Title Changes Hands On WWE SmackDown
A veteran was rewarded last night.
Just days after Shinsuke Nakamura reclaimed the United States Championship at Royal Rumble 2019, the belt is in the possession of a brand new owner.
R-Truth, still seething from having his plum Royal Rumble number 30 spot unfairly snatched from him by Nia Jax, refocused his rage to stun Nakamura with a small package to claim his second US title. Rusev emerged seconds later, challenging the new champ to his mandatory rematch, but he too was swatted away.
Truth, 47, is the second oldest US champ in the long and illustrious history of the strap. Interestingly, his first reign came immediately after the oldest holder, Bret Hart, vacated the belt in 2010. Hart was 52-years-old when he best The Miz for the championship in a no-disqualification contest.
In addition to his two reigns with the stars and stripes strapped around his waist, Truth is also a two-time Hardcore Champion, and a one-time Tag Team Champion, claiming the title alongside Kofi Kingston in April 2012.
After their respective losses on Tuesday, Rusev and Nakamura agreed to team together for 'one time only' against Gallows & Anderson next week. We suspect the duo will last a bit longer than that.