Ric Flair has offered strong praise for AEW President Tony Khan, describing him as generous, respectful, and potentially one of the greatest promoters professional wrestling has ever seen.
During a conversation with Biff Poggi of NewsNation, the two-time WWE Hall of Famer spoke openly about his current relationship with Khan and the way he believes AEW’s leader treats the people around him. Flair, whose career has spanned generations and virtually every major era of the modern wrestling business, framed Khan’s support as a reflection of respect for the legacy Flair built over decades.
“He’s a nice guy; he’s generous. I work for him and I don’t do anything,” Flair said. “I think he takes care of me out of respect for me. He grew up on me. He’s just a wonderful guy.”
Flair’s remarks are notable not only because of his lengthy history in wrestling, but because he has worked closely with many of the industry’s most influential figures. From territorial promoters and the National Wrestling Alliance structure to WWE’s national expansion and the rise of modern televised wrestling, Flair has seen multiple leadership models firsthand. His assessment of Khan therefore comes from a perspective shaped by decades at the center of the business.
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The Nature Boy did not present his comments as a criticism of every individual in WWE. Instead, he contrasted Khan’s style with what he described as uncertainty surrounding job security within WWE, citing the departures of people who were personally important to his own history with the company.
Flair Reflects on WWE Turnover
While discussing Khan, Flair addressed the personnel changes that have taken place within WWE over the years. He said he believes people may feel pressure to hold on to their positions because of the number of layoffs involving staff members who had been connected to key moments in his career.
“It’s not that the guys at the WWE — I just think they’re all kind of hanging onto their job because you never know,” Flair said. “They’ve fired so many people that were an intricate part of my career when I was there. I don’t understand the rhyme or reason for it. The guys that did my documentary on Peacock, two of the guys that did it have been fired.”
Flair’s comments focused on his own experiences rather than making a broader claim about WWE’s entire operation. Still, they underscored why he values the stability and personal consideration he associates with Khan. For Flair, the issue appears to be less about a simple comparison between companies and more about the relationships built with the people working behind the scenes.
That distinction is consistent with the way Flair has often spoken about professional wrestling. His public reflections regularly return to loyalty, personal bonds, and the individuals who contributed to major chapters of his career. In this case, he pointed specifically to members of the team involved with his Peacock documentary who are no longer with WWE.
“Tony Khan May Be the Greatest Promoter of All Time”
Flair’s most striking statement came when he considered Khan’s standing as a promoter. He called Khan one of the most wonderful people he has known and said he believes the AEW president has a trusted group around him to help guide decisions.
“With Tony Khan, who runs AEW, who is really one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever known, Tony has a group of people which I’m sure they do at WWE, that he circles up with and Tony does it right there,” Flair said.
Flair then took his praise even further, suggesting Khan could ultimately hold an unmatched place in wrestling-promoter history.
“Tony Khan may be the greatest promoter of all time — I’m saying in wrestling,” Flair said. “He may not be as smart as Vince McMahon, but only through, you know, years and years, because Vince was really smart and very clever. But Tony’s a great guy, generous to a fault.”
The comparison carries considerable weight given Vince McMahon’s historic role in transforming WWE into a global entertainment force. Flair did not dismiss McMahon’s business instincts, calling him “really smart and very clever.” Instead, he emphasized the difference in their respective amounts of experience, while making clear that Khan has impressed him through his own leadership and generosity.
Whether Khan’s legacy can eventually be measured alongside the most successful promoters in wrestling history will remain a subject of debate. AEW has been a major part of the North American wrestling landscape since its launch, giving performers another nationally visible destination and producing a substantial slate of television and pay-per-view events. Flair’s point, however, was not presented as a statistical argument. His endorsement centered on Khan’s character, his willingness to care for others, and the decision-making environment he has established.
Flair’s Relationship With AEW
Flair’s connection to AEW has been a prominent topic since his appearances for the promotion, including his association with Sting during the closing stretch of Sting’s in-ring career. The two icons share a defining history from their years in WCW and the NWA, where their rivalry helped create some of the most enduring moments of their generation.
In early 2026, it was reported that Flair was believed to still be under contract with AEW. Flair’s latest remarks do not detail the scope of that agreement or any possible future on-screen plans. But his statement that he works for Khan, coupled with his praise for AEW’s president, reinforces the positive nature of the relationship from Flair’s point of view.
Flair jokingly said that he does not “do anything” despite working for Khan, but the comment was plainly delivered in the context of appreciation. He portrayed Khan as someone who has chosen to look after him because of the respect Khan has for what Flair represented to wrestling fans and the industry at large.
That respect is particularly meaningful in Flair’s case. He remains one of the most decorated and recognizable figures in wrestling history, a 16-time world champion whose influence stretches far beyond any single promotion. His persona, interviews, championship matches, and rivalries became a template that has influenced generations of wrestlers. Khan, a longtime fan of wrestling history, has frequently demonstrated an interest in honoring established figures and connecting AEW’s current roster with the sport’s past.
A Veteran’s View of Modern Wrestling Leadership
Flair’s praise also provides a window into what he values in a wrestling executive. His comments repeatedly returned to generosity, loyalty, respect, and the ability to work with trusted people. He did not identify a particular AEW business decision, creative direction, or event as the basis for his opinion. Rather, he spoke about Khan on a personal level and about the culture he believes Khan fosters.
That is important context when evaluating his claim that Khan could be an all-time great promoter. Flair was not offering a definitive historical ranking backed by a discussion of attendance, revenue, television rights, or longevity. He was giving a personal appraisal of a promoter who has treated him well and who, in Flair’s view, has assembled a reliable circle for major decisions.
His mention of McMahon adds another layer. Flair acknowledged the experience and business intelligence McMahon brought to wrestling over many years, while suggesting that Khan’s development as a promoter should be judged with time. Khan’s position in the industry will ultimately be determined by the long-term trajectory of AEW, but Flair made it clear that he sees exceptional potential in the company’s president.
Flair’s Message Is Rooted in Gratitude
At the heart of Flair’s comments was gratitude. He spoke warmly about the personal treatment he has received from Khan and credited AEW’s president for showing respect to someone he watched while growing up. For a performer whose career has made him one of wrestling’s most recognizable living legends, that recognition clearly matters.
Flair also used the interview to express concern for former WWE staff members who played a meaningful role in his career and in the production of his documentary. Those remarks illustrated the other side of his perspective: professional wrestling may be driven by companies, executives, and major events, but it is also sustained by the people behind the cameras and in the offices.
For now, Flair’s public stance on Khan is unmistakable. He sees AEW’s president as a good person, a generous employer, and a leader with the potential to achieve an extraordinary place in wrestling history. Even with the careful acknowledgment of McMahon’s experience and influence, Flair did not hide the depth of his confidence in Khan.
“Tony’s a great guy, generous to a fault,” Flair said, offering a concise summation of why his relationship with AEW’s president remains so positive.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.