On this page, you find the full Title History for the WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship, with all Championship Info, Statistics, the Belt Design changes through the years, and the full list of Title Reigns, along with dates, events, and reign durations.
The WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship was contested in World Wrestling Entertainment and World Championship Wrestling, by men wrestlers.
The championship was first established on March 20, 1996, and the inaugural champion was Shinjiro Otani.
This is a newer version of the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship and WCW Light Heavyweight Championship, with its own distinct lineage.
The title was contested by wrestlers 220 lbs (100 kg) and under, billed as cruiserweights.
The championship was created in WCW in 1996. However, following WCW's purchase, the WWF/E considered the title lineage 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 WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship was retired on September 28, 2007, with the final champion being Hornswoggle.
A similar championship, the WWE / NXT Cruiserweight Championship, has been later introduced, which does not share the lineage with this title.
WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Title History
WWF-
Championship Names & Belt Designs
-
-
WWE Cruiserweight Championship May 6, 2002 September 28, 2007 -
WWF Cruiserweight Championship November 18, 2001 May 5, 2002 - WCW Cruiserweight Championship March 20, 1996 November 17, 2001
-
For the Title History of the newer version of this championship, see the page for the WWE / NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Title Reigns
-
N. Image Champion Reign World Wrestling Entertainment: SmackDown Deactivated
- September 28, 2007
- Indianapolis, IN
- | SmackDown!
- 6263+ days
The title was first vacated by SmackDown! GM Vickie Guerrero, and then retired without an official announcement.74 
Hornswoggle 1
- July 22, 2007
- San Jose, CA
- | WWE The Great American Bash 2007
- 68 days
68- days
73 
Chavo Guerrero 6
- February 18, 2007
- Los Angeles, CA
- | WWE No Way Out 2007
- 154 days
154- days
72 
Gregory Helms 3
- January 29, 2006
- Miami, FL
- | WWE Royal Rumble 2006
- 385 days
Helms, who was on the Raw roster, moved to SmackDown! after winning the title.385- days
71 
Kid Kash 1
- December 18, 2005
- Providence, RI
- | WWE Armageddon 2005
- 42 days
42- days
70 
Juventud 5
- November 25, 2005
- Sheffield, England
- | SmackDown!
- 23 days
23- days
69 
Nunzio 2
- November 15, 2005
- Rome, Italy | House Show
- 10 days
10- days
68 Juventud 4
- October 9, 2005
- Houston, TX
- | WWE No Mercy 2005
- 37 days
37- days
67 Nunzio 1
- August 2, 2005
- Bridgeport, CT
- | Velocity
- 68 days
68- days
66 
Paul London 1
- March 31, 2005
- Houston, TX
- | SmackDown!
- 124 days
124- days
65 
Chavo Guerrero 5
- February 20, 2005
- Pittsburgh, PA
- | WWE No Way Out 2005
- 39 days
39- days
64 
Funaki 1
- December 12, 2004
- Atlanta, GA
- | WWE Armageddon 2004
- 70 days
70- days
63 
Spike Dudley 1
- July 29, 2004
- Cincinnati, OH
- | SmackDown!
- 136 days
136- days
62 
Rey Mysterio 8
- June 17, 2004
- Chicago, IL
- | SmackDown!
- 42 days
42- days
61 
Chavo Classic 1
- May 18, 2004
- Las Vegas, NV
- | SmackDown!
- 30 days
30- days
60 Chavo Guerrero 4
- May 16, 2004
- Los Angeles, CA
- | WWE Judgment Day 2004
- 2 days
2- days
59 
Jacqueline 1
- May 6, 2004
- Tucson, AZ
- | SmackDown!
- 10 days
10- days
58 Chavo Guerrero 3
- February 15, 2004
- Daly City, CA
- | WWE No Way Out 2004
- 81 days
81- days
57 Rey Mysterio 7
- January 1, 2004
- Laredo, TX
- | SmackDown!
- 45 days
45- days
56 
Tajiri 3
- September 25, 2003
- Philadelphia, PA
- | SmackDown!
- 98 days
98- days
55 Rey Mysterio 6
- June 5, 2003
- Anaheim, CA
- | SmackDown!
- 112 days
112- days
54 
Matt Hardy Version 1.0 1
- February 23, 2003
- Montreal, QC
- | WWE No Way Out 2003
- 102 days
102- days
53 
Billy Kidman 7
- November 17, 2002
- New York, NY
- | WWE Survivor Series 2002
- 98 days
98- days
52 
Jamie Noble 1
- June 23, 2002
- Columbus, OH
- | WWE King of the Ring 2002
- 147 days
147- days
51 
The Hurricane 2
- May 16, 2002
- Montréal, Québec, Canada
- | SmackDown!
- 38 days
38- days
50 Tajiri 2
- April 21, 2002
- Kansas City, MO
- | WWF Backlash 2002
- 25 days
The title was renamed WWE Cruiserweight Championship on May 5, when WWF became WWE.25- days
49 Billy Kidman 6
- April 4, 2002
- Rochester, NY
- | SmackDown!
- 17 days
17- days
48 
Tajiri 1
- October 22, 2001
- Kansas City, MO
- | Raw Is War
- 164 days
The title was renamed WWF Cruiserweight Championship when the WWF defeated The Alliance at Survivor Series. The title became exclusive to SmackDown! on March 25, 2002.164- days
World Wrestling Entertainment 47 Billy Kidman 5
- October 11, 2001
- Moline, IL
- | SmackDown!
- 11 days
11- days
46 
X-Pac 2
- July 30, 2001
- Philadelphia, PA
- | Raw Is War
- 73 days
73- days
45 Billy Kidman 4
- July 5, 2001
- Tacoma, WA
- | SmackDown!
- 25 days
25- days
44 
Shane Helms 1
- March 18, 2001
- Jacksonville, FL
- | WCW Greed 2001
- 109 days
WCW was purchased by the WWF on March 23, 2001, and the title became exclusive of WWF.109- days
World Championship Wrestling 43 Chavo Guerrero Jr. 2
- December 6, 2000
- Lincoln, NE
- | WCW Thunder
- 102 days
102- days
42 
Mike Sanders 1
- October 2, 2000
- Daly City, CA
- | WCW Nitro
- 65 days
65- days
41 
Elix Skipper 1
- August 14, 2000
- Kelowna, BC
- | WCW Nitro
- 49 days
Skipper was awarded the title by his Team Canada partner Lance Storm, who called it the "101 KG and Under Championship".49- days
40 
Lance Storm 1
- July 31, 2000
- Cincinnati, OH
- | WCW Nitro
- 14 days
14- days
39 Lieutenant Loco 1
- June 7, 2000
- Knoxville, TN
- | WCW Thunder
- 54 days
54- days
38 
Daffney 2
- May 22, 2000
- Grand Rapids, MI
- | WCW Nitro
- 16 days
Defeated Crowbar to become undisputed champion.16- days
37 
Daffney 1 & Crowbar 1
- May 15, 2000
- Biloxi, MS
- | WCW Nitro
- 7 days
Defeated Chris Candido & Tammy Lynn Sytch in a mixed tag team match to become co-champions.7- days
36 
Chris Candido 1
- April 16, 2000
- Chicago, IL
- | WCW Spring Stampede 2000
- 29 days
Defeated The Artist, Juventud Guerrera, Shannon Moore, Lash LeRoux and Crowbar in a 6-way match for the vacant title.29- days
Vacant
- April 10, 2000
- Denver, CO
- | WCW Nitro
- 6 days
All WCW titles were declared vacant by Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff after WCW was rebooted.6- days
35 
The Artist 2
- March 31, 2000
- Pittsburgh, PA | House Show
- 10 days
10- days
34 
Billy Kidman 3
- March 30, 2000
- Baltimore, MD | House Show
- 1 day
1- day
33 TAFKA Prince Iaukea 1
- February 20, 2000
- Daly City, CA
- | WCW SuperBrawl 2000
- 39 days
Defeated Lash LeRoux in a tournament final for the vacant title.39- days
Vacant
- January 19, 2000
- Evansville, IN
- | WCW Thunder
- 32 days
The title was vacated due to Oklahoma exceeding the weight limit.32- days
32 
Oklahoma 1
- January 16, 2000
- Cincinnati, OH
- | WCW Souled Out 2000
- 3 days
3- days
31 
Madusa 1
- December 19, 1999
- Washington, D.C.
- | WCW Starrcade 1999
- 28 days
28- days
30 
Evan Karagias 1
- November 21, 1999
- Toronto, ON
- | WCW Mayhem 1999
- 28 days
28- days
29 
Disco Inferno 1
- October 4, 1999
- Kansas City, MO
- | WCW Nitro
- 48 days
48- days
28 
Psychosis 2
- October 4, 1999
- Kansas City, MO
- | WCW Nitro
- 0 days
Psicosis was awarded the title after the West Hollywood Blonde's angle was dropped.0- days
Vacant
- October 4, 1999
- 0 days
Lenny Lane was stripped of the title after Turner Broadcasting did not approve of the publicity garnered through Lane's homosexual gimmick.0- days
27 
Lenny 1
- August 19, 1999
- Lubbock, TX
- | WCW Thunder
- 46 days
46- days
26 
Rey Mysterio Jr. 5
- April 26, 1999
- Fargo, ND
- | WCW Nitro
- 115 days
115- days
25 Psychosis 1
- April 19, 1999
- Gainesville, FL
- | WCW Nitro
- 7 days
7- days
24 Rey Mysterio Jr. 4
- March 15, 1999
- Cincinnati, OH
- | WCW Nitro
- 35 days
35- days
23 
Kidman 2
- November 22, 1998
- Auburn Hills, MI
- | WCW/nWo World War 3 1998
- 113 days
113- days
22 
Juventud Guerrera 3
- November 16, 1998
- Wichita, KS
- | WCW Nitro
- 6 days
6- days
21 Kidman 1
- September 14, 1998
- Greenville, SC
- | WCW Nitro
- 63 days
63- days
20 Juventud Guerrera 2
- August 8, 1998
- Sturgis, SD
- | WCW/nWo Road Wild 1998
- 37 days
37- days
19 
Chris Jericho 4
- June 14, 1998
- Baltimore, MD
- | WCW/nWo The Great American Bash 1998
- 55 days
Defeated Dean Malenko via DQ for the vacant title. At Bash at the Beach, Rey Misterio Jr. defeated Jericho for the title due to interference from Malenko; however, Jericho was returned the title the following night and the title change was not recognized.55- days
Vacant
- June 11, 1998
- Buffalo, NY
- | WCW Thunder
- 3 days
The title was vacated due to Dean Malenko not earning the title shot as himself.3- days
18 
Dean Malenko 4
- May 17, 1998
- Worcester, MA
- | WCW/nWo Slamboree 1998
- 25 days
Malenko won a battle royal earlier in the night, wearing a mask as Ciclope, to earn a title shot.25- days
17 Chris Jericho 3
- January 24, 1998
- Dayton, OH
- | WCW/nWo Souled Out 1998
- 113 days
113- days
16 
Rey Mysterio Jr. 3
- January 15, 1998
- Lakeland, FL
- | WCW Thunder
- 9 days
9- days
15 
Juventud Guerrera 1
- January 8, 1998
- Daytona Beach, FL
- | WCW Thunder
- 7 days
7- days
14 
Último Dragón 2
- December 29, 1997
- Baltimore, MD
- | WCW Nitro
- 10 days
10- days
13 
Eddy Guerrero 2
- November 10, 1997
- Memphis, TN
- | WCW Nitro
- 49 days
49- days
12 Rey Mysterio Jr. 2
- October 26, 1997
- Las Vegas, NV
- | WCW Halloween Havoc 1997
- 15 days
15- days
11 Eddy Guerrero 1
- September 14, 1997
- Winston-Salem, NC
- | WCW Fall Brawl 1997
- 42 days
42- days
10 
Chris Jericho 2
- August 16, 1997
- Colorado Springs, CO
- | WCW Saturday Night
- 29 days
29- days
9 
Alex Wright 1
- July 28, 1997
- Charleston, WV
- | WCW Nitro
- 19 days
19- days
8 Chris Jericho 1
- June 28, 1997
- Inglewood, CA
- | WCW Saturday Nitro
- 30 days
30- days
7 
Syxx 1
- February 23, 1997
- Daly City, CA
- | WCW SuperBrawl VII
- 125 days
125- days
6 Dean Malenko 3
- January 21, 1997
- Milwaukee, WI
- | WCW Clash of the Champions XXXIV
- 33 days
33- days
5 Ultimate Dragon 1
- December 29, 1996
- Nashville, TN
- | WCW Starrcade 1996
- 23 days
23- days
4 Dean Malenko 2
- October 27, 1996
- Las Vegas, NV
- | WCW Halloween Havoc 1996
- 63 days
63- days
3 Rey Mysterio Jr. 1
- July 8, 1996
- Lake Buena Vista, FL
- | WCW Nitro
- 111 days
111- days
2 Dean Malenko 1
- May 18, 1996
- Lake Buena Vista, FL | WorldWide
- 51 days
51- days
1 
Shinjiro Otani 1
- March 20, 1996
- Nagoya, Japan
- | NJPW Hyper Battle 1996
- 59 days
Defeated Wild Pegasus in tournament final to become the inaugural champion.59- days
For the Title History of the previous version of this championship, see the page for the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship and WWF Light Heavyweight Championship.
WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Statistics
- Promotion
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Championship Wrestling - Gender Male
- Title Type Tertiary Title
- Date Established March 20, 1996
- Preceded By
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
WCW Light Heavyweight Championship - Date Retired September 28, 2007
- Followed By
WWE / NXT Cruiserweight Championship
- First ChampionShinjiro Otani
- Final ChampionHornswoggle
Most Number of Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reigns |
|---|---|---|
| Rey Mysterio Jr. | 8 | |
| Kidman | 7 | |
| Chavo Guerrero | 6 | |
| Juventud | 5 | |
| Chris Jericho | 4 | |
| 6 | Dean Malenko | 4 |
Most Combined Days
| Rank | Wrestler | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Gregory Helms | 532 | |
| Rey Mysterio Jr. | 484 | |
| Chavo Guerrero | 432 | |
| Kidman | 328 | |
| Tajiri | 287 |
Longest Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reign | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Helms | January 29, 2006 - February 18, 2007 | 385 | |
| Tajiri | October 22, 2001 - April 4, 2002 | 164 | |
| Chavo Guerrero | February 18, 2007 - July 22, 2007 | 154 | |
| Jamie Noble | June 23, 2002 - November 17, 2002 | 147 | |
| Spike Dudley | July 29, 2004 - December 12, 2004 | 136 |