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, 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 WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was retired on March 8, 2002.
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 NJPWMICHINOKUJune 16, 1995 November 5, 1997 Promotion UWAMarch 26, 1981 June 15, 1995 - Defended With
WWF
NJPW
MICHINOKU
UWA- 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 Deactivated
- March 8, 2002
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
44 
Tajiri 1
- August 6, 2001
- Anaheim, CA
- | Raw Is War
13- days
43 X-Pac 1
- June 25, 2001
- New York City, NY
- | Raw Is War
42- days
42 Jeff Hardy 1
- June 7, 2001
- Grand Forks, ND
- | SmackDown!
18- days
41 Jerry Lynn 1
- April 29, 2001
- Chicago, IL
- | Heat
39- days
40 Crash Holly 1
- March 18, 2001
- Anaheim, CA
- | Heat
42- days
39 Dean Malenko 2
- April 27, 2000
- Charlotte, NC
- | SmackDown!
325- days
38 Scotty 2 Hotty 1
- April 17, 2000
- State College, PA
- | Raw Is War
10- days
37 Dean Malenko 1
- March 13, 2000
- East Rutherford, NJ
- | Raw Is War
35- days
36 Essa Ríos 1
- February 13, 2000
- Austin, TX
- | Heat
29- days
35 Gillberg 1
- November 23, 1998
- Columbus, OH
- | Raw Is War
447- days
34 Christian 1
- October 18, 1998
- Chicago, IL
- | WWF Judgment Day 1998: In Your House
36- days
33 TAKA Michinoku 1
- December 7, 1997
- Springfield, MA
- | WWF D-Generation X: In Your House
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
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
32 Shinjiro Otani 1
- August 10, 1997
- Nagoya, Japan
- | NJPW The Four Heaven in Nagoya Dome
87- days
31 El Samurai 2
- July 6, 1997
- Sapporo, Japan
- | NJPW Summer Struggle 1997
35- days
30 Jushin Thunder Liger 1
- January 4, 1997
- Tokyo, Japan
- | NJPW Wrestling World 1997
183- days
29 Ultimate Dragon 1
- October 11, 1996
- Osaka, Japan | WAR Osaka Crush Night!
85- days
28 The Great Sasuke 2
- August 4, 1996
- Tokyo, Japan
- | NJPW G1 Climax 1996 Finals
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
26 The Great Sasuke 1
- March 24, 1996
- Shirakawa, Japan | MPW house show
90- days
25 Aero Flash 1
- June 16, 1995
- Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico | UWA house show
Defeated The King in a tournament final for the vacant title. The title passed to Michinoku Pro Wrestling.282- days
Vacant
- January 10, 1995
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
23 El Signo 1
- January 1, 1993
- Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico | UWA house show
563- days
22 Villano III 6
- September 13, 1992
- Naucalpan, Mexico | UWA house show
110- days
21 Chris Benoit 1
- March 3, 1991
- Naucalpan, Mexico | UWA house show
560- days
20 Villano III 5
- May 27, 1990
- Naucalpan, Mexico | UWA house show
280- days
19 Sangre Chicana 2
- December 3, 1989
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
175- days
18 Perro Aguayo 7
- October 15, 1989
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
49- days
17 Sangre Chicana 1
- August 14, 1989
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
62- days
16 Villano III 4
- July 11, 1988
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
399- days
15 Rambo 1
- October 4, 1987
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
281- days
14 Villano III 3
- June 17, 1987
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
Defeated Perro Aguayo in a rematch for the vacant title.109- days
Vacant
- May 3, 1987
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
12 Fishman 2
- August 24, 1986
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
122- days
11 Villano III 2
- May 20, 1984
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
826- days
10 Gran Hamada 2
- April 17, 1984
- Tokyo, Japan | UWF Opening Series
33- days
9 Perro Aguayo 5
- August 7, 1983
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
254- days
8 Villano III 1
- March 20, 1983
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
140- days
7 Perro Aguayo 4
- August 29, 1982
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
203- days
6 Gran Hamada 1
- April 21, 1982
- Tokyo, Japan | NJPW house show
130- days
5 Perro Aguayo 3
- December 13, 1981
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
129- days
4 Chris Adams 1
- October 18, 1981
- Mexico City, Mexico | UWA house show
56- days
3 Perro Aguayo 2
- October 10, 1981
- Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Wrestling house show
8- days
2 Fishman 1
- September 25, 1981
- Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Wrestling house show
15- days
1 Perro Aguayo 1
- March 26, 1981
- Shimizu, Japan
- | NJPW WWF Big Fight Series I (1981)
Defeated Gran Hamada in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion.183- days
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship: Info
- Promotion World Wrestling EntertainmentNew Japan Pro WrestlingMichinoku Pro WrestlingUniversal Wrestling Association
- Gender Male
- Title Type 3 - 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).
WWF Cruiserweight Championship