When John Cena once again became Undisputed WWE Champion at Wrestlemania 41, he broke an incredible record. The superstar had become the most decorated WWE wrestler of all time with 17 titles, surpassing the legendary Ric Flair.
Cena heads a list of all-time greats who have reached double figures, including Hulk Hogan and Triple H, and he still has time to add even more to the list given that there have been older WWE champs than him.
So, who is included in this exalted list of legendary champions? Here are 5 most decorated wrestlers in WWE history, in ascending order.
Hulk Hogan – 12 titles
The Hulkster won 12 world titles in total, splitting them evenly into 6 WCW and 6 WWF titles, and he won them in different ways. Perhaps the most unusual was his triumph at WrestleMania IX at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, considered by some to be the worst WrestMania of all time.
With Bret Hart taking on reigning champion Yokozuna in the main event, Hogan wasn’t even on the card that night. When the Hulkster came down to check on his friend Hart after he lost against Japanese giant, he faced a challenge he didn’t expect:to get in the ring and take a free pop at the champ for the title.
Under the bright lights of the gambling mecca, Hogan got the ultimate version of a no-deposit bonus, to use modern betting terms. He had the chance to win a big prize for no cost!
Hogan promptly got into the ring and smartly got out of the way as Yokozuna’s sidekick Mr Fiji threw salt at him. When the salt went into Yoko’s eyes instead, Hogan floored the giant and dropped his famous leg drop to win the title once again.
It wasn’t the last title for the veteran, though. In 2002, at the grand old age of 48, he won the Undisputed WWF Championship from Triple H at Backlash under his “Hollywood Hogan” name.
Randy Orton – 14 titles
Randy Orton, a celebrated third-generation wrestler from Knoxville, Tennessee, has forged his place in WWE history through a series of iconic personas, including “The Legend Killer” and “The Viper.” However, it’s his record-setting championship reigns that truly define his career.
Orton is a 14-time world champion, which places him among wrestling’s elite, tied with Triple H. He has captured the WWE Championship ten times (in its current guise) and the World Heavyweight Championship four times.
His big moment arrived at SummerSlam 2004, where he defeated Chris Benoit and became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history, at the age of only 24. Orton declared after the event that ‘The Orton Era’ had begun.
He also defeated greats like John Cena and the Undertaker and was the first holder of the WWE Championship in its current guise.
Orton remains a top competitor. Heemerged from the bottom of the ring to hit Cena with his signature RKO right after his WrestleMania title win to reignite their old feud.
Triple H – 14 titles
Triple H is one of WWE’s greatest-ever wrestlers who’s also known for his executive influence.
A 14-time champion, he’s won the WWE Championship nine times and the World Heavyweight Championship five times. His first WWE Championship win in 1999 was the start of his rise to the top, when he beat Mankind on Raw is War.
Triple H has also had significant rivalries that defined eras, including hisUndisputed Championship victory over Chris Jericho at WrestleMania X8.
The Pedigree finisher is a fan favorite and, with his wrestling days now behind him, he continues to influence in-ring events in his role as Chief Content Officer.
Ric Flair – 16 titles
“The Nature Boy” has been named the greatest wrestler ever in several fan polls and his incredible championship success is one of the reasons, along with his flamboyant persona.
Flair is officially recognized by WWE as a 16-time world champion.He won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship ten times and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times. Flair’s title victories spanned decades, from his first NWA title win in 1981 to his final WCW title in 2000. His most famous matches often involved these title defences and brought about some of the greatest bouts of all time.
Flair took to social media to congratulate Cena when the latter overtook him for titles won at WrestleMania 41, saying it was “just a matter of time”.
John Cena – 17 titles
Flair’s comments about it being inevitable that Cena would overtake him is down to Cena’s incredible dedication, work ethic, and connection with the fans.
Cena has won the WWE Championship 13 times and the World Heavyweight Championship three times with victories in high-profile matches at events like WrestleMania, where he captured multiple WWE Championships.
Recognized for his “You Can’t See Me” taunt and his commitment to “Hustle, Loyalty, Respect,” Cena’s impact on WWE is huge and his WrestleMania win shows that his career is far from over.
Can the WWE’s most decorated superstar go on to break more records? Watch this space.
