AEW Isn't Paying (Most Of?) Ric Flair's Salary
Ric Flair's AEW contract won't come at great expense to Tony Khan.
AEW officially confirmed it had signed Ric Flair to a multi-year contract on Thursday, but an energy drink deal will cover most, if not all, of the wrestling legend's salary.
Company founder and CEO Tony Khan commented in the official press release:
“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. It’s truly an honor to welcome the legend himself - and Wooooo! Energy - to AEW. 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.”
The release noted, too, that Flair's Wooooo! Energy would become AEW's official energy drink as part of the deal.
Later, Fightful Select reported that the Wooooo! Energy deal would "... cover a significant portion if not all of Flair's salary in All Elite Wrestling", making the similar situation to Randy Savage's Slim Jim-funded deal with WCW in the mid-90s.
Flair debuted for AEW on last week's Dynamite, supporting career-long rival, Sting, on his retirement tour.
Fightful enquired about AEW's motivations for using Flair. Sources commented on the possibility of merchandise, noting that video games, action figures, and general merchandise represented opportunities to use Flair should they be part of the deal.