Much like WWE’s Intercontinental Championship, the United States Championship has served as a stepping stone for many of mid-card wrestlers to use as a platform to showcase what they can bring to the main event table. First established in 1975, a few years prior to the IC Championship as part of the NWA’s Mid-Atlantic territory, the US title was passed through several of WWE’s top competitors before eventually finding its home in WCW.
After WWE purchased WCW’s assets in 2001, this included the WCW United States Championship, bringing it to WWE television for the first time. Since then, the US title has acted in the same manner, providing mid-card wrestlers with the opportunity to one day ascend even further. Originally being seen as a SmackDown exclusive championship, it has since traded brands with the Intercontinental title and is now the hottest property in RAW’s mid-card scene.
But which wrestler has had the honour of holding this prestigious championship the most times? That credit would go to none other than ‘The Nature Boy’, Ric Flair .
The bleach-blonde star of WCW amassed a total of six reigns with the United States Championship, holding it throughout feuds with the likes of Roddy Piper, Sting and in his iconic series against Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat.
As with most of Ric Flair’s wrestling tales, controversy surrounds this record as WWE has often misrepresented the US title’s history. Where ‘Naitch’ has only won the title on 5 occasions, WWE recognise him as a 6-time champion. Perhaps this is a ploy to undermine fellow 5-time US Champion Lex Luger, who would tie Ric Flair’s total reigns.
With the United States Championship still active in WWE, there’s more than enough opportunity for a modern day superstar to break Flair and Luger’s potential tie, with both AJ Styles and Kevin Owens sharing a total of 3 reigns each and John Cena with a record of 5 reigns under the WWE banner.
What’s wrestling without a little petty drama, eh?
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