The United States Championship is one of the most admired titles in the WWE. Both WWE and WCW have used the titles for long periods of time, creating two completely different histories under the same title lineage. WCW used the US title as a championship for main eventers when they needed something to maintain relevance or elevate new stars. WWE did the same thing, but here mid-carders were given more importance. Let’s have a look at some of the best United States champions in the history of both WWE and WCW.
10. The Miz
The Miz is the greatest Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, but he has also had some strong runs as a United States Champion. His first United States Championship reign lasted over seven months. Miz’s second stint with the title lasted for three months. The memorable moments of Miz losing the title to Bret Hart and then Daniel Bryan getting a great reaction from the Crowd reflected his success as a heel champion.
9. Diamond Dallas
Diamond Dallas was one of the most popular wrestlers in 1988, as he featured in both classic matches in the mid-card and main event storylines at the top of the card. WCW placed the United States title for two reigns that year. During Diamond’s time with the title, there were impressive matches against names like Chris Benoit, Curt Hennig, Raven and Bret Hart. He made the title feel important and even won the 1998 PPV by defeating Bret Hart for his second reign.
8. Rick Rude
Rick Roode won the United States Championship once in WCW. His amazing run lasted an entire year and would have lasted longer had Roode not been forced to vacate it due to injury. Roode carried the title amazingly with his major heel reign. Many fans considered him to be better in WCW than WWE due to his US title reign there.
7. Dean Ambrose
When Dean Ambrose won his first single title in the form of the United States Championship, the importance of The Shield increased. He set a WWE record for the longest reign in WWE history that still stands today, holding the title for a total of 351 days in WWE history. The Shield mostly had six-man tag matches, with Ambrose defending his title when the PPV called for it. If Ambrose had more single feuds or total defenses, he would have been a more great United States champion.
6. MVP
When MVP became the United States Champion, he was also elevated as a new mid-carder. He was introduced as a prime free agent signing with a heel character and deemed selfish by the media. MVP’s United States Championship reign lasted 343 days. He was a fantastic heel and achieved great success in WWE during his tenure.
5. Ric Flair
Ric Flair has won the United States Championship five times and is tied with a few names. He helped make it feel important in the title’s early history and is one of the most credible wrestlers for doing so. “The Nature Boy” showed his credibility by winning matches over the likes of Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Snuka and Bobo Brazil. There was only one title reign for him after 1980, when he defeated Konnan and held the belt for four months before vacating it.
4. Steve Austin
Steve Austin had an underrated career in the WCW but became a big star in WWE. His greatest success in WCW came when he won the United States Championship twice. Austin gave amazing performances against names such as Ricky Steamboat and Dustin Rhodes that showed his potential. WCW had Jim Duggan defeat Austin to end his title reign, but his release and move to WWE changed everything for the better.
3. Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero is one of those rare wrestlers to hold the United States Championship in both WWE and WCW. When Eddie won the US title in the WCW, he held it for nearly three months before losing it to Dean Malenko. However, Guerrero is remembered more for his WWE reigns. In WWE, Eddie defeated Chris Benoit in the finals to win another tournament for the same prize when they re-introduced the belt. He held it for the next three months and helped make the belt feel important in WWE again.
2. Lex Luger
Lex Luger holds the record for the longest United States Championship reign in the history of the title. WCW booked him to win the title and dominate with it before moving him into a bigger role at the top of the card. Luger’s third reign continued for 523 days, setting a record that will probably never be broken. He held the title on five separate occasions for a total of 950 days.
1. John Cena
John Cena took the United States championship to new heights twice in his career. Cena won it in the 2000s when he was playing a rap character and used it as his first major title win in the company. However, his second run with the United States title during the 2010 era was more epic because the title felt just as important as the World title. Cena used to give open challenges for the title every week, making the segments a must-watch. Cena is the great US champion because he held the title proudly and entertained the fans in the best ways.
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