WWF Light Heavyweight / WWE Cruiserweight Title History
November 3, 1997: An 8-man tournament was devised to crown a WWF Light Heavyweight Champion. Prior to the finals, Taka Michinoku defeated Devon Storm and Aguila while Brian Christopher defeated Flash Flanagan and Scott Taylor.
Springfield, MA
Civic Center
December 7, 1997
– Taka Michinoku pinned Brian Christopher with the Michinoku Driver at 12:00 after Christopher failed an attempt at the Tennesse Jam
Chicago, IL
Rosemont Horizon
October 18, 1998
– Christian (w/ Gangrel) pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku (w/ Yamaguchi-san) to win the title at 8:34 by reversing the Michinoku Driver into a cradle; during the bout, Edge was seen watching on from the crowd (Christian’s TV debut)
Columbus, OH
November 17, 1998
Raw – 11/23/98:
– Duane Gill pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Christian to win the title at 2:25 after the JOB Squad interfered and Scorpio hit a splash onto Christian
1999: The title became inactive.
Austin, TX
February 8, 2000
Sunday Night Heat:
– Essa Rios (w/ Lita) pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Gillberg with a moonsault at the 46-second mark to win the title; prior to the bout, Gillberg cut a promo and issued an open challenge to prove that he wasn’t a closet champion; after the bout, Lita hit a moonsault of her own onto Gillberg, with Rios giving her a 3-count (Papi Chulo’s 1st appearance as Essa Rios) (Lita’s debut)
East Rutherford, NJ
Continental Airlines Arena
March 13, 2000
Raw:
– Dean Malenko (w/ Eddie Guerrero) pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Essa Rios (w/ Lita) to win the title at 4:15 by blocking a victory roll moments after Guerrero caught Lita coming off the apron with a hurricanrana and hit a powerbomb to the floor
State College, PA
Bryce Jordan Center
April 17, 2000
Raw:
– Scotty 2 Hotty pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko to win the title at 4:42 with a cradle immediately after Malenko hit a superplex on the challenger
Charlotte, NC
Coliseum
April 25, 2000
Smackdown!:
– Dean Malenko pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Scotty 2 Hotty to win the title at 3:51 by blocking a sunset flip into the ring and grabbing the ropes for leverage
Anaheim, CA
Arrowhead Pond
March 13, 2001
Sunday Night Heat:
– Crash Holly (w/ Molly Holly) pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko to win the title after Molly interfered
Chicago, IL
AllState Arena
April 29, 2001
Sunday Night Heat:
– Jerry Lynn pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Crash Holly to win the title at 3:34 with a reversal into a roll up and grabbing the tights for leverage; prior to the bout, Lynn cut an in-ring promo in which he aknowledged the chants of “Jerry” and said he challenged Holly to a title shot earlier in the night; there were loud chants of “ECW” during the contest (Lynn’s TV debut)
Grand Forks, SD
June 5, 2001
Smackdown!:
– Jeff Hardy (w/ Lita) pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lynn to win the title with the Swanton after knocking the champion off the top
New York City, NY
Madison Square Garden
June 25, 2001
Raw:
– X-Pac pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy to win the title at 3:11 with a backslide and putting his feet on the ropes for leverage after the champion failed a Swanton
July 30, 2001: X-Pac won the WCW Cruiserweight Title from Billy Kidman in Philadelphia in a title vs. title match.
Anaheim, CA
Arrowhead Pond
August 6, 2001
Raw:
– Tajiri pinned WWF Light Heavyweight & WCW Cruiserweight Champion X-Pac to win the Light Heavyweight Title at 3:07 with the kick to the head after spraying green mist in the champion’s eyes
San Jose, CA
Compaq Center
August 19, 2001
– WCW Cruiserweight Champion X-Pac pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Tajiri to win the title at 7:34 with a low blow and the X-Factor after Tajiri sprayed red mist into the eyes of Albert, who came ringside late in the contest and climbed on the ring apron; both titles were at stake in the match
October 9, 2001: Billy Kidman dethroned X-Pac of the WCW title in Moline, IL.
November 2001: X-Pac sustained an injury which put him out of action until April 2002. During his absence, the WWF Light Heavyweight Title was phased out in favor of the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, held by Tajiri. The WCW name was dropped from the title following Survivor Series 01 on November 18.
Rochester, NY
Blue Cross Arena
April 2, 2002
Smackdown!:
– Billy Kidman pinned WWF Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri to win the title with a roll up into a sunset flip as Tajiri became distracted, looking for the title belt he brought into the ring to use as a weapon
Kansas City, MO
Kemper Arena
April 21, 2002
– Tajiri (w/ Torrie Wilson) pinned WWF Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman to win the title at 9:08 when Tajiri sprayed Kidman in the face with red mist as Kidman attempted a powerbomb, with Tajiri falling on top for the win; after the bout, Michael Cole interviewed Tajiri at ringside with Tajiri speaking in Japanese until he dragged Torrie backstage
Montreal, Quebec
Bell Centre
May 14, 2002
Smackdown!:
– The Hurricane defeated Billy Kidman and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri to win the title at 2:21 by pinning Tajiri
Columbus, OH
Nationwide Arena
June 23, 2002
– Jamie Noble (w/ Nidia) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion the Hurricane to win the title at 11:59 with a powerbomb after causing the champion to crotch himself on the top and fall to the mat; Nidia shoved Hurricane’s foot off the bottom rope during the cover
New York City, NY
Madison Square Garden
November 17, 2002
– Billy Kidman pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble (w/ Nidia) with the Shooting Star Press at 7:29 to win the title after kicking Nidia off the apron and knocking Noble off the middle turnbuckle; after the bout, Kidman left through the crowd (the debut of Kidman’s “You Can Run” theme song)
Montreal, Quebec
Bell Centre
February 23, 2003
– Matt Hardy (w/ Shannon Moore) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman at 9:34 with a Twist of Fate off the top to win the title after Moore grabbed Kidman’s leg as he attempted the Shooting Star Press; late in the bout, Kidman kicked out of Hardy’s Twist of Fate
Anaheim, CA
Arrowhead Pond
June 3, 2003
Smackdown!:
– Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy at 13:58 to win the title by reversing the Twist of Fate into a double leg pickup and roll over; early in the match, Shannon Moore and Crash Holly were sent backstage by the referee but later returned behind the referee’s back, hit a double front suplex on the challenger, and returned backstage; after the bout, Mysterio brought his young son into the ring with him to celebrate; Mysterio’s family sat ringside for the event
Philadelphia, PA
Wachovia Center
September 23, 2003
Smackdown!:
– Tajiri pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. to win the title after spraying the champion in the face with red mist and following with a kick to the head
Laredo, TX
Entertainment Center
December 30, 2003
Smackdown!:
– Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri (w/ Akio & Sakoda) at 13:54 with a standing West Coast Pop to win the title after Tajiri accidentally sprayed Sakoda in the face and then the challenger knocked Akio off the apron with a handspring; after the bout, the Big Show interrupted an in-ring interview with Mysterio and later attacked him before Hardcore Holly made the save
San Francisco, CA
Cow Palace
February 15, 2004
– Chavo Guerrero Jr. (w/ Chavo Guerrero Sr.) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. (w/ Jorge Paez) with a roll up and using the tights to win the title at 17:20 after Chavo Sr. pushed the champion off the top, causing him to hit the top rope throat-first
Tucson, AZ
Convention Center
May 4, 2004
Smackdown!:
– Jackie pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. (w/ Chavo Guerrero Sr.) to win the title with a low blow and inside cradle at 2:18; prior to the bout, Jackie accepted the champion’s open challenge to wrestle a cruiserweight he had never faced before
Judgment Day 04
Los Angeles, CA
Staples Center
May 16, 2004
– Chavo Guerrero Jr. (w/ Chavo Guerrero Sr.) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jackie to win the title at 4:50 with a Gory Bomb after dropping Jackie throat-first across the top rope; the challenger wrestled with one arm tied behind his back, per pre-match stipulations, but Chavo Sr. untied the arm late in the contest behind the referee’s back, allowing Chavo Jr. to use his arm illegally as Chavo Sr. distracted referee Charles Robinson; after the bout, Chavo Jr. cut an in-ring promo saying his actions were the result of those who laughed at him for losing to a girl before he then kicked Jackie in the ribs
Las Vegas, NV
Thomas & Mack Center
May 18, 2004
Smackdown!:
– Chavo Guerrero Sr. defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Spike Dudley to win the title by falling on top of Chavo Jr. for the pin after running into Spike at 4:22
Chicago, IL
AllState Arena
June 15, 2004
Smackdown!:
– Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Sr. at 1:49 to win the title with the 619 and springboard legdrop (Chavo Sr.’s last match in the WWE)
Cincinnati, OH
US Bank Arena
July 27, 2004
Smackdown!:
– Spike Dudley pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. to win the title at 6:25 with the Dudley Dog after Bubba Ray Dudley tripped the champion as Rey prepared to hit the 619, while D-Von Dudley distracted the referee; after the bout, Spike apologized to Rey after realizing that the Dudley Boyz had interfered in the bout
Armageddon 04
Atlanta, GA
Gwynette Center
December 12, 2004
– Sho Funaki pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Spike Dudley to win the title at 9:31 with a roll over; after the bout, Funaki hugged the English and Spanish commentary teams
Pittsburgh, PA
Mellon Arena
February 20, 2005
– Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Sho Funaki, Spike Dudley, Paul London, Shannon Moore, and Akio in a gauntlet match to win the title at 9:43; London pinned Funaki at 1:37 after Spike hit a knee on Funaki from the outside; London pinned Spike at 1:59 after Funaki kicked Spike; London pinned Moore with the 450 splash at 3:27 after Moore missed a top rope move; Akio was eliminated at 7:01 when he failed to meet the referee’s standing 10-count after London hit a swinging neckbreaker as both men stood on the top rope; Guerrero pinned London with a roll over and grabbing the ropes for leverage
Houston, TX
Reliant Stadium
March 9, 2005
Smackdown!:
– Paul London defeated Billy Kidman, WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr., Akio, Spike Dudley, Scotty 2 Hotty, Sho Funaki, and Nunzio in a battle royal to win the title at 6:46; order of elimination: Chavo was eliminated by everyone else at the 9-second mark; Funaki by Nunzio when momentum sent Funaki over the top as he had a waistlock applied at 1:05; Nunzio by Kidman at 1:51; Spike by Scotty via a superkick after the Worm at 3:11; Scotty by Akio via a jumping kick off the middle turnbuckle as Scotty was on the ring apron at 4:09; Akio by Kidman when London sent Kidman into him with a dropkick as Akio was on the ring apron at 6:31; Kidman by London by pulling him out over the top by the head by his boots as London hung outside the ring by the top rope
Bridgeport, CT
Harbor Yard Arena
August 2, 2005
Velocity – 8/6/05:
– Nunzio (w/ Big Vito) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Paul London to win the title at 5:52 after hitting him with a weapon handed to Nunzio by Vito
No Mercy 05
Houston, TX
Toyota Center
October 9, 2005
– Juventud Guerrera (w/ Super Crazy & Psychosis) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Nunzio (w/ Vito) to win the title with the Juvi Driver at 6:50; after the bout, Hugo Savinovich interviewed the Mexicools in Spanish at ringside
Rome, Italy
PalaLottomatica
November 15, 2005
– Nunzio pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Juventud Guerrera to win the title with a backslide after avoiding the Juvi Driver
Sheffield, England
Hallam FM Arena
November 22, 2005
Smackdown!:
– Juventud Guerrera (w/ Super Crazy & Psychosis) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Nunzio (w/ Vito) to win the title at 3:27 with the Juvi Driver; prior to the bout, Carlito Caribbean Cool and Chris Masters appeared in the crowd and sat ringside; after the bout, Juvi held up a “Latino Heat Lives Forever” fan sign
Providence, RI
Dunkin Donuts Center
December 18, 2005
– Kid Kash pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Juventud Guerrera to win the title at 9:26 with a brainbuster after avoiding a somersault legdrop off the top
Miami, FL
American Airlines Arena
January 29, 2006
– Gregory Helms defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash, Sho Funaki, Jamie Noble, Paul London, and Nunzio to win the title at 7:42 after throwing Noble to the floor as Noble applied the dragon sleeper on Funaki and then hitting the Shining Wizard on Funaki for the win; the bout was open to any former cruiserweight champion
No Way Out 07
Los Angeles, CA
Staples Center
February 18, 2007
– Chavo Guerrero Jr. won a 9-man gauntlet match to win the WWE Cruiserweight title at 15:49; Scotty 2 Hotty pinned Daivari with the Worm at 1:40; WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms pinned Scotty with a falling knee to the head at 3:43; Helms pinned Sho Funaki at 4:11 by grabbing the tights for leverage when the momentum of a crossbody off the top by Funaki put Helms on top for the win; Helms pinned Shannon Moore with a falling knee to the head at 6:11; Jimmy Wang Yang pinned Helms at 8:01 with a hurricanrana into a roll up; Yang pinned Jamie Noble at 11:46 with a standing moonsault; after the fall, Yang was announced as the winner and new champion until Guerrero’s music played; Guerrero pinned Yang with a frog splash to the back after avoiding a top rope move by Yang
Great American Bash 07
San Jose, CA
HP Pavilion Arena
July 22, 2007
– Hornswoggle defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr., Jamie Noble, Shannon Moore, Sho Funaki, and Jimmy Wang Yang to win the title at 6:59 by pinning Noble with a Tadpole Splash after Noble was the bottom pole of a triple suplex off the top, also involving Guerrero and Yang; Hornswoggle was awarded the title because he ran through the ring as the bell rang to begin the bout, thus he was ruled a legal participant in the match