Copyright Michael W. Rickard II
Originally presented at Canadian Bulldog's World.
It’s time for part three of round one of the Greatest U.S. Champion of All Time Tournament, presented here at Canadian Bulldog’s World. In case you’re just tuning in, this tournament includes the 21 greats who held Jim Crockett Promotions’ United States Heavyweight Championship, one of the most prestigious titles in the National Wrestling Alliance. The belt served as a stepping stone to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and became the focus of many top programs in JCP. The 21 different men who held the belt were either famous veterans or rising stars who eventually became legends. Now, it’s time to decide which one of these stars is the greatest U.S. Champion of all time?
It's a heel Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka vs. babyface Magnum T.A. in the third match of round one!
Although Jimmy Snuka became well-known to WWF fans both for his storied program against WWF Champion Bob Backlund and his epic feuds with The Magnificent Muraco and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Snuka was already a top star in the 1970s, including a highly successful run in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. The Superfly would hold the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship two times, the first with Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff and the second, with Ray “The Crippler” Stevens (the man who famously participated in Snuka’s face turn in the WWF by piledriving Snuka on the concrete floor). Snuka would win the U.S. Championship in a tournament held in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 1, 1979, defeating Ricky Steamboat in the finals.
Click here for the tournament introduction
Click here for match one of round one
Click here for match two of round one.