Thought of the Day: Building Up The Myth
You know what move didn’t really do jack?Ric Flair’s Figure Four. Take a look at how he won his World Titles (some recognized, some unrecognized. Don’t start with the “IT’S MORE THAN 16 TIMES” stuff again).
WCW – 1 – Pin with feet on the ropes
WCW – 2 – Rollup
WCW – 3 – Rollup
WCW – 4 – Brass knuckles
WCW – 5 – Shoe to the face
WCW – 6 – Pin in the figure four
WCW – 7 – Small package
WCW – 8 – Awarded title
WWF – 1 – Won Royal Rumble
WWF – 2 – Pin in the Figure Four
NWA – 1 – Pin after Dusty Rhodes collapsed
NWA – 2 – Cross body
NWA – 3 – Rollup
NWA – 4 – Pin in the Figure Four
NWA – 5 – Pin after a ram into the cage
NWA – 6 – Small package
NWA – 7 – Rollup
NWA – 8 – Pin in the Figure Four
Yeah Flair won a few with it via pin, but he never won a World Title with the Figure Four via a traditional submission. However, when you think of Flair, you instantly think of the Figure Four, despite it almost never winning a major match. It says a lot about the way you can make something big just by talking about it and that you don’t always have to see everything to believe it.
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John cena
#01 AA
#02 STF
#03 TLC, grabbed the title after hitting Edge with an AA
#04 AA (WHC #1)
#05 AA (WHC #2)
#06 Made Orton say I Quit while having him in a STF
#07 Cena beat Orton 6-5 in a Ironman Match, last fall after an STF
#08 Made HHH tap to an STF in Elimination Chamber
#09 STF
#10 AA
#11 AA
#12 STF
#13 AA
#14 AA (WHC #3)
#15 Won a multi man ladder match, final move hitting Kane with an AA
Every single win has been with an AA or STF even in the ladder matches where he ends the opponent with an AA before grabbing the title.
For reference, here’s how Bret Hart won his championships:
1–Sharpshooter on Ric Flair
2–Just pins Yoko after he falls down
3–Small package on Diesel
4–Knocks Undertaker over the top rope to eliminate him
5–Accidental chair shot by Shawn Michaels
WCW
1–Sharpshooter on Benoit
2–Baseball bat attack on Goldberg
So of 7 titles, only 2 with Sharpshooters. I’d imagine the Triple H Pedigree and John Cena AA ratio is way higher.
We’re all overlooking the fact Flair won a title with a crossbody. At least once, he went up top, and did not get slammed.
Sorry tom it’s more than 16. It doesn’t matter what the wwf/e says. Facts are facts my friend.
If you want to count the Missouri World Title he won, it would be 21. But we won’t, because nobody’s ever heard of such a Title. But here are all of Flair’s World Title victories..
1 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Dusty Rhodes (September 17, 1981)
2 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Harley Race (November 24, 1983)
3 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Harely Race (March 24, 1984)
4 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Kerry von Erich (May 24, 1984 in Japan)
5 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Dusty Rhodes (August 7, 1986)
6 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Ron Garvin (November 26, 1987)
7 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Ricky Steamboat (May 7, 1989)
8 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Sting (January 11, 1991)
9 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Tatsumi Fujinami (May 19, 1991)
10 – WWF Heavyweight title by winning the Royal Rumble (January 19, 1992)
11 – WWF Heavyweight title defeating Randy Savage (September 1, 1992)
12 – NWA World Heavyweight title defeating Barry Windham (July 18, 1993)
13 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Vader (December 27, 1993)
14 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Ricky Steamboat (March 24, 1994)
15 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Sting (June 23, 1994)
16 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Randy Savage (December 25, 1995)
17 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Randy Savage (February 11, 1996)
18 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Hulk Hogan (March 14, 1999)
19 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Jeff Jarrett (May 15, 2000)
20 – WCW World Heavyweight title defeating Kevin Nash (May 29, 2000)
I’m not trying to start anything. I just wanted to point out, that it is in fact more than 16.
You do make a good point about the myth though.
Like I said: not all of them are recognized.
WWE says 16, Flair says 16. For all intents and purposes, it’s 16.
Some are recognized. I would argue its at least 18.
Wwe says a lot of things, flair says whatever he needs to, to pay his creditors. They’re 20 listed title reigns .
Good day and bully sir:)