Three months into his Farewell Tour this year, John Cena triumphed over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, capturing his 17th world championship and officially breaking Ric Flair’s longstanding record of 16 world titles. Cena had first matched Flair’s tally with a win against AJ Styles in 2017, but it had remained uncertain whether WWE would allow the 48-year-old to become the undisputed record holder. In an interview with Insight, Cena shared his deep respect for Flair, expressing admiration for the wrestling legend and revealing that he had been unsure about surpassing his record. He mentioned his desire to one day honor Flair, the 18-time world champ, and his hope to celebrate with him when the time comes.
Cena said, “I’ve been worried about that for quite a while because I love Rick. He’s a super mentor to me. He’s always been a great person to me and I love him. I meant what I said in the press conference at the Rumble…I want to win 17, so I want to win 18. You get to shake hands with the winning performers. So what that meant to me personally was, hey, lad, one of them better be you or you better do your job. Because I don’t want to be on the ground at that time.” He continued, “I want to shake someone’s hand on the 18th, and the fact that something that was impossible is now possible means that for me it’s possible through my actions, but oh my god, this person wants to shake my hand as I pass and I can’t wait to do it.”
Cena’s reign as Undisputed WWE Champion was slated to last 105 days before he lost the title to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam in August. Instead of reclaiming the gold, Cena pursued the Intercontinental Championship and defeated Dominik Mysterio, thereby officially becoming a Grand Slam Champion.
Fan Take: This milestone is not just a personal victory for John Cena—it reshapes WWE history by highlighting the passing of the torch between generations. For fans, it underscores the evolving legacy of wrestling greats while honoring the sport’s rich past, promising exciting narratives for the future.
