Ric Flair Says Tony Khan Still Takes Care Of Him In AEW

Ric Flair says his bond with Tony Khan has little to do with how often he actually appears on AEW programming these days. The WWE Hall of Famer opened up about the relationship during an interview with NewsNation’s Biff Poggi, praising the AEW founder’s generosity and indicating that Khan continues to look out for him even though his on-screen presence has been minimal.

Flair didn’t get into specifics about what that support looks like, but the sentiment tracks with how he’s talked about Khan in the past — as someone who values him as a legend of the business rather than strictly as an active performer. Flair has been a periodic presence in AEW since signing with the company, mostly showing up alongside Nature Boy protégés and in backstage or managerial capacities rather than as a weekly fixture on television.

It’s not a surprising dynamic when you consider how Khan has operated with other legacy talents throughout AEW’s existence. The promotion has made a habit of keeping wrestling veterans in the fold — whether as agents, ambassadors, authority figures, or simply recognizable names who lend credibility to the product — without necessarily needing them in the ring or even in regular storylines. For someone like Flair, who is 77 years old and long removed from any realistic in-ring run, that kind of arrangement makes sense on both sides: AEW gets to associate itself with one of the most iconic names in wrestling history, and Flair gets to stay connected to the business and compensated without the physical toll of a full-time schedule.

Flair’s comments also offer a window into how he views his standing in the industry at this stage of his career. After decades of public ups and downs — including a messy split from WWE years ago and plenty of scrutiny over his post-retirement ventures — Flair has generally spoken positively about his time in AEW and his relationship with Khan specifically. Calling out that Khan takes care of him despite doing relatively little on camera suggests a level of appreciation that goes beyond a typical legends deal; it reads more like a personal loyalty Flair feels toward the only promotion of consequence he’s worked for since his WWE exit.

For AEW, keeping that relationship intact costs little and carries some value. Flair remains one of the most recognizable figures the sport has ever produced, and his association with the company — even in a reduced role — is the kind of thing that still gets attention whenever he pops up on a broadcast or in an interview like this one. Whether that translates into more on-screen appearances going forward isn’t clear from what Flair said, but there’s no indication his deal with AEW is in jeopardy.

At this point in his career, Flair being happy and still involved with a major company on his own terms is probably the best outcome fans could hope for from the 16-time world champion.