10 Fascinating WWE WrestleMania 23 Facts
7. Chris Benoit Is, So Far, The Only Man To Retain The US Title On WrestleMania's Main Show
Counting pre-show matches, there have been six United States title bouts in WrestleMania history. The fact that the strap has been around for thirteen 'Manias gives you an idea of how expendable WWE feels the belt is.
Of those six matches, two were relegated to the pre-show: Sheamus and Daniel Bryan's no-contest at 27, and Kalisto retaining over Ryback at 32. Of the four US title matches that actually happened on the pay-per-view, the gold changed hands three times: John Cena over Big Show at 20, JBL over Chris Benoit at 22, and Cena over Rusev at 31.
The only instance of the champion retaining on the actual pay-per-view card happened in Detroit, when Benoit defeated MVP in a serviceable midcard match. What are the odds Chris Jericho joins his old friend on the short-list after 33?