All Elite Wrestling has signed Ric Flair but fans are already blasting the deal.
The promotion – which is the closest rival to – has announced a ‘multi-year’ contract for the Hall of Famer after he made a surprise appearance on AEW Dynamite last week as a ‘special gift’ for .
As part of his deal, Flair’s new Wooooo! Energy will be the ‘exclusive energy drink of AEW’, meaning it will be carried by certain venues as well as getting ‘stocked in the wrestlers’ locker rooms’ and on the announcers’ desk.
‘Last Wednesday, the ‘Nature Boy’ made his epic return to TBS, more than 35 years since the Flair vs. Sting rivalry first began on the Superstation,’ AEWboss Tony Khan said in a statement.
‘It’s truly an honor to welcome the legend himself – and Wooooo! Energy – to AEW.’
Fans have already been heavily critical of the move, with one person writing: ‘It’s over for me. This is in no way the company I thought and believed it was going to be when it all started.’
‘Sorry I know Flair is a legend but man come on now TK,’ tweeted a second fan, with a third adding: ‘Nope. Thanks for the last 4 years, and I wish you well in your future endeavors @TonyKhan.’
‘One of AEWs biggest Ls since I’ve been watching, damn,’ another person said, although other fans defended the deal as someone else argued: ‘Be very interesting to see how this goes, if done well it’ll be amazing for the fans and the company.’
In his statement, Khan continued: ‘Ric cemented his legacy as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time long ago, and now his world-renowned persona and his amazing wrestling mind will be major assets to AEW’s programming and our position globally.
‘Most importantly, it’s fitting that the final chapter of Sting’s iconic career will unfold on TBS with Ric Flair by his side.’
Flair added: ‘I’ve been in the wrestling business for over 50 years. Together with AEW and Wooooo! Energy, I’ve never been more excited, and I’ve never had more energy! When the Nature Boy promises a show, you know how it’s gonna go! Wooooo!’
Some fans referenced past allegations made against Flair – – after they resurfaced in a 2021 episode of Dark Side of the Ring, while others pointed to AEW’s shift to signing older talent.
This comes Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland, 50, recently debuted while ‘Big Show’ Paul Wight, 51, returned on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
