<P> In March 2001, the then - WWF bought selected assets of WCW . This resulted in the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship becoming a championship for the WWF, who referred to it as the WCW United States Championship . At Survivor Series in November 2001, the WCW United States and WWF Intercontinental Championships were unified, resulting in the United States Championship being deactivated . In July 2003, the title was reactivated as the WWE United States Championship . Since the 2017 WWE Superstar Shake - up, it is exclusively contested on the SmackDown brand . </P> <P> The championship is contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes rather than contend in direct competition . Some reigns were held by champions using a ring name, while others used their real name . As of November 6, 2017, the current champion is Baron Corbin, who is in his first reign . </P> <P> Overall, there have been 87 different champions . Ric Flair holds the record for having the most reigns at six, while John Cena holds the record for most reigns under the WWE banner at five . Lex Luger holds the record for longest reign, with his third reign lasting a total of 523 days, while Dean Ambrose holds the longest reign under the WWE banner, at 351 days (overall the third longest in the title's history). Only two men, Lex Luger and Rick Rude, have held the championship for a continuous reign of one year (365 days) or more . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Years </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) </Td> <Td> January 1, 1975--January 27, 1981 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Undisputed version) </Td> <Td> January 27, 1981--1991 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> WCW United States (Heavyweight) Championship </Td> <Td> 1991--2001 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> WWE United States Championship </Td> <Td> 2003--present </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who is the longest reigning wwe united states champion