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Ric Flair To Honor Steve McMichael At AEW Collision Taping In Chicago

Originally posted on Wrestling on SI | By Ryan Droste | Last updated May 14, 2025 12:21 PM ET

Ric Flair is in town for AEW's tapings on Wednesday night at the NOW Arena in suburban Chicago, Illinois.

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS and MAX, but Flair's segment will be taped for this weekend's edition of AEW Collision. Flair will be taking part in a tribute to the late Steve "Mongo" McMichael.

McMichael passed away on April 23rd after a battle with ALS. He valiantly fought his illness for years and lived to see himself inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past summer.

He’s In!! Congratulations My Great Friend Steve “Mongo” McMichael. You Made It! So Well Deserved! What A Beautiful Ceremony! And Needless To Say, You Would Always Want Me To Say WOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/fXcJfSVIHR
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) August 3, 2024

McMichael was a legendary defensive lineman for the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl championship team. He played all but two years of his career in Chicago for the Bears, and continued to live in the city following his retirement.

Of course, pro wrestling fans will also remember McMichael for his days announcing and wrestling for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). "Mongo" won the WCW United States Championship and was a member of Flair's legendary Four Horsemen group.

See You In Chicago Tonight @AEW! It Will Be A Night To Remember. I Will Be Paying Tribute & Honoring My Best Friend The Great Steve “Mongo” McMichael. The Tribute Will Be On #AEWCollision This Saturday! pic.twitter.com/0vDxRAL7uP
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) May 14, 2025

McMichael also briefly appeared for the WWE during the lead up to WrestleMania 11 in 1995 as part of Lawrence Taylor's entourage. Taylor wrestled Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event of WrestleMania that year in Hartford, CT.

This article first appeared on Wrestling on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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