New beginning for a wrestling legend – at 74: Ric Flair signs with competitor AEW two years after his break with WWE – a deal that should not be underestimated.
In 1972, he stepped onto the wrestling stage, where he became a record-breaking champion and a pop culture icon known far beyond the show match. 51 years later, he is still a coveted stock in the industry.
“Nature Boy” Ric Flair, the now 74-year-old wrestling legend, has once again caused a sensation: WWE competitor AEW announced on Thursday that Flair has signed a permanent contract with the league and will play a prominent role there for an extended period of time.
Flair, last week’s surprise guest at the farewell tour of his companion Sting, has signed for two years, as he told Wrestling Observer Radio. Flair announced that he would appear permanently on TV shows over this period, not without pride that he is still in demand in this respect (“76 and still talking. Woooo!”)
League boss Tony Khan, who has been on friendly terms with Flair for some time, spoke of being “honored” to have Flair on board: “His world-renowned character and fantastic wrestling mind will be great assets to our shows and our global market position.”
Flair’s late reign doesn’t come as a complete surprise, but it’s still a remarkable turn in the life of the 16-time WCW and WWE Champion, who seemed doomed in 2017 following a serious illness brought on by long-term alcoholism.
Ric Flair terminates 2021 lifetime deal with WWE
In 2020, Flair had actually signed what was supposed to be a very lucrative lifetime contract with his longtime employer WWE, de facto buying the right to exclusively market the icon’s legacy.
A year later, however, Flair asked for the deal to be terminated, saying he was unhappy with the way WWE was doing things at the time – among other things, he felt WWE was hindering him from developing his own business projects.
Fellow legend “Big Show” Paul Wight, who also left WWE at the time and switched to AEW (this week he announced his ring comeback in two weeks at Dynamite after a long injury break), reported something similar.
Flair also appeared to be on the move to AEW two years ago, but then hit the headlines following a TV documentary in which allegations of sexual harassment from 2002 were renewed against him.
According to industry insiders, Khan therefore kept his hands off Flair, who partly admitted his guilt and partly spoke of untrue accusations.
More than two years later, the account has obviously changed from AEW’s point of view. The contract that has now been concluded also includes a major sponsorship deal with an energy drink launched by Flair.
Wrestling Legend @RicFlairNatrBoy Signs Multi-Year Deal with AEW
The Nature Boy’s New “Wooooo! Energy” Announced as Exclusive Energy Drink of AEW https://t.co/pV5bIe9mqE
– All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) November 2, 2023
Flair’s value for AEW should not be underestimated
It’s unlikely that Flair – who returned to the ring last year under very undignified circumstances – will wrestle for AEW again.
Nevertheless, the legend’s value to the league should not be underestimated: Flair’s appearances for WWE were ratings drivers until the very end. His celebrity and aura should also open further doors for the promotion in terms of business and media, for which his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo, husband of his very successful daughter Charlotte Flair
Not least, Flair’s presence – similar to that of companion Sting in recent years – underlines AEW’s claim to build on the idealistic legacy of WCW and other successful leagues of the past.
Among other things, AEW is likely to stage Flair’s first encounter with its current figurehead in a very big way: Exceptional talent MJF, recently the league’s longest reigning World Champion.
Flair has already told ESPN that he’s looking forward to having a face-off with the sharp-tongued young star
