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The Professional 3 7.07.13: 3 Most Patriotic United States Champions Ever

July 7, 2013 | Posted by Jon Harder


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HAPPY 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND AND WELCOME to the Professional 3 on 411wrestling.com. I’m Jon Harder and I’m feeling extra patriotic this week. Whether it’s the red, white, and blue attire, the hot dogs and hamburgers to fill my already round belly, or the ability to relax and down a few O’Doul’s while writing this week’s piece, I truly have the American spirit inside of me for this one. And trust me; this theme will truly make you scream “USA!” a few times when it’s all said and done.

Before we delve further into the column, check out this week’s Hardway Podcast with Dan Barry from NYWC and Beyond Wrestling fame. We discuss a plethora of different topics, including his standup comedy career and independent wrestling in general. You can find him on Twitter @thedanbarry. He’s a real funny dude and after the illustrious history we have had, it’s good to learn about someone’s career and the different tales they have to share.

Speaking of Twitter, follow me @TheJonHarder and give me your feedback on this column, the Hardway, or anything else wrestling related.

As everyone knows by now, I tend to skew a tad onto the weird side when it comes to the P3. I take every column in a different direction in whatever fashion I see fit. This week is no different. On the 4th of July weekend, I dug deep into the annuls and decided to talk about a championship that personifies this great country. This championship was and is a title that, once held, was a stepping-stone to bigger and better opportunities. This championship represents all 50 states and this great country of ours. I’m talking about the UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP.


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Created on January 1, 1975 and first held by Harley Race as a championship developed by the National Wrestling Alliance, the US championship lasted through 3 companies, multiple reincarnations, unification, and various tournaments. Now serving as a championship in World Wrestling Entertainment with Dean Ambrose as the title-holder, the championship personifies as a title in which all of the workhorses ply for. There is a true honor about being United States champion.

Yet somehow, there are very few men who take the term United States champion to a whole different level. They eat, breathe, and sleep America. They believe the moral values that this country preaches. They wave the flag and argue against others who preach against this country and championship. Most of all, they become heroes to America.

I know that might be a little much in describing the United States champion and its true meaning, but it all leads to the end game. There have been a few pro-USA competitors that have held the United States championship and have worn the American colors on their gear and figurative sleeves. It’s a very gimmicky, niche character and as a guy who writes a very gimmicky, niche column, it fits the mold.

So without further hesitation…

THE PROFESSIONAL 3: The Most Patriotic United States Champions Ever

1) HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN, WCW 1994

In 1994, Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat and Stunning Steve Austin were embroiled in a great wrestling rivalry for the WCW United States championship. After winning the championship in August at Clash of the Champions, Steamboat suffered a serious back injury and would not wrestle another match for 13 years. In the meantime, at Fall Brawl in September, Stunning Steve, after being awarded the championship by then-WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel due to “the Dragon’s” disability. The Commissioner then stated Austin had to defend the belt right then and there. After Austin’s appeals which went unheard, out came all-American hero HACKSAW JIM DUGGAN! A back body drop and a big splash later, we had a NEW champion!

Hacksaw Duggan personified the American dream. A blue-collar wrestler from Glen Falls, NY, Hacksaw was a simple man. He carried a 2×4 and an American flag at all times. However, during his entire run in the WWF, he never held a championship. Yet, in his debut, he defeated the future “Stone Cold” for the United States champion. The most patriotic man to ever hold the US title, Hacksaw held onto the title for 3 months, until he ran into a true “tough guy” in Vader at Starrcade. Regardless, an American hero reigned as the champion of this great country. HOOOO!!!!!

2) GENERAL RECTION, WCW 2000

Say what you will about Bill Demott. In WCW 2000, it was finally admitted that his “real” name was Hugh G. Rection. He was the leader of the Misfits in Action. Most everyone believed he was a joke. However, in October of 2000, the General stood tall and went toe-to-toe with the “Canadian” champion Lance Storm. Storm won the US title in August and proceed to take a collective dump on the morals of the championship by taking a sticker and placing the Canadian flag on the US title. Rection and his MIA went to war with Team Canada and after a hard-fought battle (where Jim Duggan even turned his back on America after a short time); General Rection won the United States championship at Halloween Havoc.

The next night on Nitro, the boys in the locker room came out during Rection’s championship celebration speech and showed how proud they were that he won the belt for America. The true belief in Rection showed how far he had come. He might not be the most popular wrestler of all time, but in that timeframe in WCW, General Rection was the man. Most of all, a man who won the US title the American way: he earned it.


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3) JBL, WWE 2006

The United States championship bounced around a few times after its reincarnation in 2003, but no one personified the American perspective of the US title as much as John “Bradshaw” Layfield had. A self-made millionaire due to proper saving and exquisite use of the stock market, JBL made his own way to be not only one of the wealthiest wrestlers in wrestling history, but a former World champion. Yet somehow, when JBL won the United States championship from Chris Benoit at WrestleMania 22, it just felt right. JBL believed in the good of the country. He believed in the armed forces and America’s freedoms. The US championship fit him like a glove. A controversial choice, maybe, but you can’t deny JBL was one of the most patriotic US champions of all time.

BONUS: The Death of the Spinner US championship

Although JBL was not US champion in 2004, his colleague in the Cabinet, Orlando Jordan, was. After utilizing JBL’s help to defeat John Cena on an episode of Smackdown the week before, JBL held a celebration for Orlando’s title win. Before properly giving Orlando back the US championship we see every week on WWE TV, JBL BLEW UP the custom-made spinner US championship. The belt, which symbolized Cena’s hip hop credibility in WWE, was given its demise via fireworks in a simple trash can. I loved everything about this moment, as it gave Cena the extra momentum to become WWE champion at WrestleMania 21.

The United States championship has such a prestigious history behind it. So many men have held this championship with honor and respect. Yet somehow, these three men, in my humble opinion, took the prestige of being champion of this great land to another degree of epicness. God bless these men and God bless America.

Happy birthday US.

#Professional3

Jon Harder

[email protected]




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