North Carolina is looking to cement its place in pro wrestling history with a proposed Hall of Fame, and they’re doing it in true legendary fashion—by naming the bill after “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
The bipartisan Senate Bill 404, also known as the “RIC FLAIR” Act, aims to allocate $500,000 to study the feasibility of creating a professional wrestling Hall of Fame in the state. The bill is sponsored by Senators Jay Chaudhuri, Danny Britt, and Ralph Hise, and if passed, would require the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to conduct the study and present a report by the summer of 2026.
Senator Chaudhuri emphasized the deep connection between professional wrestling and North Carolina, stating, “Our shared cultural heritage in this state is college basketball, NASCAR, and professional wrestling. Professional wrestling still hasn’t gotten the recognition it deserves.”
North Carolina has long been a major hub for wrestling, with the legendary Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling promotion calling the state home before evolving into Jim Crockett Promotions, a key player in the rise of the NWA and WCW. Ric Flair himself became a household name while wrestling in the region, making the bill’s namesake a fitting tribute.
If the study leads to the creation of a Hall of Fame, North Carolina could establish itself as a premier destination for wrestling history alongside WWE’s Hall of Fame, which currently exists as a virtual entity without a dedicated physical location.
Could we see a brick-and-mortar wrestling shrine in North Carolina in the future? Only time will tell, but if there’s one thing Ric Flair knows how to do, it’s make history. Woooo!
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