m Reverted to revision 173904843 by 76.252.34.146; revert. using TW |
|||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
The Cruiserweight Championship is recognized as formerly being the '''World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Light Heavyweight Championship''' (although it was WWE who retconned it to be the forerunner of the Cruiserweight Title). Following the title's introduction in 1991, a tournament was held to determine the inaugural champion. On [[October 27]], [[Brian Pillman]] defeated [[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]] in the tournament final to win the title. However, it was vacated on [[September 2]] [[1992]] due to [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]]'s knee injury during his reign. Then, on [[March 20]] [[1996]] [[Shinjiro Ohtani]] defeated [[Chris Benoit]] in another tournament final to win the '''WCW Cruiserweight Championship'''. |
The Cruiserweight Championship is recognized as formerly being the '''World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Light Heavyweight Championship''' (although it was WWE who retconned it to be the forerunner of the Cruiserweight Title). Following the title's introduction in 1991, a tournament was held to determine the inaugural champion. On [[October 27]], [[Brian Pillman]] defeated [[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]] in the tournament final to win the title. However, it was vacated on [[September 2]] [[1992]] due to [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]]'s knee injury during his reign. Then, on [[March 20]] [[1996]] [[Shinjiro Ohtani]] defeated [[Chris Benoit]] in another tournament final to win the '''WCW Cruiserweight Championship'''. |
||
In March 2001, [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.]] purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following this, the "[[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|Invasion]]" [[angle (professional wrestling)|storyline]] was orchestrated, in which [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]] was ultimately dismantled. During the "Invasion", only four WCW championship titles remained active, including the WCW Cruiserweight title. On [[July 30]], the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and the [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] were defended in what was billed as a [[Championship unification|unification match]] when the WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, [[Sean Waltman|X-Pac]], defeated the WCW Cruiserweight Champion, [[Peter Gruner|Billy Kidman]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/350642|title=X-Pac's Reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-07-14}}</ref> However, the titles were still defended separately after that <ref>http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/357114</ref>. After the conclusion of the "Invasion" at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series 2001]], the WCW Cruiserweight Championship remained active and was renamed the '''World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Cruiserweight Championship''', while the Light Heavyweight Title was abandoned <ref>http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/</ref>. |
In March 2001, [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.]] purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following this, the "[[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|Invasion]]" [[angle (professional wrestling)|storyline]] was orchestrated, in which [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]] was ultimately dismantled. During the "Invasion", only four WCW championship titles remained active, including the WCW Cruiserweight title. On [[July 30]], the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and the [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] were defended in what was billed as a [[Championship unification|unification match]] when the WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, [[Sean Waltman|X-Pac]], defeated the WCW Cruiserweight Champion, [[Peter Gruner|Billy Kidman]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/350642|title=X-Pac's Reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-07-14}}</ref> However, the titles were still defended separately after that <ref>http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/357114</ref>. After the conclusion of the "Invasion" at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series 2001]], the WCW Cruiserweight Championship remained active and was renamed the '''World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Cruiserweight Championship''', while the Light Heavyweight Title was abandoned <ref>http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/</ref>. The Title Has Been Removed from WWE.COM Making Speculation That It Has Been Dropped.<ref>http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/<ref> |
||
==Current champion== |
==Current champion== |
||
Revision as of 03:18, 30 November 2007
 Matt Hardy as Cruiserweight Champion. | |
| Tournament information |
|---|
The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Cruiserweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment. It is challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs (100kg).[1] and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. Currently, it is exclusive to the SmackDown! brand.
History
The Cruiserweight Championship is recognized as formerly being the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Light Heavyweight Championship (although it was WWE who retconned it to be the forerunner of the Cruiserweight Title). Following the title's introduction in 1991, a tournament was held to determine the inaugural champion. On October 27, Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton in the tournament final to win the title. However, it was vacated on September 2 1992 due to Brad Armstrong's knee injury during his reign. Then, on March 20 1996 Shinjiro Ohtani defeated Chris Benoit in another tournament final to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.
In March 2001, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following this, the "Invasion" storyline was orchestrated, in which WCW was ultimately dismantled. During the "Invasion", only four WCW championship titles remained active, including the WCW Cruiserweight title. On July 30, the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship were defended in what was billed as a unification match when the WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, X-Pac, defeated the WCW Cruiserweight Champion, Billy Kidman.[1] However, the titles were still defended separately after that [2]. After the conclusion of the "Invasion" at Survivor Series 2001, the WCW Cruiserweight Championship remained active and was renamed the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Cruiserweight Championship, while the Light Heavyweight Title was abandoned [3]. The Title Has Been Removed from WWE.COM Making Speculation That It Has Been Dropped.<ref>http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/<ref>
Current champion
The title is currently vacant. Hornswoggle, the most recent champion, was stripped of the title on the September 28, 2007 edition of SmackDown! by the brand's acting General Manager Vickie Guerrero, citing that his status as Mr. McMahon's (kayfabe) son and his dimunitive stature would eventually jeopardize his well-being.
See also
- List of WWE Cruiserweight Champions
- List of WWE Cruiserweight Championship reigns by length
- WWF Light Heavyweight Championship