Ric Flair, the WWE legend known as “Nature Boy,” was hospitalized Saturday for a routine test that later turned more serious.
By Monday morning, Flair’s management tweeted out a request for prayers for the 68-year-old “living legend,” saying that Flair was dealing with “tough medical issues.”
The hospitalization was heart-related, but no other details were available about his condition, CBS Sports reported. He is in intensive care in Atlanta.
Flair revealed in his 2004 autobiography that he had developed alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which caused a weakening of his heart’s muscles that was discovered when his heart started to skip beats.
Flair had a more than 40-year career with WWE and other wrestling organizations. He remains popular even after retiring from wrestling, and he has appeared with many college and professional sports teams around the country.
WWE says Flair was a 16-time world champion, although Flair himself says it could actually be as high as 22.
Flair’s daughter Charlotte Flair also is a multi-time champion and popular WWE star in her own right. There was no word on whether she will cancel a planned show Monday night to be with her father.
ESPN will release a documentary called “Nature Boy” about Flair this fall through their "30 for 30" series.
Twitter fans were quick to respond to the prayer request.