WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Encyclopedia
The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling
championship
in World Wrestling Entertainment
and was originally a World Championship Wrestling
title. It was challenged by cruiserweights
at a maximum weight of 215 lbs. During its tenure in WWE, it was exclusive to the SmackDown! brand
.
Light Heavyweight Championship. Following the title's introduction in 1991, a tournament was held to determine the inaugural champion. On October 27, Brian Pillman
defeated Richard Morton
in the tournament final to win the title. However, when Brad Armstrong was forced to relinquish the title due to injury on September 2, 1992, it became inactive. Then, on March 20, 1996, Shinjiro Otani defeated The Pegasus Kid
(Chris Benoit) in a decision match to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.
In March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation
purchased World Championship Wrestling
. Soon after, "The Invasion" took place, in which The Alliance was ultimately dismantled. Following Survivor Series 2001
, the title was renamed the WWF Cruiserweight Championship, replacing the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
.
Following the WWF/WWE name change in 2002, the championship was subsequently referred to as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship and became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand
. On September 28, 2007, the title was vacated after the final champion, Hornswoggle
, was stripped of the championship by SmackDown! General manager, Vickie Guerrero
.
After a six month absence, on March 3, 2008, WWE removed the championship from the web page, where originally the title was listed as vacated. Afterward, the title was put in the inactive titles list on WWE's title histories web page to . In this way, the title was quietly retired.
Gregory Helms
has had the longest title reign, with 385 days. Psychosis has had the shortest title reign, holding it for approximately an hour. Rey Mysterio Jr. has had the most title reigns with eight (five reigns in WCW, three in WWE). Three women have held the championship; Madusa
and Daffney both had reigns with WCW while Jacqueline Moore
is the only female to win the Cruiserweight Championship in its WWE incarnation.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
in World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
and was originally a World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
title. It was challenged by cruiserweights
Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
at a maximum weight of 215 lbs. During its tenure in WWE, it was exclusive to the SmackDown! brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
.
History
The WWE Cruiserweight Championship is recognized as formerly being the WCWWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
Light Heavyweight Championship. Following the title's introduction in 1991, a tournament was held to determine the inaugural champion. On October 27, Brian Pillman
Brian Pillman
Brian William Pillman was an American football player and professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling....
defeated Richard Morton
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell "Ricky" Morton is an American professional wrestler who has worked for such wrestling organizations as Jim Crockett Promotions, the American Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and Total Nonstop Action...
in the tournament final to win the title. However, when Brad Armstrong was forced to relinquish the title due to injury on September 2, 1992, it became inactive. Then, on March 20, 1996, Shinjiro Otani defeated The Pegasus Kid
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
(Chris Benoit) in a decision match to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.
In March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
purchased World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
. Soon after, "The Invasion" took place, in which The Alliance was ultimately dismantled. Following Survivor Series 2001
Survivor Series (2001)
Survivor Series was the fifteenth annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation...
, the title was renamed the WWF Cruiserweight Championship, replacing the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
The World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...
.
Following the WWF/WWE name change in 2002, the championship was subsequently referred to as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship and became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
. On September 28, 2007, the title was vacated after the final champion, Hornswoggle
Dylan Postl
Dylan Postl is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names Hornswoggle or Little Bastard. He is employed by WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand...
, was stripped of the championship by SmackDown! General manager, Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Lynn Guerrero is an American professional wrestling personality, manager, shifting authority figure and occasional wrestler. She is the widow of professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand...
.
After a six month absence, on March 3, 2008, WWE removed the championship from the web page, where originally the title was listed as vacated. Afterward, the title was put in the inactive titles list on WWE's title histories web page to . In this way, the title was quietly retired.
Gregory Helms
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
has had the longest title reign, with 385 days. Psychosis has had the shortest title reign, holding it for approximately an hour. Rey Mysterio Jr. has had the most title reigns with eight (five reigns in WCW, three in WWE). Three women have held the championship; Madusa
Debra Miceli
Debrah Ann Miceli is a Monster truck driver and former professional wrestler. She is best known under her ring names Madusa or Alundra Blayze. Her early career was spent in the American Wrestling Association, where she held the AWA World Women's Championship one time...
and Daffney both had reigns with WCW while Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline DeLois Moore is an inactive American professional wrestler, who was most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
is the only female to win the Cruiserweight Championship in its WWE incarnation.
See also
- List of WWE Cruiserweight Champions
- WWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipWWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...