Addressing the Ric Flair World Titles controversy

As John Cena approaches 16 World Championships, I look at the disputed title history of "16-time champion" Ric Flair.
All dates are from Wrestling-Titles.com:

9/7/1981 - Flair won the NWA World Championship for the first time.

Some point in 1982 - Flair faced a wrestler by the name of Jack Veneno in the Dominican Republic. My understanding of the events is that Flair was scheduled to go over, but an audible was called when there was fear of the audience rioting if Flair won. Flair lost to Veneno and Veneno claimed to be champion, but the NWA didn't officially acknowledge the title switch.

Some point in 1983 - Victor Jovica beat Flair for the title before the referee reversed the decision due to Jovica's feet being on the rope. Thus, Flair stayed in his first reign as champion.

1/6/1983 - I think this was the same situation as with Veneno but with Carlos Colon in Puerto Rico. Another title change that wasn't officially recognized.

2/9/1983 - The masked Midnight Rider beat Flair for the title before he was unmasked as Dusty Rhodes. Dusty returned the belt. This also isn't officially counted as a title switch.

6/10/1983 - Harley Race beat Flair for the title in an official capacity.

11/24/1983 - Flair beat Race to begin his second official reign.

3/20/1984 - Race beat Flair, but Flair claimed a fast count. Flair was announced as champion on the next show as if nothing happened.

5/6/1984 - Kerry Von Erich won the title from Flair.

5/24/1984 - Flair began his official third reign as NWA Champion.

7/26/1986 - Dusty beat Flair for the title.

8/9/1986 - Flair won it back for his fourth official reign.

9/25/1987 - Ron Garvin became champion, beating Flair.

11/26/1987 - Flair beat Garvin for his fifth official reign.

2/20/1989 - Ricky Steamboat beat Flair for the title.

5/7/1989 - Flair began his sixth official NWA World Title reign.

7/7/1990 - Sting (yes, that Sting) beat Flair for the title.

1/11/1991 - Flair won the title back for his seventh official reign. As a result, WCW recognized him as their first World Champion.

3/21/1991 - Tatsumi Fujinami became NWA Champion after beating Flair.

5/19/1991 - Flair won his eighth official NWA World Title.

7/1/1991 - Flair fired by WCW and stripped of their World Title. 

8/9/1991 - Flair went to the WWF. NWA vacated the title, but Flair claimed he was the "real" world champion since he never lost it.

1/9/1992 - Flair won his first WWF Title by winning the Royal Rumble.

4/5/1992 - Randy Savage beat Flair for the WWF title.

9/1/1992 - Flair won the title back for his second official reign with the WWF Title.

10/12/1992 - Bret Hart beat Flair for the WWF Title.

7/18/1993 - Flair beat Barry Windham to win the NWA World Title for the ninth official time.

September 1993 - WCW withdrew from the NWA. Flair was still recognized as "WCW International" World Heavyweight Champion for his win over Windham, but the NWA no longer recognized him as their world champion.

9/19/1993 - Rick Rude defeated Ric Flair for the WCW International Title.

12/27/1993 - Flair beat Vader to win his second official WCW Title.

4/17/1994 - Flair vs. Steamboat ended in a double pin; WCW Title held up.

4/21/1994 - Flair beat Steamboat in a rematch to win his third official WCW Title.

6/23/1994 - Flair beat Sting for the WCW International Title, unifying it with the main WCW Title.

7/17/1994 - Hulk Hogan beat Flair for the WCW Title.

12/27/1995 - Flair beat Randy Savage to become four-time WCW Champion.

1/22/1996 - Savage beat Flair to end Flair's fourth WCW Title reign.

2/11/1996 - Flair beat Savage to win his fifth WCW Title.

4/22/1996 - The Giant (WWE's Big Show) beat Flair for the WCW Title.

3/14/1999 - Ric Flair beat Hulk Hogan for his sixth WCW Title.

4/11/1999 - DDP won a four-way match to end Flair's reign.

5/15/2000 - Flair beat Jeff Jarrett for his seventh WCW Title.

5/22/2000 - Flair stripped of the WCW Title.

5/29/2000 - Kevin Nash returned the WCW Title to Flair to begin Flair's eighth official reign.

5/29/2000 - Jeff Jarrett beat Flair to end Flair's reign on the same night it started.

OFFICIAL TALLY:
NWA: 9
WCW: 8
WWF: 2
WCW International: 2

So, Flair's list of world titles won definitely exceeds 16, even if you exclude the WCW International titles and the unofficial NWA Title switches. But, pro wrestling is a work and if WWE and Flair say it's 16 World Titles, that's the "official" story from their point of view.

More wrestling tomorrow.