Ric Flair has asked a judge for a protective order from his wife - who he claims is an alcoholic who has beat him on several occasions.

The wrestling legend has filed the legal papers in response to his estranged spouse Jackie Fliehr's divorce proceedings and he has accused her of being a ''cruel'' woman who attacked him on numerous occasions when drunk, once smashing a glass object across his forehead, ''cutting him severely''.

Flair - real name Richard Fliehr - claims the injury, caused in February 2010, was so bad he needed medical attention.

The 63-year-old WWE star and his fourth wife Jackie split in December - after marrying in 2009 - but the wrestler is still worried about her aggressive behaviour and wants a domestic violence protective order to keep him safe.

Flair has also asked for a separation agreement that he signed in October, which stated he would pay Jackie $4,000-a-month in spousal support as well as other payments.

He claims he cannot make the payments because he has lost out on various endorsement deals and contracts because of Jackie's verbal attacks on his character, which included accusing him of sleeping with ''numerous'' other women during their relationship.

Jackie vehemently denies her husband's allegations and insists he has only made them to ''avoid paying her the money to which she is entitled''.

Flair - a 16-time world champion - recently returned to World Wrestling Entertainment after a stint working for TNA Wrestling and has been seen on TV show 'RAW' on a handful of occasions since the start of 2013.