Ric Flair has wrestled at the Nashville Fairgrounds in the past, but that venue just isn’t big enough for him these days.
Flair, 73, announced in May that his final match would be July 31 at the historic fairgrounds as part of the Starrcast pro wrestling fan festival. Tickets sold out within 24 hours.
On Monday, officials said the event would move to the Municipal Auditorium, which is a larger venue (9,700-seat capacity), and additional tickets would go on sale Friday at 11 a.m.
Flair’s opponent and the rest of the event map have not been announced. The event will be broadcast on FITE.
“On July 31, I’m still going to walk down that aisle and that style and that profile like I can do,” Flair said. “But now (with) bigger crowds, brighter lights. The Nature Boy can’t wait to do what I do best. Woooooo!”
Additional tickets start at $39 and are available at RicFlairsLastMatch.com. Seats for current ticket holders will be honored and communication about the changes will be sent via email this week.
“Like so many times before, having Ric Flair’s name on the marquee rocks the wrestling world,” said David Crockett, president of Jim Croquet Specials. “On July 31, we look forward to giving fans in the Nashville Municipal Auditorium and our global audience an evening of pro wrestling they will never forget.”
On Thursday, Mayor John Cooper will declare July 31 Ric Flair Day in Nashville. The mayor will also announce that the property located at 500 Wedgewood Ave. for the weekend of July 29-31 will be known as Nashville FLAIRgrounds, in conjunction with the three-day event.
Former Tennessee State player and assistant Chelsea Hudson, who also served as an assistant at Pearl-Cohn, is the new coach at Panola College.
Hudson played at TSU from 2011 to 2015 and became the Tigers’ 11th all-time leading scorer. She led TSU to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA berth as a senior.
TSU’s Chelsea Hudson lands head coaching job
Former Tennessee State player and assistant coach Chelsea Hudsonwho was also an assistant to Pearl-Cohn, is the new coach at Panola College.
Hudson played at TSU from 2011 to 2015 and became the Tigers’ 11th all-time leading scorer. She led TSU to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA berth as a senior.
She returned to TSU as an assistant from 2019-21.
Hudson was an assistant at Panola from 2017 to 2019. She spent last season on the Tyler Junior College team.
Hudson was on the Pearl-Cohn staff in 2016-17 when the Firebirds went 25-5 and earned a berth in the Class AA state tournament.
I’Tavius Mathers returns to MTSU as a graduate assistant
I’Tavius Matherswho ended his playing career at Middle Tennessee State in 2016, returns as a graduate assistant.
As a running back, Blackman Mathers was the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football winner.
He rushed for 5,569 yards on 584 carries and scored 65 rushing touchdowns for his career at Blackman. He was the first running back in Rutherford County history to rush for 2,000 yards in 10 regular season games in 2010.
In three seasons at Ole, Miss Mathers rushed for 1,061 yards on 189 carries and scored seven touchdowns.
He was traded to MTSU for his senior season. He led the Blue Raiders with 1,561 yards on 232 carries and scored 17 touchdowns in 2016.
Mathers began his coaching career as an assistant at Blackman before joining Wilson Central and then returning to Blackman throughout the 2021 season.
West High and Austin Peay great Ronnie Fuqua dies at 73
Two-time Midstate Track Champion and 1967 Nashville Tennessean Interscholastic League Tracker of the Year Ronnie Fuqua of West High died on June 18. He was 73 years old.
Fuqua set the NIL record in the 440-yard dash at 50.2 seconds.
He was also a quarterback on West’s football team and made the 1966 All-NIL team.
He continued to play football where he moved on to running back and running track at Austin Peay.
From 1992 to 2004, Fuqua coached several sports at Clarksville High and in 2005 was named a football coach at Clarksville Academy.
Fuqua also worked as a TSSAA official for 40 years. He refereed college football games in the SEC and OVC for 16 years.
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