Heading into WrestleMania 41, John Cena and Ric Flair share the record for the most world championship reigns at 16 apiece. Following on from part one of the comparison of their 16 reigns, here is the sequel to that article, exploring reigns 9-16 for The Nature Boy and The Doctor of Thuganomics.
Ric Flair #9 – Randy Savage, Prime Time Wrestling
1st September 1992
Having lost the title to Randy Savage at WrestleMania 8, Flair was intent on recapturing the WWE Championship from the Macho Man. Having injured Savage’s knee at SummerSlam in an attack assisted by Mr. Perfect, Flair was able to repeat history three days later.
Much like he did to Dusty Rhodes six years prior, Flair’s figure-four leglock caused Savage to pass out. This would be his second and final reign as WWE Champion.
John Cena #9 – Batista, WrestleMania 26
28th March 2010
Cena didn’t have to wait long to exact revenge upon Batista for his underhanded display at 2010’s Elimination Chamber. It would be a repeat success for Cena: winning the WWE title in the penultimate match of WrestleMania in successive years.
Ric Flair #10 – Barry Windham, Beach Blast
18th July 1993
Flair moved into double figures with a short-lived NWA title run. Defeating Barry Windham at Beach Blast, the title-winning match is more remembered for its major botch rather than being Flair’s landmark tenth title.
Windham, trapped in the figure-four, reached for the bottom rope to break the hold. In doing so, Windham unintentionally pressed his shoulders to the mat, leading to a pinfall and victory for Flair.
John Cena #10 – The Miz and John Morrison, Extreme Rules
1st May 2011
It wasn’t to be three WrestleMania world title wins in a row for Cena. Losing to reigning champ The Miz, who took full advantage of an assist from The Rock, Cena set his sights on Extreme Rules for retribution.
Pitted against The Miz and John Morrison, the steel cage triple threat was full of near-wins for each competitor. Often remembered for R-Truth’s interference, which cost rival Morrison a clear chance to win the title, Cena eventually prevailed with a top rope AA on The Miz to secure the pin.
Ric Flair #11 – Vader, Starrcade
27th December 1993
Flair’s 11th was a fortuitous one. The original plans for Starrcade would’ve seen Sid Vicious win the title from Vader. However, two months prior, Vicious was fired for his part in the infamous double stabbing with Arn Anderson.
Anderson very nearly lost his life, with the brawl being broken up by 2 Cold Scorpio. Flair was happy to step in, but there was jeopardy for The Nature Boy. If he lost to Vader, he would have to retire.
Thankfully, Flair was able to secure the win over Vader with a slick roll-up.
John Cena #11 – Rey Mysterio, Raw
25th July 2011
Cena’s infamous title loss to CM Punk at Money in the Bank, which led to Punk leaving the company with the title upon the expiry of his contract, left WWE in a bit of a pickle. As a result, WWE responded with a tournament to crown a new champion. Rey Mysterio emerged victorious, but his reign would be a short one.
Cena challenged Mysterio to a title match the same night, defeating the newly-crowned champion. Punk interrupted the celebrations, claiming to be the true WWE Champion. This reignited their feud, leading to a unification match at SummerSlam – which Punk won.
Ric Flair #12 – Randy Savage, Starrcade
27th December 1995
Two years to the day since his last title win, Flair would steal gold from Savage once again. After defeating Lex Luger and Sting in a triple threat #1 contender’s match, Flair challenged Savage for the title on the same night. Despite interference from Four Horsemen stable members Chris Benoit and Brian Pillman, Flair was able to overcome Savage with his own help from Arn Anderson.
John Cena #12 – Alberto Del Rio, Night of Champions
18th September 2011
Punk would get a taste of his own medicine after his SummerSlam victory against Cena, with Alberto Del Rio successfully cashing in his MITB briefcase to curtail Punk’s celebrations. Del Rio would lose the title to Cena at Night of Champions a month later before reclaiming it from him two weeks later at Hell in a Cell.
Ric Flair #13 – Randy Savage, SuperBrawl
11th February 1996
Another memorable Flair/Savage encounter, and not because of another title change. Going toe-to-toe in a steel cage, the match is best remembered for Miss Elizabeth’s betrayal of Savage. Throwing one of her shoes into the cage, Flair took advantage, attacking Savage with the foreign object to pick up the victory.
John Cena #13 – The Rock, WrestleMania
7th April 2013
It was downhill for Cena after his first match with The Rock at WrestleMania 28. Cena made history in 2012 by becoming the first MITB holder to unsuccessfully cash in, capping off a woeful year for the 12-time world champion. But 2013 was a different story.
Winning the Royal Rumble, Cena was able to guarantee a sequel to his titanic match with The Rock. His redemption went full circle, claiming his 13th title at WrestleMania 29.
Ric Flair #14 – Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Uncensored
14th March 1999
A familiar scenario in many ways for Flair. A title match in a steel cage with his career, again, on the line. But Flair also had the extra carrot of becoming WCW President for life, should he defeat Hogan.
In this steel cage first blood match, corruption ran riot in a chaotic encounter. Interference from Flair’s son, David, and Torrie Wilson threatened The Nature Boy’s chances, but he once again had Arn Anderson in his corner to assist.
Despite bleeding first, referee Charles Robinson didn’t stop the match and didn’t count Hogan’s pinfalls. Flair controversially won with another figure-four pinfall.
John Cena #14 – Alberto Del Rio, Hell in a Cell
27th October 2013
After losing his title at SummerSlam to Daniel Bryan, Cena was ruled out for two months with a triceps injury. Returning at Hell in a Cell, Cena challenged Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship. Having lost the WWE title to Del Rio at the same PLE two years prior, Cena prevailed, exacting revenge upon his rival.
Ric Flair #15 – Jeff Jarrett, Nitro
15th May 2000
Flair’s penultimate world title was his first in the 21st century. Flair, who was dressed in his street clothes, made quick work of Jarrett.
Catching him out with a rollup, Flair shocked the Nitro crowd to pick up his 15th world title. Although, he would be stripped of it just a week later by Vince Russo.
John Cena #15 – Money in the Bank
29th June 2014
With Daniel Bryan forced to vacate the title, the new champion would be crowned at the Money in the Bank PLE.
Cena faced stiff competition in an eight-man ladder match for the title: Alberto Del Rio, Cesaro, Bray Wyatt, Kane, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, and Sheamus. Slugging away for 25 minutes, Cena finally surged up the ladder to claim his 15th world title.
Ric Flair #16 – Awarded the title by Kevin Nash
29th May 2000
Three days after being stripped of the title, Kevin Nash won the vacant title on Thunder. However, Nash decided that it would be appropriate to return the title to Flair at Nitro the following Monday.
However, Flair’s final world title reign would end similarly to the previous one. Later that night, Jarrett took the title back, with Russo interfering once more.
John Cena #16 – AJ Styles, Royal Rumble
27th January 2017
After failing to defeat Styles on two previous occasions, Cena overcame his rival in the trilogy capper at Royal Rumble. The match continues to be cited as one of the best of both superstars’ careers.
A rare occurrence in wrestling, Styles and Cena remained in the ring for the entire match, showcasing their talent through technical prowess alone. This is Cena’s final world title reign to date and the historic 16th reign that drew him level with Ric Flair.
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