Who has the most championship reigns in WWE history?

In almost 80 years of WWE’s existence in some form or other, fans have seen an assortment of superstars with some incredible achievements. The WWE itself came into existence in 2011. However, apart from some obvious modern greats, a range of old-time superstars have enjoyed long, successful reigns as World Champions.

As far as most WWE championship reigns are concerned, the title belongs to none other than John Cena, who has had 16 reigns as the world champion. However, if the WWF championship reigns are also considered, Cena is only tied for the 1st pot with none other than “The Nature Boy”, Ric Flair.

Ric Flair had 16 championship reigns in a 40-year career

With an astonishing 40-year career, Ric Flair left an indelible mark on the industry and is widely regarded as one of the greatest talents to have ever stepped foot inside the squared circle. Not only does he hold the distinction of being the most decorated world champion in wrestling history, but his charisma, skill, and enduring legacy have solidified his status as “The Nature Boy.”

Throughout his illustrious career, Flair officially claimed the world championship title an incredible 16 times, a feat matched only by John Cena. However, it’s worth noting that Flair himself considers his total number of world title wins to be 21, a testament to his unwavering confidence and exceptional accomplishments.

Flair’s dominance in the 1980s is particularly noteworthy, as he captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship a record 11 times between 1981 and 1993. Although some of these reigns are disputed and not officially recognized by the company, Flair’s reigns as the NWA World Champion spanned over 3,000 days, an astounding achievement. Five of these reigns lasted more than a year, with his longest reign lasting an impressive 793 days from May 1984 to July 1986.

John Cena is expected to eventually surpass Ric Flair

The trend of Cena’s World Title dominance began at WrestleMania 21, where he defeated JBL in an underwhelming match to claim his first WWE Title. The victory marked the start of a three-year period in which Cena played a prominent role in the WWE Title scene, capturing the championship for two more lengthy reigns. While mostly regarded as a WWE champion, Cena also had two ruins as the World Heavyweight Champion, back in 2008 and 09.

Before securing his third and final World Heavyweight Title in October 2013, Cena added an additional eight WWE Title reigns to his already impressive record in just four years. His most recent triumph came in an all-time classic against AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble last year, where Cena tied Ric Flair’s record for the most World Title victories. Given WWE’s determination to surpass Flair’s record, it seems only a matter of time before Cena holds a World Title above his head once again.

John Cena’s legacy as a World Champion is undeniable. His numerous title reigns and his close association with World Titles have solidified his place as one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling.

Watch a compilation of John Cena’s greatest wins below: