Saturday night’s “AEW Collision” featured a tribute segment to Steve “Mongo” McMichael, featuring his wife Misty, Ric Flair and Dean Malenko.
McMichael passed away in April after a four-year battle with 67-year-old extraneuronal prolapse-induced disorder ALS. It was announced that the tribute segment will air a week and a half ago on “Aew Collision: Beach Break.”
Flare appeared as promised, with Malenko and McMichael’s wife adjacent to the segment alongside Tony Ciaborne. They were played on the big screen with a montage of McMichael playing on the big screen and then gathered at the entrance lamp to share some words for his late friend. Another McMichael montage was interwoven with promotions for the Les Turner Als Foundation nonprofit.
Tonight we pay tribute to Pro Wrestler + Pro Football Hall of Fame member Steve “Mango” McMichael. @ricflairnatrboy, @tonyschiavone24 Dean Malenko. pic.twitter.com/0djci6skvi
– All Elite Wrestling (@aew) May 18, 2025
After moving to WCW in the late 1990s, McMichael already won a Hall of Fame career in the NFL and made his own name in wrestling, which won the 1985 Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears. He started as a commentator, later becoming a member of four jockeys, winning the WCW US Championship from Jeff Jarrett in 1997. He was in charge of his final match in 1999, serving live events with Malenko and Chris Bnoit against Barry Windham, Kurthenig and Brian Clark. His final airing match came a month before and teamed up with Flair with outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
