Andrade Recalls Concern for Ric Flair During 2022 Final Match

Andrade El Idolo recalled his concern for Ric Flair during the WWE Hall of Famer's final wrestling match in July 2022. Flair teamed with Andrade against Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett in a tag team match that headlined Starrcast V at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on July 31, 2022.

Andrade said he was unaware at the time that Flair had suffered a heart attack during the bout. The AEW star believed Flair was simply selling in the ring when he became concerned and asked him if he was okay.

Andrade told Chris Jericho on Talk is Jericho that he was positioned with Flair in the corner. He recounted asking Flair "Sir, are you okay?" and receiving the response "Let’s go. Let’s go." Before the match Andrade had spoken with his ex-wife about his fears. He explained he worried about what he would tell her if something happened to Flair, despite knowing Flair was strong and had trained for the contest.

Andrade learned months later that Flair had suffered a heart attack. He said Flair appeared fine afterward, drinking and acting normal in the locker room, and only discovered the truth when he visited a doctor who informed him of the heart attack from two months prior.

Andrade expressed that he was surprised upon learning the news. He stated he was scared in the moment but had assumed Flair was selling, and added that he is happy nothing serious occurred. Flair has not returned to the ring since the match. Last month he suffered a fall outside a restaurant in Tampa, Florida that resulted in an injured eye requiring surgery and a skin graft.