Charlotte’s Icon Sidelined Again
For fans hoping to kick off 2025 with a Ric Flair cameo at AEW Collision in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, the dream just took a chop to the chest. According to PWInsider, the “Nature Boy” was slated for a Saturday night surprise but has been pulled from the lineup for reasons still shrouded in mystery.
Where’s Flair Been?
Flair’s last AEW appearance was during the March 2024 Revolution pay-per-view, where he spiced up Sting’s retirement match—and got superkicked by The Young Bucks for his trouble. Since then, Flair has been conspicuously absent, with July rumors suggesting his AEW days were over due to creative ghosting.
His multi-year deal with AEW, inked in November 2023, included a sponsorship featuring his Woooo! Energy drink as AEW’s official energy booster. But as Flair faded from AEW TV, so too did the partnership, leaving fans to wonder if the deal fizzled out entirely or if there’s still some cash flow stylin’ and profilin’ happening behind the scenes.
Enter The Rock N’ Roll Express
While fans won’t hear Flair’s iconic “Woooo!” echo through the Bojangles Coliseum, they’ll still get a dose of wrestling nostalgia. Stepping up to fill Flair’s spot are Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson—the legendary Rock N’ Roll Express. Originally not part of Saturday’s plans, the duo has been added to the Collision card and are also scheduled to rock the house at the January 22 AEW Dynamite in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Bottom Line?
Ric Flair might not be part of AEW Collision this week, but with the Rock N’ Roll Express stepping into the spotlight, the nostalgia train is still rolling. Whether Flair’s absence signals more behind-the-scenes turbulence or just a scheduling snafu remains to be seen. Either way, Charlotte fans should still buckle up for some legendary action!