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Wrestling legend Ric Flair is set to make a television appearance, but WWE fans should not hold their breath. AEW has announced that the 16-time World Champion will appear on the May 17 episode of Collision on their special Beach Break edition. This marks a significant moment as Flair continues his career outside the WWE umbrella nearly four years after his release from the company.
Ric Flair Returning for Steve McMichael Tribute
Flair will be part of a tribute to Steve “Mongo” McMichael, who passed away in April at the age 67 after a battle with ALS. The announcement came during this week’s Collision episode, with Tony Schiavone confirming that the Nature Boy will be in attendance for the Chicago event.
The World Just Lost The Incredible Steve “Mongo” McMichael! He Was My Best Friend Through It All! An Amazing Athlete And Human Being! I Have The Fondest Memories Working With Him, And This Is An Extremely Heartbreaking Loss For Me! I Love You Mongo! You Fought One Hell Of A… pic.twitter.com/yq2YHfWKmf
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) April 23, 2025
The connection between Flair and McMichael runs deep – they were teammates in WCW’s legendary Four Horsemen faction. McMichael, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2024, spent 13 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, making the tribute location especially meaningful. The Beach Break special episode will air in its usual 8 P.M. Eastern time slot on TNT and Max, though it will be taped on May 14.
Ric Flair’s Life Post-WWE Release
Ric Flair’s appearance on AEW programming comes years after he departed WWE. The company announced his release on August 3, 2021, with an unusually brief statement that notably omitted WWE’s customary “best wishes in future endeavors” closing. Reports indicated that Flair had requested his release after growing frustrated with certain booking decisions and had contacted Vince McMahon directly.
Before his release, Flair had been involved in a controversial storyline with Lacey Evans that was abandoned when Evans announced her real-life pregnancy. Many consider his emotional match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24 as the reason behind his retirement, but he continued wrestling after leaving WWE.
Flair’s “last match” was on July 31, 2022 at a special event, where he teamed up with his then son-in-law, Andrade to beat Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal.
This upcoming AEW appearance represents another chapter in Flair’s legendary career outside WWE. The Nature Boy’s connection to McMichael and the Four Horsemen legacy gives wrestling fans a chance to see the two-time WWE Hall of Famer honor his former teammate in a meaningful tribute.
For Chicago fans, the combination of celebrating a Bears legend with the presence of one of wrestling’s greatest performers makes this Beach Break episode of Collision a must-see event. While it’s just a one-off appearance for now, Flair’s involvement shows that even at his age, the Nature Boy remains an important figure in professional wrestling’s ongoing story.
