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Ric Flair is now admitting he had been boozing HARD all day and night in the hours before his medical emergency in August ... and credits his fiancee with saving his life.

"I had been drinking ... shocker, yeah," Flair said on WWE Hall of Famer Ricky Morton's podcast.

"A friend of mine came in town from Dallas and we had been out all day the day before (the emergency) and again in the morning before I flew back."

Hours later, Flair says ... "I got this really sharp pain in my stomach."

Flair says doctors told him his intestine had "broken open ... and that's the last thing I remember."

Flair had previously said that decades of heavy drinking led to the medical emergency -- but we had no idea he was on a binge earlier that day.

The pro wrestling legend was put into a medically induced coma while doctors scrambled to save his life. Flair says he doesn't remember a single thing from the 11 days he was on life support ... "I just dreamt."

After he woke up, Flair says he was in such bad shape physically that he couldn't walk or twist the top off a Gatorade bottle ... and went to physical therapy to work on his motor skills.

Now, Flair is pretty much back to his old self -- and thanks his fiancee, Wendy, for being by his side throughout the entire ordeal.

Police body cam footage shows the moment a Mesa, AZ police officer gunned down an unarmed man in a hotel hallway -- a shooting where the jury found the officer not guilty of 2nd degree murder.

The 2016 shooting happened in a hotel where police were responding to a report of someone pointing a gun out a window. Philip Brailsford was one of the responding officers, and in this video you see and hear the cops barking out commands to a man, Daniel Shaver, and woman the moment they walk out of their room.

While attempting to take Shaver into custody ... Brailsford fired his AR-15 five times, shooting and killing the 26-year-old. Brailsford, who is no longer on the force, was on trial for 2nd degree murder and reckless manslaughter -- until the jury returned not guilty verdicts Thursday on both counts.

Mark Geragos represented Shaver's family and described the shooting as "an execution, pure and simple. The justice system miserably failed Daniel and his family."

This footage was critical in the trial, and was released hours after the verdict. In it, you see Shaver on his knees, begging cops not to shoot him. After struggling to follow some of Brailsford's directions ... he starts crawling toward the officers as commanded.

Brailsford testified he opened fire because it appeared Shaver was reaching for a weapon.

And this is interesting, though not admitted in the case -- Brailsford's AR-15 rifle had the words "You're fucked" inscribed on the side of it.

The judge did not allow that to be entered as evidence, saying it was too prejudicial.

Eminem is on the warpath about racism in America in his new track, "Untouchable" -- even dropping a verse about Colin Kaepernick and his national anthem demonstration.

"They call it a Kaepernick tantrum if you don't stand for the national anthem," Shady says in the track that dropped Friday.

"They gonna say you're tying to take an irrational stance if you try to slander the flag ... but somebody has to be the sacrificial lamb."

Pro wrestling legend Kevin Nash says his knee is finally fixed after surgery -- but you wouldn't know it looking at this GNARLY photo of the aftermath.

Nash just revealed that he went under the knife to replace a bum knee that's been bothering him for 33 years -- and what's left of it looks like something straight outta the "Saw" movies.

We counted 24 staples ... plus severe bulging that made us question if it was actually a knee.

The craziest part -- Big Daddy Cool says it was an "amazing process," and he's pumped to "let it heal and start training" at age 58.

Maybe take it easy for a few days??

Wanna participate in a women's pro wrestling match in Abu Dhabi? Better trade out the skimpy spandex for a non-skin-baring costume ... just like Sasha Banks.

The pro wrestling superstar just threw down in WWE's very first women's match in the United Arab Emirates ... squaring up against women's champ Alexa Bliss.

But in order to get the green light, the women had to make extreme costume adjustments to meet the Muslim nation's strict laws on female attire. They did, and the show went off without a hitch.

Triple H hailed the match as an historic moment for the WWE -- and Banks got emotional ... saying, "I started crying because of how huge this is. It's bigger than me."

Banks added, "I want to empower women and let them know that their dreams are endless and they can achieve anything."

16-year-old LaMelo Ball has signed with sports agent Harrison Gaines and will NOT play college ball at UCLA, his father told ESPN.

LaVar Ball had pulled LaMelo out of Chino Hills High School earlier this year and said he was going to train the kid himself to get him ready for UCLA.

But now, with LaMelo's older brother, LiAngelo Ball, in the middle of a nasty breakup with UCLA (after the China shoplifting incident) ... LaVar has decided both sons will play professionally overseas.

"I don't care about the money," LaVar Ball told Jeff Goodman ... "I want them to go somewhere where they will play them together on the court at the same time. The priority is for the boys to play on the same team."

LaVar told TMZ Sports this week that China is still a possible landing spot for the boys -- Chinese teams would be happy to have the Ball kids.

As for LaVar's oldest son, Lonzo Ball -- he claims the decision to pull LiAngelo out of UCLA was made by the entire family with LiAngelo's best interests in mind.

Dr. Larry Nassar is probably going to die in prison -- the disgraced former Team USA gymnastics doc just got 60 YEARS in his child porn case.

The 54-year-old was just sentenced by a judge in Michigan -- after being convicted of having more than 37,000 child porn images in his possession.

Prosecutors say they found the images on computer hard drives while investigating the sexual assault claims against him.

Of course, besides the child porn ... Nassar also sexually assaulted more than 100 female athletes while working with Team USA gymnastics and Michigan State University.

His victims include some of the most famous gymnasts in the world -- from McKayla Maroney to Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman.

Nassar will be sentenced in that case in January.

Conor McGregor fueled Rita Ora dating rumors on Wednesday night ... shouting her out at the club while patting his heart BEFORE showing love to his baby mama, Dee Devlin.

C'mon bro ...

Remember, it was just a few days ago Conor was hanging out with Ora at the British Fashion Awards. She posted pics of the 2 of them together with the caption, "Date night."

Fast-forward to Wednesday night at Cirque le Soir in London ... where The Notorious was out with his bros, letting loose on the dance floor to The Notorious B.I.G.

Conor hopped on the mic and said, "What's up, Rita Ora!" ... and then put his hand over his heart.

Moments later, he shouted out Dee ... but no heart gesture that time.

McGregor's probably just trolling (since that's what he does) -- but he and Rita did look awful cozy Monday night ...

Senator Al Franken is resigning, but still insists some of the allegations against him are not true, and he thinks the Ethics Committee would agree he's done nothing wrong while in the Senate.

In his speech on the Senate floor, Franken said he wanted to be respectful of the women who accused of him of sexual misconduct, but that doesn't mean he was admitting their claims were true. Then he said he would be stepping down in the coming weeks, but also took a huge parting shot at President Trump and Roy Moore.

Franken said, "I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office, and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party."

Franken's latest accuser came forward Wednesday -- taking the count to at least 7 -- claiming Franken tried forcibly kissing her in 2006, adding he allegedly said, "It's my right as an entertainer."

Franken denied the latest allegation, but that didn't stop the drumbeat for his resignation. At least 39 Senators called for his exit.

The Franken accusations began with radio host Leeann Tweeden posting a photo showing he groped her and also sexually harassed her during a USO trip in '06.

More accusers came forward, claiming everything from unwanted groping to attempts of forcible kissing. Franken apologized time and again, but that clearly wasn't enough.

Here's former baseball star Sammy Sosa keepin' things light at a huge festival in Miami Beach.

Sosa hit up DuJour's Miami Beach's Art Basel Kick-Off at The Confidante where he posed for pics on his way into the event ... weeks after T.I. blasted him for his alleged skin bleaching.

Sammy's complexion has very obviously changed over the years. We can only find one interview where he addressed it -- from 2009 -- saying the lightening was an unexpected result of a skin softening cream.

T.I. called B.S. and said it was more about "self-hate" -- but, judging by the way Sammy was smiling and laughing on the red carpet, he really doesn't seem to care what anyone else thinks.

Soccer legend Abby Wambach says she's the victim of a hate crime -- claiming some "idiots" stole her car for a joy ride ... and then returned it with hate speech scribbled all over the inside.

"They stole valuables including a purse and wallet (gift to my wife)," the former Team USA star said in a post on Instagram ... "and wrote hate speech in Sharpie all over the inside of our car."

Wambach says the incident occurred Wednesday morning (between the hours of 1:34 AM and 4:30 AM) at the Florida home where she lives with her wife, Glennon Doyle.

"They were Caucasian (3 of them). One had a hoodie with cargo shorts. The driver had an Ohio State hat on (O on front of hat) of red or black hat. Same guy had grey top, Nike shorts and Nike shoes. Also, they left finger prints on the car door when they left it back with us."

Wambach says surveillance cameras captured the license plate of a car they believe belongs to the scumbags.

"This neighborhood has each other’s backs. Neighbors camera got you, you idiots!! If you turn yourself in now, and return the stolen property, and pay for the car damages we won’t press charges. If you don’t, you are going to go to jail. You have 24 hours. If you have any info get in touch. Thanks everyone."

TMZ Sports spoke with local law enforcement and we're told they are "aware and investigating."

President Trump unveiled something new at the White House -- and we don't mean his policy on Jerusalem ... instead, we're talking about a mysterious lisp.

POTUS really did make a major announcement Wednesday morning -- becoming the first Prez to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital in the last 70 years, but near the end of his remarks he started slurring really badly.

It sounded as if he had dentures or a retainer that he was struggling to keep in his mouth.

3:27 PM PT -- Dolan's rep Leslie Sloane tells TMZ ... We can state that Mr Dolan is confident that he acted appropriately in all matters relating to his time on the Weinstein board.

The Weinstein Company's Board of Directors, lawyers and consultants all conspired to shame and blackball Harvey Weinstein's accusers ... according to a blockbuster lawsuit filed by 6 women.

The plaintiffs came into contact with Weinstein in situations that now sound familiar -- discussing scripts or movie roles during hotel room meetings where Weinstein sometimes wore only underwear. They claim he either assaulted, imprisoned or propositioned them for sex.

According to the suit, Weinstein enlisted teams of private investigators, and even a National Enquirer exec to dig up dirt on his accusers, including Rose McGowan. They claim his intent was to use the info to discredit accusers.

In the docs, the plaintiffs also point the finger at members of TWC's Board of Directors, including Knicks owner James L. Dolan -- saying they all knew about Weinstein's pattern of predatory sexual misconduct, and took steps to conceal it.

They're filing the class action suit for federal racketeering, assault, battery and infliction of emotional distress -- and they want damages for pain and suffering.

A raging wildfire in L.A. is creeping dangerously close to famous homes and BILLIONS of dollars worth of art housed at the famous Getty Center Museum.

The hillside fully engulfed in flames Wednesday morning is just on the other side of the 405 Freeway from the Getty Center. If the fire jumps the freeway it could be a massive financial disaster.

The museum houses countless treasured artworks ... including the $65 million dollar "Spring" by Manet, purchased in 2014.

It is also -- due to the art, the locations and the building itself -- the most valuable piece of real estate in L.A. County ... by FAR.

Authorities are already evacuating nearby Mandeville Canyon, home to tons of celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford.

Beyonce made a surprise appearance to present Colin Kaepernick with SI's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award on Tuesday night -- and took aim at his critics that somehow STILL don't get why he took a knee.

"It’s been said that racism is so American that when we protest racism we’re protesting America. But let’s be very clear -- Colin has always been very respectful of the individuals who selflessly serve and protect our country and our communities and our families," Beyonce said at the Barclays Center.

"His message is solely focused on social injustice for historically disenfranchised people. Let’s not get that mistaken.”

It's a similar stance to the one Jay-Z took last month on his 4:44 Tour ... when Jay got behind the NFL player protests.

Beyonce also thanked Kaepernick for his "selfless heart" and "conviction" ... sacrificing his own livelihood to make the world a better place for everyone -- something Ali fought for throughout his life.

As for Kaep ... the QB said he was accepting the award for the people -- and made it clear that he doesn't need football to keep fighting for them.

Lionsgate is dropping John Travolta's upcoming movie -- a John Gotti biopic -- just 10 days before it's scheduled release date.

The studio did not give any explanation for selling "Gotti" back to the production company in the 11th hour. The Kevin Connolly directed flick was set to come out on Dec. 15. It also co-starred Travolta's real-life wife Kelly Preston.