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Sheamus is the reigning WWE United States Champion. The Celtic Warrior is in his fourth reign and has held the gold for more than 80 days.
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The Irishman won the championship from Riddle at WrestleMania 37. Mansoor, Ricochet and Humberto Carillo have all felt Sheamus' wrath and fury in the wake of his title win.
Unfortunately, Humberto Carillo inadvertently broke Sheamus' nose with a painful strike to the face last month. A report recently stated that the Celtic Warrior is yet to defend the United States Championship. Naturally, if it weren't for his injury, he would've put the title up for grabs several times by now.
When the doctors clear the US Champion to return to in-ring action, several hungry WWE Superstars in the back would want a shot, and some of them might even dethrone Sheamus.
Today we'll take a look at five men who could dethrone the Celtic Warrior to win the United States Championship.
#5 Humberto Carillo could dethrone Sheamus
Humberto Carillo has been a thorn in the Celtic Warrior's side for months. After all, Carillo put the champion on the shelf for a month, which should earn him a one-on-one championship shot.
When the multi-time world champion returns, he will want revenge for the injury he sustained at the hands of Carillo. Very few men have crossed Sheamus and not paid the price for their actions.
However, the Irishman has under-estimated the Mexican superstar in the past, which didn't bode well for him. If he doesn't take Carillo seriously, Sheamus might lose the US Championship.
Carillo has held his own against Seth Rollins, AJ Styles and Andrade. He is undoubtedly a gifted athlete and deserves to compete against the cream of the crop. The Mexican high-flyer has all the tools to become a fighting, perseverant and admirable US Champion.
Of course, Ricochet would take issue with Carillo's championship aspirations. The two high-flyers were fighting for the number one contender's spot, and both men have a compelling case for the position. However, from a storyline perspective and owing to the champion's injury, Carillo is the more natural choice to challenge Sheamus upon his return.
When that happens, Carillo may become the next US Champion. He has pinned the champion before, and there is no reason why he cannot do the same again.
#2 Jeff Hardy could dethrone Sheamus
A significant reason for Sheamus' supremacy at the moment is his experience. Humberto Carillo and Ricochet may be immensely talented and dedicated, but they lack the maturity a seasoned veteran possesses. However, another such WWE stalwart happens to be Jeff Hardy, a former US Champion.
Last year, the Celtic Warrior and the Charismatic Enigma went to war numerous times. Sheamus berated Hardy for his notoriously dark past filled with controversy that provoked a negative fan response. However, Hardy got the final laugh as he defeated his arch-rival in a bar fight. So if anyone on the RAW roster knows how to conquer the Irishman, it's Jeff Hardy.
Owing to his recent losses, the Charismatic Enigma has lost much of his momentum and heat. Until a few weeks ago, Hardy was a non-factor. The veteran was relegated to WWE Main Event, a show very few fans tune in to watch.
Luckily, the future Hall of Famer has slowly started to gain momentum by winning matches against Cedric Alexander. This is just a start, but the future may hold something wonderful for Hardy.
The Enigma's fan-base has been devastated by his recent booking, and many would agree that he doesn't deserve to be used as a stepping stone.
If Hardy dethrones Sheamus to win the US Championship, the fans would love it, for the victory would bring his career back on track.
#3 John Morrison could dethrone Sheamus
The Miz's injury has proven to be a blessing in disguise for John Morrison, one of Sheamus' greatest rivals. Johnny Drip-Drip embarked on a solo run after the A-Lister suffered a knee injury at WrestleMania Backlash.
Morrison recently pulled off a significant upset by pinning Drew McIntyre to earn a spot in the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder match. While the odds of him winning the briefcase are slim, the chances of becoming US Champion are much better.
The only obstacle, other than Sheamus, is his status as a heel. Morrison has always had a more likable personality, and a face turn wouldn't upset many fans. It is a more natural position for him that will open the door for a US Championship reign.
Johnny Drip-Drip has immense potential as a solo competitor, and a US Championship run will put him to the test. Moreover, it will open up a wide range of opportunities. If he wins, it will be interesting to see the impact on his relationship with The Miz.
The A-Lister and the Shaman of Sexy did feud together after they split in 2009. Vince McMahon may choose to revisit the rivalry, but this time the coveted US Title will be involved.
Morrison emerges as an unlikely candidate to dethrone Sheamus, but he would make for an incredible US Champion, as evidenced by his recent performances.
#2 Damien Priest could dethrone Sheamus
Damien Priest is one of the few men on the main roster who can rival Sheamus' strength, power and agility. Therefore, Priest is a plausible challenger and viable threat to the US Champion. Vince McMahon is pretty high on the Archer of Infamy, who hasn't lost a match since jumping ship to the main roster.
The former NXT North American Champion is primed to become a top star in WWE. However, before he can reach his true potential, he needs to have a run with the US Championship.
The coveted United States Title launched the careers of John Cena, The Miz, Seth Rollins, and Dolph Ziggler to great heights. If Priest hopes to become World Champion someday, a reign with US championship will take him much closer to his goal.
Moreover, a win over Sheamus would provide the young powerhouse with a boost. Given his resilient and bold nature, Priest would undoubtedly be a fighting United States Champion. He could bring back the weekly US Title challenge that John Cena popularized.
Given that Priest is dealing with back issues, it is unlikely that he will win the gold at this point. Therefore, the earliest he could dethrone the Celtic Warrior is in August.
#1 Keith Lee could dethrone Sheamus
The most likely candidate to dethrone Sheamus is a fellow powerhouse who claims to respect him - Keith Lee. The Limitless One and the Celtic Warrior expressed mutual respect for each other while gunning for Drew McIntyre's WWE Championship in January.
They also teamed up briefly, and while that didn't necessarily play out very well, the two men still respect each other.
Unfortunately, fans haven't seen the Limitless Keith Lee in four months. He has been inactive since mid-February. Luckily, Lee has vowed that he will return, which is a relief for many.
When Lee does return, he should start off right where he last left. The Limitless One was supposed to compete in a Triple Threat Match with Riddle and Bobby Lashley for the United States Championship. He pulled out at the last second, and the Original Bro won the title.
Later, reports indicated that Lee was originally supposed to win the championship, but those plans never came to fruition due to his injury.
If Lee was around right now, Sheamus wouldn't be US Champion. Therefore, when the former NXT Champion returns, the Celtic Warrior's days as champion will most definitely be numbered.
