The Legacy of WWE's United States Championship

WWE United States Championship

The United States Championship became property of the WWE in March 2001, during the company's "Invasion Era." It's the only championship title in the WWE today which didn't originate in the company. Read more about the belt's story here...

The United States Championship was 1st established in 1975 at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling by legendary promoter, Jim Crockett, Jr. The belt soon became the number 1 singles title in the promotion by replacing the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship title in its place. From 1975 - 1981 several different promotions within the NWA territory held variations of their own United States Championship. The NWA recognized only 1 World Heavyweight Champion at the time, therefore, there wasn't an undisputed United States Heavyweight Champion in the NWA region.

By 1981 President/CEO of the WWE, Vince McMahon, Jr. was taking over the wrestling industry by storm. The WWE was buying out promotions left and right, including many of those in the NWA, and as a result the WWE was absorbing many of the NWA's top wrestlers. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling remained an active promotion, and Jim Crocket, Jr. capitalized on the significance of the United States Heavyweight Championship during this period. For the next 5 years, the United States Heavyweight Championship was the top undisputed title within Crocket's Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling promotion.

In 1986 Jim Crocket, Jr. became President of the NWA. Subsequently, he obtained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. At the time the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was considered the highest accolade a single wrestler in the professional wrestling industry could achieve. The title was more important than the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Crocket decided to make the United States Heavyweight Championship 2nd to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

Ted Turner purchased the NWA in 1988, including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Turner renamed the NWA to World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In 1991 Turner changed the name to the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. The title remained 2nd in rank to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, now titled the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE purchased WCW in March 2001 after a 6 year rivalry described as "The Monday Night Wars." Since entering the WWE over 14 years ago, the United States Championship has never held 2nd rank in titles within the company. It's actually 3rd or 4th in rank behind the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, and perhaps even the Tag Team Championship.

All of us here in the WWE Universe are witnessing a special time in the WWE right now, the re-birth of the United States Championship. John Cena won the title for the 4th time at WrestleMania XXXI. I believe the WWE is attempting to use Cena's iconic fan appeal to re-establish the importance of the United States Championship and its credibility in the world of wrestling today. This evolution began through his on-going feud with emerging NXT Superstar, Kevin Owens.

John Cena

Kevin Owens

WWE Battleground July 19, 2015

Singles Match for the United States Championship

Current Champion John Cena vs. Kevin Owens 

Predictions & Analysis

I predict John Cena will lose the United States Championship to Kevin Owens at Battleground. Owens has already proved he can beat Cena by doing so at the Elimination Chamber. Through that victory, his vicious assault on Cena after Money in the Bank, and his regular appearances on Monday Night RAW, it's clear to me that WWE is grooming Kevin Owens to be the next United States Champion. Owens is already over with the WWE Universe based on his fame as NXT Champion (NXT is the WWE's developmental school and promotion). Kevin Owens deserves this title for several various reasons. One reason that sticks out to me is how much of an incredibly gifted and athletic big man he is. I haven't seen a big man as skilled as Kevin Owens since the likes of Bam Bam Bigelow or Yokozuna.

Kevin Owens has a golden opportunity here to re-establish the United States Championship's credibility by beating former 12-time World Heavyweight Champion, John Cena a 2nd time at Battleground. However, it certainly will not be an easy task for big "KO" to complete. I foresee this match being brutal and including heroic never seen before moves from both competitors. I also think the match will be incredibly entertaining. I see the match lasting roughly 20 minutes, and both Superstars wrestling at an intensely high-level. There are going to be several kick-outs, and a few surprising turn-of-events to take place during the match.

In the end Owens will smash Cena with his finishing move, the "Pop-up powerbomb" out of nowhere. The result will be Owens pinning Cena for the win. The key to the re-birth of the United States Championship is knowing John Cena is no quitter. I imagine that Owens will offer Cena a shot at the title in cocky and arrogant fashion sometime after Battleground on an episode of Monday Night RAW. Cena will accept Owens' offer, and the two Superstars will fight again at either SummerSlam or WrestleMania XXXII. At 1 of these events John Cena will win back the United States Championship, and remind his fans to "Never Give Up." I feel that Cena's brave and courageous victory will directly point to the title's significance, based on him winning the belt for the 5th time.

If these two Superstars continue feuding, the back and forth title shifts have the ability to build onto the legacy of WWE's United States Championship.

Sources: Wikipedia, WWE Network