Below are some top WWE news stories of the day, involving Dutch Mantell and Ric Flair.
• Old School Manager Dutch Mantell (Uncle Zebekiah in WWF / Zeb Colter in WWE) has been hospitalized due to health issues.
Below is the statement issued by the 74-year-old legend:
“OK guys, here’s for the those who’ve been looking for me. Let me catch everybody up up. In a nutshell, I’ve been very sick. There are packages missing and parcels that I’ve misplaced… but guys, I’ll make it good. Just give me time. I’m praying everyday for everybody’s safety.
For me personally, I’ve been admitted to a hospital here in Lutz where I’ll be for a while. I request everybody honor my family’s respect to have our own private thoughts. I will respond to all of you privately… and thank you for for patience. My daughter Amanda has been with me helping me.”
• All Elite Wrestling announced that Ric Flair has signed a multi-year deal with them, and his “Wooooo! Energy” drink is now the exclusive energy drink of AEW.
According to Fightful Select, the manufacturer of the “Wooooo! Energy” drink will cover a significant part of Ric’s AEW salary, if not all. That’s why the drink tie-in is an important part of Ric’s deal with AEW.
Flair’s deal is similar to that of Randy Savage’s deal with WCW in the mid-90s, where Macho Man’s Slim Jim deal paid a lot of his salary.
During an interview with The New York Post, AEW President Tony Khan said the following about Flair’s salary:
“We’re not paying Ric Flair. Ric Flair is essentially paying us. We’re getting paid by Wooooo! Energy for all of his appearances, so we’re collecting revenue from them.”
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