostracised from WWE following an episode from Dark Side of the Ring. He also shines a light on the medical crisis that nearly ended his life in 2017 as well as the tremendous losses he has suffered regarding the deaths of his friends and colleagues Dusty Rhodes and Roddy Piper as well as the heartbreaking passing of his son Reid. I would have liked Hornbaker to cover Flair's ill-advised "Last Match" pay-per-view from last year, but I understand you have to stop the book somewhere.

Hornbaker's book is as full a picture of Flair's career during his most influential years that could possibly be written. I would put this right up there with Bertrand Hebert and Pat Laprade's book on Andre the Giant (THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD) or Guy Evans' NITRO in terms of exhaustive detail.

THE LAST REAL WORLD CHAMPION is set for release on September 12, 2023.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher ECW Press for an advanced copy of this biography on the professional wrestler that most strive to be like, who wrestled all over the world, winning, losing or going to a draw with not only style, but skill both on the mat, and on the mike.

To some he is the "Dirtiest Player in the Game,". To others he is the Wrestler not only of the Decade but for all 5 decades he fought in the ring, a man wanted to be, women wanted to be with, and bartenders were super happy to see. This man could go bell to bell wrestling for hours with any wrestler, any style, any where, and close out every after hours club, move the party to his hotel, and get up to work out. The stories about the Man, in the ring, outside the ring, family, and financial are legendary. Ric Flair, the "Nature Boy", strode the world of professional wrestling, making a career, making money, having 5 star matches, and creating quite a lot of controversies during his career. Wresting historian and author Tim Hornbaker in The Last Real World Champion: The Legacy of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair looks at the life of this fabled athlete, trying to get to the facts about the Man, a task that can be hard in the illusionary world of Professional Wrestling.

The boy who would later be known as first Richard Morgan Fliehr was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1949, and was placed for adoption through the infamous Tennessee Children's Home Society. The Fliehr's lived first in the Detroit area, and later Wisconsin. Fliehr was a a great athlete but a poor student, and after a semester in college, married and went into insurance. Being a long time professional wrestling fan, Fliehr heard that veteran wrestler and promoter Verne Gagne was training new wrestlers, and Fliehr decided to try out. After some hard lessons, Fliehr, took the name of Ric Flair and made his debut on or around December 10 1972. Flair was good, but his greatest gift was the fact that he wanted to learn, combined with his positive attitude and willingness to do anything to gain knowledge. Soon Flair went South, were his skills at making the crowds hate him, along with veteran wrestlers teaching him the ropes began to move him up the card. A near fatal plane crash forced Flair to adopt a new style more grappling than brawling, and the "Nature Boy" was born. Soon his pay was going to pay for expensive robes, custom suits, bar tabs and more. And his pay was quite good, as Flair was fast become popular not just with the crowds, but with his fellow wrestlers who knew Flair could make them look like a million dollars, which is about what Flair spent on his lifestyle.

A book that follows the facts about Flair, with lots of information on training, the matches, and a bit about his private life, which was highly chaotic, even though his matches in the ring were highly technical. Hornbaker is good at describing life as a wrestler, the travelling, the politics, and aches and pains, and what has changed over the years. However, while much is spent on the matches, even television matches, a lot of what I would consider important things are kind of just mentioned, but not gone into. At one point Hornbaker mentions that Flair wrestled in North Korea in front of 170,000 people, but there is only two lines about this. I know about it from a behind the scenes television show about wrestling, but I don't know if casual fans would know about this, and some background would be nice. Also the accusations that have been raised are mentioned, but not gone into, which in a book about a person, especially since the accusations are pretty bad, really should be told.

The book follows Flair up till his last match, though in wrestling one never says never, and his many recent health issues. The Nature Boy lived a very fascinating life, one he has always been honest about in many ways. Fans will enjoy this as it lacks the breathless writing of Flair's two autobiographies, and the book does contain a lot of good information about the Man and his battles.

Tim Hornbaker has written a number of good books on professional wrestling and this is definitely one to add to that list.

You can tell Tim's a fan on the amount of detail in this book such as specific dates and various angles that Ric Flair has participated in over the years, some of which I'd forgotten about.

The only thing I could find fault with is that I think more could have been done is where Flair's conduct has been alleged to be questionable or indeed any of his personal difficulties there's not as much detail as there could have been. I personally would have wanted to get to the bottom of everything.

A great book though and well worth purchasing.

The Last Real World Champion, The Legacy of “Nature Boy” Ric Flair by Tim Hornbaker was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. Anyone, wrestling fan or not, has most likely heard of "The Nature Boy Ric Flair," if not, I feel sorry for you. This book, one among many about Mr. Flair, covers some aspects of his life not seen in other books or documentaries and is recommended for those who may own other books about Riic or for those who don't own any other books about Rics life. With the holidays fast approaching, it can be a good gift for the hard-to-buy-for wrestling fan.

4 Stars

This is a chronicle of the life of Ric Flair, from his birth and adoption in 1949 to his legendary career up to the present day.

I've read one of Ric Flair's books and watched numerous interviews, including the 8 hour one from Highspots, so I knew a lot of this information or at least Ric Flair's version of events. Hornbaker takes a factual approach and sifts through a lot of embellishments and hazy 50 year old memories and presents the definitive account of Ric Flair's career.. Three out of five stars.