Flair congratulates Cena on becoming 16-time WWE Champion

The record of 16 world championships held by "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is the holy grail of achievements in professional wrestling, and one many thought would never be caught or touched.

Following his victory Sunday night at the Royal Rumble, John Cena can now also claim to be a 16-time champion after defeating A.J. Styles in the center of the ring at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Flair has always been a huge advocate of Cena, and was happy to see someone he admires so greatly be the first man to tie his record. Even as Cena entered the curtains to the backstage area, Flair was one of the first people to greet and congratulate him on a job well done.

"It's fabulous. I'm John's biggest fan, not only as a person and a human being, but as a wrestler. He's a great guy," Flair told WWE.com. "He works incredibly hard, and has had an amazing career. He's been the flagship for this company for a long time.

"If someone is going to get that record, or tie it, or ultimately break it, I couldn't be happier for it to be John Cena."