On this page, you find the full Title History for the WWF Light Heavyweight 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 WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was contested in World Wrestling Entertainment, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michinoku Pro Wrestling and Universal Wrestling Association, by men wrestlers.
The championship was first established on March 26, 1981.
The title was created for the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) in a partnership between WWF and UWA. On June 16, 1995, the title moved to NJPW and MPW, but due to WWF's ownership of the title it was returned to WWF in 1997 (the year which WWE recognizes as the beginning of the championship's lineage).
The title was abandoned in 2001 when WWE finally put the WCW/ECW Alliance out of business. WWE then adopted the WCW Cruiserweight Championship as its version of the Cruiserweight Championship.
The WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was retired on March 8, 2002, with the final champion being X-Pac.
A similar championship, the WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship, has been later introduced, which does not share the lineage with this title.
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship: Title History
-
Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion 
WWFNovember 6, 1997 March 8, 2002 Promotion 
NJPW, 
MICHINOKUJune 16, 1995 November 5, 1997 Promotion 
UWAMarch 26, 1981 June 15, 1995 -
Defended With
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship - J-Crown ( August 5, 1996 - November 5, 1997)
- Championship Names & Belt Designs
-
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship April 25, 2000 March 8, 2002 -
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship November 6, 1997 April 24, 2000 -
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship March 26, 1981 November 5, 1997
-
For the Title History of the newer version of this championship, see the page for the WCW / WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship: Title Reigns
-
N. Image Champion Reign World Wrestling Entertainment Deactivated
- March 8, 2002
- 8176+ days
X-Pac was the final wrestler to hold the Light Heavyweight Title. A Title Unification match at Survivor Series against WCW Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri was canceled because X-Pac was injured. The title was removed from television after X-Pac's injury, but he would continue to defend the title on House Shows until it was officially retired on March 8, 2002.45 
X-Pac 2
- August 19, 2001
- San Jose, CA
- | WWF SummerSlam 2001
- 201 days
201- days
44 
Tajiri 1
- August 6, 2001
- Anaheim, CA
- | Raw Is War
- 13 days
13- days
43 X-Pac 1
- June 25, 2001
- New York City, NY
- | Raw Is War
- 42 days
42- days
42 
Jeff Hardy 1
- June 7, 2001
- Grand Forks, ND
- | SmackDown!
- 18 days
18- days
41 
Jerry Lynn 1
- April 29, 2001
- Chicago, IL
- | Heat
- 39 days
39- days
40 
Crash Holly 1
- March 18, 2001
- Anaheim, CA
- | Heat
- 42 days
42- days
39 
Dean Malenko 2
- April 27, 2000
- Charlotte, NC
- | SmackDown!
- 325 days
325- days
38 
Scotty 2 Hotty 1
- April 17, 2000
- State College, PA
- | Raw Is War
- 10 days
10- days
37 Dean Malenko 1
- March 13, 2000
- East Rutherford, NJ
- | Raw Is War
- 35 days
35- days
36 
Essa Ríos 1
- February 13, 2000
- Austin, TX
- | Heat
- 29 days
29- days
35 
Gillberg 1
- November 23, 1998
- Columbus, OH
- | Raw Is War
- 447 days
447- days
34 
Christian 1
- October 18, 1998
- Chicago, IL
- | WWF Judgment Day 1998: In Your House
- 36 days
36- days
33 
TAKA Michinoku 1
- December 7, 1997
- Springfield, MA
- | WWF D-Generation X: In Your House
- 315 days
Defeated Brian Christopher in a tournament final to win the title, a renewed version of the previous title held by UWA/MPW/NJPW.315- days
Vacant
- November 5, 1997
- 32 days
The J-Crown championships (with the except the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship) were vacated. Shinjiro Otani returned its component belts to their home promotions, including the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Otani was the final wrestler in NJPW to hold the title before it was returned to WWF.32- days
New Japan Pro Wrestling & Michinoku Pro Wrestling 32 
Shinjiro Otani 1
- August 10, 1997
- Nagoya, Japan
- | NJPW The Four Heaven in Nagoya Dome
- 87 days
87- days
31 
El Samurai 2
- July 6, 1997
- Sapporo, Japan
- | NJPW Summer Struggle 1997
- 35 days
35- days
30 
Jushin Thunder Liger 1
- January 4, 1997
- Tokyo, Japan
- | NJPW Wrestling World 1997
- 183 days
183- days
29 
Ultimate Dragon 1
- October 11, 1996
- Osaka, Japan | WAR Osaka Crush Night!
- 85 days
85- days
28 
The Great Sasuke 2
- August 4, 1996
- Tokyo, Japan
- | NJPW G1 Climax 1996 Finals
- 68 days
During this reign, the title becomes part of the NJPW's J-Crown (together with other 7 junior titles).68- days
27 
El Samurai 1
- June 22, 1996
- Naruko, Japan | MPW house show
- 43 days
43- days
26 The Great Sasuke 1
- March 24, 1996
- Shirakawa, Japan | MPW house show
- 90 days
90- days
25 Aero Flash 1
- June 16, 1995
- Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico | UWA house show
- 282 days
Defeated The King in a tournament final for the vacant title. The title passed to Michinoku Pro Wrestling.282- days
Universal Wrestling Association Vacant
- January 10, 1995
- 157 days
Villano III was forced to vacate the title by UWA after he signed a contract with the PROMELL promotion.157- days
24 Villano III 7
- July 18, 1994
- Puebla, Mexico | UWA house show
- 176 days
176- days
23 El Signo 1
- January 1, 1993
- Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico | UWA house show
- 563 days
563- days
22 Villano III 6
- September 13, 1992
- Naucalpan, Mexico | UWA house show
- 110 days
110- days
21 
Chris Benoit 1
- March 3, 1991
- Naucalpan, Mexico | UWA house show
- 560 days
560- days
20 Villano III 5
- May 27, 1990
- Naucalpan, Mexico | UWA house show
- 280 days
280- days
19 Sangre Chicana 2
- December 3, 1989
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 175 days
175- days
18 Perro Aguayo 7
- October 15, 1989
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 49 days
49- days
17 Sangre Chicana 1
- August 14, 1989
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 62 days
62- days
16 Villano III 4
- July 11, 1988
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 399 days
399- days
15 Rambo 1
- October 4, 1987
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 281 days
281- days
14 Villano III 3
- June 17, 1987
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 109 days
Defeated Perro Aguayo in a rematch for the vacant title.109- days
Vacant
- May 3, 1987
- 45 days
UWA forced Perro Aguayo to relinquish the title after a defense against Villano III ended in controversy.45- days
13 Perro Aguayo 6
- December 24, 1986
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 130 days
130- days
12 Fishman 2
- August 24, 1986
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 122 days
122- days
11 Villano III 2
- May 20, 1984
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 826 days
826- days
10 
Gran Hamada 2
- April 17, 1984
- Tokyo, Japan | UWF Opening Series
- 33 days
33- days
9 Perro Aguayo 5
- August 7, 1983
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 254 days
254- days
8 Villano III 1
- March 20, 1983
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 140 days
140- days
7 Perro Aguayo 4
- August 29, 1982
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 203 days
203- days
6 
Gran Hamada 1
- April 21, 1982
- Tokyo, Japan | NJPW house show
- 130 days
130- days
5 Perro Aguayo 3
- December 13, 1981
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 129 days
129- days
4 Chris Adams 1
- October 18, 1981
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
- 56 days
56- days
3 Perro Aguayo 2
- October 10, 1981
- Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Wrestling house show
- 8 days
8- days
2 Fishman 1
- September 25, 1981
- Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Wrestling house show
- 15 days
15- days
1 Perro Aguayo 1
- March 26, 1981
- Shimizu, Japan
- | NJPW WWF Big Fight Series I (1981)
- 183 days
Defeated Gran Hamada in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion.183- days
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship: Statistics
- Promotion World Wrestling Entertainment, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Universal Wrestling Association
- Gender Male
- Title Type Tertiary Title
- Date Established March 26, 1981
- Date Retired March 8, 2002
- Followed By
WWF Cruiserweight Championship - Notes
The title was created for the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) in a partnership between WWF and UWA. On June 16, 1995, the title moved to NJPW and MPW, but due to WWF's ownership of the title it was returned to WWF in 1997 (the year which WWE recognizes as the beginning of the championship's lineage).
The title was abandoned in 2001 when WWE finally put the WCW/ECW Alliance out of business. WWE then adopted the WCW Cruiserweight Championship as its version of the Cruiserweight Championship.
- Final ChampionX-Pac
Most Number of Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reigns |
|---|---|---|
| Dean Malenko | 2 | |
| X-Pac | 2 | |
| Gran Hamada | 2 | |
| The Great Sasuke | 2 | |
| El Samurai | 2 |
Most Combined Days
| Rank | Wrestler | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Benoit | 560 | |
| Duane Gill | 447 | |
| Dean Malenko | 360 | |
| TAKA Michinoku | 315 | |
| X-Pac | 243 |
Longest Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reign | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villano III | May 20, 1984 - August 24, 1986 | 826 | |
| El Signo | January 1, 1993 - July 18, 1994 | 563 | |
| Chris Benoit | March 3, 1991 - September 13, 1992 | 560 | |
| Duane Gill | November 23, 1998 - February 13, 2000 | 447 | |
| Villano III | July 11, 1988 - August 14, 1989 | 399 |
