Title History
| # | Wrestler | Reigns | Date | Days held: | Location | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 !1 | Brian Pillman | 1 | 01991-10-27October 27, 1991 | 59 | Chattanooga, TN | Halloween Havoc (1991) | Defeated Richard Morton in a tournament final to become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion. WCW did not recognize Light Heavyweight reigns as being part of the Cruiserweight title's history. When WWE came into possession of the title in 2001, they were added to its history. |
| 002 !2 | Jushin Liger | 1 | 01991-12-25December 25, 1991 | 66 | Atlanta, GA | Live event | |
| 003 !3 | Brian Pillman | 2 | 01992-02-29February 29, 1992 | 112 | Milwaukee, WI | SuperBrawl II | |
| 004 !4 | Scotty Flamingo | 1 | 01992-06-20June 20, 1992 | 15 | Mobile, AL | Beach Blast (1992) | |
| 005 !5 | Brad Armstrong | 1 | 01992-07-05July 5, 1992 | 59 | Atlanta, GA | Live event | |
| 05.5 !- | Vacated | 0 !- | 01992-09-02September 2, 1992 | 0 | Atlanta, GA | Clash of the Champions XX | Vacated due to knee injury. A tournament to decide the title is scheduled, but never occurs. |
| 006 !6 | Shinjiro Otani | 1 | 01996-03-20March 20, 1996 | 43 | Nagoya, Japan | NJPW | Defeated Wild Pegasus in tournament final to determine the new WCW Cruiserweight Champion. |
| 002 !2 | Dean Malenko | 1 | 01996-05-02May 2, 1996 | 67 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | WorldWide | Aired on May 18, 1996. |
| 008 !8 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 1 | 01996-07-08July 8, 1996 | 111 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Monday Nitro | |
| 009 !9 | Dean Malenko | 2 | 01996-10-27October 27, 1996 | 63 | Las Vegas, NV | Halloween Havoc (1996) | |
| 010 !10 | Último Dragón | 1 | 01996-12-29December 29, 1996 | 23 | Nashville, TN | Starrcade (1996) | This match was also for Dragon's J-Crown. |
| 011 !11 | Dean Malenko | 3 | 01997-01-21January 21, 1997 | 33 | Milwaukee, WI | Clash of the Champions XXXIV | |
| 012 !12 | Syxx | 1 | 01997-02-23February 23, 1997 | 125 | Daly City, CA | SuperBrawl VII | |
| 013 !13 | Chris Jericho | 1 | 01997-06-28June 28, 1997 | 30 | Inglewood, CA | Untelevised webcast | Jericho won the match at a house show that was broadcast over the Internet as Saturday Nitro. |
| 014 !14 | Alex Wright | 1 | 01997-07-28July 28, 1997 | 15 | Charleston, WV | Monday Nitro | |
| 015 !15 | Chris Jericho | 2 | 01997-08-12August 12, 1997 | 33 | Colorado Springs, CO | Saturday Night | Aired on August 16. |
| 016 !16 | Eddie Guerrero | 1 | 01997-09-14September 14, 1997 | 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | Fall Brawl (1997) | |
| 017 !17 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 2 | 01997-10-26October 26, 1997 | 15 | Las Vegas, NV | Halloween Havoc (1997) | This was a Mask vs. Title match. |
| 018 !18 | Eddie Guerrero | 2 | 01997-11-10November 10, 1997 | 49 | Memphis, TN | Monday Nitro | |
| 019 !19 | Ultimo Dragon | 2 | 01997-12-29December 29, 1997 | 8 | Baltimore, MD | Monday Nitro | |
| 020 !20 | Juventud Guerrera | 1 | 01998-01-08January 8, 1998 | 7 | Daytona Beach, FL | Thunder | |
| 021 !21 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 3 | 01998-01-15January 15, 1998 | 9 | Lakeland, FL | Thunder | |
| 022 !22 | Chris Jericho | 3 | 01998-01-24January 24, 1998 | 113 | Dayton, OH | Souled Out (1998) | |
| 023 !23 | Dean Malenko | 4 | 01998-05-17May 17, 1998 | 25 | Worcester, MA | Slamboree (1998) | Malenko won a battle royal earlier in the night, wearing a mask as Ciclope, to earn a title shot. |
| 023.5 !- | Vacated | 0 !- | 01998-06-11June 11, 1998 | 0 | Buffalo, NY | Thunder | Vacated due to Malenko not earning the title shot as himself. |
| 024 !24 | Chris Jericho | 4 | 01998-06-14June 14, 1998 | 55 | Baltimore, MD | The Great American Bash (1998) | Defeated Dean Malenko by disqualification. On July 12 at Bash at the Beach, Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Jericho for the title due to interference from Malenko; Jericho was returned the title the following night. |
| 025 !25 | Juventud Guerrera | 2 | 01998-08-08August 8, 1998 | 37 | Sturgis, SD | Road Wild (1998) | Dean Malenko was the special guest referee. |
| 026 !26 | Billy Kidman | 1 | 01998-09-14September 14, 1998 | 63 | Greenville, SC | Monday Nitro | |
| 027 !27 | Juventud Guerrera | 3 | 01998-11-16November 16, 1998 | 6 | Wichita, KS | Monday Nitro | |
| 028 !28 | Billy Kidman | 2 | 01998-11-22November 22, 1998 | 113 | Auburn Hills, MI | World War 3 (1998) | |
| 029 !29 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 4 | 01999-03-15March 15, 1999 | 30 | Cincinnati, OH | Monday Nitro | |
| 030 !30 | Psychosis | 1 | 01999-04-19April 19, 1999 | 7 | Gainesville, FL | Monday Nitro | This was a four-way match also involving Juventud Guerrera and Blitzkrieg. |
| 031 !31 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 5 | 01999-04-26April 26, 1999 | 115 | Fargo, ND | Monday Nitro | |
| 032 !32 | Lenny Lane | 1 | 01999-08-19August 19, 1999 | 46 | Lubbock, TX | Thunder | |
| 032.5 !- | Vacated | 0 !- | 01999-10-04October 4, 1999 | 0 | N/A | N/A | Vacated due to Lenny Lane being stripped of the title after Turner Broadcasting did not approve of the publicity garnered through Lane's homosexual gimmick. |
| 033 !33 | Psychosis | 2 | 01999-10-04October 4, 1999 | 0 | Kansas City, MO | Monday Nitro | Was announced on Nitro to have defeated Lenny Lane during a house show match, however the match never took place. Later histories state Psychosis was awarded the title on Monday Nitro for unexplained reasons. |
| 034 !34 | Disco Inferno | 1 | 01999-10-04October 4, 1999 | 48 | Kansas City, MO | Monday Nitro | |
| 035 !35 | Evan Karagias | 1 | 01999-11-21November 21, 1999 | 28 | Toronto, ON | Mayhem (1999) | |
| 036 !36 | Madusa | 1 | 01999-12-19December 19, 1999 | 28 | Washington, D.C. | Starrcade (1999) | Became the first female Cruiserweight Champion. |
| 037 !37 | Oklahoma | 1 | 02000-01-16January 16, 2000 | 2 | Cincinnati, OH | Souled Out (2000) | |
| 037.5 !- | Vacated | 0 !- | 02000-01-18January 18, 2000 | 0 | Evansville, IN | N/A | Vacated due to Oklahoma exceeding the weight limit, aired on January 19. |
| 038 !38 | The Artist | 1 | 02000-02-20February 20, 2000 | 29 | Daly City, CA | SuperBrawl 2000 | Defeated Lash LeRoux in a tournament final. |
| 039 !39 | Billy Kidman | 3 | 02000-03-30March 30, 2000 | 1 | Baltimore, MD | Live event | |
| 040 !40 | The Artist | 2 | 02000-03-31March 31, 2000 | 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | Live event | |
| 040.5 !- | Vacated | 0 !- | 02000-04-10April 10, 2000 | 0 | Denver, CO | Monday Nitro | Vacated by Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo, along with all other WCW titles. |
| 041 !41 | Chris Candido | 1 | 02000-04-16April 16, 2000 | 29 | Chicago, IL | Spring Stampede (2000) | Defeated The Artist, Juventud Guerrera, Shannon Moore, Lash LeRoux and Crowbar in a six-way match. |
| 042 !42 | Crowbar and Daffney | 1 | 02000-05-15May 15, 2000 | 7 | Biloxi, MS | Monday Nitro | Defeated Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch in a mixed tag team match to become co-champions on Monday Nitro. |
| 043 !43 | Daffney | 1 | 02000-05-22May 22, 2000 | 15 | Grand Rapids, MI | Monday Nitro | Defeated Crowbar to become undisputed champion. |
| 044 !44 | Lieutenant Loco | 1 | 02000-06-06June 6, 2000 | 55 | Knoxville, TN | Thunder | This was a triple threat match also involving Disco Inferno, aired on June 7. |
| 045 !45 | Lance Storm | 1 | 02000-07-31July 31, 2000 | 14 | Cincinnati, OH | Monday Nitro | Simultaneously held WCW Cruiserweight Championship, WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and WCW Hardcore Championship. |
| 046 !46 | Elix Skipper | 1 | 02000-08-14August 14, 2000 | 49 | Kelowna, BC | Monday Nitro | Skipper was awarded the title by his Team Canada partner Storm, who called it the "100 KG and Under Championship". |
| 047 !47 | Mike Sanders | 1 | 02000-10-02October 2, 2000 | 63 | Daly City, CA | Monday Nitro | Sanders and Kevin Nash defeated Skipper in a Handicap Powerbomb match. |
| 048 !48 | Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (formerly Lieutenant Loco) |
2 | 02000-12-04December 4, 2000 | 104 | Lincoln, NE | Thunder | |
| 049 !49 | Shane Helms | 1 | 02001-03-18March 18, 2001 | 107 | Jacksonville, FL | Greed | WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation later that month. |
| 050 !50 | Billy Kidman | 4 | 02001-07-03July 3, 2001 | 27 | Tacoma, WA | SmackDown! | Aired July 5. |
| 051 !51 | X-Pac (formerly Syxx) |
2 | 02001-07-30July 30, 2001 | 71 | Philadelphia, PA | Raw is War | This was a unification match to seal X-Pac's WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| 052 !52 | Billy Kidman | 5 | 02001-10-09October 9, 2001 | 13 | Moline, IL | SmackDown! | Aired on October 11. |
| 053 !53 | Tajiri | 1 | 02001-10-22October 22, 2001 | 162 | Kansas City, MO | Raw | The title became the WWF Cruiserweight Championship when the WWF defeated The Alliance at Survivor Series on November 18 and replaced the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. The title became exclusive to SmackDown on March 25, 2002. |
| 054 !54 | Billy Kidman | 6 | 02002-04-02April 2, 2002 | 19 | Rochester, NY | SmackDown! | Aired on April 4. |
| 055 !55 | Tajiri | 2 | 02002-04-21April 21, 2002 | 23 | Kansas City, MO | Backlash (2002) | The title became the WWE Cruiserweight Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment. |
| 056 !56 | The Hurricane (formerly Shane Helms) |
2 | 02002-05-14May 14, 2002 | 40 | Montreal, QC | SmackDown! | This was a triple threat match that aired on May 16, also involving Billy Kidman. |
| 057 !57 | Jamie Noble | 1 | 02002-06-23June 23, 2002 | 147 | Columbus, OH | King of the Ring (2002) | |
| 058 !58 | Billy Kidman | 7 | 02002-11-17November 17, 2002 | 98 | New York, NY | Survivor Series (2002) | |
| 059 !59 | Matt Hardy | 1 | 02003-02-23February 23, 2003 | 100 | Montreal, QC | No Way Out (2003) | |
| 060 !60 | Rey Mysterio (formerly Rey Misterio, Jr.) |
6 | 02003-06-03June 3, 2003 | 112 | Anaheim, CA | SmackDown! | Aired on June 5. |
| 061 !61 | Tajiri | 3 | 02003-09-23September 23, 2003 | 98 | Philadelphia, PA | SmackDown! | Aired on September 25. |
| 062 !62 | Rey Mysterio | 7 | 02003-12-30December 30, 2003 | 47 | Laredo, TX | SmackDown! | Aired on January 1. |
| 063 !63 | Chavo Guerrero (formerly Chavo Guerrero, Jr.) |
3 | 02004-02-15February 15, 2004 | 79 | Daly City, CA | No Way Out (2004) | |
| 064 !64 | Jacqueline | 1 | 02004-05-04May 4, 2004 | 12 | Tucson, AZ | SmackDown! | Aired on May 6. |
| 065 !65 | Chavo Guerrero | 4 | 02004-05-16May 16, 2004 | 2 | Los Angeles, CA | Judgment Day (2004) | Guerrero won the title with one hand tied behind his back, though his father Chavo Classic untied it during the match. |
| 066 !66 | Chavo Classic | 1 | 02004-05-18May 18, 2004 | 28 | Las Vegas, NV | SmackDown! | This was a triple threat match also involving Spike Dudley, which aired on May 20. |
| 067 !67 | Rey Mysterio | 8 | 02004-06-15June 15, 2004 | 42 | Chicago, IL | SmackDown! | Aired on June 17. |
| 068 !68 | Spike Dudley | 1 | 02004-07-27July 27, 2004 | 138 | Cincinnati, OH | SmackDown! | Aired on July 29. |
| 069 !69 | Funaki | 1 | 02004-12-12December 12, 2004 | 70 | Atlanta, GA | Armageddon (2004) | |
| 070 !70 | Chavo Guerrero | 5 | 02005-02-20February 20, 2005 | 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | No Way Out (2005) | Won the title in a six-man Cruiserweight Open, also including Paul London, Akio, Shannon Moore and Spike Dudley. |
| 071 !71 | Paul London | 1 | 02005-03-29March 29, 2005 | 126 | Houston, TX | SmackDown! | Won an 8-man battle royal, aired on March 31. |
| 072 !72 | Nunzio | 1 | 02005-08-02August 2, 2005 | 68 | Bridgeport, CT | Velocity | |
| 073 !73 | Juventud (formerly Juventud Guerrera) |
4 | 02005-10-09October 9, 2005 | 37 | Houston, TX | No Mercy (2005) | |
| 074 !74 | Nunzio | 2 | 02005-11-15November 15, 2005 | 7 | Rome, Italy | Live event | |
| 075 !75 | Juventud | 5 | 02005-11-22November 22, 2005 | 26 | Sheffield, England | SmackDown! | Aired on November 25. |
| 076 !76 | Kid Kash | 1 | 02005-12-18December 18, 2005 | 42 | Providence, RI | Armageddon (2005) | |
| 077 !77 | Gregory Helms (formerly The Hurricane) |
3 | 02006-01-29January 29, 2006 | 385 | Miami, FL | Royal Rumble (2006) | This was a six-way match also involving Funaki, Jamie Noble, Nunzio and Paul London. Helms, who was on the Raw roster at that time, moved to SmackDown! after winning the title. |
| 078 !78 | Chavo Guerrero | 6 | 02007-02-18February 18, 2007 | 154 | Los Angeles, CA | No Way Out (2007) | This was an 8-man Cruiserweight Open at No Way Out, also involving Daivari, Shannon Moore, Funaki, Jamie Noble, Jimmy Wang Yang and Scotty 2 Hotty. |
| 079 !79 | Hornswoggle | 1 | 02007-07-22July 22, 2007 | 65 | San Jose, CA | The Great American Bash (2007) | This was a six-man Cruiserweight Open also involving Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore, Funaki and Jamie Noble. |
| 079.5 !- | Vacated | 0 !- | 02007-09-25September 25, 2007 | 0 | Indianapolis, IN | Smackdown! | Vacated on the September 25, 2007 edition of SmackDown! (aired September 28) by acting General Manager Vickie Guerrero, citing that his status as Mr. McMahon's son and his diminutive stature would eventually jeopardize his well-being. |
Read more about this topic: List Of WWE Cruiserweight Champions
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