WWE

16-time world champion Ric Flair has heaped massive praise on an AEW star, ranking him amongst the “top 10” in wrestling today.

Speaking on his ‘To Be The Man’ podcast Flair expressed his amazement at the recent bout between Andrade El Idolo and Buddy Matthews on AEW Collision (June 17), with particularly high praise for his son-in-law Andrade.

Flair said:

“What a match. Unbelievable.

“I text Tony they stole it. I don’t know what direction he’s going in next. And it’s just got to be positive for him.

“And he reiterated the fact that, you know, it’s hard to say top five because there’s so many but he is for sure in the top 10 in terms of performers in our business without a doubt.

“I mean, if I watch that match back I say it’s in the top five. But man they killed it, Buddy Matthews did a hell of a job as well.”

Immediately following the match, Andrade’s wife and Ric’s daughter Charlotte Flair also commented to congratulate her husband.

The match was Andrade’s first in AEW since September 2022, with the 33-year-old requiring surgery for a torn pectoral late last year.

After a post-match attack from the House of Black following his match with Matthews, Andrade is set to take on Brody King on this Saturday’s June 24 episode of Collision.

Other major matches for Collision were also announced this week including Swerve Strickland vs Hiroshi Tanahashi and a huge eight-man tag with CM Punk teaming with FTR and Ricky Starks against Bullet Club Gold and the Gunns.

To find out more matches set for the Collision before Forbidden Door, click this link.

Transcript via Inside The Ropes

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• Andrade El Idolo
• Ric Flair
• AEW
• BUDDY MATTHEWS

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