Ric Flair Praises John Cena’s 17th WWE Title Win and Retirement Plans
Las Vegas, NV – September 7, 2025 – WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has expressed admiration for John Cena’s historic achievement of winning a record-breaking 17th WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41, surpassing Flair’s long-standing record of 16 title reigns. In a recent interview with eScapist Magazine, Flair also shared insights on what he believes Cena will do after his ongoing retirement tour concludes in December 2025, painting a picture of a wrestling icon ready to embrace life beyond the ring.
Cena captured the Undisputed WWE Championship by defeating Cody Rhodes on April 20, 2025, at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, with assistance from rapper Travis Scott in a controversial finish. Flair, who had previously held the record alongside Cena at 16 titles, took to X to congratulate his friend, writing, “Congrats To My Great Friend @JohnCena On Becoming A 17x Champion! It Was Only A Matter Of Time! You And @CodyRhodes Put On An Instant Classic! Much Respect! WOOOOO! #WrestleMania”. Despite some fan criticism of the match’s flat finish, Flair praised it as “an instant classic,” highlighting the respect he holds for both competitors.
“I love it. I think the world of John,” Flair told eScapist Magazine. He acknowledged Cena’s milestone, which saw the 17-time champion defend the title against Randy Orton and CM Punk during a 100-day reign before losing it back to Rhodes at SummerSlam. Flair’s support wasn’t always unqualified; before WrestleMania, he had backed Rhodes and even claimed Cena would “have to go through me” to break the record. However, Flair’s tone shifted post-victory, reflecting genuine admiration for Cena’s accomplishment.
Looking ahead, Flair speculated on Cena’s plans after his retirement tour, which includes final appearances in Boston on November 10 and New York City on November 17, with a reported match against Brock Lesnar on the horizon. “He is making so damn much money in the movies right now. He doesn’t need to do anything,” Flair said. “I hope that he’ll walk away and stay away. Wrestling is very addictive… But he already has, because he’s taken big lapses of time off. And he is very happily married, his wife is lovely. They’re building a new home here in Tampa. So I see John periodically, but I can’t say enough nice things about John Cena. He’s a wonderful person”.
Flair’s comments suggest Cena, now a successful Hollywood actor with roles in films like The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, is likely to focus on his film career and personal life post-retirement. Cena himself vowed on Raw to be “the last real champion” and hinted at taking the championship with him after his final 27 appearances, though a post-WrestleMania attack by Orton has set up a potential rematch at Backlash.
The wrestling community has mixed sentiments, with some X users celebrating Cena’s legacy and others questioning the match’s controversial booking, which involved a belt shot behind the referee’s back. Regardless, Flair’s endorsement underscores Cena’s monumental impact, both in and out of the ring, as he prepares to close a historic chapter in WWE history.
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