While Ric Flair is currently All Elite, having debuted for AEW in October 2023, Tony Khan ended up phasing him out after learning that the 16-time world champion was on blood-thinning medication and didn’t want to take any risks. Yet, with this week’s episode of Dynamite taking place in North Carolina, a state with which Flair is strongly connected, it was announced that the 76-year-old would be in attendance.
However, while Flair would appear briefly in front of fans at the First Horizon Coliseum, the legendary performer didn’t feature during the episode, leaving many at home disappointed. And now, revealing why this was, Dave Meltzer has reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Flair was in “a lot of pain” due to a shoulder injury, and therefore, the decision was made to change things and let him leave early.
He was booked to appear on the show. I don’t know if he was going to be a part of that Steamboat angle, but it probably was the case. He just felt that he couldn’t do that angle. He was in a lot of pain, so he actually went home after he did his promo, which is before the show started, so he was there, but he was hurt.”Dave Meltzer via Wrestling Observer Radio
Flair caused controversy online early into his AEW run when those in attendance at AEW’s Rampage taping revealed he had invited women aged between 18 and 28 to come to his hotel room after the show. Obviously, this was Flair playing up his gimmick, but some viewed this negatively, considering the past allegations of inappropriateness made against him. Subsequently, this would see Flair take to X and offer to walk away from AEW if he had caused any embarrassment, although the issue quickly blew over as AEW didn’t air this line.
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