Ric Flair says his latest separation from WWE is over.
During an appearance on Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast, the 16-time World Champion said he has reconciled with the company and expects to return to WWE visibility beginning with the 2027 Royal Rumble. The event is scheduled for Glendale, Arizona, next February.
Flair made the announcement while discussing future travel and appearances, telling Booker T that fans should expect to see much more of him around WWE moving forward.
“The road of life is going to lead me to you in Philadelphia. Then, unfortunately, I’m coming to the Royal Rumble... You’re going to see a lot of me now. I’m back in,” Flair said.
For more background on this topic, read Reported WWE PLE Start Times Set the Stage for a Busy Global Finish to 2026.
The WWE legend then directly addressed his relationship with Paul “Triple H” Levesque, whom he referred to as Hunter.
“Me and Hunter hugged. We made up. I’m back in.”
Flair’s comments are notable because his relationship with WWE has gone through several difficult stretches over the years, including a more recent dispute that appeared to affect his ability to participate in company-related activity. His declaration on the podcast suggests that the sides have found common ground, though Flair did not provide details regarding what his WWE involvement will look like beyond his stated Royal Rumble plans.
Flair Points To A New Chapter With WWE
At 77 years old by the time of the 2027 Royal Rumble, Flair remains one of the most recognizable figures in professional wrestling. His name is inseparable from the history of multiple promotions, but his legacy in WWE is particularly extensive. He is a two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee, honored individually in 2008 and again in 2012 as part of the Four Horsemen.
WWE has frequently brought Flair back for major events, anniversary programming, documentary features, panels, legends appearances, and on-screen segments. The Nature Boy’s presence carries immediate historical weight, especially at a major stadium-level event such as the Royal Rumble. Even without a defined on-screen role, a Flair appearance would be a significant attraction for a weekend built around WWE’s past, present, and future.
For now, however, Flair’s remarks should be viewed as his own announcement rather than confirmation of a specific WWE creative plan. He did not say whether he will appear on the Royal Rumble broadcast, take part in surrounding weekend festivities, attend as a guest, or become involved in any storyline. He also did not identify any additional events on WWE’s calendar where fans may see him.
What he did make clear is that he believes his relationship with WWE is again in a positive place. His repeated use of the phrase “back in” indicated that he sees the reconciliation as more than a one-time invitation.
Recent Tensions Had Kept Flair Away
Flair’s apparent reunion with WWE follows a period in which he had been kept away from company festivities. During WrestleMania 42 weekend this past April, WWE barred Flair from attending its events after he threatened to “beat up” Ludwig Kaiser, who has also been associated with the El Grande Americano character.
That episode represented a serious point of friction between Flair and the company. WWE’s decision applied across WrestleMania weekend, one of the organization’s largest annual stretches of programming, fan events, media activity, and celebrity appearances. For a performer of Flair’s stature, being absent from that environment underscored the strain between the two sides at the time.
Flair also said WWE informed him that he could no longer be affiliated with Roots of Fight, an apparel and media brand known for highlighting the stories of iconic athletes. The situation added another layer to the uncertainty around Flair’s relationship with WWE, particularly given the long history of his image, trademarks, and persona being connected to wrestling merchandise and promotional material.
His newest comments suggest those issues no longer stand in the way of renewed contact. Still, Flair did not discuss whether any formal agreement has been reached, whether WWE has approved commercial or licensing arrangements connected to his return, or whether the reconciliation changes his status with any outside partners.
Legal Matter Involving FAM Networks Remains Separate
Flair’s WWE comments also arrive as he pursues legal action involving his likeness rights. Flair recently filed a $10 million lawsuit against FAM Networks. The suit concerns an agreement involving the rights to Flair’s name, image, and likeness.
Flair alleges that FAM Networks promised him a six-figure monthly payment after he signed with the company in December 2025. He further alleges that he has not received any of those payments since the initial signing.
The lawsuit is separate from his situation with WWE, and Flair did not connect the legal action to his stated reconciliation with Levesque or his expected Royal Rumble attendance. Still, likeness rights are a particularly consequential issue for a legend whose name, robes, catchphrases, championship history, and larger-than-life persona have remained commercially valuable for decades.
Flair has long been among wrestling’s most marketable names, and his public profile has extended well beyond his full-time in-ring career. That makes control over the use of his identity an important part of any business relationship. The FAM Networks case remains its own matter, while Flair’s remarks on the podcast were focused on his personal and professional standing with WWE.
Why The Royal Rumble Is A Fitting Return Point
The Royal Rumble has historically been one of WWE’s most effective settings for surprise appearances, returns, and reunions with legendary names. Its format allows the company to celebrate different eras, whether through an in-ring entrant, a ringside cameo, a backstage segment, or a presentation tied to the event’s broader weekend.
Flair did not state that he will enter a Royal Rumble match, and there is no reason to assume that is under consideration. His comments only established that he plans to attend the 2027 event in Glendale. Yet the Rumble’s history makes it a natural place for WWE to acknowledge a performer of Flair’s stature if the company chooses to feature him.
The event will also arrive more than a year after the WrestleMania 42 weekend dispute. That timeline could give WWE and Flair ample opportunity to define what a renewed relationship looks like and how prominently the Hall of Famer may be involved. Flair’s mention of seeing “a lot” of him may indicate that he expects appearances beyond one weekend, although no schedule has been announced.
There is also significance in Flair publicly saying he and Hunter “hugged” and “made up.” Levesque oversees WWE’s creative direction, making that personal reconciliation especially meaningful if Flair is hoping to resume a recurring presence around the company. Flair framed the encounter as a decisive resolution rather than a temporary thaw.
What Comes Next
Until WWE announces a role for Flair, the immediate takeaway is that The Nature Boy expects to be back around the promotion. His planned Royal Rumble attendance is the clearest date attached to that statement, and Glendale now stands as the expected starting point for his return to WWE-associated activity.
There are still unanswered questions. WWE has not publicly outlined how Flair will be used, whether his involvement will be televised, or whether he will participate in programming before February 2027. It is also not known if Flair’s return will include any ongoing ambassadorial, media, licensing, or special-event capacity.
But Flair’s message was not tentative. After a turbulent period that included a WrestleMania-weekend ban and disputes involving outside business relationships, he says he has repaired the relationship that matters most to his WWE future. For one of wrestling’s enduring icons, the road now appears to lead back to the Royal Rumble.
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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.