How many world championships did Ric Flair win?
Ric Flair, a legendary figure in professional wrestling, is renowned for his numerous world title reigns. However, there has been ongoing debate and confusion regarding the exact count of Flair’s championships.
While the official WWE sources claim that he won the title 16 times, Flair himself has said in the past that he actually won it a record 21 times. John Cena, who also has 16 championship reigns, is said to be tied with Flair, as per official WWE.
How many championships did WWE legend Ric Flair win?
it’s important to note that there were several untelevised events in the 1980s that saw Flair win and lose the title in quick succession. Surprisingly, these occurrences are not included in the official lineage. During Flair’s first recognized NWA title reign, which supposedly lasted from September 17, 1981, to June 10, 1983, there were instances where Flair dropped the title to local stars like Jack Veneno, Carlos Carlon, and Victor Jovica, only to reclaim it shortly afterwards. These uncounted title changes reveal the true extent of Flair’s dominance.
In addition to the disputed title changes, three more Flair world title reigns remain unacknowledged by WWE. This brings the total to 19. Flair’s second NWA reign, spanning from November 24, 1983, to May 6, 1984, included an unrecorded title loss to Harley Race in New Zealand and a subsequent victory in Singapore.
In 1991, WCW established its own world championship, which was initially unified with the NWA title. Flair was recognized as both NWA and WCW champion until he lost the NWA title to Tatsumi Fujinami in Japan. Flair regained the NWA title a few months later, but WWE does not recognize this particular reign, and the reasons behind this exclusion remain unclear. Flair’s departure from WCW and subsequent signing with WWE in the summer of 1991 resulted in the stripping of both titles.
Ric Flair’s WWE legacy is unsurpassed
Based on widely accepted accounts from wrestling enthusiasts, it is generally agreed that Flair’s true world title count stands at 21. Flair himself has publicly endorsed this assessment, proudly asserting his status as a 21-time world champion.
However, there are four additional reigns that are subject to debate, which some claim brings the count to 25. These include instances involving Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and WCW’s International World Title, which was essentially the NWA title without the name.
While John Cena holds a legitimate 16 world championship reigns, it is undeniable that Flair’s record surpasses those numbers. Hence, while the official count is 16, Flair won a total of 21 World Championships.
Watch Ric Flair’s wildest WWE moments below:
