Tony Khan Claims AEW Isn’t Paying Ric Flair

Tony Khan has opened up about Ric Flair’s deal with AEW.

On November 2nd, Ric Flair signed a new deal with AEW, but it was a deal that didn’t go down well with many online. The announcement came a little over a week after Flair had debuted on Dynamite as a gift to Sting.

Since then, Flair has continued to appear on AEW television alongside his long-time rival. The veteran has pledged to remain by Sting’s side until his retirement at Revolution in March.

The deal Flair signed with AEW saw his Wooooo! Energy brand became the official energy drink partner of the promotion.

Speaking in a new interview with the New York Post, AEW boss Tony Khan said this means that the company isn’t actually paying Flair to appear.

“We’re not paying Ric Flair; Ric Flair is essentially paying us,” Khan said. “We’re getting paid by Wooooo Energy for all of his appearances, so we’re collecting revenue from them.”

Controversial Ric Flair Comments Edited Out Of AEW Rampage

The Nature Boy recently sparked controversy following a promo on the December 1st episode of Rampage. On the show, Flair was quoted as saying “18-28 no boyfriends, no husbands, meet me at my hotel room.”

Following significant backlash, Ric Flair’s promo was edited, and the line was removed from the broadcast.

While Flair has been using lines such as the one quoted for decades, given his age and previous allegations of sexual misconduct, many deemed them inappropriate.