Ric Flair: The 21 Time World Champion

Publish date: 2024-05-02
While reading about the crap booking that resulted in Ric Flair's final two World title reigns I began thinking about all of the reigns that Flair should be recognized for (and to be fair [to Flair?] which he shouldn't be recognized for). Especially now that World championships are handed out like toilet paper these days. Flair's record was established during a time when it was an honor to hold the title just once. Most never had that opportunity. So unlike today's wrestlers who seem to just cry for their "turn" to be champion and hand over brief cases in exchange for a belt without ever facing the champion (whatever happened to, "To be the man you have to beat the man"?) Flair's record was a big deal. With John Cena just one win away from the "official" record I want to examine the unofficial title wins by Flair that should have him recognized as a 21 time World Champion.

World Championship #1 (NWA, 1 of 13)
September 17, 1981 - August 29, 1982)

WON FROM:
Dusty Rhodes - Kansas City, MO

LOST TO:
Jack Veneno - Rep. Dom. (loss not currently recognized by NWA)

World Championship #2 (NWA, 2 of 13)
September 1, 1982 - January 6, 1983

WON FROM:
Jack Veneno
NOTE: After winning the title two days earlier Veneno refused to defend the title outside of the Dominican Republic. He was stripped of the title which was awarded back to Flair. (awarded title win not currently recognized by the NWA)

LOST TO:
Carlos Colon - San Juan, PR
NOTE: (loss not currently recognized by the NWA)

World Championship #3 (NWA. 3 of 13)
January 23, 1983 - February 8, 1983

WON FROM:
Carlos Colon - Miami, FL
NOTE: (title win not currently recognized by the NWA)

LOST TO:
Victor Jovica - Couva, Trinidad
NOTE: Three days later Jovica was stripped of the title which was returned to Flair because it was discovered that Jovica's feet were on the rope during the pin. (awarded title win not currently recognized by the NWA)

World Championship #4 (NWA, 4 of 13)
February 11, 1983 - June 10, 1983

WON FROM:
AWARDED (see championship #3)
NOTE: (not currently recognized)

LOST TO:
Harley Race - St. Louis, MO

World Championship #5 (NWA 5 of 13)
November 24, 1983 - March 20, 1984

WON FROM:
Harley Race - Greensboro, NC

LOST TO:
Harley Race - Wellington, New Zealand
NOTE: (loss was briefly recognized but not currently)

World Championship #6 (NWA, 6 of 13)
March 23, 1984 - May 6, 1984

WON FROM:
Harley Race Kallang, Singapore
NOTE: (title win was briefly recognized but not currently)

LOST TO:
Kerry Von Erich - Irving, TX

World Championship #7 (NWA 7 of 13)
May 24, 1984 - July 26, 1986

WON FROM:
Kerry Von Erich - Yokosuka, Japan

LOST TO:
Dusty Rhodes - Greensboro, NC

World Championship #8 (NWA, 8 of 13)
August 9, 1986 - September 25, 1987

WON FROM:
Dusty Rhodes - St. Louis, MO

LOST TO:
Ronnie Garvin - Detroit, MI

World Championship #9 (NWA, 9 of 13)
November 26, 1987 - February 20, 1989

WON FROM
Ronnie Garvin - Chicago, IL

LOST TO:
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat - Chicago, IL

World Championship #10 (NWA, 10 of 13)
May 7, 1989 - July 7, 1990

WON FROM:
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat - Nashville, TN

LOST TO:
Sting - Baltimore, MD

World Championship #11 (NWA, 11 of 13)
January 11, 1991 - March 21, 1991

WON FROM:
Sting - East Rutherford, NJ

LOST TO:
Tatsumi Fujimami - Tokyo, Japan (loss was briefly recognized but not currently)

NOTE: Flair was simultaneously recognized as the NWA & WCW World Champion at this time. However a split occurred when Flair lost the NWA World Championship to Fujinami yet continued to be recognized as the WCW World Champion by WCW showing that the NWA and WCW World championships were in fact separate titles.

World Championship #12 (WCW, 1 of 6)
January 11, 1991 - July 1, 1991

WON FROM:
Awarded
NOTE: It was during this time that WCW began recognizing reigning NWA World champion Ric Flair as the first WCW World Champion sighting his NWA World Championship his victory over Sting as the beginning of his reign

LOST TO:
(stripped of title upon being fired from promotion)

NOTE: Although this reign is recognized as official it for some reason is not counted amount Flair's 16 (should be 21) World title reigns.

World Championship #13 (NWA, 12 of 13)
May 19, 1991 - September 8, 1991

WON FROM:
Tatsumi Fujinami - St. Petersburg, FL
NOTE: (title win was briefly recognized but not currently)

LOST TO:
(stripped of title upon joining the WWF)

World Championship #14 (WWF, 1 of 2)
January 19, 1992 - April 5, 1992

WON FROM:
(won the Royal Rumble to win the vacant championship) - Albany, NY

LOST TO:
Randy "Macho Man" Savage - Indianapolis, IN

World Championship #15 (WWF, 2 of 2)
September 1, 1992 - October 12, 1992

WON FROM:
Randy "Macho Man" Savage - Hershey, PA

LOST TO:
Bret "Hitman" Hart - Saskatoon, SK

World Championship #16 (NWA, 13 of 13)
July 18, 1993 - September 13, 1993

WON FROM:
Barry Windham - Biloxi, MS

LOST TO:
(title vacated when WCW permanently split from the NWA)

World Championship #17 (WCW, 2 of 6)
December 27, 1993 - July 17, 1994

WON FROM:
Big Van Vader - Charlotte, NC

LOST TO:
Hulk Hogan - Orlando, FL

World Championship #18 (WCW, 3 of 6)
December 27, 1995 - January 22, 1996

WON FROM:
Randy "Macho Man" Savage - Nashville, TN

LOST TO:
Randy "Macho Man" Savage - Las Vegas, NV

World Championship #19 (WCW, 4 of 6)
February 11, 1996 - April 22, 1996

WON FROM:
Randy "Macho Man" Savage - St. Petersburg, FL

LOST TO:
The Giant - Albany, GA

World Championship #20 (WCW, 5 of 6)
March 14, 1999 - April 11, 1999

WON FROM:
Hollywood Hulk Hogan - Louisville, KY

LOST TO:
Diamond Dallas Page - Tacoma, WA
(Four Way Match. Other participants: Sting & Hollywood Hulk Hogan)

World Championship #21 (WCW, 6 of 6)
May 15, 2000 - May 29, 2000

WON FROM:
Jeff Jarrett - Biloxi, MS

LOST TO:
Jeff Jarrett - Salt Lake City, UT

NOTE: During this reign Vince Russo took possession of the physical belt and handed it back to Jarrett with no explanation given. Kevin Nash then defeated Jarrett, took the belt and returned it to Flair who Nash said "Never lost the title". Flair then went on to officially lose the title to Jarrett later that night. Since Flair never lost the title, Jarrett was not the champion therefore Nash also did not become champion upon defeating Jeff. Instead Flair's reign should be seen as uninterrupted and we just chalk the rest to how terrible Vince Russo's booking was at WCW.

So as you can see. By recognizing Flair's title trades with Jack Veneno, Carlos Colon, Victor Jovica, Harley Race (from March of 1984) and Tatsumi Fujinami - many of which there is footage of - Flair becomes an official 21 time World champion.

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