Bully Ray: Why John Cena Won’t Actually Break Ric Flair’s World Title Record

One big thing

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray challenges the narrative that John Cena could surpass Ric Flair’s legendary 16 World Championship record, arguing that Flair’s actual title count extends beyond WWE’s official recognition.

Why it matters

As Cena approaches his 2025 retirement, the wrestling community is debating whether he’ll attempt to break Flair’s record. This discussion highlights the broader debate about how wrestling history is documented and celebrated across different promotions.

By the numbers

• Cena: 16 WWE World Championships
• Flair: 16 officially recognized World Championships by WWE
• Additional Flair reigns not recognized by WWE include multiple NWA and WCW titles

Key details

• Bully Ray emphasized on “Busted Open Radio” that Cena’s achievements, while impressive, are limited to WWE
• Flair’s championships span multiple major promotions including WWF, NWA, and WCW
• Bully Ray compared the situation to tag team wrestling, using The New Day vs. The Dudley Boyz as an example

Direct quote

“To me, John Cena is already the most decorated World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history, and John Cena has the record within the WWE. I don’t look at it that way, Flair is in a spot all his own,” stated Bully Ray.

The bottom line

While Cena might technically tie or surpass WWE’s recognized version of Flair’s record, Bully Ray argues that Flair’s total worldwide championship achievements put him in a category of his own.

What do you think about Bully Ray’s perspective on comparing championships across different wrestling promotions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!