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WCW Cruiserweight Championship

WWE Cruiserweight Championship
WWE Cruiserweight Championship.jpg
The WWE Cruiserweight Championship belt (2002–2007)
Details
Promotion WCW (1991–2001)
WWF/WWE (2001–2007)
Date established March 20, 1996
October 27, 1991
Date retired September 28, 2007
Other name(s)
  • WCW Light Heavyweight Championship
    (1991–1992)
  • WCW Cruiserweight Championship
    (1996–2001)
  • WWF Cruiserweight Championship
    (2001–2002)
  • WWE Cruiserweight Championship
    (2002–2007)

The WWE Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship originally used in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and later, World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/WWE). It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 225lbs. Following the acquisition of WCW by the then-WWF in 2001, it became a WWF (and later, WWE) championship and replaced the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. During the first WWE brand extension, it was the only title to be exclusive to the SmackDown! brand during its entire tenure.

The championship was created in WCW in 1996, with Shinjiro Otani as the inaugural champion. However, following WCW's purchase, the WWF/E considered the title to be a continuation of the earlier WCW Light Heavyweight Championship, which had been created in 1991 with Brian Pillman as the inaugural champion. The Cruiserweight Championship was retired in 2007 with Hornswoggle as its final holder.

A new WWE Cruiserweight Championship was created in 2016, and although both championships share the same name, the new championship does not carry the lineage of the original. The new WWE Cruiserweight Championship also has a different weight limit of 205lbs (93kg)

The Cruiserweight Championship was originally created as the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on March 20, 1996. However, after the acquisition of World Championship Wrestling's assets by rival company WWE (then WWF), both lineages of the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship are considered to be one and the same, and WWE refers to the holders of the Light Heavyweight Championship as former Cruiserweight Champions.


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