Unexpected SmackDown Star May Shockingly End Major WWE Tradition

WWE personality predicts that the WWE US Open Challenge tradition might end soon.

The legendary John Cena was the first one in WWE to start the United States Open Challenge in WWE. After winning the United States Championship at WrestleMania 31 in 2015, Cena announced he would defend the title every week against any challenger, including those from NXT, to elevate the prestige of the title.

Sami Zayn revived the open challenge during his 2025 reign, reigniting the tradition. Ilja Dragunov continued the challenge after defeating Sami Zayn, defending it successfully against several Superstars before losing the title in an open challenge.

Carmelo Hayes is the current US Champion and has continued the tradition after winning the title from Ilja Dragunov in an open challenge on a December 2025 episode of SmackDown.

Kit Wilson Might End The United States Open Challenge Tradition In WWE

On the latest episode of Notsam Wrestling, WWE analyst Sam Roberts read a fan mail suggesting that SmackDown star Kit Wilson might put an end to the US Open Challenge tradition in WWE.

Roberts liked the idea and would want to see it happen. But he said that it would only happen after Wilson’s character builds more popularity on SmackDown.

I like that. I don’t mind it. Kit, you know, I don’t think he’s going to win the United States Championship immediately, but as that character builds in popularity, yeah, I think he’s got a perfectly built-in… He would say that the US Open challenge is a toxic thing. He would absolutely say that. (From 1:06:47)

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