The WWE United States Championship has been a proving ground for future main event stars and a platform for established superstars to showcase their skills. This prestigious title has witnessed multiple memorable feuds. Some reigns stood out for their length and dominance, while others made their mark through unforgettable moments.
The greatest United States Championship reigns combined excellent matches and storylines that kept fans invested week after week. Here’s our countdown of the 10 greatest WWE United States Championship reigns that left lasting impacts on sports entertainment.
10. Cesaro – 160 Days (August 19, 2012 – January 15, 2013)
Cesaro won the title from Santino Marella at SummerSlam 2012. He defended against R-Truth, Zack Ryder, and The Miz, often using the Neutralizer to end matches. Cesaro eventually lost the title to Kofi Kingston on an episode of Main Event.
9. Daniel Bryan – 176 Days (September 19, 2010 – March 14, 2011)
Daniel Bryan defeated The Miz at Night of Champions 2010 to win the United States Championship. His reign included defenses against Dolph Ziggler, Ted DiBiase Jr., and Jack Swagger. Bryan eventually lost the title to Sheamus on an episode of Raw before WrestleMania 27.
8. Roman Reigns – 106 Days (September 25, 2016 – January 9, 2017)
Roman Reigns won the United States Championship by defeating Rusev at Clash of Champions 2016. While he was already positioned in the main event scene, the title gave him a secondary belt to defend. He retained the title in rematches against Rusev and Chris Jericho before losing it to Jericho in a handicap match on Raw that also involved Kevin Owens.
7. Kofi Kingston – 126 Days (June 1, 2009 – October 5, 2009)
Kofi Kingston captured the U.S. Title by defeating MVP in a multi-man match on Raw. He defended the championship against The Miz, Carlito, and Jack Swagger. His reign came to an end when The Miz defeated him on Raw.
6. Rusev – 146 Days (November 3, 2014 – March 29, 2015)
Rusev defeated Sheamus to win the United States Championship. He successfully defended the title against Jack Swagger, Big E, and John Cena. His streak and title reign ended when John Cena defeated him at WrestleMania 31.
Also Read: Ranking the Top 10 WWE Superstars of the 2000s
5. AJ Styles – 75 Days (July 7, 2017 – September 19, 2017)
AJ Styles won the U.S. Title at a Madison Square Garden house show by defeating Kevin Owens, shocking fans with the rare live-event title change. He went on to have title matches with Owens, Baron Corbin, and Tye Dillinger. He eventually lost the title to Baron Corbin in a triple-threat match on SmackDown.
4. Eddie Guerrero – 133 Days (July 27, 2003 – December 14, 2003)
Eddie Guerrero became the inaugural WWE United States Champion in the modern era by defeating Chris Benoit in the finals of a tournament at Vengeance 2003. He defended the title against Rhyno, John Cena, and Big Show. Guerrero lost the title in a triple threat match at Armageddon 2003, where Big Show pinned him to capture the championship.
Also Read: Ranking the Top 10 WWE Intercontinental Championship Reigns of All Time
3. Dean Ambrose – 351 Days (May 19, 2013 – May 5, 2014)
As a member of The Shield, Dean Ambrose won the United States Championship from Kofi Kingston at Extreme Rules 2013. He held the title for nearly a year before losing it to Sheamus in a 20-man battle royal on Raw. Ambrose holds the record for the longest WWE United States Championship reign under the modern WWE banner.
Extreme Rules 10 Years ago!
the Shield became Champions for the first time in the same night!Dean Ambrose, United States Champion, and Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns won tag team gold!
“You think it’s not their yard? They own it” 😏 pic.twitter.com/SqZZUbOEAF
— 𝗌α𝗋αɦ ☝︎ (@xChiefGirlx) May 19, 2023
2. MVP – 343 Days (May 20, 2007 – April 27, 2008)
MVP won the United States Championship from Chris Benoit at Judgment Day 2007 in a two-out-of-three falls match. Throughout his reign, he feuded with Matt Hardy, Ric Flair, and Rey Mysterio, defending the title consistently on SmackDown. He eventually lost the title to Matt Hardy at Backlash 2008 after a long-running feud.
Which is the greatest WWE United States Championship reign of all time?
John Cena – 147 Days (March 29, 2015 – August 23, 2015)
John Cena won the United States Championship at WrestleMania 31 by defeating Rusev. During this reign, Cena introduced the U.S. Open Challenge, leading to weekly title defenses against names like Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Neville, and Dean Ambrose. Cena’s reign ended at SummerSlam 2015 when Seth Rollins defeated him in a Winner-Takes-All match for both the WWE and U.S. titles.
