Ric Flair signed a new contract with WWE last year, extending his long association with Vince McMahon’s promotion since he departed TNA back in 2012. At the time, he’d say he intended to be with WWE forever. However, it has now been confirmed that the 16-time world champion has asked for his WWE release, and this was granted over the weekend.
Why Flair wanted out of his lucrative WWE deal isn’t known, but there is bound to be speculation that he is set to join All Elite Wrestling. Rumors of this actually started last week when photos of Flair with AEW commentator Jim Ross would be shared on social media. Although at the time, it could easily be explained as two old friends catching up. Now though, the timing does raise questions. If he were to join AEW, he would be reuniting with fellow original Four Horsemen Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, as well as one of his greatest rivals Sting, and his future son-in-law Andrade El Idolo.
In recent years Flair hasn’t been in good health due to a heart condition called alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Plus, in 2017, he had a piece of his bowel removed, resulting in kidney failure and dialysis. Thankfully, he made a recovery and even confirmed that he had been medically cleared to get physical in the ring. Despite this fact, McMahon refused to allow Flair to take bumps.
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