Actually, Ric Flair Is a 21-Time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion

• Flair won numerous world titles in WWE, WCW, and NWA.
• He is tied with John Cena for the most world title wins.
• Ric Flair won his last world championship in 2000 in WCW.

After making his professional wrestling debut in the early 1970s, Ric Flair became one of the most influential figures in the professional wrestling industry, as many of the all-time best have cited Flair as an influence on their careers. Not only that, along with names like Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, and Randy Savage, Flair is also among the most recognizable names in professional wrestling, so much so that he's a pop culture figure.

Furthermore, it's no secret that Flair went through many ups and downs throughout his in-ring career, especially from the mid-to-late 1990s when many argued he overstayed his welcome. But despite this, Ric Flair went on to win many world championships throughout his career despite arguably being past his prime for some of them. Because of this, Flair has an impressive championship resume, including being a sixteen-time world champion, with the last recognized world championship win in 2000 during WCW's final days. Flair currently holds the record for most recognized world championship wins along with John Cena, as he's a former eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and a two-time WWE Champion.

After winning his 16 world championships, the fact that he won that many recognized world championships became part of Flair's character moving forward in his in-ring career. Returning for his second WWE run in late 2001, Flair may have never won another world title, but considering he was a sixteen-time world champion, it helped him appear as a special attraction when he wrestled in WWE's Ruthless Aggression era.

Ric Flair Is A Forgotten 21-Time World Champion

WWE Doesn't Recognize Some Of The Nature Boy's Wins

• WWE and NWA have not recognized some of Flair's world title reigns.
• Other wrestlers, like Antonio Inoki, have had world title reigns erased.
• Some of Ric Flair's NWA Championship wins weren't televised.

For years, Flair's sixteen-time world championship has been talked about as one of the most prestigious records in professional wrestling history. For instance, when John Cena tied Flair's record when he defeated AJ Styles to win his sixteenth world title at the Royal Rumble 2017 PPV, it was hyped as a monumental moment during Cena's final years as an active full-time WWE superstar, with him possibly passing Flair's record one day. However, while it's possible someone like John Cena could break Ric Flair's recognized world title record, it's worth noting that Flair has technically won more world titles than the ones that got recognized by WWE. In fact, Flair won at least 21 world titles in his in-ring career, even though it didn't get officially recognized by WWE.

Ric Flair's list of forgotten world title wins includes winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, as these were championship victories that don't count by WWE's standards because they weren't televised. Throughout his tenure in the NWA, Flair dropped and regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from the likes of Harley Race and Jack Veneno, even though it doesn't count as such. It's worth noting that other talents have won world championships but didn't get recognized by WWE, even winning the WWE Championship. As some fans may be aware of this event, WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki was a former WWE Champion when he defeated Bob Backlund in a December 1979 match in Japan. However, despite winning arguably the most prestigious prize in professional wrestling, Inoki's WWE Championship victory doesn't count by WWE's standards.

Whether Flair gets recognized for winning a world championship 16 or 21 times, he still gets regarded as the all-time best in the business. The fact that WWE only recognizes 16 world title wins for Flair doesn't diminish his credibility in any way possible. However, it's worth giving credit where credit's due for his championship success. Even if WWE doesn't recognize some of Flair's world title wins, fans should at least be aware of what he's accomplished throughout his in-ring career.

How This Affects John Cena's Title Legacy

Fans Have Wanted To See John Cena Break The Record

• Cena is the closest to breaking Flair's record.
• John Cena is a 16-time world champion.
• His last WWE Title win was in 2017.

With John Cena entering into his final year as an in-ring competitor, one of the biggest things that fans want to see is him break that record and become a 17-time world champion. This would only recognize all the world titles that he has won while competing in WWE. Before getting into the weeds of it all, this would no doubt be a historic milestone for Cena. It would even further solidify him as one of the all-time greats to have ever stepped into the ring.

However, the recognition of which world title reigns do count and which ones do not make what's official a bit murky. Some world title changes were not only not recognized by WWE, but also the NWA. This has affected many professional wrestlers who did capture world titles in NWA and WWE, but are not recognized for various reasons. It is unlikely that Flair's record will ever be amended at this point, especially with it being such a key point of accomplishment that many professional wrestlers strive to achieve.

John Cena Wants To Be The Last Real Champion

Cena Has His Chance To Break The Record At WrestleMania 41

• Cena won the men's Elimination Chamber in 2025.
• He will challenge Cody Rhodes for the WWE Title at WrestleMania 41.
• Cena said he will retire as WWE Champion.

If Cena breaks the record, it will be monumental. Of many on the active roster, there are very few, such as Randy Orton and Triple H, that can even come close to Cena or Flair in terms of world title reigns. However, with Cena's recent heel turn, he is on a mission to become a 17-time world champion. He has made his intentions very clear as well.

On March 24, 2025, Cena directly addressed the record that he is trying to break. He wants to break Ric Flair's record and take the title home with him after he retires. He brought up the Spinner belt that he introduced and told fans that WWE will have no real champions after he retires. It was a scathing promo that saw Cena, for the first real time since he turned heel, give his plans for what he wants to do during this run. Only time will tell if Cena will break the record and do exactly what he says he is going to.