Tony Khan: We’re Not Paying Ric Flair, He Is Essentially Paying Us; We’re Getting Paid By Wooooo Energy
On the October 25 episode of AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan revealed Ric Flair as his gift to Sting, who announced he would be retiring at AEW Revolution 2024.
On November 2 it was announced that Flair signed a multi-year deal with AEW that included a partnership with Flair’s Woooo Energy drink.
Flair’s energy drink has been advertised throughout episodes of AEW TV since the deal came together. Flair has been by Sting’s side on television and in matches since he first appeared on AEW Dynamite.
Speaking to Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post, Tony Khan said it meant a lot to Sting for Flair to be along for the ride because he feels he owns so much of his career to him and is “very loyal” to him and that Flair brought in a “high-paying sponsorship” to AEW
“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.”
AEW reportedly had to edit comments made by Flair on the December 1 episode of AEW Rampage.
A spokesperson for AEW confirms that Ric Flair has a separate talent agreement in place outside of the sponsorship agreement that compensates him for his work. Thus the collaboration is mutually beneficial to all as AEW gets to have Ric Flair as a part of the team and receive the monetary benefit of the sponsorship agreement.
After the AEW Rampage tapings and word of the comments became known, Flair took to social media to say he would walk away if he was embarrassing Khan and AEW.
