Ric Flair revealed the origin of his iconic “Wooooo!” during a recent appearance on Thanalysis Live with Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and the answer goes back further than most fans might guess.
Flair Credits Jerry Lee Lewis
When Antetokounmpo asked where the “Wooooo!” came from, Flair pointed to one of rock and roll’s earliest icons.
“Jerry Lee Lewis. ‘Goodness Gracious, Great Balls Of Fire.’ That’s before you were born. That’s 1972 stuff.”
The trademark “Wooooo!” sound is heard at the beginning of Lewis’s 1957 hit “Great Balls Of Fire,” which Flair adopted in his early days on the wrestling circuit and turned into one of the most recognizable catchphrases in sports entertainment history.
A Sound Recognized Across Generations
The “Wooooo!” has transcended wrestling and become part of pop culture. Crowds chant it at NFL games, MLB stadiums, and arenas across all sports whenever someone makes a big play. It has been featured in countless commercials, sitcoms, and films, and is often cited as the most recognizable sound in professional wrestling.
Ric Flair has been wrestling since 1972 and is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. He is a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion across various promotions and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice — once as an individual in 2008, and once as part of The Four Horsemen in 2012.
The “Wooooo!” became Flair’s verbal signature alongside catchphrases like “To be the man, you gotta beat the man” and “Stylin’ and profilin'” during his rise through the NWA, WCW, and WWE territories.
The full interview is available on the Thanalysis Show YouTube channel.
