CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A long-time friend of a North Carolina state highway patrolman seriously hurt in a motorcycle wreck is trying to gain support from a Charlotte icon to help lift his spirits.
Trooper Chris Wooten is recovering from the crash with a pickup truck on Monday. He was in pursuit of another vehicle that got away.
"We’re all praying for him, but we’re all trying to see if it can get a little bit bigger," said Andy Schmidt.
Schmidt said Wooten is a lifelong fan of wrestling legend Ric Flair. Wooten’s nickname also happens to be Flair’s famous yell.
"Chris 'Woo Woo' Wooten," Schmidt said.
Schmidt, Wooten, and their friends got together on Saturdays back in the day to watch The Four Horsemen, a professional wrestling stable made up of Flair, Am Anderson, Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard.
With Flair suffering from his own health problems recently, Schmidt said they all prayed for his recovery. Now he hopes Flair can return the favor.
“I can’t paint you the smile that Chris would have,” Schmidt said.