10 Worst WWE United States Title Matches Of The Modern Era
2. Chris Benoit Vs. Orlando Jordan (SummerSlam 2005)
Some may decry it heresy that a supreme in-ring talent like Chris Benoit is even featured on this list. After all, the Canadian has been involved in great WWE United States Title matches, such as the one between he and Eddie Guerrero at Vengeance 2003. He also worked wonders with Booker T in a title bout at No Way Out 2006.
In the summer months of 2005 however, Benoit had an easy night ahead of him at SummerSlam. Within 25 seconds, he had beaten Orlando Jordan to become the new United States Champ. Fans did react positively, but the short bout did a great deal of harm to Jordan.
The story was that Orlando had only won the title from John Cena due to JBL's help. That was fine, but there came a point when he needed to start looking competitive on his own. Instead, he was sacrificed at SummerSlam and made to look like a chump who should never have been champion to begin with.
Short squash matches can work, but this one devalued Jordan's stint with the title and made it hard to take him seriously.