PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 24: Ric Flair looks on while awaiting the entrance of Hulk Hogan during the Hulkamania Tour at the Burswood Dome on November 24, 2009 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) PERTH, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 24: Ric Flair looks on while awaiting the entrance of Hulk Hogan during the Hulkamania Tour at the Burswood Dome on November 24, 2009 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

“Nature Boy” Ric Flair is back in wrestling. Yes, you did read that correctly. All Elite Wrestling announced they signed the 16-time World Champion to a ‘multi-year deal’ in a press release Thursday.

“Wrestling Legend Ric Flair Signs Multi-Year Deal With AEW,” the company announced.

“AEW CEO Tony Khan today announced a multi-year deal with Hall of Famer ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair,” the release wrote. It continued to note later that the wrestling legend’s “Woooo! Energy” drink will be AEW’s “exclusive energy drink,” indicating that far more than wrestling is on the line here.

It’s a curious decision by the company for a litany of reasons. It’s hard to gauge any contractual value for any 74-year-old. Not even Flair can be excluded from that. While he is among the most famous pro wrestlers to walk the Earth, it’s been a long time since he had significant interest from wrestling fans. And keep in mind: Flair was associated and appeared on WWE television for over 20 years up until recently.

Pro wrestling companies have long faced criticism for trotting out legends and figures of the past instead of the younger crop. Given the company’s messaging since Day 1, it will be interesting to see how this is sold to them.

But needless to say, this isn’t a happy bunch right now. Flair found himself involved in several insidious incidents over the years and has been credibly accused of sexual assault.

Wrestling fans voiced their extreme displeasure over the announcement on Thursday.

https://twitter.com/Tanner1495/status/1720158759014514780

https://twitter.com/TheHestercution/status/1720163471222870450

[AEW PR]

About Chris Novak

Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022