WWE and WCW's 25 Greatest United States Champions of All Time

From Harley Race to John Cena, many major players have brought fame and respect to the United States Heavyweight title, but one man is the best of them all.

Since its inception in 1975, 76 wrestlers have held the title.

The belt has seen a rocky road.

For 15 years, the Mid-Atlantic legends of NWA such as Ric Flair and Greg Valentine battled over the belt.

Then NWA was sold.

World Championship Wrestling continued with the designation. During the next 11 years, the U.S. title was recognized as the second-most important belt in WCW.

That is, until WCW was acquired by the WWE in 2001.

It disappeared for a few years, but since 2003, it's back again.

Current champion Santino Marella certainly entertains fans with his antics. The men on this list however, represented their respective companies as the United States Heavyweight champions with more than just a shtick.

They made it matter.

The criteria to be on the list of greatest primarily includes title reigns and accumulated days holding the belt. Of course, length of individual title runs, flair and impressiveness of matches and feuds helps too.

Here are the 25 greatest wrestlers to ever hold the U.S. belt.

No. 25: Steve Austin

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 240

Steve Austin's first reign as the United States champion was decent.

He pinned Dustin Rhodes two straight times in a two-out-of-three-falls match to earn the title. He then held the belt for 240 days.

Then he lost to Ricky Steamboat. No big deal.

Unfortunately, he was handed the belt when Steamboat injured his back.

Worse, he lost in 35 seconds to Jim Duggan, ending his second title stint.

No. 24: Lance Storm

Reigns: 3
Total Days: 115

Though he never held onto the United States championship for more than 66 days, Lance Storm made the best of his time.

Storm was the first WCW competitor to be recognized as a triple champion.

He held the Cruiserweight, United States and Hardcore belts at the same time.

But it's what he did with them that earns him an infamous spot on this list.

Storm renamed the U.S. title as the "Canadian Heavyweight Title." He renamed the other two belts as well.

The unforgettable move made fans hate Storm even more—which at the time didn't seem possible.

No. 23: Diamond Dallas Page

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 147

Diamond Dallas Page was the United States champion on two short occasions.

Short? Yes.

Memorable? Absolutely.

After taking the belt from Curt Hennig, DDP put on one of the most unforgettable matches in WCW history.

At Uncensored in 1997, he retained the title in a three-way, falls-count-anywhere match against Raven and Chris Benoit. The bout was absolutely brutal.

He later entered a lengthy feud with Bret Hart. The two traded the belt back and forth throughout 1998.

No. 22: Harley Race

Reigns: 1
Total Days: 183

Harley Race may not appear all that impressive as a United States champion.

He only held the title once.

But he did hold it for over six months.

More importantly, Race was the first-ever winner of the belt. That fact alone deserves some recognition.

No. 21: Dustin Rhodes

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 229

Though Dustin Rhodes never defeated U.S. champion Rick Rude—who relinquished the belt due to injury—he still beat legend Ricky Steamboat for the vacated belt.

Rhodes went on to feud with Rude for the title.

Interestingly, both men simultaneously pinned each other, leading to the title being once again vacated.

Rhodes won the rematch, winning the title for a second time.

He was then swept in a two-out-of-three-falls match with Steve Austin.

No. 20: Jeff Jarrett

Reigns: 3*
Total Days: 184

Jeff Jarrett won his first United States Championship from Dean Malenko in 1997. He lost it two months later to Steve "Mongo" McMichael.

He wouldn't win it again until returning after a two-year hiatus.

His second title run was much more memorable. This time in WCW, Jarrett rose to an incredibly high status within the company.

As the United States champion, he reformed the nWo.

Though he was recognized as holding the belt on three occasions, it should be noted he lost the title the second time due to injury. He was later handed the belt one day later—hence, a third title "win."

No. 19: Eddie Guerrero

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 161

Though Eddie Guerrero held the United States title twice, both stints were relatively short.

Even so, they sure were entertaining.

He won his initial U.S. title in the WCW by defeating Diamond Dallas Page, no easy feat. He lost the belt to Dean Malenko after just 77 days.

He won the title again seven years later, this time with WWE.

Once again, he defeated a dangerously talented opponent in Chris Benoit.

Guerrero defended his title—successfully—several times against big names such as Benoit (again), John Cena and Rhyno.

During this time, he also won the Tag Team championship.

Guerrero had a hilarious feud with The Big Show before dropping the belt to the big man and moving on to become the WWE champion.

No. 18: Kofi Kingston

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 175

Kofi Kingston had an underrated run as the United States champion.

First he knocked off MVP, who had the third longest reign in the title's history.

Kingston defended it for four months before losing to The Miz.

He won it back two years later by defeating Sheamus in a tables match.

He later lost the belt to Dolph Ziggler.

Two impressive wins. Two respectable losses.

No. 17: Barry Windham

Reigns: 1
Total Days: 283

As a member of the Four Horsemen, Barry Windham successfully defended his title for over nine months consecutively.

He did so in convincing fashion.

Windham took down many popular faces of the late 1980s—including Sting and Bam Bam Bigelow—before losing the belt to Lex Luger.

No. 16: The Miz

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 321

The Miz had quite a remarkable run for the United States title.

After winning the championship, he entered a feud with WWE Intercontinental champion John Morrison—also the Miz' tag team partner.

He also feuded with MVP and DX.

The two opponents Miz lost the belt to are incredibly acceptable.

The first? Bret "The Hitman" Hart.

The second loss of the title came at the hands of Daniel Bryan—the Miz' then-understudy—who now is in the thick of battling for the World Heavyweight title himself.

No. 15: Magnum T.A.

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 302

Magnum T.A. was an awesome United States champion.

He won the belt from the legendary Wahoo McDaniel. After holding the title for 120 days, he lost it to Tully Blanchard.

He beat Blanchard five months later in a steel cage "I Quit" match.

T.A.'s second stint lasted 180 days.

Then came the intense and outrageous (for the time) feud with Nikita Koloff which ended in a summer long, best-of-seven series.

The two needed one additional sudden-death match to determine the final winner, which would be Koloff.

No. 14: Rick Rude

Reigns: 1
Total Days: 378

Rick Rude may have only held the United States championship once, but he was never actually defeated for the belt.

After holding onto it for over one year, Rude gave the title up due to injuries.

He later battled Dustin Rhodes several times in hopes of regaining the belt, but never could.

No. 13: John Cena

Reigns: 3
Total Days: 321

The United States championship was unified by Edge with the WWE's Intercontinental title in 2001.

In 2003, the WWE brought it back.

A year after its revival, John Cena won it from the Big Show.

Cena was never actually defeated in his first stint. Instead, then general manager Kurt Angle stripped Cena of the belt.

He later had an intense feud with Booker T, ending in a best-of-five-match series.

Upon winning the U.S. title a third time, Cena introduced the infamous spinning belt now seen on the WWE title.

Notable feud for the title? Check.

Dramatic fashion? Check.

Additional style points? Check.

No. 12: Nikita Koloff

Reigns: 1
Total Days: 328

Nikita Koloff only held the United States belt once in his career.

But he did it in undeniable fashion.

"The Russian Nightmare" tangled up with Magnum T.A. in one of the fiercest feuds in the title's history.

The pair wrestled in a best-of-seven series. A unanimous winner was still unable to be crowned in the end.

After earning the U.S. title, Koloff held it for just under one year. In that time, he took on Wahoo McDaniel, Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen.

No. 11: Roddy Piper

Reigns: 3
Total Days: 220

Roddy Piper is one example of a man who has worked hard from the ground up, won nearly every title and feuded with dozens of notable characters on the way.

Take the United States title, for example.

He originally won the belt in 1981 from Ric Flair. He would later battle with Wahoo McDaniel and Greg Valentine.

Piper became champion for the third time in 1999—17 years after his second stint.

The then 45-year-old took the belt from Bret Hart.

Piper is now in the WWE Hall of Fame.

No. 10: Ricky Steamboat

Reigns: 4
Total Days: 253

Ricky Steamboat has held nearly every wrestling title possible.

In the late 1970s, Steamboat began a run at the United States championship.

His opponent? The Ric Flair.

For eight years Steamboat battled for the belt, winning it four times.

No. 9: Greg Valentine

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 391

Greg Valentine was another of the earlier United States champions.

While he may have only held the belt twice, the time in which he did so is impressive.

Valentine retained the belt for 163 and 228 days in the era featuring Ric Flair, Wahoo McDaniel, Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka and Sgt. Slaughter.

That's no easy task.

No. 8: MVP

Reigns: 2
Total Days: 419

Montel Vontavious Porter—you know him as MVP—owns the longest United States title run (343) since the belt came to the WWE. The feat is good for third all time as well.

MVP's resume is impressive.

He acquired the belt from Chris Benoit in a two-out-of-three-falls match.

MVP then defended the title against Matt Hardy several times, as well as Ric Flair, The Miz and Rey Mysterio.

No. 7: Booker T

Reigns: 4
Total Days: 271

Booker T has held nearly every WCW championship, including the United States title.

Booker put on some amazing shows during his time as a champion.

He won an eight-man elimination match featuring John Cena and Rob Van Dam. He also took Cena to the brink in a best-of-five-match series as well.

Then Booker went back and forth with Chris Benoit. The feud included a best-of-seven-match series.

Booker T is a prime example of someone who has put in the time, effort, work, blood, sweat and tears to build from the bottom up.

It's paid off.

No. 6: Bret Hart

Reigns: 5
Total Days: 188

Bret Hart was a guy who didn't look right if he didn't have a belt around his waist.

If it wasn't the heavyweight title, it was the United States championship.

Hart put on some of the best performances in WCW history with Sting, Lex Luger, Diamond Dallas Page and more.

It's no wonder WCW dominated during this time frame.

No. 5: Wahoo McDaniel

Reigns: 5
Total Days: 289

Wahoo McDaniel took over as the face of the United States belt from No. 3 on this list.

His most notable feuds pitted him against Sgt. Slaughter and Ricky Steamboat.

McDaniel is in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

No. 4: Blackjack Mulligan

Reigns: 3
Total Days: 498

Blackjack Mulligan was one of the first to win the United States championship belt. He was also the second wrestler to repeat as the champion.

His 498 total days are third most all time.

Wrestling in the late 1970s and early 80s, Mulligan went toe-to-toe with Ric Flair and Andre the Giant.

Twice, the WWE Hall of Famer kept the belt for over 200 consecutive days.

No. 3: Ric Flair

Reigns: 6
Total Days: 700

Before the WCW bought the NWA, Ric Flair continually fought for the United States title.

In the late 1970s, he feuded with Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper for the esteemed belt.

Flair was one of the first to bring heavy spotlight to the U.S. title as a worthy belt.

He's listed here and not higher because when wrestling gained steam and earned weekly television showings, Flair competed more often for the heavyweight title.

No. 2: Chris Benoit

Reigns: 5
Total Days: 357

There may have been guys who held the belt longer than Chris Benoit, but no one owned it quite like he did.

Benoit gave fans the feeling that the U.S. championship wasn't second best to the World Heavyweight title—it was just as good.

He truly embodied the United States championship.

No. 1: Lex Luger

Reigns: 5
Total Days: 948

It's hard to argue with a five-time champion who also owns the record for consecutive days and most total days spent as champion.

Lex Luger did just that.

In his first stint as the United States champion, Luger held the title for 138 days.

In his third, he recorded the longest reign ever at 523.

That's 17 months.

An awesome specimen of man, Luger was a great mix of strength and dazzle.

He helped the WCW dominate during the late 90s, pairing with Sting and the NWO Wolfpack while feuding with anyone and everyone from Ric Flair to Bret Hart, The Giant to Hollywood Hogan.