He earned the title with a win over John Cena on a March episode of Smackdown!. Part 2: The New Record(s) (WWE Summerslam 2005) As for Duggan, he successfully defended the title twice against Austin (DQ wins), ultimately drooping the belt to Vader at Starcade 1994. Champion- it lasted just under 5 minutes. Steve Austin also earned another dubious honor from this match: the shortest reign as U.S. Championship match in history (until it was broken 21 years later). Duggan pins Austin in 37 seconds! This was the shortest U.S. In steps…Īftermath: …”Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, debuting in WCW. Match: Steamboat did not make the Fall Brawl match, due to an injury. Austin and Steamboat were involved in a GREAT feud throughout the majority of 1994 for the title, with Austin losing it to Steamboat at Clash of the Champions in August. The participants: “Stunning” Steve Austin and Ricky Steamboat. Setup: WCW Fall Brawl 1994 was the scene of this crime. One match involved a Hall-Of-Famer, the other involved one that should be in it. These next “Moments” are on the other side of the spectrum: the 2 shortest U.S. The last “Moment” posted was the ending of Lex Luger’s 17-month reign as U.S. Page would spend almost all of 1997 feuding with the nWo, mainly “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Page responded at “WCW/nWo Souled Out 1997” with one of the most famous “answers” in wrestling history: Guerrero would take place at Starrcade:Īftermath: The nWo (mainly Hall and Nash) continued to “woo” DDP, showing him that there was strength in numbers. This feud carried over into a tournament for the vacated United States Championship (vacated by Ric Flair, after sustaining a shoulder injury). DDP got the best of Guerrero more often than not.
The main object of their feud was the “Lord of the Ring” nickname and trophy (an actual ring) DDP won it, Eddie wanted it. Setup: Eddie Guerrero had been involved in an off-and-on feud with Diamond Dallas Page throughout the majority of ’96. Until then…!Īfter a day off (stupid arctic weather…!), we return with memorable U.S. Time to recharge the batteries for a few days, then I will take a look at memorable moments of the Intercontinental Championship. Titles by winning tournaments for the vacated title. I’ve learned a few things while researching these clips, such as the above-mentioned Jeff Jarrett reigns and the fact the Eddie Guerrero won 2 U.S. These have been 10 of the more memorable moments of the United States Championship. Jarrett would go on to 2 title reigns… and never be pinned or otherwise defeated for the belt in either reign: he vacated the title at Souled Out 2000 (injury), was awarded the title when Kevin Nash became WCW Commissioner, then “lost” it again when Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo stripped all champions of their titles in a “reset” of WCW (Scott Steiner would win the tourney for the U.S. Benoit then issued an open challenge to the locker room… answered by Jeff Jarrett, who had defeated Dustin Rhodes earlier in the show in a Bunkhouse Brawl match (plus attacked Sid Vicious for good measure).Īftermath: Benoit’s reign lasted one day- Jarrett won the U.S. However, Hall suffered a knee injury and was forced to vacate the title to Benoit. Setup: The United States Championship Match was signed to be between Chris Benoit (the challenger) and Scott Hall (the champion), in a Ladder Match. Title Moments takes us back to the land of WCW: