WWE Vengeance 2002 Results: Winners, Matches, Venue, Attendance

BY SACNILK

Chelsea Green's SummerSlam victory was more than just a championship win—it marked the culmination of a journey filled with rejection, injuries, and relentless determination. During a post-SummerSlam interview, the newly crowned Interim WWE Women's Champion spoke openly about the challenges she faced throughout her wrestling career, revealing that being told "no" had become a recurring theme. Green explained that her struggles within WWE dated back more than a decade, recalling several instances when she felt her dream was slipping away. "I've had that happen quite a few times in this company. It started happening in 2014. It happened again in 2015 after Tough Enough. And again, when they told me that they didn't want me to try out, and then they allowed me to, and again when they fired me." The Canadian star admitted that despite every setback, she never stopped believing in herself. That belief eventually led her to take matters into her own hands. Green revealed that nearly four years ago, she sent a message to WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H asking for another opportunity with the company. "It's been almost exactly four years since I texted Triple H and asked for my job back." Looking back, Green said her championship victory validated years of unwavering faith, even when few others believed in her. "Nobody else was believing in me. I had to do it... And for this to happen, it's like, 'Oh my God, I was right the whole time.' It's so satisfying." Green also credited WWE fans for standing by her throughout the highs and lows of her 13-year career, saying their support never wavered even during her darkest moments. Following her emotional SummerSlam victory, Chelsea Green now enters a new chapter as Interim WWE Women's Champion, completing one of WWE's most remarkable comeback stories in recent years.

BY SACNILK

WWE has released the first official promotional poster for Survivor Series: WarGames 2026, giving fans their first glimpse of the marketing campaign for the company's second-longest-running pay-per-view event. The newly revealed artwork features Roman Reigns standing alone as the centrepiece of the poster. No other WWE Superstars appear alongside him, with WWE choosing to spotlight the reigning World Heavyweight Champion as the face of this year's event. The decision has already sparked widespread discussion among fans about Reigns' potential role and opponent heading into November. While WWE has yet to announce any matches for Survivor Series: WarGames, the promotional image strongly suggests that Roman Reigns will be one of the event's biggest attractions. Whether he enters the Premium Live Event as champion or finds himself involved in another major storyline remains to be seen. Survivor Series: WarGames 2026 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 28, at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. The event will mark the 40th edition of Survivor Series and the fifth consecutive year that the Premium Live Event has been presented under the WarGames branding. Tickets officially went on sale this week following WWE's announcement of the host venue. The poster arrives just days after SummerSlam, as WWE begins shifting its focus toward the remainder of the 2026 calendar. With Roman Reigns receiving the first major promotional spotlight, speculation is already building over who could stand across the ring from "The Tribal Chief" when Survivor Series: WarGames heads to Houston later this year. Houston, get ready 🔥 #SurvivorSeries tickets are on sale NOW!🎟️: https://t.co/tY4NNV7vhF pic.twitter.com/bbOT3lx3eU— WWE (@WWE) August 7, 2026

BY SACNILK

Dave Meltzer has released his star ratings for WWE SummerSlam 2026, with the highly anticipated clash between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins emerging as the highest-rated match across both nights of the premium live event. The Night Two main event between Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins received a powered rating of 4.75 stars, making it the top-rated bout of SummerSlam 2026 and the only match to come within a quarter-star of the coveted five-star mark. Three other matches earned 4.25 stars, tying for the second-highest rating of the weekend. On Night One, Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY and CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes both received 4.25 stars, while Chad Gable vs. Penta matched that score on Night Two. Meanwhile, several matches landed in the middle of the pack with 3.5-star ratings, including LA Knight, Solo Sikoa & Royce Keys vs. The Usos & Jacob Fatu, GUNTHER vs. Nick Aldis, Kevin Owens vs. GUNTHER vs. Sami Zayn vs. Finn Bálor, and Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell. At the other end of the spectrum, Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio in the "Human Monies on a Pole" match received the lowest rating of the weekend at 1 star. The Fatal Influence vs. Paige & The Bella Twins match was awarded 1.5 stars, while Baron Corbin vs. Trick Williams earned 1.75 stars. The Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match received 2.25 stars. Dave Meltzer's WWE SummerSlam 2026 Star Ratings(Night One) Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY - 4.25) LA Knight, Solo Sikoa & Royce Keys vs. The Usos & Jacob Fatu - (3.5) GUNTHER vs. Nick Aldis - (3.5) Fatal Influence vs. Paige & The Bella Twins - (1.5) CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes - (4.25) Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar (Hell in a Cell) - (3.5) Dave Meltzer's WWE SummerSlam 2026 Star Ratings(Night Two) Kevin Owens vs. GUNTHER vs. Sami Zayn vs. Finn Bálor - (3.5) Baron Corbin vs. Trick Williams - (1.75) Interim WWE Women's Championship Ladder Match - (2.25) Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio (Human Monies on a Pole) - (1.0) Chad Gable vs. Penta - (4.25) Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins - (4.75)

BY SACNILK

SmackDown rolls into the Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight looking to answer some of the biggest questions SummerSlam left behind, and the blue brand isn't wasting any time getting to it. Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk sharing a ring with Kevin Owens for the first time since Owens shocked U.S. Bank Stadium by winning a Fatal Four-Way over Sami Zayn, Gunther and Finn Balor to become the new #1 contender. It's Owens' first appearance on WWE television since a neck injury nearly ended his career back in early 2025 — and it sets up a title chase that's been building in the background for over a year. Owens and Punk have real history dating back two decades to their days together in Ring of Honor, so tonight's face-to-face is expected to be the show's focal point. Charlotte Flair meets Jade Cargill in singles competition — a matchup a lot of people assumed WWE would save for a premium live event rather than burn on free TV. Both women came up empty in the SummerSlam ladder match, and neither has hidden how much bad blood has built up between them, so don't expect this one to stay clean. The newly crowned Interim WWE Women's Champion Chelsea Green will make her first-ever appearance since winning it in a chaotic five-way ladder match at SummerSlam. She's not defending tonight, but what she says matters more than it normally would — the picture around that championship shifted overnight. Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, Gunther and Trick Williams are advertised for the show. Randy Orton — who cost Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Championship on night one of SummerSlam — is not currently listed and hasn't been addressed on WWE TV since, leaving that thread dangling heading into tonight. WWE SmackDown will take place on August 7, 2026, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET in the United States. Fans in the U.S. can watch the action live on USA Network, while international viewers can stream the event on Netflix.

BY SACNILK

Monday Night Raw is heading to Ireland for the first time in the show's history, and the company let its biggest Irish star make the call herself. Becky Lynch confirmed on Ireland AM that Raw will run live from the 3Arena on January 25, 2027 — a milestone for a promotion that has spent the last several years pushing harder into international markets. Lynch didn't hide how personal the moment felt, saying simply that as a kid growing up in Ireland, this was never something she or anyone else in the country would have dared to dream up. The announcement had been building for days. Lynch and fellow Irish star Finn Balor were both in Dublin this week for the Zuffa Boxing card at the 3Arena, and WWE used the trip as cover to set up a "massive announcement" teased across social media. Speculation ran hot beforehand — with a lot of fans and outlets betting WWE was about to reveal its first-ever Premium Live Event in Ireland, especially with WrestleMania rumors also floating around the market. Instead, the company went with Raw, and Off The Ball's Will O'Callaghan was among those confirming the 3Arena date shortly after. While January 25 will mark Raw's Dublin debut, it isn't WWE's first time bringing a flagship show to the city. SmackDown ran from the 3Arena back on August 22, 2025, giving Dublin a taste of what a full main-roster production looks like. That night doubled as a homecoming for Lynch, who got a hero's welcome before turning heel on the hometown crowd — proof WWE already knows this market delivers. Add this to a growing list of overseas swings for WWE, which has already run Clash at the Castle in Scotland, Clash in Paris and Clash in Italy as it chases audiences outside the U.S. Ireland now gets its marquee moment, and having both Lynch and Balor attached to the reveal only raises the stakes for a night that's already being framed as historic before a single match is booked.

BY SACNILK

There's said to be strong internal interest in eventually growing the Rumble into a full multi-night destination weekend, following the template WWE has already used successfully with WrestleMania and, more recently, SummerSlam. According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, WWE gave serious consideration to expanding Royal Rumble 2027 into a two-night format. As things stand, though, the expectation within the company is that the show will remain a one-night event — though possibly for the final time, with significant interest internally in eventually turning the Royal Rumble into a multi-night destination event. WWE's multi-night experiment didn't begin by choice. The first two-night WrestleMania came in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to pre-tape the show behind closed doors at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, splitting the card across two broadcasts to help manage the workload with no live crowd involved. What started as a pandemic workaround became a permanent fixture once fans returned. WrestleMania 37 in Tampa kept the two-night format in 2021, and WrestleMania 38 the following year became the first two-night edition with a full live crowd both nights. From that point on, WrestleMania has stayed a two-night event every year. SummerSlam was the next show to get the treatment, going two nights for the first time in 2025 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Triple H explained at the time that the goal was to replicate what had already worked for WrestleMania — turning the show into a destination weekend that fans could plan trips and vacations around, rather than just a single night on the calendar. The results for WWE have generally been strong on the business side. The two-night SummerSlam produced strong revenue and attendance figures, and internal reporting following the show pointed to real appetite within WWE/TKO for expanding the multi-night model to more events going forward. Fan reaction, however, has been more split. Supporters of the format point to shorter, more digestible nightly runtimes compared to the marathon single-night shows of the past — WrestleMania 35, for example, drew praise for its matches but criticism for a bloated seven-and-a-half-hour runtime that left both the crowd and viewers at home exhausted. Splitting events across two nights has generally solved that specific problem. On the other hand, a recurring criticism from fans is that spreading a card across two nights can dilute the sense of occasion, with some nights feeling front-loaded and others feeling like filler, and ticket prices for two-night stadium weekends adding up quickly for fans traveling in. There's also been debate over whether every show needs the format, or whether it risks making multi-night events feel less special the more frequently WWE uses it. Given that framework, a two-night Royal Rumble would be a significant step for WWE, potentially applying the format to one of the promotion's traditionally leanest, most efficient shows — built almost entirely around the 30-man and 30-woman Rumble matches themselves rather than a full card of title bouts. For now, it sounds like the company isn't ready to make that leap for 2027, but the door is clearly open for it to happen down the line as WWE continues to lean into the destination-weekend model that's paid off with its two biggest shows of the year.

BY SACNILK

There's internal belief within WWE that Nick Aldis will wrestle again following his performance at SummerSlam, though it may not happen until 2027, according to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select. Several people backstage reportedly view Aldis as being as talented, if not more talented, than many of WWE's regular TV performers, and want to see him get a significant in-ring run. Aldis' last match came on Night One of SummerSlam 2026 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where he stepped away from his desk job to face Gunther in a grudge match built on months of tension between the two. To even get into the ring, Aldis had to resign as SmackDown General Manager. The rivalry had been simmering for a while, stemming from Aldis repeatedly standing in the way of Gunther's pursuit of the Undisputed WWE Championship, including costing him a shot at Saturday Night's Main Event inside Madison Square Garden. Gunther retaliated by attacking Aldis and knocking him out with a sleeper hold, setting the stage for their eventual singles match. It marked Aldis' first match for WWE and his first in-ring appearance in roughly three years. Despite the long layoff, he held his own, hitting a delayed vertical suplex, a powerslam, and locking Gunther in the King's Lynn Cloverleaf to a huge crowd reaction. Gunther ultimately escaped and turned the tide, forcing Aldis to tap out to a sleeper hold. Aldis' wife, WWE Hall of Famer Mickie James, and their son Donovan were ringside for the match, with Gunther taunting them throughout. Aldis has spent recent months serving as SmackDown General Manager, a role widely praised for the authenticity he's brought to it as a former NWA and TNA World Heavyweight Champion turned on-screen authority figure. Following his SummerSlam performance, Triple H reportedly tore up the resignation letter Aldis had submitted to compete against Gunther, keeping him in the GM chair for now. Whether Aldis eventually splits time between the desk and the ring — or steps away from his authority role altogether for a proper run — remains to be seen. For now, it sounds like WWE is content to let the SummerSlam moment breathe before deciding what's next.

BY SACNILK

Despite Brock Lesnar publicly stating that his in-ring career is over, it sounds like the door hasn't fully closed inside WWE. According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, there are high-ranking officials within the company who still believe Lesnar will be involved with WrestleMania 43 in some capacity. One source noted that if another match isn't in the cards, the idea of Lesnar headlining the WWE Hall of Fame in Saudi Arabia is certainly on the table. Lesnar's road to this point has been anything but straightforward. He appeared to be heading toward retirement back at WrestleMania 42 after losing to Oba Femi, going as far as removing his gloves and boots in the ring in an emotional farewell moment with Paul Heyman by his side. Instead of staying away, though, Lesnar returned weeks later to run it back with Femi, setting up a rubber match to close out their trilogy. That decider came at SummerSlam 2026 Night One on August 1 in Minneapolis, Lesnar's home state, where the two collided in a brutal Hell in a Cell match. Femi got the better of him, and Lesnar responded by embracing his opponent and telling the crowd he was passing the torch, calling himself "the past" and Femi "the future." Three days later, on the August 4 edition of The Pat McAfee Show, Lesnar made it official, confirming that Saturday's match truly was his last as an in-ring competitor and that he considers himself retired from the business entirely. Retirement announcements from Lesnar aren't new — his WrestleMania 42 exit was widely read as a career send-off too, only for him to return a month later. Given that history, it's perhaps no surprise that some within WWE aren't ready to rule out one more appearance next April, even if it doesn't come in the form of a match. A Hall of Fame induction in Saudi Arabia would fit neatly with WWE's continued push into the region and would allow the company to give Lesnar a proper send-off without asking a 48-year-old with a well-documented list of physical wear and tear to get back in the ring. For now, nothing is close to confirmed, but it's clear the door hasn't been shut on one more Brock Lesnar moment at WrestleMania season.

BY SACNILK

Ever since WWE programming moved to the streaming giant back in January, viewers have grown used to spotting the odd edit here and there on the replay versions of shows. This week, it's Monday Night Raw's turn, with a spicy line from Becky Lynch getting quietly scrubbed from the record. During her promo exchange with Liv Morgan on the August 3 episode, Lynch went for the jugular, telling the WWE Women's World Champion she wasn't even the best champion in her own stable — before adding a much cheekier dig, pointing out that Morgan isn't even the best champion to have been romantically linked with Dominik Mysterio, throwing shade at Morgan's on-screen history alongside Rhea Ripley. Except if you only caught Raw on the Netflix replay, you'd have no clue it ever happened. The line about Dominik has been sliced clean out, with the segment now cutting straight from Lynch's "own stable" dig into Stephanie Vaquer's return, as if the Dominik reference simply never existed. This is far from the first time Netflix has taken the editing scissors to WWE programming, and it certainly won't be the last. The go-home Raw before SummerSlam alone had a handful of changes made to it. As a general rule, it seems Netflix's edits tend to fall into two camps: profanity, and anything that might make for uncomfortable viewing. Jade Cargill's wig malfunction on the June 12 episode of SmackDown got the same treatment, disappearing from the replay without a trace. Blood has proven to be just as much of a headache. The Bron Breakker vs. Seth Rollins Steel Cage Match from Night of Champions was left borderline unwatchable on the Netflix version, with Breakker's bloodied face blurred out for large chunks of the match. Whether it's a stray curse word, a bit of on-screen chaos, or a line that's a little too risqué for Netflix's liking, one thing's becoming clear — if you want to see WWE programming the way it was actually broadcast, live viewing is the only way to guarantee you're not missing anything.

BY SACNILK

The 83 Weeks co-host didn't hold back after Reigns' SummerSlam win over Seth Rollins, comparing the Head of the Table to a wrestling version of a music industry plant. Conrad Thompson on Eric Bischoff's 83 Weeks podcast, took a scathing take on Roman Reigns, arguing that the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion doesn't deserve the reputation he's built over the past several years. Discussing Reigns' recent victory over Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2026, Thompson didn't mince words, telling Bischoff he considers Reigns to be the most overrated main event star in company history. Borrowing a term from the music world, Thompson labeled Reigns an "industry plant" — someone elevated by the machine behind him rather than by genuine talent or fan demand. His core argument: WWE's business wouldn't skip a beat if Reigns vanished from television tomorrow. "I think Roman Reigns is probably the most overrated main eventer in WWE history. I know this isn't a wrestling term, it’s a music term, but Roman Reigns is what music would call an industry plant. I don’t think if Roman Reigns disappears tomorrow WWE’s fortune changes at all. Thompson leaned on a phrase Triple H has used to explain why the company holds back stars like Bron Breakker — that pushing someone too aggressively risks shoving them "down our throats." Thompson's contention is that this is exactly what happened with Reigns, who he says has been force-fed to the audience for years. He acknowledged The Bloodline storyline had real strengths, but suggested the faction has overstayed its welcome, comparing its current state to the "black and silver era" of the nWo — a once-groundbreaking angle that lingered long past its creative peak. Perhaps the sharpest part of Thompson's critique centered on legacy. He argued that unlike CM Punk or Cody Rhodes, Reigns has never been booked in a way that lets fans form an organic emotional connection to him — audiences have simply been trained to accept his spot at the top rather than earning it. Thompson challenged listeners to name a favorite Roman Reigns match or promo, suggesting few could. He also pointed out that Reigns doesn't carry the promotional workload that stars like Cody Rhodes or John Cena have shouldered, doing minimal press and media rounds compared to his peers. Thompson's most memorable line described Reigns' in-ring routine as formulaic: a long entrance, a slow-paced, similar-feeling match every time, and a win to close the show. He summed it up by comparing Reigns to Goldberg — but a version of Goldberg capable of working matches longer than ten minutes.

BY SACNILK

SummerSlam 2026 delivered one of the most memorable premium live events in WWE history, packed with shocking returns, championship changes, emotional victories, and unforgettable in-ring performances. Across two blockbuster nights, WWE showcased why SummerSlam remains one of the company's biggest annual spectacles. From career-defining triumphs to surprise appearances that left fans stunned, the event had everything a wrestling fan could ask for. Here are the ten biggest moments that defined SummerSlam 2026. 1. Cody Rhodes Reclaims the Undisputed WWE Championship The biggest headline of SummerSlam came when Cody Rhodes battled through adversity to regain the Undisputed WWE Championship. After an intense main event filled with dramatic near falls, Rhodes finally completed another chapter of his story, sending the crowd into a frenzy. 2. Roman Reigns Makes a Shocking Return Just when fans thought the night was over, Roman Reigns made his long-awaited return. The "Tribal Chief" confronted the new champion, immediately setting up what could become WWE's biggest rivalry heading into the remainder of the year. 3. John Cena's Emotional SummerSlam Farewell John Cena received one of the loudest ovations of the weekend as he competed in what was promoted as his final SummerSlam appearance. Regardless of the result, the emotional post-match celebration reminded everyone why Cena remains one of WWE's greatest icons. 4. CM Punk and Seth Rollins Steal the Show CM Punk and Seth Rollins delivered a match worthy of the "Match of the Year" conversation. Their intense rivalry culminated in a hard-hitting contest filled with counters, dramatic storytelling, and a breathtaking finish that earned a standing ovation. 5. Tiffany Stratton Continues Her Rise Tiffany Stratton proved once again why she is one of WWE's fastest-rising stars. Her championship performance showcased confidence, athleticism, and star power, further establishing her as a centerpiece of the women's division. 6. Jacob Fatu Dominates the Competition Jacob Fatu continued his incredible momentum with another dominant showing. His blend of power, speed, and aggression made him one of the standout performers of the weekend and reinforced his status as one of WWE's most dangerous superstars. 7. A Surprise Legend Returns SummerSlam wouldn't be complete without a surprise, and WWE delivered with the unexpected return of a legendary superstar. The arena erupted as the familiar entrance music hit, creating one of the loudest crowd reactions of the year. 8. Tag Team Division Gets a Major Shake-Up The tag team championship match featured nonstop action, multiple momentum swings, and a title change that reshaped the division. The victory opened the door for several exciting rivalries in the months ahead. 9. A Young Superstar Announces Their Arrival One of WWE's emerging talents delivered a breakout performance against an established veteran, proving they belong on the biggest stage. The performance instantly elevated their status and earned widespread praise from fans and critics alike. 10. SummerSlam Ends With WrestleMania-Level Hype The closing moments of SummerSlam 2026 perfectly set the stage for WWE's next major chapter. Championship rivalries, shocking confrontations, and unanswered questions ensured that fans left excited for what comes next, making SummerSlam 2026 one of the most impactful editions of the event in recent memory.

BY SACNILK

Here is the list of WWE United States Champions.## The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested in the American promotion WWE on the Raw brand. It was originally known as the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship and began as a regional championship created and defended by Jim Crockett Jr.'s Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, a region of the National Wrestling Alliance.## Check out the full list below.## List of WWE United States Champions No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Date Event Location Reign Days Days recog. National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) / Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) 1 Harley Race January 1, 1975 House show Tallahassee, FL 1 183 183 Defeated Johnny Weaver in a tournament final to become the inaugural NWA United States Heavyweight Champion for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. 2 Johnny Valentine July 3, 1975 House show Greensboro, NC 1 93 93 — Vacated October 4, 1975 — — — — — Vacated when Johnny Valentine suffered a career-ending injury in a plane crash. 3 Terry Funk November 9, 1975 House show Greensboro, NC 1 18 19 Defeated Paul Jones in a tournament final for the vacant title. 4 Paul Jones November 27, 1975 House show Greensboro, NC 1 107 107 5 Blackjack Mulligan March 13, 1976 House show Greensboro, NC 1 217 218 6 Paul Jones October 16, 1976 House show Greensboro, NC 2 43 43 WWE recognizes Jones' reign as ending on November 28, 1976. † Blackjack Mulligan November 28, 1976 House show Charlotte, NC 2 11 — † Paul Jones December 9, 1976 House show Winston-Salem, NC 3 6 — 7 Blackjack Mulligan December 15, 1976 House show Raleigh, NC 2(3) 204 204 8 Bobo Brazil July 7, 1977 House show Norfolk, VA 1 22 22 9 Ric Flair July 29, 1977 House show Richmond, VA 1 84 84 10 Ricky Steamboat October 21, 1977 House show Charleston, SC 1 72 73 11 Blackjack Mulligan January 1, 1978 House show Greensboro, NC 3(4) 77 78 12 Mr. Wrestling March 19, 1978 House show Greensboro, NC 1 21 22 13 Ric Flair April 9, 1978 House show Charlotte, NC 2 253 253 14 Ricky Steamboat December 17, 1978 House show Toronto, ON, Canada 2 105 105 15 Ric Flair April 1, 1979 House show Greensboro, NC 3 133 134 — Vacated August 12, 1979 — — — — — Vacated when Ric Flair won the NWA World Tag Team Championship four days prior. 16 Jimmy Snuka September 1, 1979 House show Charlotte, NC 1 231 233 Defeated Ricky Steamboat in a tournament final for the vacant title.WWE recognizes Snuka's reign as ending on April 20, 1980. 17 Ric Flair April 19, 1980 House show Greensboro, NC 4 98 98 WWE recognizes Flair's reign as beginning on April 20, 1980, although in reality, he won the title on April 19, 1980. † Greg Valentine July 26, 1980 House show Charlotte, NC 1 121 — † Ric Flair November 24, 1980 House show Greenville, SC 5 64 — Although this reign is not recognized, a WWE.com article recognized Flair as a six-time champion. 18 Roddy Piper January 27, 1981 House show Raleigh, NC 1 193 194 The title became the undisputed NWA United States Heavyweight Championship in January 1981 after the NWA San Francisco office, the last other promotion to recognize its own United States Heavyweight Champion, closed. 19 Wahoo McDaniel August 8, 1981 House show Greensboro, NC 1 31 32 — Vacated September 8, 1981 — — — — — Vacated when Wahoo McDaniel was injured by Abdullah the Butcher. 20 Sgt. Slaughter October 4, 1981 House show Charlotte, NC 1 229 229 Defeated Ricky Steamboat in a tournament final for the vacant title. 21 Wahoo McDaniel May 21, 1982 House show Richmond, VA 2 17 18 22 Sgt. Slaughter June 7, 1982 House show Greenville, SC 2 76 76 Awarded the title due to Wahoo McDaniel being injured by Don Muraco and Roddy Piper before the match. 23 Wahoo McDaniel August 22, 1982 House show Charlotte, NC 3 74 75 24 Greg Valentine November 4, 1982 House show Norfolk, VA 1(2) 163 163 25 Roddy Piper April 16, 1983 House show Greensboro, NC 2 14 15 26 Greg Valentine April 30, 1983 House show Greensboro, NC 2(3) 228 229 Valentine won when Roddy Piper suffered a large cut over his left ear and the referee stopped the match. 27 Dick Slater December 14, 1983 House show Shelby, NC 1 129 129 28 Ricky Steamboat April 21, 1984 House show Greensboro, NC 3 64 64 29 Wahoo McDaniel June 24, 1984 House show Greensboro, NC 4 7 7 — Vacated July 1, 1984 — — — — — Wahoo McDaniel was stripped of the title due to Tully Blanchard interfering in McDaniel's title defense. 30 Wahoo McDaniel October 7, 1984 House show Charlotte, NC 5 167 168 Defeated Manny Fernandez in a tournament final for the vacant title. 31 Magnum T. A. March 23, 1985 Worldwide Wrestling Charlotte, NC 1 120 120 32 Tully Blanchard July 21, 1985 House show Charlotte, NC 1 130 130 33 Magnum T. A. November 28, 1985 Starrcade Greensboro, NC 2 182 154 This was an "I Quit" steel cage match.WWE recognizes Magnum T. A. as being stripped of the title on May 1, 1986. — Vacated May 29, 1986 — — — — — Magnum T. A. was stripped of the title for attacking NWA president Bob Geigel. 34 Nikita Koloff August 17, 1986 House show Charlotte, NC 1 328 328 Defeated Magnum T. A. in a best of seven series for the vacant title,Koloff defeated Wahoo McDaniel on September 28, 1986 to unify the NWA National Heavyweight Championship into the U.S. title. 35 Lex Luger July 11, 1987 Great American Bash Greensboro, NC 1 138 138 This was a steel cage match. 36 Dusty Rhodes November 26, 1987 Starrcade Chicago, IL 1 141 141 This was a steel cage match. — Vacated April 15, 1988 — — — — — Dusty Rhodes was stripped of the title for attacking NWA President Jim Crockett. 37 Barry Windham May 13, 1988 House show Houston, TX 1 283 283 Defeated Nikita Koloff in a tournament final for the vacant title. National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) / World Championship Wrestling (WCW) 38 Lex Luger February 20, 1989 Chi-Town Rumble Chicago, IL 2 76 76 39 Michael Hayes May 7, 1989 WrestleWar Nashville, TN 1 15 15 40 Lex Luger May 22, 1989 House show Bluefield, WV 3 523 523 Aired on NWA World Wide Wrestling on June 10, 1989. 41 Stan Hansen October 27, 1990 Halloween Havoc Chicago, IL 1 50 50 42 Lex Luger December 16, 1990 Starrcade St. Louis, MO 4 210 210 This was a Texas Bullrope match.During Luger's reign in 1991, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) split from the NWA and the title was renamed as the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. World Championship Wrestling (WCW) — Vacated July 14, 1991 The Great American Bash Baltimore, MD — — — Vacated when Lex Luger won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. 43 Sting August 25, 1991 House show Atlanta, GA 1 86 86 Defeated Steve Austin in a tournament final for the vacant title. 44 Rick Rude November 19, 1991 Clash of the Champions XVII Savannah, GA 1 378 378 — Vacated December 1, 1992 — — — — — Vacated due to Rick Rude suffering an injury. 45 Dustin Rhodes January 11, 1993 Saturday Night Atlanta, GA 1 138 138 Defeated Ricky Steamboat in a match that was originally made to determine the No. 1 contender. But, upon Rick Rude's vacating the title, the match was instead made to decide the new champion.Aired on tape delay on January 16, 1993. — Vacated May 29, 1993 WCW Saturday Night — — — — The WCW Board of Directors announced the title had been held-up, several weeks after Rhodes' controversial title defense against Rick Rude that ended in Rude appearing to win via pinfall, and taking possession of the title belt, despite both wrestlers' shoulders being off the mat. 46 Dustin Rhodes August 30, 1993 Saturday Night Atlanta, GA 2 119 119 Defeated Rick Rude in a rematch for the vacant title.Aired on tape delay on September 11, 1993. 47 Steve Austin December 27, 1993 Starrcade '93: 10th Anniversary Charlotte, NC 1 240 240 This was a two out of three falls match. 48 Ricky Steamboat August 24, 1994 Clash of the Champions XXVIII Cedar Rapids, IA 4 25 25 49 Steve Austin September 18, 1994 Fall Brawl 1994: War Games Roanoke, VA 2