A MESSAGE TO CENA TMZSports.com
John Cena invoked Ric Flair's name when declaring his 17th World Championship during "Monday Night Raw" this week ... but the Nature Boy tells TMZ Sports he's not irked one bit by the slight -- admitting he's just happy to be alive to hear it!!
We caught up with the man Cena's attempting to surpass for the most world titles in WWE history ... about 24 hours after the 47-year-old told fans he'd be old news by the time he ends his farewell tour.