Ric Flair was set to appear on the November 12 episode of AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts in Greensboro, North Carolina. But when the show aired, fans were left wondering where the Nature Boy had gone. While he never made it to the screen, Flair was in the buildingjust not healthy enough to go through with the segment.
As previously reported, close to the situation confirmed that Flair suffered a torn rotator cuff shortly before the event, reportedly due to a fall. Despite being in visible pain, Flair still made the trip to Greensboro. To avoid drawing attention to his condition, he even removed his arm from a sling before going in front of the live crowd.
Though his role on Dynamite was quietly scrapped at the last minute, AEW President Tony Khan brought Flair out before the cameras rolled for an off-air moment with the fans. It was brief, but meaningful. Flair addressed the Greensboro audience with genuine emotion, calling it Flair Country and thanking them for decades of support.
He told the crowd that AEW was offering something special and expressed how honored he was to be part of it. Flair noted that the older he gets, the more he appreciates these momentsespecially ones tied to the city where his legendary career took off back in 1974. He called Greensboro fans the greatest wrestling audience in the world.
Once the speech concluded, Khan transitioned the crowd into a Blood & Guts promo package, and Flair quietly exited the arena before the show officially went live.
The segment with Ricky Steamboat still happened as advertised, but those watching at home saw only half of what was likely intended. Flairs absence left the scene feeling disjointed, and his last-minute removal forced some quick improvisation backstage.
While Ric Flair didnt appear on television, those in the arena got something even more personalan unfiltered moment from a legend who showed up to honor a city that helped make him. It wasnt the segment AEW planned, but it became a heartfelt reminder of Flairs legacy and connection to the fans whove been with him for decades.
Do you think AEW should have aired Ric Flairs off-camera promo? Would you rather see more of these moments shared with the TV audience? Let us know what you think in the comments.
