John Cena’s Pursuit of History: WWE Legend Claims He Shouldn’t Break Ric Flair’s Record
In the world of expert wrestling, few milestones stand as huge as Ric Flair’s document of 16 World Championship titles. However, with John Cena at the cusp of setting a new benchmark, critiques across the WWE universe are sharply divided. Cena, a WWE staple, has racked up sixteen titles on the grounds that his profession released with a name win at WrestleMania 21 in 2005. With retirement looming in 2025, Cena’s quest for one final World Championship to assert the last identify record has lovers and legends alike in heated debate.
Bully Ray, WWE’s personal Hall of Famer recognised for his outspoken perspectives and wrestling prowess as Bubba Ray Dudley, has now weighed in. In a current dialogue on Busted Open Radio show, wherein Ray co-hosts, he made it clear he believes that breaking Ric Flair’s sixteen-identify record isn’t a destiny Cena should satisfy. According to Ray, Cena’s achievements should be celebrated, however they don’t equate to the legacy left by means of Flair, who conquered titles across more than one wrestling groups and continents.
“To me, John Cena is a WWE Champion, full stop, that’s it. You can’t beat Ric Flair’s record. Ric Flair was a WWF Champion, he was an NWA Champion, a WCW Champion. Ric Flair has held different championships around the world which to me, holds more water than John Cena’s only WWE Championships,” said Ray with unmistakable passion on the show.
Ray argued that Cena’s accolades, even though super, are exceptional to WWE—a fact he believes diminishes their effect when as compared to Flair’s multi-corporation success. Flair’s profession spans no longer only WWE but additionally the NWA and WCW, in which his achievements are counted a few of the wrestling global’s maximum respected. Cena, in Ray’s view, sticks out as WWE’s greatest champion, however not always wrestling’s maximum adorned.
The assessment is clear. While Cena’s thirteen WWE Championships and 3 World Heavyweight Titles earned him a revered spot in WWE history, Flair’s achievement tale encapsulates broader wrestling territories, symbolizing an technology while champions may want to span organizations. As Ray emphasized, Flair’s journey isn’t confined to WWE, and thus his record should remain untouched by modern pursuits.
Comparing Cena’s WWE success to Flair’s expansive legacy, Ray drew parallels to his personal career. He spoke about The Dudley Boyz, the mythical tag crew he became a part of, and how their achievements prolonged past WWE, from ECW to Japan and other territories. “You can say The New Day are the most decorated tag team in WWE history, but The New Day can’t even be mentioned in the same breath as The Dudleys because The Dudleys did it all over the planet,” Ray introduced, underscoring his perception that real legacy isn’t constrained via organizational boundaries.
Interestingly, Flair himself has expressed a willingness to witness Cena surpass his document, despite WWE fans’ nostalgia for Flair’s reigns. Flair, ever the showman, has said he’d stand in support of Cena’s historical achievement and shake his hand. But the pursuit of Cena’s final championship isn’t with out its share of drama. Flair’s very own title history consists of chaotic reigns—two of which in WCW’s turbulent 2000 yr have been alarmingly quick, which include one which lasted less than 24 hours whilst he handed the name to Kevin Nash, handiest to lose it shortly after to Jeff Jarrett.
These short reigns mirror the volatility that marked WCW’s final days, where titles modified palms frequently or even non-wrestlers like David Arquette and Vince Russo located themselves in brief champion. It became a period of unpredictable turns, yet Flair’s legacy remained untarnished thanks to his broader accomplishments.
With Cena’s final year drawing near, WWE is getting ready for a probable storyline to raise his pursuit of the report. The wrestling world is at a crossroads, with Cena’s fanatics yearning that one final win, whilst traditionalists, led vocally by legends like Bully Ray, argue for preserving the sanctity of Flair’s unrivaled legacy. Cena’s capacity 17th title could indeed shatter records, but whether it would eclipse Flair’s reigns in significance remains a question for history to judge.
As 2025 approaches, the wrestling community is abuzz. Will Cena’s swan song culminate in a title win that reshapes WWE’s history books? Or will the record remain forever with the “Nature Boy,” Ric Flair?
