To Mid-Atlantic wrestling fans in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Rip Hawk was a cocky, arrogant heel they loved to hate.

The platinum-haired Hawk even dubbed himself “The Profile,” and did all the talking for longtime partner Swede Hanson.

It didn’t come as a surprise when Hawk, 44 years old at the time, took a 25-year-old up-and-comer named Ric Flair under his wing, groomed him as his storyline nephew and helped him win his first major title in 1974.