Sami Zayn Joins Elite List of International United States Champions – Sami Zayn’s victory over Solo Sikoa on the August 29 episode of SmackDown not only gave him his first reign as WWE United States Champion, it also secured his place in a rare category of champions with a unique distinction.
As highlighted by WrestleStatcast, Zayn’s win on SmackDown in Lyon, France, made him just the fifth wrestler born outside of the United States to capture the United States Championship in a country other than the U.S. The title’s long history, spanning both WCW and WWE, shows how uncommon this achievement truly is.
The first to accomplish the feat was Kensuke Sasaki, who won the WCW United States Title in Japan in 1995. Five years later, Canadian wrestler Lance Storm became the second, winning the championship during a WCW event in the United Kingdom in 2000. After the championship transitioned to WWE, Bret Hart added his name to the list by winning the title in Canada in 2010. More recently, Shinsuke Nakamura captured the title at Survivor Series 2024 in Toronto, extending the tradition.
Now, Zayn joins that exclusive group, becoming the latest international star to make history with the championship. His victory is not only meaningful for his career, marking his first United States Title win, but it also highlights the ongoing global legacy of the belt, which has been defended and won across different countries for decades.
Sami Zayn Joins Elite List of International United States Champions
