While appearing on Ariel Helwani’s show, Ric Flair didn’t hold back when reflecting on his relationship with Vince McMahon, offering strong praise while also opening up about a deeply personal financial chapter in his life.

Flair made it clear that, in his view, McMahon’s impact on the wrestling business is undeniable.

“Everybody in the world that likes wrestling should be thanking Vince McMahon.”

Despite their long history, Flair admitted the two have not spoken recently, suggesting he has chosen to give McMahon space amid everything going on.

“No, I have not. I feel like there’s so much going on that I would be wasting his time. He knows how I feel about him.”

The conversation then shifted to a long discussed story involving a significant loan McMahon once gave him. Flair pushed back on years of speculation, clarifying the real reason behind it and stressing that the narrative often told publicly is inaccurate.

“He lent me $800 grand, and unlike what people portray, it was not for the IRS. It was to help me get through three divorces at one time.”

Flair went on to explain that repaying that money came with serious financial consequences, particularly when it came to taxes, but he stood firm on his decision to return every dollar.

“The thing of it is, they hate hearing this, I paid him back every dime. When he called me and said, ‘I can write this off.’ I paid him back because I didn’t want to let him down.”

He also revealed that the situation followed him into later contract negotiations, becoming a sticking point that frustrated him years after the fact.

“But they used that against me when we when I would negotiate a contract, I’d go, ‘Ric, that’s old news.’ Well, it ain’t old news.”

Flair added more context on just how difficult the aftermath was financially, describing the burden of dealing with taxes tied to what he called “phantom income,” which took years to resolve.

“You know how hard it is to pay taxes on $800 grand in phantom income tax and phantom income? It took me five years to get out of that hole. All because I paid him back.”

In a striking detail, Flair recalled using one of his biggest paydays to settle the debt, tying it back to one of the most iconic matches of his career.

“Took my WrestleMania check, gave it to me. I signed it and gave it back to him.”

Even then, McMahon reportedly told him it was unnecessary, but Flair insisted on honoring his word.

“He said, ‘You don’t have to do that.’ I said, ‘I told you I’d pay you back. I’m paying you back.’”

Flair confirmed the repayment came shortly after his retirement match against Shawn Michaels in 2008, closing the chapter on a story that continues to follow him to this day.

“Everybody in the world who likes wrestling should be thanking Vince McMahon… He knows how I feel about him.

He lent me $800k, and unlike what people portray, it was not for the IRS. It was to help me get through three divorces at one time.

I paid him back every dime. You know… pic.twitter.com/qsH7ddvYaK

, Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 22, 2026

Ric Flair believes the idea of WWE being owned by Tony Khan is not as far fetched as it might sound.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Flair spoke highly of Khan, calling him one of the best people he has ever met and pointing to the immense wealth of the Khan family as a factor that could make such a move possible down the line.

“Tony Khan is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met in my life. And you know what, I wouldn’t be surprised , because he has the money to do it , if he doesn’t buy WWE one day,” Flair said. “The Khan family’s got more money than God, you know that, right? That $9 billion price on the WWE is nothing to Shad Khan.

“But more than that, Tony’s provided an opportunity for guys who would never get a chance to work anywhere else, because the WWE is a very difficult, very selective organization. And Tony has offered all of these opportunities. And he pays the guys good. All he cares about is making a product and making sure that people are happy. He’s a very personable guy.”

Khan previously made a serious push to acquire WWE in 2023, reportedly putting forward a bid close to $7 billion before Endeavor Group Holdings ultimately secured the deal, bringing WWE together with UFC under the TKO Group Holdings banner.

Elsewhere in the interview, Flair also shared his thoughts on MJF, noting a clear change in attitude over time.

“He had a little bit of an ego problem, but he’s calmed that down now,” Flair said. “When I see him, it’s like, ‘Hey, Mr. Flair’ and sh*t like that, you know what I mean? He used to blow by me like I was just… But it’s a whole different world. And I’m very, very proud of his success, as I am all of the guys there. They have a lot of great talent there.”

Flair remains signed to All Elite Wrestling, though his appearances have been limited since initially joining the company during Sting’s retirement run alongside promotional work tied to his Wooooo! Energy brand.

Ric Flair has high praise for Tony Khan:

“Tony Khan is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met in my life. I wouldn’t be surprised, because he has the money to do it, if he buys the WWE one day.

Tony has provided opportunities for guys who would never get a chance to work… pic.twitter.com/FIgbKQZ8P2

, Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 22, 2026

Trey Miguel has provided an update following an injury he suffered at TNA Rebellion earlier this month.

Miguel was hurt during his match against Mustafa Ali on April 11, when he delivered a Meteora onto the ring steps. Despite the impact, he completed the match. Days later, he confirmed the extent of the damage in a social media post.

“Yesterday I found out my patella is actually broken. Luckily no surgery should be necessary. Learning this blows my mind when I think about the fact that I finished that match against @MustafaAli_X at Rebellion. It’s going to take some time but I’ll see you all again soon.”

The injury means Miguel is now expected to spend time recovering, though he noted that surgery will not be required. No timeline has been confirmed for his return to action.

Before the setback, Miguel had been part of a major storyline in TNA. He won the TNA International Championship at No Surrender on February 13, 2026. In that match, he defeated Channing Lorenzo, also known as “Stacks” from WWE NXT, to capture the title.

Miguel earned that opportunity after winning a guaranteed title shot through the Feast or Fired match held in January. The briefcase victory placed him in position for a championship run that quickly became a central focus on TNA programming.

His reign led into a feud with Mustafa Ali and the Order 4 group. The rivalry concluded at Rebellion, where Ali defeated Miguel in Cleveland to capture the TNA International Championship.

The injury adds a setback at a time when Miguel had strong momentum coming out of his title win earlier this year. While he was able to finish the match despite the injury, the confirmed broken patella will now keep him out of the ring as he recovers.

Trey Miguel Reveals Broken Patella After TNA Rebellion

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WWE secured major financial backing to keep WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas for a second straight year, according to new details on the event’s funding.

A report from Brandon Thurston and Jason Ounpraseuth of POST Wrestling revealed that WWE received a $6 million site fee from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This marks an increase from the $5 million fee the company was granted for WrestleMania 41, which was also held in the same city.

Beyond the site fee, WWE benefited from additional financial support through tax incentives. The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development approved $4,314,821 in tax credits tied to WrestleMania 42. This figure is slightly higher than the $4,240,456 in credits approved for the previous year’s event.

In total, WWE received more than $10 million in combined incentives from local and state sources to host WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium. The increased financial package reflects Las Vegas’ continued interest in keeping one of WWE’s biggest events in the city.

WrestleMania 42 took place across two nights on April 18 and April 19 and was promoted by WWE as one of the highest-grossing events in company history. The strong financial performance, combined with the incentives, highlights the scale of the event’s impact for both WWE and the host city.

Originally, WrestleMania 42 was set to be held in New Orleans. However, plans changed, and the event was moved to Las Vegas, allowing Allegiant Stadium to host back-to-back WrestleMania shows.

The decision to return to Las Vegas appears to have been supported not only by strong event revenue but also by the financial incentives offered. With increased site fees and tax credits, the partnership between WWE and local officials continues to deliver benefits for both sides.

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Hulk Hogan spoke openly about the severe toll his body endured during his time in TNA Wrestling in a new Netflix documentary released today. The interviews were filmed in the final months before Hogan’s death on July 24, 2025, at the age of 71.

The documentary focuses on Hogan’s long history of injuries, including six back surgeries, and the extreme level of medication he was using at the time. He described his daily fentanyl intake in detail and recalled a pharmacist’s reaction to the dosage.

“I was taking 80-milligram fentanyls, two in the morning, stuffing them under my gums,” Hogan said. “I had two 300-milligram patches of fentanyl on my legs, and they gave me 6, 1,500-milligram fentanyl lollipops to eat. I went to the pharmacy. He goes, ‘You should be dead. We have never seen a human being take this much fentanyl.’”

Former TNA executive Eric Bischoff also addressed Hogan’s condition during that period. He admitted the situation was difficult to witness while they were working together.

“It was hard to see,” Bischoff said. “There were times when I felt really s**ty about myself for making him do it.”*

Bischoff added further details about Hogan’s physical state at the time.

“His back was in so much pain. I would literally have to go to his hotel and help him get out of bed, to get into the shower, to get ready to go to the show. I mean, he was contractually obligated to do it. He wanted to do it.”

Hogan also discussed the medical steps taken to manage his condition after multiple surgeries. He explained how doctors recommended a spinal cord stimulator following his sixth procedure.

“After back surgery number three, I can’t walk. Surgery number four, I go back in. Surgery number five, I go back in. Surgery number six, really getting over this crap,” Hogan said.

“Dr. Zeno said, ‘You need a spinal cord stimulator.’ Okay, what is that? They said it’s a battery we’re gonna put in your back, and you have a portable like a TV clicker in your hand. Every time there’s any pain, it shoots an electronical signal to your head and it blocks the pain. It gives you a jolt of electricity.”

Wrestling writer David Shoemaker shared his perspective on Hogan’s in-ring limitations during that era.

“He wasn’t doing the basic bits of pro wrestling. All he could do was bleed,” Shoemaker said. “But obviously there’s a physical limitation to everything, and he showed us those limits in the ring at TNA.”

Hogan reflected on the long-term damage caused by his wrestling style, especially his signature move.

“I would change one thing. Started dropping the leg when I was in Japan. Arms used to be really huge. So why would you jump up and drop the leg and land on your tailbone every night for 40-plus years when you can use the sleeper hold and not take any bumps?”

Booker T also commented on the impact of that move over time.

“Every time Hulk Hogan did that leg drop, compounding on his back, every time. Those were the small things over years.”

Hogan closed by reflecting on how his life might have been different if he had made other choices earlier in his career.

“I would have been like a normal 70-year-old guy that could walk around. Wouldn’t be limping.”

The documentary is now available to stream on Netflix.

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