United States Championship - Who do you think of?

[The Crock]

Alright guys, this is the second thread in my new series. I hope you enjoy it. Today's edition is all about the US Championship. It is simple, when you think of the US Championship who comes to mind? For me it was a toss up between Ric Flair and Lex Luger. The more I thought about it, the more it became a clear choice. This man was the clear choice:

Lex Luger. He was the longest reigning champion at 523 days, and is tied for most reigns title history with 5 reigns. Luger absolutely looked right with this belt. To me, he epitomizes what the United States Championship should be all about. He was an excellent talent, a upper-midcarder/main eventer. He elevated the title to a completely different level. He respected the championship, and what's most important is that he did anything to keep it. That title meant everything to him during his reigns, and that's something I value in a champion. He had some great matches as champion. The highlights if his reigns are many, here are a few of my favorite though:

- July 11, 1987: Wins first US Title. Defeats Nikita Koloff in a steel cage match.

- Chi-Town Rumble: Defeats Barry Windham for second US Title.

- Halloween Havoc 1989: Defeats "Flyin'" Brian Pillman to retain US Title.

- Starrcade 1990: Defeats Stan Hansen to begin fourth, record setting, US Title reign.

Your thoughts?

Admin's Note: This is a NON-SPAM THREAD! Do not just say a name without a reason or you will be penalized for it. This is your warning.

 

[Heartachetonight926]

Even though luger had the longest US title reign.....For some reason another comes to mind, probably because I didn't watch much WCW back in the day.


When I think of the United states Championship, for a couple reasons I always think of MVP. He had one of the longest Title reigns at about 416 day's (All together) to be precise. You see, I stopped watching Wrestling in early 2006, and I didn't start watching again until Mid 2007, which was when MVP had just started his US title reign. Something about the guy I just really liked, and he really seemed to suit the title very well.

 

[The Wrestler`s Wrestler]

When I think of the united states HEAVYWEIGHT championship, I think of the wcw version and when I first seen it on Rick Rude when he was the surprise guy under the cloak that Paul E. Dangerously got to beat Sting.

I miss wcw from the early 90's on a late saturday night / sunday morning

 

[Father Uncle Oscar]

I'll speak for the younger generation of wrestling fans who have seen little, if any, of Lex Luger's truly great matches.

A different name comes up almost every day when I think of the United States title, but at the moment, I think of MVP and Chris Benoit. Benoit, may he rest in peace, was the champ when I started watching in 2007. I remember he was my first favorite wrestler and the first guy I really did research on. When I started watching, he was also in the middle of a feud with young, cocky rookie Montel Vontavious Porter. This was the first rivalry I really got into, and I was actually happy when MVP won the title. I followed him every time he was on since that moment and he quickly became my other favorite WWE guy very early as a fan. So that's who I think of when I think US Title. Well, for today...

 

[In & Out]

The belt didnt mean anything in WWE

i feel the same way.....that's not to take anything away from the people who actually held it in the wwe but the belt itself just wasn't treated the same......i dunno who can feel me on this but the US title in the WWE to me seemed like the TV title in wcw.....anyone remember z-man? lol

 

[holdingholder]

Yeah I gotta say that belt means so much more in WCW, it looked more prestigious and I always thought higher card guys held the belt than the intercontinental championship. My favorite guys would have to be Sting and Rick rude. their feud over the title in the early 90's was awesome and crossed over into world title feuds. Other than that, Curt Hennig, Lex Luger, Scott Hall, Booker T, Goldberg, Dustin Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, all bring me great memories of what in my opinion is the best midcard title of all time.

 

[tb78]

For the WCW Version I would go with Lugar. The longest reigning and best US champ in my opinion.

For the WWE I will have to go with John Cena. He was one of my favorites when I was a kid until he won the WWE Title and sold out.

 

[Dyno Kid]

Magnum T.A.- Beating Wahoo for the title, and then having the 2 major wars with Tully Blanchard and Nikita Koloff !

First with Tully in 1985 climaxing with the legendary "I Quit Match" at Starrcade and then the classic best of 7 series vs Nikita in 1986 !

Another guy would be Greg Valentine- Had some great battles with Flair, Dick Slater, and of course Roddy Piper over the U.S. title back in 1983.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I class the WWE version of the US title as slightly below the IC Title on the ladder, but basically the same. However, while there is Jericho who defined the IC title, there isnt anyone who I really link with the US title in WWE, which shows how badly they have handled the title since they came to own it.

I would probably have to go with either MVP for his pretty long reign and series of matches with Matt Hardy over the belt.

or

Chris Benoit and Booker T for their best of seven series for the US title back in 2006. I know Orton replaced Booker when he got injured but I still remember it as a Booker v Benoit feud. Great little rivalry

 

[Dyno Kid]

Maybe it's just me but when it comes to the U.S. title I only think of the NWA/WCW. Back in the late 1970's till about 1993 the U.S. title, much like the WWF'S Intercontinental belt was considered a major deal.

Is it just me that feels this way ? I just don't think of the WWE or any WWE wrestler when it comes to the U.S. title !

 

[MancMark]

I don't think of anything from the WWE era when I think of this title. I don't really class it as the same title.

The first person that comes to mind when I think of this title is Sting. His feud with Rude in the early 90's is probably the main reason. He looked good with the belt, and it was genuinely a great stepping stone for him, which is what a title like this should be.

Other than Sting, for some reason I'm thinking Lance Storm. That's certainly a bit of a curve ball.

 

[WWTNA]

In WWE I think of John Cena when I think of the U.S Title TBH. John Cena had his first face run with the title and did a good job with it. Also because he changed the U.S title to a spinner belt at one time.

 

[astoph]

I also can't bring myself to associate the US Title with WWE. The one guy that comes to mind automatically is Barry Windham during his run with The Horsemen. His heel turn against Luger and his battles with Dusty Rhodes in '88 were fantastic. For some reason though he is often overlooked.

 

[King Patrick Star]

When I think of the NWA / WCW / WWE United States Championship, the Superstars that come to mind are Harley Race for being the first United States Champion, Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, Wahoo McDaniel, and Bret Hart for winning the Title 5 times, and Lex Lugar, who not only also held the Title 5 times, but for holding the Title for a combined 948 days.

 

[LitasRevenge79]

The US Title...it immediately takes me back to the era of the Rabid Wolverine, Chris Benoit. I am whisked back to his eponymous feud with the cocky young upa nd comer MVP with his groupies. It was simply amazing to watch the intensity in the Wolverine's face when he'd see the cocky, suave player from the 305 sitting front row in the VIP area with his girls while everyone was working their butts off. MVP would make light of the work involved in what it took to win. No one really thought he had what it took to face off with Benoit. MVP would fight international jobbers from around the world, from Sudan, Bolivia, even Borat's brother probably, just to try to show his skills and that he was worth the money that was spent on him. Then each week, Benoit would show up and decimate a larger meaner person just to intimidate him. Finally, it all blew up come closer to WM23. It was what everyone was waiting for. WM23, finally made believers out of everyone, and we got to see the match we all were waiting for. I actually gained quite a bit of respect for him and the fact he was facing off with a legend in the ring on the grandest stage of them all. To this day, no one can hold a candle to that feud, for me at least.

 

[shultz51]

Even though i don't remember much WCW Lex Lugar does come to mind. But I also think of Eddie Guerrero, Orlando Jordan, John Cena, and MVP. I don't know what anyone else thinks but I think the MVP-Matt Hardy fued was a great fued. Cena, the US title was his first title in WWE and I think it was another reason he got where he is today.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

When I think of the united states HEAVYWEIGHT championship, I think of the wcw version and when I first seen it on Rick Rude when he was the surprise guy under the cloak that Paul E. Dangerously got to beat Sting.

I agree with this poster completely. Rick Rude was fantastic with the US Belt and the Dangerous Alliance and World Champs Luger and Vader behind him. He was so hateful, it was truly glorious.

Along with other older posters, I will never associate WWe with the US Belt (in the same way I can never associate a WWeCW champ with an iconic bingo hall in Philadelphia).

 

[ChavNation13]

When it comes to the u.s title i dont know why but i think of people i would like to be u.s champion like Jack Swagger and Trent barreta. but when i think of people who have been U.S champion i think of Chris Benoit, Kurt angle and the one and only Latino Heat Eddie Guerrero

 

[covieo81]

Im gonna habe to go with luger. Longest reign multiple time champ eventual wcw champ. He is the epitome of the US championship. I cant give any credibility to any wwe versions of any wcw titles because I think theyre jokes now.

 

[mrpops]

Chris Benoit and Bret hart are what i think of when the US championship is mentioned. They elevated that belt and made it mean something. They wrestled great matches.

The whole Lance storm angle(probably the best he ever achieved in pro wrestling) was fantastic. Remember when he renamed it to the "canadian heavyweight championship"? That was pure gold.

Oh and John Cena deserves a mention. He is the next guy that comes to mind. Plus he started the whole spinner belt thing. Plus he was probably the most entertaining US champ of all time. Benoit/Bret put on great matches but they lacked mic skills, cena at the time put on decent matches but was entertaining as hell.

To those saying Lex Luger: Screw lex luger. He sucks and always has sucked. I dont care that he won the title 5 times. He was boring as sin. He sucked in the ring and sucked mic wise. The guy is a joke. He is a no-name roid monkey. Just because he looks good, dosnt mean he actually is good!

 

[ChavNation13]

You can say Lex luger sucks but i can name people who suck alot more. Such as the miz and carlito worst u.s champs in history