Last we heard, Ric Flair was still believed to be under contract to AEW. That was per Fightful in April of this year.
The WWE Hall of Famer’s AEW run was always odd, though. He got involved in Sting’s 2024 retirement run, but that was believed to be a promotional deal with one of Flair’s many licensing ventures. The Nature Boy appeared for a tribute to Steve “Mongo” McMichael on Collision last May, and was scheduled to appear with his legendary rival Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat at November’s Blood
& Guts until health complications forced a change of plans.
Naitch has continued to say good things about AEW head honcho Tony Khan, and had a loud-if-quickly-resolved blow-up with WWE earlier this year over a licensing deal he lost.
We bring that all up because earlier this week on Booker T’s The Hall of Show, Flair told Book that they’ll be seeing a lot more of each other because he’s “back in” with WWE after making up with his longtime friend, Evolution teammate, and the company’s chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque (who Flair and many others refer to by his old kayfabe name “Hunter”).
“I’m coming to the Royal Rumble…You’re going to see a lot of me now. I’m back in… Me and Hunter hugged. We made up. I’m back in.”
Booker also floated the possibility of a WrestleMania 43 appearance for Naitch. I’m sure Flair won’t turn down a Saudi payday if offered, especially while fighting for rights to his digital identity.
We’ll see if the Nature Boy shows in Riyadh next April. Do you think he’ll be at the Rumble in Phoenix? What will your reaction be if he is?
