Is AEW’s use of Ric Flair a case of double standards on Tony Khan’s part?
I was between stops during the trip when I got into Cageside Seats and saw on yesterday’s episode of Dynamite that it was a gift from AEW President Tony Khan to a retired Sting. I was initially excited because I’ve been following the chronicles of Sting and Ric Flair from their first meeting in 1988, through the closure of WCW in 2001, to TNA (Impact Wrestling) in the late 2000s.
As I finished my break and returned to the road, my nostalgia began to fade as I remembered Ric Flair’s previous issues surrounding sexual misconduct that had temporarily forced him out of the industry. It got me thinking about how wrestling fans currently perceive him compared to Vince McMahon, who also has alleged sexual misconduct in the past. I was also curious about Tony Khan, who recently attacked McMahon on social media for similar issues and has now added someone with a questionable past like McMahon to his roster.
As for the fans, I can understand if they were caught up in the moment, especially if they saw it live, because I definitely just read it when I read about it. But now, almost a day later, I wonder if they’re still excited about Flair’s presence in All Elite Wrestling.
As a reminder, in September 2021, Vice Studios’ series “Dark Side of the Ring,” which covers controversial events in the history of professional wrestling, aired an episode titled “The Plane Ride From Hell.” The title was a nickname for a series of scandals that unfolded during WWE’s return from the United Kingdom, which reportedly saw several of its Superstars acting inappropriately. One of those stars was Ric Flair, who was accused of sexually assaulting a flight attendant during the trip.
Flair denied the allegations and later addressed his behavior as WWE and sponsors distanced themselves from him. Then many fans wished he would quietly retire and disappear. However, he is back now and it appears that he will remain with Sting for the rest of his career, which according to Sting will end at AEW Revolution next year.
Given Sting’s contributions to the industry, it makes sense that every promotion, including AEW, would give him a proper sendoff. But Tony Khan’s decision to hire Ric Flair, whose past is as problematic as Vince McMahon’s, raises questions about hypocrisy.
Is Tony Khan throwing stones at Vince McMahon while welcoming Ric Flair into his glass house? For fans who criticize WWE for their former owner’s actions, how can they reconcile Flair’s alleged behavior now that he’s in AEW? Will they continue to support AEW with Flair or will they move on?
What’s your opinion, Cagesiders? Please share your thoughts respectfully in the comments section.
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