Posted on by bdamage1
Rob Faint
Throughout wrestling history, there have been many titles named the United States heavyweight championship. From New York to Japan, from the AWA to the WWE, here is some history of the various US titles.
Mid Atlantic-probably the most well-known version of the title. Harley Race was the inaugural champion, winning it in 1975 by defeating Johnny Weaver. It was held by a virtual who’s who of wrestling. The lineage continued through the WCW/NWA merger and split, and eventually when WCW was purchased by WWE.
Notable Champions:
NWA-Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA, Tully Blanchard, Roddy Piper, Greg Valentine, Wahoo Mc Daniel, Jimmy Snuka, Sgt Slaughter.
NWA/WCW-Lex Luger, Stan Hansen.
WCW-Sting, Rick Rude, Goldberg, DDP, Scott Steiner, Lex Luger, Bret Hart, Booker T.
WWE-John Cena, Booker T, Dean Ambrose, Sheamus, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, AJ Styles.
Detroit-This version was defended under the Big Time Wrestling banner, owned and operated by Fred Kolher (in Chicago), then the Sheik (in Detroit). It was active from 1959 through 1980, but the Sheik was known to wear and “defend” this belt for years after. During his reign Verne Gagne created his own version of the US title, the AWA US title (see below).
Notable Champions:
Verne Gagne, Dick the Bruiser, Bobo Brazil, the Sheik, Johnny Valentine.
AWA-As mentioned earlier, Verne Gagne, while US champion (Chicago version), created his own version in 1953 to be defended in the Minneapolis area. It was still under the NWA banner. In 1958 he created the AWA and took the belt with him. It was active until 1962 when it was abandoned.
Notable Champions:
NWA-Verne Gagne, Dick the Bruiser, Wilbur Snyder.
AWA-Verne Gagne, Gene Kiniski, Wilbur Snyder.
WWF- In 1960 the WWWF recognized Buddy Rogers as US champion (Northeast version). He was the only titleholder and vacated the belt when he won the NWA title. The WWWF then created a version of the US title in 1963 that was defended sporadically until 1976. This belt is not related to the current US title.
Notable Champions:
Bobo Brazil, the Sheik, Ray Stevens, Pedro Morales.
San Francisco-This version of the US title was based out of San Francisco from 1960 to 1981. It started as the AWA US championship then was renamed the NWA US championship when they rejoined the NWA in 1968.
Notable Champions:
Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson, Moondog Mayne, Buddy Rose.
IWGP-This short-lived title was won in a tournament in 2017 by Kenny Omega. For a spell it was renamed the US/UK heavyweight championship. It was defended in Japan and in the US until the belt was destroyed by Dave Finlay in 2023 and replaced with the IWGP Global championship.
Notable Champions: Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, Cody (Rhodes), Will Ospreay.