Reid Fliehr, son of WWE's 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair, found dead
The son of professional wrestler Ric Flair was found dead in a North Carolina hotel room Friday.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police says officers were called to a hotel on the city's south side around 10:30 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found the body of 25-year-old Reid Fliehr, who also was a wrestler.
A statement from police says there are no signs of foul play, and that the cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner's office.
Flair's agent released a statement Friday describing Reid as "an incredible son, brother, friend, and professional wrestler."
Fliehr faced multiple legal problems over the past few years, including a 2009 arrest for heroin possession in Charlotte. He ended up following his father into the wrestling business, and made his debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling in January. Father and son were scheduled to appear at a pair of independent pro wrestling shows in Maryland this weekend.
Ric Flair's real name is Richard Morgan Fliehr. The peroxide-blond, who became famous as the "Nature Boy, wrestled his first match in 1972.
Flair was pulled from an appearance on "Monday Night Raw" earlier this week due to a blood clot in his leg. WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross subsequently said on his blog that he received a text from Flair saying he is taking medication for the clot.
"The doctors are highly optimistic that the meds will do the trick and eliminate a potentially, dangerous issue," Ross wrote of Flair, 64, a 16-time world champion.
Charlotte CBS affliliate WBTV reported that Flair was spotted out in public for much of Friday visibly emotional, and conducted a brief interview with him at a Charlotte restaurant Friday night.
"Today is a very tough day for me and my family," Flair told WBTV, adding, "I loved my son very much."
Flair has four children, including daughter Ashley, who is currently performing in WWE's developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, as "Charlotte."
-- With Josh Stewart
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