8 Wrestlers Who Restored The Value Of Championships
4. Ric Flair (NWA United States Championship)
It may be a relatively meaningless belt in today’s WWE, but the United States Championship is one of the most storied titles in pro-wrestling history.
Harley Race was the belt’s first holder after defeating Johnny Weaver in a tournament final back in 1975, and a host of all-time greats have held it since. Ricky Steamboat, Johnny Valentine and countless others legitimised the US Title over its formative decades, but none are more celebrated than Ric Flair.
The US Championship wasn’t always treated with respect. Though Race and Blackjack Mulligan put it on the map, it’s reputation was harmed through a series of short, days-long title reigns in the mid-70s. Things picked-up when Ric Flair defeated WWE Hall of Famer Bobo Brazil for his first reign in 1977, and over six career reigns, The Nature Boy has earned the right to call himself the best United States Champion of all-time.
Originally intended as a regional championship, Ric Flair brought it to new heights. The Nature Boy ran through a murderer’s row of talent including Steamboat and Greg Valentine through his time as champion, and always gave the belt the respect and admiration it deserved. Sometimes, all a belt needs it to be talked-up by its champion, and boy did Ric Flair know how to do that.
Flair made the United States title feel like the most important championship in the world, even though it was supposed to represent the NWA’s second tier. It seems ridiculous in an era when secondary champions are regularly booked into oblivion, but Flair’s various US Title reigns remain untouchable.