Ric Flair has publicly praised AEW president Tony Khan for his generosity, saying Khan continues to pay him under contract despite Flair’s limited on-screen involvement with the promotion. According to Flair, the arrangement has continued for years even as his appearances have become increasingly rare.
Flair signed a multi-year contract with AEW in 2023. He initially joined the promotion as part of Sting’s retirement storyline, a run that saw the two wrestling legends linked together for Sting’s farewell tour through the company. Alongside that on-screen role, Flair’s arrival also came with a sponsorship agreement tied to his “Wooooo! Energy” drink brand.
That sponsorship deal is no longer in place, according to the reports, though the specifics of when or why it ended were not detailed. Despite the lapse of the sponsorship component, Flair indicated that his standard AEW contract has remained intact, with Khan continuing to pay him even though his in-ring or on-screen contributions have been minimal since Sting’s retirement angle concluded.
Flair framed the situation as a reflection of his personal relationship with Khan, describing it as evidence of the AEW president’s generosity toward him. He characterized his current arrangement bluntly, noting that he works for Khan and does not do much in return, yet continues to receive payment under the deal.
The comments also touched on Flair’s broader thoughts regarding how talent departures have been handled elsewhere in the industry, with Flair addressing what he described as unnecessary releases at WWE. He contrasted that approach with how Khan has treated him during his time under contract with AEW, portraying Khan’s handling of his situation as notably more accommodating.
Flair’s AEW tenure has been defined far more by his presence as a backstage and historical figure than by any sustained on-screen program since the Sting retirement tour wrapped. He has not been positioned as a regular performer on AEW programming, and no new storyline role for him has been detailed in connection with these comments. The sponsorship arrangement involving “Wooooo! Energy” had been a notable part of his original signing, tying his business interests directly to his AEW deal at the time he joined the company.
No further financial or contractual details, including the length remaining on Flair’s current deal, were specified in the reports.
