John Cena Wins 16th World Championship, Ties All-Time Record

Cena is now tied with wrestling legend Ric Flair for the most world titles.

ByABC News
January 30, 2017, 9:52 AM

— -- Wrestler and actor John Cena has had a storied career in the WWE. But now he's officially a member of the illustrious 16-title club.

Cena defeated AJ Styles Sunday night at Royal Rumble to win his 16th World Championship belt, tying wrestling legend Ric Flair for the most world titles.

Flair took to Twitter to congratulate the entertainer. He also threw in a quick taunt.

"Congrats on #16 @JohnCena! Never Forget... To be the man, you gotta beat the man - WOOOOO!" he wrote.

Congrats on #16 @JohnCena! Never Forget...

To be the man, you gotta beat the man - WOOOOO!

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) January 30, 2017

Cena himself posted on Facebook, "The Champ is in good company with Ric Flair, The Nature Boy!"

ABC News Live

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

Cena himself posted on Facebook, \"The Champ is in good company with Ric Flair, The Nature Boy!\"

","publishedDate":"2017-01-30T14:52:13Z","contributors":[{"name":"ABC News","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2017-01-30T15:00:39Z","section":"Entertainment","wordCount":133,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"video","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":{"id":"40501722","type":"video","locator":"https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/wrestling-trivia-john-cena-40501722","shortLocator":"http://abcn.ws/2a4SK0D","issued":"2016-07-12T08:53:28Z","created":"2016-07-12T08:53:28Z","modified":"2016-07-12T21:39:13Z","date":"2016-07-12T08:53:28Z","keywords":["john cena","wrestling","movies","trivia","Video","40501722"],"section":"Entertainment","title":"Wrestling Trivia with John Cena","headline":"Wrestling Trivia with John Cena","shortHeadline":"Wrestling Trivia with John Cena","linkHeadline":"Wrestling Trivia with John Cena","description":"John Cena and ABC News' Anthony Castellano test each other's knowledge in trivia about wrestling and movies.","leadInText":"John Cena and ABC News' Anthony Castellano test each other's knowledge in trivia about wrestling and movies.","duration":119000,"contents":{"image":{"id":"40501723","created":"2016-07-11T20:43:42Z","modified":"2016-07-11T20:43:58Z","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"name":"raw","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/160711_vod_johncena_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"16x9","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/160711_vod_johncena_16x9_992.jpg"},{"name":"33x16","ratio":"33x16","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/160711_vod_johncena_33x16_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x3","ratio":"4x3","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/160711_vod_johncena_4x3_992.jpg"},{"name":"4x5","ratio":"4x5","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/160711_vod_johncena_4x5_992.jpg"}],"description":"VIDEO: Wrestling Trivia with John Cena"},"playlist":[{"id":"40501722","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2016/07/160711_vod_johncena_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}},{"id":"40325813","type":"video","streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2016/07/160704_gma_pop1_805_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}}}]},"streams":{"m3u8":{"16x9":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2016/07/160711_vod_johncena_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"}},"transcript":{},"alertTag":"","sectionRoot":"Entertainment","adFlag":true,"noAds":false,"isAmbient":false,"sponsored":false,"hideDate":false,"hideReportTypo":false},"featuredImage":null,"dateline":"—","seo":{"JSONLD":{"videoObject":{"name":"Wrestling Trivia with John Cena","description":"John Cena and ABC News' Anthony Castellano test each other's knowledge in trivia about wrestling and movies.","uploadDate":"2016-07-12T08:53:28Z","thumbnailUrl":[null,"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/160711_vod_johncena_4x3_992.jpg?w=384","https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/160711_vod_johncena_16x9_992.jpg?w=384"],"url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2016/07/160711_vod_johncena_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2016/07/160711_vod_johncena_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","publisher":{"name":"ABC News","logo":{"url":"","@type":"ImageObject"},"@type":"Organization"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","id":"https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/wrestling-trivia-john-cena-40501722"},"duration":"PT1M59S"}}},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. Biden","firstName":"Joe","lastName":"Biden","party":"democrats","major":true,"incumbent":false,"winner":true,"votes":306},"republicans":{"id":8639,"displayName":"Donald Trump","shortDisplayName":"D. Trump","firstName":"Donald","lastName":"Trump","party":"republicans","major":true,"incumbent":true,"winner":false,"votes":232},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"electoral","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{},"total":306,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"81,283,098","value":81283098}},"republicans":{"available":{},"total":232,"difference":{},"popular":{"displayValue":"74,222,958","value":74222958}},"other":{"available":{},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":538},"needed":{"displayText":"270 to win","displayValue":"270","value":270},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"reporting":"99% of Expected Vote Reporting"},"senate":{"header":"Senate Seat Results","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":46,"winner":false},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":50,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":2}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"senate","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"12 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"12 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"12","value":12},"total":46,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 1 seat","displayValue":"1","value":1},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"23 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"23 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"23","value":23},"total":50,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 1 seat","displayValue":"-1","value":-1},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"0 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"0 Others up for election","displayValue":"0","value":0},"total":2,"popular":{}},"total":100},"needed":{"displayText":"51 for control","displayValue":"51","value":51},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:05.390Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:05PM ET"}},"house":{"header":"House Results: Dems Retain Control","candidates":{"democrats":{"displayName":"Democrats","icon":"party-democrats","votes":222,"winner":true},"republicans":{"displayName":"Republicans","icon":"party-republicans","votes":210,"winner":false},"other":{"displayName":"Other","votes":0}},"parties":{"democrats":"democrats","republicans":"republicans"},"type":"house","votes":{"democrats":{"available":{"displayText":"233 Democrats up for election","shortDisplayText":"233 Dems. up for election","displayValue":"233","value":233},"total":222,"difference":{"displayText":"Lost 10 seats","displayValue":"-10","value":-10},"popular":{}},"republicans":{"available":{"displayText":"201 Republicans up for election","shortDisplayText":"201 Reps. up for election","displayValue":"201","value":201},"total":210,"difference":{"displayText":"Gained 10 seats","displayValue":"10","value":10},"popular":{}},"other":{"available":{"displayText":"1 Others up for election","shortDisplayText":"1 Others up for election","displayValue":"1","value":1},"total":0,"popular":{}},"total":435},"needed":{"displayText":"218 for control","displayValue":"218","value":218},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-17T18:22:02.900Z","displayValue":"December 17, 1:22:02PM ET"}},"lastUpdated":{"value":"2020-12-18T21:15:13.850Z","displayValue":"December 18, 4:15:13PM ET"},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]},"electionsConfig":{}},"types":["electoral","senate","house"]}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewabcnews,wdgasec,wdgnewabcnweb,wdgnewabcnewsrollup","ns":"abcnews","pageName":"abcn:entertainment:story","pageType":"story","pageUrl":"abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/john-cena-wins-16th-world-championship-ties-time/story?id=45142258&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"abcn:site","tagID":"apage_news01","userABCookie":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","alertTag":"none","authors":"ABC News","authorsBureau":"none","authorsUnit":"none","dateline":"—","id":"45142258","modDate":"2017-01-30","mediaOnPage":"video","modTime":"10:00","provider":"ABC News","pubDate":"2017-01-30","pubTime":"09:52","section":"Entertainment","subBrand":"none","title":"John Cena Wins 16th World Championship, Ties All-Time Record","videoId":"40501722","videoName":"Wrestling Trivia with John Cena","wordCount":133},"taboola":{"config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":null,"pageTypeOverrides":{"story":{"mode":"thumbnails-a","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"},"home":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","container":"taboola-homepage-thumbnails","type":"home","targetType":"mix","placement":"Homepage Thumbnails"},"section":{"mode":"thumbnails-b","type":"category","targetType":"mix","placement":"Section Front Thumbnails"},"liveBlog":{"mode":"thumbnails-d","type":"other","targetType":"mix","placement":"Blog"}}}}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/Entertainment/john-cena-wins-16th-world-championship-ties-time/story?id=45142258&userab=abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","vary":{"host":"abcnews.go.com","cached":true,"path":"/Entertainment/john-cena-wins-16th-world-championship-ties-time/story","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","country":"us","userab":"abcn_web_article_ts-218*variant_c-820","region":"gdpr"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};