WWE United States Championship

championship created by the National Wrestling Alliance, promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE and previously World Championship Wrestling

Key facts

Promotion: Jim Crockett Promotions , (1975–1988), World Championship Wrestling , (1988–2001), WWE , (2001; 2003–present)
Brand: SmackDown
Date established: January 1, 1975
Current champion: Trick Williams
Date won: April 19, 2026
First champion: Harley Race
Most reigns: Ric Flair , (6 reigns)
Longest reign: Lex Luger , (3rd reign, 523 days)
Shortest reign: Steve Austin , (2nd reign, 5 minutes)
Oldest champion: Terry Funk , (56 years, 84 days)
Youngest champion: David Flair , (20 years, 121 days)
Heaviest champion: Big Show , (500 lb (230 kg))

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Article

The WWE United States Championship is a men's professional wrestling championship promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. It is one of two secondary male championships for WWE's main roster, along with the WWE Intercontinental Championship on Raw. The current champion is Trick Williams, who is in his first reign. He won the title by defeating previous champion Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42 Night 2 on April 19, 2026.

The championship was established on January 1, 1975, as the version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship that was defended in Jim Crockett Promotions, and later assumed by World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which eventually seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Harley Race was the inaugural champion. After WCW was purchased by the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 2001, the then-WCW United States Championship was defended in the WWF until it was unified with the Intercontinental Championship at that year's Survivor Series. After the 2002 brand extension and the promotion being renamed WWE, the championship was reactivated as the WWE United States Championship in July 2003 as a secondary title of the SmackDown brand. The United States Championship has switched between brands over the years, usually as a result of the WWE Draft; the 2023 draft moved the title back to SmackDown. This belt is described as a "stepping stone" to a world championship.