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Flair told Starsport that Cena's freedom to pursue other projects in his time off has played a huge part in him becoming the WWE's top guy.

The Nature Boy of course knows everything about being the flagship guy of a wrestling promotion as he stood out in NWA, WCW and WWE.

The 16-time world champion explores his glittering career, personal demons and relationship with his family in the film “Nature Boy” which is put together by ESPN Films’ acclaimed 30 for 30 series.

In the documentary the WWE Hall of Famer explains how much of a toll his wrestling career and success took on his family when he was building his legacy travelling all around the country while his kids were back home.

Flair singles out the likes of AJ Styles and his Evolution protege Randy Orton as some of the best performers of the business but The Champ holds an advantage over them.

"I don't think John would be a success if John had children," he told Starsport.

"I think the two best performers in the company right now are Randy Orton and AJ Styles - Seth Rollins being close right there.

"If you look at John Cena, you have to look at the whole scenario of John's career.

"John is just an in-ring performer. He's very good in interviews, number one. Number two, he exhausts himself giving his off time to stuff he doesn't get paid for. Kids love him.

"Randy (Orton) doesn't want that role. Randy is happy, he wants to be home with his wife and kids.

"Could Randy pull it off? Of course. But Randy isn't interested in working in his days off. I don't blame him, not everybody is."

"That's a tough role, you sacrifice a lot of personal time and that's what my daughter (Charlotte Flair) is doing right now but she wouldn't have it any other way.

Charlotte has enjoyed immense success in her two-year stint in WWE as she already counts six Women's title reigns and her father insists she is already the greatest female wrestler of all time.

Cena has been the the WWE's posterboy since 2005 and is still considered the top guy even though he appears less as he pursues a career in Hollywood.

He is perhaps the most polarising figure in WWE history and still gets booed by numerous fans in every arena he visits.

Flair is baffled by that reaction and insists Cena deserves immense respect not just for his in-ring work but also his projects outside the WWE, such as his contribution for the Make-A-Wish Foundation where he holds the record of most wishes granted.

"If you don't respect John Cena you don't respect anybody," said Flair.

"I'm not sure how I feel about that (the boos). Look what they say to Kurt Angle when he walks out: 'You suck'. It doesn't make sense. Because Kurt's very popular and of course John is the flagship of the company.

"He's working in a limited schedule now and pursuing other avenues that he's earned the right to do.

"He conducts himself, carries himself, he's very classy and he is very very well-read and very intellectual and that speaks volumes. We don't have a lot of people like that."

Cena is on the verge of breaking 16-time world champion Flair's record of most title reigns.