10 Awesome Ways Wrestling Champions Elevated Titles

10. John Cena: The US Title Open Challenge Series

Though the WWE United States Championship hasn't always been booked respectfully since Vince McMahon inherited it from WCW, John Cena's time holding the belt in 2015 stands as a high point.

Cena took the strap from Rusev at WrestleMania 31. A controversial decision at the time as 'The Bulgarian Brute' was still on the rise and WWE went to the effort of procuring a tank for his entrance, leading to the audience lambasting the promotion for what they perceived as another Cena burial.

The ensuing reign was the silver lining.

Through his open challenge series, 'Big Match John' rebuilt the US Title's prestige by inviting intrigue, opening windows for guys like Sami Zayn (who stepped up from NXT), and through good old-fashioned match quality, with the 30-minute Cesaro victory particularly triumphant. It worked, and Cena was killing it.

Many would point to the Kevin Owens feud as the run's peak. They'd be right. Sure, the US Championship wasn't on the line the night John was upset by the 'Prizefighter,' but the rivalry immediately got KO as a big deal on the main roster, regardless of the final outcome. Cena, so often maligned for not making new stars, did just that.