10 Times WWE Waited FOREVER To Break Records
9. John Cena Wins His 16th World Championship
WWE is like Obi-Wan Kenobi when it comes to Ric Flair's world championship reigns, because they only see them from a certain point of view.
Vince McMahon's grappling company up north always used to pick and choose which belts they recognised; you won't see them talk about AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley, or Kurt Angle winning straps in TNA anytime soon.
When they bought World Championship Wrestling in 2001, they suddenly had control of the Nature Boy's legacy, from the days when WCW was a territory of the National Wrestling Alliance, right up until Ted Turner parted ways with the whole project.
So, 16 became the number to beat, even though Flair won at least 21... He won his last strap in 2000, so for 17 years he was the greatest of all-time.
"Are you sure about that?" - John Cena.
At Royal Rumble 2017 it was finally time to equal Flair's record. Cena beat AJ Styles for his 16th world championship. What makes Cena's record more important in WWE's eyes is that each and every reign took place under their watch. With a combined 13 WWE and three World Heavyweight title wins, Cena sits on that perch right beside the Nature Boy.
You can debate who's the better champion (and you will), but with how much the 'E touted Flair's record for almost two decades, it seemed like they'd never let someone match it, much less go ahead and beat it.
Cena had to wait two and a half years to go from 15 to 16 too.