Wrestling legend Ric Flair surprises at WWE rival and reunites with his soon-to-retire companion Sting.
One of the biggest legends in the business is doing the honors at WWE rival AEW for the first time!
On the current edition of the TV show Dynamite, none other than “Nature Boy” Ric Flair made an unannounced debut for All Elite Wrestling – where he celebrated a historic reunion.
Flair surprised longtime companion Sting in Philadelphia, a week after the latter announced his “final” retirement for the coming year. The 74-year-old Flair – father of WWE record women’s champion Charlotte Flair – set the stage for the first match of Sting’s farewell tour with his appearance.
Ric Flair surprises Sting at AEW Dynamite
League boss Tony Khan had announced in advance that he had a “historic” surprise for the Stinger – and unveiled it at the start of the show: to the old familiar strains of Richard Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra,” the legend Flair strode to the ring. The “Naitch,” who was greeted with shouts of “Holy Shit” from the enthusiastic crowd, paid tribute to his good friend Sting in a brief speech.
Flair recalled Sting’s first big match in 1988, a 55-minute duel with him in the first “Clash of the Champions” of then WWE competitor WCW, which both would have marked for many years: In 2001, after WCW was bought out by WWE, a final match between the two was the main event of the final edition of the show Monday Nitro – Dynamite also saw Flair reunite with longtime WCW commentator Tony Schiavone, who led off the show.
WWE Hall-of-Famer Flair praised the 64-year-old Sting as one of the best wrestlers and biggest stars in the business, who on top of that is “probably the nicest person I’ve ever known.” Flair announced he would be at Sting’s final match at Pay Per View Revolution in early 2024. An emotionally visibly moved Sting also laughingly indulged Flair at the end, giving him one more of his legendary chop punches.
The “Nature Boy” has not been under contract with WWE since a dispute two years ago, which made his appearance at AEW possible. However, there is no talk of a contract with the league of Khan, who is friends with Flair, Flair’s presence seems to only serve to enhance Sting’s farewell.
Christian Cage crashes the party
The segment culminated in an appearance by Christian Cage, who was feuding with Sting and sophomore Darby Allin.Along with partners Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne, Cage challenged Sting and Allin to a Six Man Tag Team Match at November’s Full Gear event.
Flair, who was repeatedly insulted by Cage, briefly threatened to take a hand himself, but Sting then made it clear that he would look for another third man. The obvious choice would be newly signed Legends colleague Adam Copeland (formerly Edge), who had protected Sting from an attack by his ex-partner Cage in his debut.
However, at Dynamite, Copeland initially declined to step into the ring against his companion Cage.
MJF puts both titles on the line at Full Gear
In the show’s pivotal match, World Champion MJF defended his title against Bullet Club Gold’s Juice Robinson – and then agreed to take an extra big risk at Full Gear.
MJF will not only put his World Title on the line against Bullet Club leader Jay White at Full Gear, but he will also put the ROH Tag Team Titles he holds with his injured “Bro” on the line against Austin and Colten Gunn, alone and without a replacement partner.
In the main event of the show, top Japanese star Kazuchika Okada was in action for the first time at Dynamite.Okada teamed with International Champion Orange Cassidy to lose a match to Bryan Danielson and Swiss star Claudio Castagnoli of the Blackpool Combat Club.
Castagnoli pinned Cassidy, who he now gets to challenge for his title, a second edition of the “Dream Match” between Danielson and Okada is also apparently in the works – whether at AEW or Okada’s home league NJPW.
