Ric Flair’s son found dead in Charlotte hotel room; foul play not suspected

By Jay Busbee | The Turnstile – 34 minutes ago

Tragic news from the world of wrestling: Reid Fliehr, 25-year-old son of famed wrestler Ric Flair, has been found dead in a Charlotte hotel room.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg County police received a call about 10:30 ET Friday morning about an unresponsive man at a Marriott Residence hotel. The current police report indicates that foul play is not believed to be involved in Fliehr's death.

Fliehr, who wrestled under the name "Reid Flair," had been working in Japan and was scheduled to tour with his father this weekend. Ric Flair had recently rejoined the WWE, and Reid was expected to follow in his father's footsteps.

"We are heartbroken to confirm that Ric's son, Reid Fliehr, has passed away today March 29, 2013 in Charlotte, NC," Flair's agent, Melinda Morris Zanoni of Legacy Talent and Entertainment, said in a statement. "The investigation into the cause of death is ongoing. Reid was 25 and an incredible son, brother, friend, and professional wrestler. No words can describe the grief that Ric and his family are experiencing and they do request privacy during this devastating time."

Wrestling icons including Roddy Piper, Eric Bischoff and Kurt Angle expressed their sympathies via Twitter.


http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/ric-flair-son-found-dead-charlotte-hotel-room-194430539.html




Dan

I have not seen anything regarding cause of death, other than that the police do not suspect fowl play.

Is there any news on the cause?

I have not seen anything regarding cause of death, other than that the police do not suspect fowl play.

Is there any news on the cause?


"police are investigating the possibility of a drug overdose"



Dan

"police are investigating the possibility of a drug overdose"



Dan


I think it was an overdose, Ric Flair must be so devastated.  :\'(

Man who trained WWE legend Ric Flair's son: Reid Fliehr showed no signs of trouble

Originally published: March 31, 2013 1:17 AM
Updated: March 31, 2013 1:19 AM
By JOSH STEWART  josh.stewart@newsday.com


The man who trained "Nature Boy" Ric Flair's son for a career in pro wrestling says there were no signs of trouble the last time he was in the ring with him.

George South said he had a training session with Reid Fliehr in late January, just days before he debuted for All Japan Pro Wrestling and only two months before Fleihr, 25, was found dead in a Charlotte, N.C. hotel room Friday.

Longtime wrestler South, 50, has a history of training second-generation wrestlers, including Fliehr; Richie Steamboat, son of WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat; and Dillon Eaton, son of legendary tag-team specialist “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton.

A picture of South in the ring with the three youngsters is now on top of South’s website as a tribute to his fallen student.

“I know people will write what they want to write, but he was really great kid,” South said about Fliehr in a phone interview with Newsday late Saturday night. “When you’re training them them you get close. When there’s nobody in the building but them and the ring, you get to know these kids.”

South acknowledges Fliehr’s past, which includes multiple arrests, culminating in a 2009 charge for heroin possession. But South said Fleihr trained regularly at his Charlotte facility for the last two years, and was around from time to time for years prior to that. He said Fliehr and South’s son, George Jr. -- who also entered his father’s profession -- traded text messages regularly.

“He was as healthy as can be,” South said of the training session, later adding, “I know these guys inside-out. I like to think I’m like a dad to them. Reid would have said something to me .”

Fliehr returned from a Japanese tour just days before his death. In a tweet dated Tuesday, he wrote, “Made it home but no time to rest. Already back to work. Always improving in one way or another.”

“It’s amazing how many people have come forward and said they wrestled Reid in his last match,” South said. And those are people who didn’t even know him. That’s why I’ve been giving interviews, to set the record straight.”

Newsday initially reached South Saturday night as his entrance music was playing for him to head to the ring during a show at the Reidsville, N.C., National Guard Armory. When he finally was able to speak after the event, he explained that going on isn’t easy.

“We’re not supermen,” South said. “We hurt, we lose loved ones, we’re just normal folks. As young as Reid was, it just broke my heart.”


http://www.newsday.com/sports/pro-wrestling/man-who-trained-wwe-legend-ric-flair-s-son-reid-fliehr-showed-no-signs-of-trouble-1.4962368




Dan