advertising

John Cena's WrestleMania 41 Plans May Get an Unexpected AEW Boost

Ric Flair confirms his AEW contract prohibits WrestleMania 41 attendance despite John Cena potentially surpassing his world title record.

John Cena’s WrestleMania 41 Plans May Get an Unexpected AEW Boost

A contractual obligation will keep Ric Flair from witnessing a potentially historic moment at WrestleMania 41, where his legendary championship achievement could be surpassed. The wrestling icon confirmed his absence from the premium live event despite the possibility of John Cena breaking his record of 16 world title reigns.

Flair explained during an appearance on Busted Open Radio that his current agreement with All Elite Wrestling legally prevents him from attending the WWE showcase.

Advertising

I would like to say I’ll be there, but I won’t be, and I understand why, and I’m not upset at all. Every time they talk about the title, my name gets mentioned. They keep me relevant. It’s really cool. John is a great guy. Cody is a great guy. I work for another company. I’m sure I would be very welcome. Absolutely, if I wasn’t working with Tony, I would absolutely be there. They couldn’t keep me out of the stadium.

The wrestling legend has not appeared on AEW programming since Revolution 2024, where he participated in Sting’s retirement match. Despite his absence from television, Flair remains under contract with Tony Khan’s organization, creating the contractual barrier to attending WWE events.

Advertising

The situation highlights the business realities that exist between the two wrestling promotions, with talent contracts typically restricting appearances for competing organizations. Meanwhile, Cena prepares to face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 with the opportunity to claim an unprecedented 17th world championship.

Article Author Patricki Chites
I’m 26 years old and live in Brazil. I'm fluent in English, a journalist, and a pro wrestling fan for 15 years. Creator of the Brazilian website Wrestling Notícias. Fan of CM Punk and Chelsea Green.