Hopefully, Roman Reigns will make the United States Title great again. It’s not a campaign slogan of sorts, but beating the Bulgarian Brute Rusev should help put the former WWE World Champion on the fast track to another title opportunity.
It should also help him win over WWE fans who are still on the fence over supporting the guy they all love to hate. Once a regional belt, the United States Title was considered the second most important belt to the NWA World Title and later the second most important strap to the WWE World Title – thanks to John Cena.
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Now, around the waist of the former Shield member, it has a chance to become as important as the Universal Heavyweight Belt, now worn by Kevin Owens. The United States Title has a rich history dating back to the old days of the NWA where names like Haley Race, Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper all wore the gold proudly.
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Overall, there have been 83 different champions. Ric Flair holds the record for having the most reigns at six, while John Cena holds the record for most reigns under the WWE banner at five. Lex Luger holds the record for longest reign, with his third reign lasting a total of 523 days, while Dean Ambrose holds the longest reign under the WWE banner, at 351 days (overall the third longest in the title's history).
Only two men, Lex Luger and Rick Rude, have held the championship for a continuous reign of one year (365 days) or more.
Here is a look at the five greatest United States champions of all time.
Harley Race
One of the toughest, most rugged performers in the ring, Race was a mainstay in the old NWA before he moved on to the WWF at the end of his career. He won the NWA World Heavyweight Title on eight occasions, taking down the likes of Jack Brisco, Dory Funk, Jr, Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes.
Race was also the first ever United States Champion recognised by the promotion. In 1975, Race defeated Johnny Weaver in Tallahassee, FL to capture the title in its infancy. The title at the time was only defended in the Mid-Atlantic region. Race held the title for 187 days.
Lex Luger
Luger and the United States Title seemed to be a marriage that continued during most of his time in the NWA and WCW. Luger first won the title by beating Nikita Koloff in 1987. He would go on to win the title four more times, his last run was after he beat Stan Hansen in a Texas Bull Rope Match.
Following his win, the title was renamed the WCW United States Heavyweight Title. He holds the record for most consecutive days as champion and the most days of anyone to hold the title in its history.
John Cena
If there is anyone who has helped the United States title mean anything in modern day WWE, it is Cena. Before he dropped the title last year at Hell in a Cell, the strap had as much prestige as the WWE World Title and Cena’s open challenge helped to make the mid-card an important part of Raw programming.
The segment also helped to put over young talent. With his last title run, Cena has now held the belt on five occasions. Cena beat Big Show in 2004 at WrestleMania XX for his first US Title. He beat Seth Rollins at Night of Champions to win his last title.
Chris Benoit
While his name is not mentioned much in wrestling circles, the Canadian Crippler won the United States Title five times. His last title win was in 2006 in Jacksonville, Florida when he beat Mr. Kennedy on SmackDown. Benoit’s first run with the title came back in 1999 when he chased David Flair (no that is not a misprint) on a taping of Nitro in Boise, Idaho.
He was a two-time world champion, having been a one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion in WWE.
Benoit was also the twelfth WWE Triple Crown Champion and sixth WCW Triple Crown Champion, and the second of five men in history to achieve both the WWE and WCW Triple Crown Championships.
Ric Flair
And you thought he only won world titles in his career. Woooo! Although Flair is the greatest world champion to ever live, he has held the United States Title a record six times in his career. Flair defeated Konnan at Bash at the Beach in 1996 for his last run with the strap.
In the 1970’s, Flair was a contender for the belt in the Mid-Atlantic region of the NWA. Flair defeated Bobo Brazil in 1977 in Richmond, VA for his first belt. He and Ricky Steamboat had some memorable matches over the title in the late 1970s where the belt changed hands four times.
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