After WCW was purchased by WWE, the inaugural champion was retroactively changed from Shinjiro Otani to Brian Pillman, as WWE recognizes the former WCW Light Heavyweight Championship as part of the original lineage of the Cruiserweight Championship.
Reigns
Names
Name
Years
WCW Cruiserweight Championship
March 20, 1996 – November 18, 2001
WWF Cruiserweight Championship
November 18, 2001 – May 6, 2002
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
May 6, 2002 – September 25, 2007
Reigns
Key
No.
Overall reign number
Reign
Reign number for the specific champion
Days
Number of days held
Days recog.
Number of days held recognized by the promotion
†
Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion
Jericho defeated Dean Malenko by disqualification.[17] 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. WWE recognizes Jericho's reign as lasting 56 days.
The championship was 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.[24]
WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation later that month. WWE recognizes Helms' reign as ending on July 5, 2001, when the episode aired on tape delay.
Formerly known as Syxx. X-Pac's WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was also on the line. WWE recognizes X-Pac's reign as ending on October 11, 2001, when the episode aired on tape delay.
Formerly known as Shane Helms. This was a triple threat match, also involving Billy Kidman. WWE recognizes his reign as beginning on May 16, 2002, when the episode aired on tape delay.
Jacqueline answered an open challenge; became the third female to win the title. WWE recognizes her reign as beginning on May 6, 2004, when the episode aired on tape delay.
This was an eight-man battle royal, last eliminating Billy Kidman. Aired on March 31 on tape delay. WWE recognizes London's reign as beginning on October 11, 2001, when the episode aired on tape delay.
The championship was vacated on the September 25, 2007 edition of SmackDown! (aired September 28 on tape delay) by acting General Manager Vickie Guerrero, citing that Hornswoggle's status as Mr. McMahon's son and his diminutive stature would eventually jeopardize his well-being. The title was then retired without an official announcement. A new WWE Cruiserweight Championship was introduced in September 2016, but despite originally sharing a name with this title, it did not share its lineage.
^"NJPW results, 1996". Strong Style Spirit. Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2007-04-10. WCW Cruiserweight Title: Shinjiro Otani beat Wild Pegasus (18:09) with a swan dive DDT.
^"Halloween Havoc 1996 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Dean Malenko pinned Rey Misterio Jr. (18:32) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.
^"Starrcade 1996 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. J Crown Champ Ultimate Dragon pinned Dean Malenko (18:30) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.
^"SuperBrawl VII results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. February 23, 1997 in San Francisco, (sic) CA... Syxx pinned Dean Malenko (11:57) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.
^ abc"WCW Monday Nitro results, 1997". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Alex Wright defeated Chris Jericho to win the World Cruiserweight Title... Eddy Guerrero pinned Rey Misterio Jr. to win the World Cruiserweight Title... Ultimo Dragon defeated Eddy Guerrero to win the World Cruiserweight Title
^"Halloween Havoc 1997 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Eddie Guerrero (13:51) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title in a "mask vs. title" match.
^ ab"WCW Thunder results, 1998". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Juventud Guerrera b Ultimo Dragon to win the Cruiserweight title... Rey Mysterio Jr. b Juventud Guerrera to win the World Cruiserweight Title
^"Road Wild 1998 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Juventud Guerrera pinned Chris Jericho (16:24) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title. Dean Malenko was the guest referee.
^ ab"WCW Monday Nitro results, 1998". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Billy Kidman pinned Juventud Guerrera to win the World Cruiserweight Title... Juventud Guerrera pinned Billy Kidman to win the World Cruiserweight Title
^"World War 3 1998 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Billy Kidman pinned Juventud Guerrera (15:27) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.
^ abcde"WCW Monday Nitro results, 1999". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Billy Kidman to win the World Cruiserweight Title... Psichosis defeated Juventud Guerrera, Blitzkrieg, and Rey Misterio Jr. in a four way match to win the World Cruiserweight Title... Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Psichosis to win the World Cruiserweight Title... Disco Inferno pinned Psichosis to win the World Cruiserweight Title
^"WCW Thunder results, 1999". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Lenny Lane pinned Rey Misterio Jr. to win the World Cruiserweight Title
^"Mayhem 1999 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Evan Koragis pinned Disco Inferno (8:00) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.
^"Souled Out 2000 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. Oklahoma pinned Madusa (2:56) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.
^Pro Wrestling Illustrated (2002). PWI 2002 Wrestling Almanac and Book of Facts. Ambler, PA: London Publishing. p. 123. ISSN1043-7576. This was the final match of a tournament held to fill a vacancy created when Oklahoma gave up the title.
^"SuperBrawl 2000 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-10. The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea pinned Lash LeRoux (5:47) to win the vacant WCW Cruiserweight Title.
^ abcd"WCW Monday Nitro results, 2000". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-11. Daphne and Crowbar defeated Chris Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch... Cruiserweight Champion, Daphne, pinned Crowbar
^Pro Wrestling Illustrated (2002). PWI 2002 Wrestling Almanac and Book of Facts. Ambler, PA: London Publishing. p. 123. ISSN1043-7576. Storm awarded the title to Skipper.
^"WCW Greed results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2007-04-11. Shane Helms pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr. (13:57) to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title.