Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief, has been hailed as one of the greatest wrestlers by legends like John Cena and Paul "Triple H" Levesque. But who does Reigns himself consider the best? When asked to name a wrestler better than him, Reigns initially seemed to brush off the question with a casual wave and a grin. However, his reaction changed when he heard the name Ric Flair.
Flair, as described by historian Tim Hornbaker in his 2023 biography, "The Last Real World Champion," is a legend known for his relentless travel and high-quality matches. As the NWA World Champion, Flair defended the title across different cities, states, and countries, often wrestling marathon bouts more than 300 nights a year. Despite the grueling schedule, Flair's performances remained consistently high, whether he was facing Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, or Ricky Morton. "The Nature Boy" elevated every match to a high-stakes battle, keeping fans on the edge of their seats and making younger stars like Lex Luger and Nikita Koloff look like seasoned pros.
In a way, Reigns shares this excellence, having elevated several wrestlers in recent years to genuine world-championship caliber performers. Reigns' reaction to Flair's name highlights a fascinating dynamic: despite Reigns' own success, Flair is still seen as the ultimate standard of greatness in the wrestling world. This reaction shows that, despite Reigns being at the top, Flair remains the benchmark for excellence in the eyes of many.
