Ric Flair says a blood clot in his leg prevented him from attending the Cauliflower Alley Club’s 60th annual reunion in Las Vegas.
The 77-year-old wrestling legend was scheduled to receive the Iron Mike Mazurki Award during the organization’s August 26 banquet. Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jimmy Hart instead accepted the honor on Flair’s behalf.
As seen below, Flair still addressed the audience through a video message, apologizing for his absence and explaining that his current medical condition made the lengthy trip impractical. According to The Nature Boy, the clot prevented him from making the five- or six-hour journey required to reach Las Vegas. He did not provide additional information about when the issue was diagnosed or what treatment he is receiving.
Despite being unable to attend, Flair assured those gathered at the banquet that he otherwise felt well. He thanked the Cauliflower Alley Club for recognizing his career and described himself as honored to receive the award. Flair also expressed support for the organization’s charitable work and said he was making a personal donation to its cause.
The Cauliflower Alley Club is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to current and former members of the professional wrestling industry who have fallen on difficult times. The organization is staffed by volunteers and currently led by former Killer Bees member Brian Blair.
Named after CAC co-founder Mike Mazurki, the Iron Mike Mazurki Award is one of the organization’s highest honors. It recognizes extraordinary achievement, lasting influence and a lifetime of contributions to professional wrestling. Previous recipients include Mick Foley, Sting, CM Punk, John Bradshaw Layfield, Madusa and Mark Henry.
Flair headlined a large group of honorees recognized during the three-day reunion. The 2026 class also included Bret Hart, Dan Spivey, The Glamour Girls, Jimmy Korderas, Psicosis, Gary Michael Cappetta, Bill Apter, Bobby Bass, Tony Atlas, Rip Rogers and wrestling historian Dan Murphy.
