Ric Flair was supposed to be standing in Las Vegas personally accepting one of professional wrestling’s most prestigious career honors.

Instead, when the moment finally arrived, “The Nature Boy” appeared on a screen.

The 77-year-old wrestling legend had been scheduled to attend the Cauliflower Alley Club’s annual reunion on August 26 to receive the Iron Mike Mazurki Award, an honor recognizing extraordinary achievement, lasting impact and a lifetime of contributions to professional wrestling.

But Flair couldn’t make the trip.

And when he explained why, longtime wrestling fans immediately had reason to pay attention.

Flair revealed that he is currently dealing with a blood clot in his leg, which has limited his ability to make lengthy trips.

The journey to Las Vegas would have required several hours of travel, and with another scheduled appearance in Philadelphia approaching, Flair decided that making both trips wasn’t advisable.

Still, he wasn’t going to let the evening pass without addressing the people who had gathered to honor him.

Flair appeared remotely by video, thanking the Cauliflower Alley Club and telling the audience how much the recognition meant to him.

He also offered an encouraging update.

Despite the blood clot, Flair said that he feels great and hopes to continue feeling that way.

Back inside the Las Vegas ceremony, two familiar wrestling legends helped make sure Flair’s moment was still special.

Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jimmy Hart took the stage and accepted the award on Flair’s behalf.

For longtime wrestling fans, seeing those names together was a reminder of just how much history was represented in the room.

The Iron Mike Mazurki Award has previously gone to major wrestling figures including Sting, Mick Foley, CM Punk, JBL, Madusa and Mark Henry.

Now Ric Flair’s name joins that list.

And few careers could fit the meaning behind the honor better.

For more than five decades, Flair built one of professional wrestling’s most recognizable personas — the robes, the championships, the interviews and, of course, the unmistakable “Woooo!”

His career took him through generations of wrestling history and made him one of the industry’s most influential performers.

That’s what made his absence from this particular night feel especially noticeable.

This was supposed to be another moment with Flair standing beneath the lights, surrounded by his peers and accepting their appreciation in person.

Instead, his face appeared on a screen while old friends stood on the stage for him.

But even from miles away, The Nature Boy still got his moment.

And perhaps the most reassuring part for fans was hearing Flair himself say that, despite the health issue keeping him from Las Vegas, he’s feeling good.

The circumstances changed.

The honor didn’t.