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{{distinguish|WCW Cruiserweight Championship}}
{{distinguish|WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1996-2007)}}
{{short description|Former championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion World Championship Wrestling}}
{{Short description|Former professional wrestling title}}
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
|championshipname = WCW Light Heavyweight Championship
|championshipname = WCW Light Heavyweight Championship
Line 16: Line 16:
|pastlookimages =
|pastlookimages =
}}
}}
The '''WCW Light Heavyweight Championship''' is a defunct [[Professional wrestling championship#Weight class championships|professional wrestling championship]] that was contested in [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) between 1991 and 1992. Conceived in 1991, the championship was first awarded as the result of a single-elimination tournament; its subsequent lineage would end when the final champion [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]] was stripped of the title due to injury. A second tournament to decide Armstrong's successor was announced, but never took place. During this time, the title was held by four different champions, with the inaugural champion [[Brian Pillman]] being the only wrestler to win it on more than one occasion.
The '''WCW Light Heavyweight Championship''' was a [[Professional wrestling championship#Weight class championships|professional wrestling championship]] that was contested in [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) between 1991 and 1992. Conceived in 1991, the championship was first awarded as the result of a single-elimination tournament; its subsequent lineage ended when the final champion [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]] was stripped of the title due to injury. A second tournament to decide Armstrong's successor was announced, but never took place. The title was held by four different champions; the inaugural champion [[Brian Pillman]] was the only wrestler to win it on more than one occasion.


== History ==
The light heavyweight division which contested the championship had proved popular with fans, but its viability suffered as a result of WCW's creative decisions; in 1992, [[Bill Watts]] became the head [[Booking (professional wrestling)|booker]], and implemented storyline changes in WCW's product which stymied the division's style. WCW would later introduce another, similar title in the [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]]; the two titles are now considered one and the same by the wrestling promotion [[WWE]], which purchased WCW's assets in 2001.
The light heavyweight division which contested the championship had proved popular with fans, but its viability suffered as a result of WCW's creative decisions; in 1992, [[Bill Watts]] became the head [[Booking (professional wrestling)|booker]], and implemented storyline changes in WCW's product which stymied the division's style. WCW would later introduce a similar title as the [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]]; the two titles are now considered to share the same lineage by the wrestling promotion [[WWE]], which purchased WCW's assets in 2001.


== Overview ==
=== Overview ===
=== Creation ===
==== Creation ====
The WCW Light Heavyweight Championship was created in 1991, with the inaugural champion decided though a single-elimination tournament held over several weeks. Seven wrestlers were used for the tournament—three quarter final matches, with the seventh competitor entering at the semi final stages. The first two quarter finals were broadcast on ''[[WCW WorldWide|WorldWide]]'' in August 1991, and saw [[The York Foundation]]'s [[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]] defeat Johnny Rich, and [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Badstreet]] defeat [[Joey Maggs]]. The next month, WCW's ''[[WCW Main Event|Main Event]]'' featured the last quarter final, in which [[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]] triumphed over another York Foundation member in [[Terry Taylor|Terrance Taylor]].<ref name="history tournament">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcwlight91tourney.htm|title=WCW Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament – 1991|publisher=The History of WWE|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref>
The WCW Light Heavyweight Championship was created in 1991, with the inaugural champion decided though a single-elimination tournament held over several weeks. Seven wrestlers were used for the tournament—three quarter final matches, one of whom entered at the semi-final stages. The first two quarter finals were broadcast on ''[[WCW WorldWide|WorldWide]]'' in August 1991, and saw [[The York Foundation]]'s [[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]] defeat [[Johnny Rich]], and [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Badstreet]] defeat [[Joey Maggs]]. The next month, WCW's ''[[WCW Main Event|Main Event]]'' featured the last quarter final, in which [[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]] triumphed over another York Foundation member in [[Terry Taylor|Terrance Taylor]].<ref name="history tournament">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcwlight91tourney.htm|title=WCW Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament – 1991|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>


Both of the semi final matches were held at September's ''[[Clash of the Champions XVI]]'' event in [[Augusta, Georgia]]; Morton defeated Graham in a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] finish which depicted him using several illegal advantages to win. In the other leg of the tournament, Badstreet was defeated by the newly-entering [[Brian Pillman]] with a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#diving crossbody|body press]] from the top rope.<ref name="history tournament"/> Morton and Pillman contested the final round at the [[Halloween Havoc (1991)|1991 Halloween Havoc]] event, held in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]; Pillman won the match and championship with another top rope body press.{{sfn|Lentz|2003|p=271}}<ref name="torch hh91">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_22262.shtml|title=Strap On, Strap Off – This Week in History, Halloween Havoc Remembered (Part II)|date=October 28, 2003|accessdate=February 17, 2016|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch]]|first=Keith|last=Lipinski}}</ref>
Both of the semi-final matches were held at September's ''[[Clash of the Champions XVI]]'' event in [[Augusta, Georgia]]; Morton defeated Graham in a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] finish which depicted him using several illegal advantages to win. In the other leg of the tournament, Badstreet was defeated by the newly-entering [[Brian Pillman]] with a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving crossbody|body press]] from the top rope.<ref name="history tournament"/> Morton and Pillman contested the final round at the [[Halloween Havoc (1991)|1991 Halloween Havoc]] event, held in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]; Pillman won the match and championship with another top rope body press.{{sfn|Lentz|2003|p=271}}<ref name="torch hh91">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_22262.shtml|title=Strap On, Strap Off – This Week in History, Halloween Havoc Remembered (Part II)|date=October 28, 2003|access-date=February 17, 2016|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch]]|first=Keith|last=Lipinski}}</ref>


=== Inaugural championship tournament ===
{{Round8
{{Round8
<!-- Quarter finals. -->
<!-- Quarter finals. -->
|''[[WCW WorldWide|WorldWide]]''|'''[[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]]'''||Johnny Rich|
|''[[WCW WorldWide|WorldWide]]''|'''[[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]]'''||Johnny Rich|
|''[[WCW Main Event|Main Event]]|[[Terry Taylor|Terrence Taylor]]||'''[[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]]'''|
|''[[WCW Main Event|Main Event]]''|[[Terry Taylor|Terrence Taylor]]||'''[[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]]'''|
|||||
|||||
|''WorldWide''|'''[[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Badstreet]]'''||[[Joey Maggs]]|
|''WorldWide''|'''[[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Badstreet]]'''||[[Joey Maggs]]|
<!-- Semi finals. -->
<!-- Semi finals. -->
|''[[Clash of the Champions XVI]]''|'''Richard Morton'''|Pin|Mike Graham|7:40
|''[[Clash of the Champions XVI]]''|'''Richard Morton'''|[[Pin (professional wrestling)|Pin]]|Mike Graham|7:40
||Badstreet|Pin|'''[[Brian Pillman]]'''|6:52
||Badstreet|[[Pin (professional wrestling)|Pin]]|'''[[Brian Pillman]]'''|6:52
<!-- Final. -->
<!-- Final. -->
|[[Halloween Havoc (1991)|Halloween Havoc]]|Richard Morton|Pin|'''Brian Pillman'''|12:43
|[[Halloween Havoc (1991)|Halloween Havoc]]|Richard Morton|[[Pin (professional wrestling)|Pin]]|'''Brian Pillman'''|12:43
|RD1=Quarter finals
|RD1=Quarter finals
|RD2=Semi finals
|RD2=Semi finals
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=== Defending the title ===
=== Defending the title ===
[[File:Jushin Thunder Liger.JPG|upright|thumb|Former WCW Light Heavyweight Champion [[Jushin Thunder Liger]], pictured in 2015|alt=A man in a red and white bodysuit with an elaborate horned mask looks off to one side]]
[[File:Jushin Thunder Liger.JPG|upright|thumb|Former WCW Light Heavyweight Champion [[Jushin Thunder Liger]], pictured in 2015|alt=A man in a red and white bodysuit with an elaborate horned mask looks off to one side]]
Pillman's reign as champion continued until December 1991, when he began to feud with masked Japanese wrestler [[Jushin Thunder Liger]]. Liger defeated Pillman for the championship at a [[house show]] held in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]] on December 25, 1991.<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="liger oww">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/jushin-liger/|title=Jushin Liger|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref> Pillman reclaimed the title in a rematch at the [[SuperBrawl II]] pay-per-view event on February 29 the following year in [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], becoming the only wrestler to hold the championship more than once.<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="liger oww"/>
Pillman's reign as champion continued until December 1991, when he began to feud with masked Japanese wrestler [[Jushin Thunder Liger]], who defeated Pillman for the championship at a [[house show]] held in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]] on December 25, 1991.<ref name="lt hv hist"/> Pillman reclaimed the title in a rematch at the [[SuperBrawl II]] pay-per-view event on February 29 the following year in [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], becoming the only wrestler to hold the championship more than once.<ref name="lt hv hist"/>


Pillman successfully defended the championship against [[Tom Zenk]] at the May 17 [[WrestleWar (1992)|WrestleWar]] event in [[Jacksonville, Florida]],<ref name="wcw92">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw92.htm|title=WCW – 1992|publisher=The History of WWE|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref> before being defeated by [[Raven (wrestler)|Scotty Flamingo]] in [[Mobile, Alabama]], during the June 20 [[Beach Blast (1992)|Beach Blast]] pay-per-view. Flamingo's brief reign was ended by Brad Armstrong during a house show; the match was filmed out-of-sequence with several other televised championship matches, which meant Flamingo would tape a defense against Scott Sandlin despite having already lost the championship, while Armstrong recorded a match against [[Tracy Smothers]] that would air as a title defense despite being shot before his win was officially acknowledged.<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="wcw92"/> Armstrong's reign saw the return of Liger as a challenger; they fought on several occasions, either with Armstrong winning or the match ending in a draw. Armstrong's last successful defense of the Light Heavyweight Championship was against Flamingo on August 14 in [[Fort Myers, Florida]].<ref name="wcw92"/>
Pillman successfully defended the championship against [[Tom Zenk]] at the May 17 [[WrestleWar (1992)|WrestleWar]] event in [[Jacksonville, Florida]],<ref name="wcw92">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw92.htm|title=WCW – 1992|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref> before being defeated by [[Raven (wrestler)|Scotty Flamingo]] in [[Mobile, Alabama]], during the June 20 [[Beach Blast (1992)|Beach Blast]] pay-per-view. Flamingo's brief reign was ended by Brad Armstrong during a house show; the match was filmed out-of-sequence with several other televised championship matches, which meant Flamingo would tape a defense against Scott Sandlin despite having already lost the championship, while Armstrong recorded a match against [[Tracy Smothers]] that would air as a title defense despite being shot before his win was officially acknowledged.<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="wcw92"/> Armstrong's reign saw the return of Liger as a challenger; they fought on several occasions, either with Armstrong winning or the match ending in a draw. Armstrong's last successful defense of the Light Heavyweight Championship was against Flamingo on August 14 in [[Fort Myers, Florida]].<ref name="wcw92"/>


=== Vacancy and legacy ===
=== Vacancy and legacy ===
As the September 1992 ''[[Clash of the Champions XX]]'' approached, Armstrong suffered a knee injury and was unable to participate in a planned title match against Pillman at the event. Armstrong was formally stripped of the belt at Clash of the Champions, depicted as the result of him not defending it for thirty days, and another tournament to appoint a new champion was announced. However, [[Bill Watts]] had taken over the role of head [[Booking (professional wrestling)|booker]] for WCW and began to implement several changes in the work being produced. Among Watts' edicts was a new rule that would depict any maneuver performed from the top rope of the ring as illegal and resulting in disqualification; this effectively ended the viability of the light heavyweight style, even though the matches involved in the championship picture had been considered "outstanding" by the fans. As a result, the planned tournament was never held and the light heavyweight division was ignored for the remainder of Watts' tenure.<ref name="torch vac">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_23734.shtml|title=WCW Clash of the Champions (15 Yrs. Ago): Steamboat & Douglas vs. Windham & Rhodes|first=Brian|last=Hoops|date=November 27, 2007|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch]]|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref>{{sfn|Klein|2012|p=129}}
As the September 1992 ''[[Clash of the Champions XX]]'' approached, Armstrong suffered a knee injury in a match with [[Keiji Mutoh|The Great Muta]] during a tour with [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]], and was unable to participate in a planned title match against Pillman at the event. Armstrong was formally stripped of the belt at Clash of the Champions, depicted as the result of him not defending it for thirty days, and another tournament to appoint a new champion was announced. However, [[Bill Watts]] had taken over the role of head [[Booking (professional wrestling)|booker]] for WCW and began to implement several changes in the work being produced. Among Watts' edicts was a new rule that would depict any maneuver performed from the top rope of the ring as illegal and resulting in disqualification; this effectively ended the viability of the light heavyweight style, which relied extensively on such moves, even though the matches involved in the championship picture had been considered "outstanding" by the fans. As a result, the planned tournament was never held and the light heavyweight division was ignored for the remainder of Watts' tenure.<ref name="torch vac">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_23734.shtml|title=WCW Clash of the Champions (15 Yrs. Ago): Steamboat & Douglas vs. Windham & Rhodes|first=Brian|last=Hoops|date=November 27, 2007|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch]]|access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>{{sfn|Klein|2012|p=129}}


In 1996, WCW once again held a tournament to crown a champion for the weight class, this time under the title [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]]. The first champion under this new lineage was [[Shinjiro Otani]], who defeated [[Chris Benoit]] in the tournament final. After the acquisition of WCW's assets by rival company [[WWE]], both title lineages were considered to be related, and WWE refers to the holders of the Light Heavyweight Championship as former Cruiserweight Champions.<ref name="armstrong"/><ref name="otani">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349662|title=Cruiserweight Championship – Shinjiro Otani|publisher=[[WWE]]|accessdate=February 17, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917001817/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349662|archivedate=September 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser|title=Cruiserweight Championship|publisher=[[WWE]]|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref>
In 1996, WCW once again held a tournament to crown a champion for the weight class, this time under the title [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]]. The first champion under this new lineage was [[Shinjiro Otani]], who defeated [[Chris Benoit]] in the tournament final. After the acquisition of WCW's assets by rival company [[WWE]], both title lineages were considered to be related, and WWE refers to the holders of the Light Heavyweight Championship as former Cruiserweight Champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser|title=Cruiserweight Championship|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>


==Title history==
==Reigns==
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=no|unrecognized=yes=yes}}
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=no|unrecognized=yes=yes}}
{{Professional wrestling title history middle
{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 1
|number = 1
|champion = {{sortname|Brian|Pillman}}
|champion = {{sortname|Brian|Pillman}}
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = October 27, 1991
|date = {{dts|October 27, 1991}}
|days = {{age in days nts|October 27, 1991|December 25, 1991}}
|days = 59
|location =Chattanooga, Tennessee
|location = [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga, TN]]
|event = [[Halloween Havoc (1991)|Halloween Havoc 1991]]
|event = [[Halloween Havoc (1991)|Halloween Havoc]]
|notes =Defeated [[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]] in the finals of a tournament to decide the inaugural champion.
|notes = Pillman defeated [[Ricky Morton|Richard Morton]] in the finals of a tournament to decide the inaugural champion.
|ref =<ref name="lt hv hist">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-lh.html|title=WCW World Light Heavyweight Title|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com|accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name="pillman1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349554|title=Cruiserweight Championship – Brian Pillman|accessdate=February 17, 2016|publisher=[[WWE]]|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909100346/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349554|archivedate=September 9, 2015}}</ref>
|ref = <ref name="torch hh91" /><ref name="lt hv hist">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-lh.html|title=WCW World Light Heavyweight Title|publisher=Wrestling-Titles.com|access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name=BR>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/971834-abandoned-the-history-of-the-wwe-cruiserweight-championship|title=Abandoned: The History of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|first=Kyle|last=Schadler|date=December 7, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 2
|number = 2
|champion = {{sortname|Jushin Thunder|Liger}}
|champion = {{sortname|Jushin Thunder|Liger}}
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = December 25, 1991
|date = {{dts|December 25, 1991}}
|days = {{age in days nts|December 25, 1991|February 29, 1992}}
|days = 66
|location =Atlanta, Georgia
|location = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]]
|event = [[House show]]
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="liger">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349574|title=Cruiserweight Championship – Jushin Liger|accessdate=February 17, 2016|publisher=[[WWE]]|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909090514/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349574|archivedate=September 9, 2015}}</ref>
|ref = <ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name=BR /><ref name="liger">{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/286952-the-best-international-star-jushin-thunder-liger|access-date=June 24, 2020|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|first=Chris|last=Mueller|date=November 9, 2009|title=The Best International Star: Jushin "Thunder" Liger}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 3
|number = 3
|champion = {{sortname|Brian|Pillman}}
|champion = {{sortname|Brian|Pillman}}
|reign = 2
|reign = 2
|date = February 29, 1992
|date = {{dts|February 29, 1992}}
|days = {{age in days nts|February 29, 1992|June 20, 1992}}
|days = 113
|location =Milwaukee, Wisconsin
|location = [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin|WI]]
|event = [[SuperBrawl II]]
|event = [[SuperBrawl II]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref = <ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name=BR />
|ref =<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="pillman2">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349598|title=Cruiserweight Championship – Brian Pillman (2)|accessdate=February 17, 2016|publisher=[[WWE]]|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909101429/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349598|archivedate=September 9, 2015}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 4
|number = 4
|champion = {{sortname|Scotty|Flamingo|Raven (wrestler)}}
|champion = {{sortname|Scotty|Flamingo|Raven (wrestler)}}
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = June 20, 1992
|date = {{dts|June 20, 1992}}
|days = {{age in days nts|June 20, 1992|July 5, 1992}}
|days = 15
|location =Mobile, Alabama
|location = [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile, AL]]
|event = [[Beach Blast (1992)|Beach Blast 1992]]
|event = [[Beach Blast (1992)|Beach Blast]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref = <ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name=BR />
|ref =<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="flamingo">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349614|title=Cruiserweight Championship – Scotty Flamingo|accessdate=February 17, 2016|publisher=[[WWE]] |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917002401/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349614|archivedate=September 17, 2015}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 5
|number = 5
|champion = {{sortname|Brad|Armstrong|Brad Armstrong (wrestler)}}
|champion = {{sortname|Brad|Armstrong|dab=wrestler}}
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = July 5, 1992
|date = {{dts|July 5, 1992}}
|days = {{age in days nts|July 5, 1992|September 2, 1992}}
|days = 59
|location =Atlanta, Georgia
|location = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]]
|event = [[House show]]
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref = <ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name=BR />{{sfn|Lentz|2003|p=18}}
|ref =<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="armstrong">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349634|title=Cruiserweight Championship – Brad Armstrong|accessdate=February 17, 2016|publisher=[[WWE]]|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909091016/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/cruiser/349634|archivedate=September 9, 2015}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|sort number = 5.5
|sort number = 5.5
|type=deactivated
|type = deactivated
|date = September 2, 1992
|date = {{dts|September 2, 1992}}
|location =[[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]]
|location = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]]
|event = ''[[Clash of the Champions XX: 20th Anniversary]]''
|event = ''[[Clash of the Champions XX: 20th Anniversary]]''
|notes =Title vacated due to Armstrong's injury; a tournament to crown a new champion was announced, but never held.
|notes = The championship was vacated due to [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]]'s injury; a tournament to crown a new champion was announced, but never held.
|ref =<ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name="armstrong"/>
|ref = <ref name="lt hv hist"/><ref name=BR />
}}
}}
{{BundleEnd}}
{{BundleEnd}}


== List of combined reigns ==
== Combined reigns ==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Rank
|+List of combined reigns
!Wrestler
!scope=col|Rank
!No. of<br />reigns
!scope=col|Champion
!scope=col|No. of<br />reigns
!Combined<br />days
!scope=col|Combined<br />days
|-
|-
!1
!1
|{{sortname|Brian|Pillman}} || 2 || 172
|{{sortname|Brian|Pillman}} || 2 || 171
|-
|-
!2
!2
Line 141: Line 142:
==See also==
==See also==
*[[NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship]], predecessor in [[Jim Crockett Promotions]]
*[[NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship]], predecessor in [[Jim Crockett Promotions]]
*[[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]]
*[[NXT Cruiserweight Championship]]


== Footnotes ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
⚫
* {{cite book|title=The King of New Orleans: How the Junkyard Dog Became Professional Wrestling's First Black Superhero|first=Greg|last=Klein|year=2012|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1770902244}}
⚫
* {{cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling|first=Harris M.|last=Lentz|year=2003|publisher=McFarland|edition=2nd|isbn=147660505X}}


==External links==
=== References ===
*[https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=743 WCW Light Heavyweight Championship]
⚫
* {{cite book|title=The King of New Orleans: How the Junkyard Dog Became Professional Wrestling's First Black Superhero|first=Greg|last=Klein|year=2012|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1770902244|ref=harv}}
⚫
* {{cite book|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling|first=Harris M.|last=Lentz|year=2003|publisher=McFarland|edition=2nd|isbn=147660505X|ref=harv}}

{{WCW Light Heavyweight Championship}}
{{WCW Light Heavyweight Championship}}
{{WCW Championships}}
{{WCW Championships}}
{{featured list}}

[[Category:World Championship Wrestling championships]]
[[Category:World Championship Wrestling championships]]
[[Category:Light heavyweight wrestling championships]]
[[Category:Light heavyweight wrestling championships]]

Latest revision as of 17:31, 17 August 2024

Not to be confused with WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1996-2007).
WCW Light Heavyweight Championship
The championship belt
Details
PromotionWorld Championship Wrestling
Date establishedOctober 27, 1991
Date retiredSeptember 2, 1992
Statistics
First champion(s)Brian Pillman
Final champion(s)Brad Armstrong
Most reignsBrian Pillman (2)
Longest reignBrian Pillman (112 days)
Shortest reignScotty Flamingo (15 days)

The WCW Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that was contested in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) between 1991 and 1992. Conceived in 1991, the championship was first awarded as the result of a single-elimination tournament; its subsequent lineage ended when the final champion Brad Armstrong was stripped of the title due to injury. A second tournament to decide Armstrong's successor was announced, but never took place. The title was held by four different champions; the inaugural champion Brian Pillman was the only wrestler to win it on more than one occasion.

History

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The light heavyweight division which contested the championship had proved popular with fans, but its viability suffered as a result of WCW's creative decisions; in 1992, Bill Watts became the head booker, and implemented storyline changes in WCW's product which stymied the division's style. WCW would later introduce a similar title as the WCW Cruiserweight Championship; the two titles are now considered to share the same lineage by the wrestling promotion WWE, which purchased WCW's assets in 2001.

Overview

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Creation

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The WCW Light Heavyweight Championship was created in 1991, with the inaugural champion decided though a single-elimination tournament held over several weeks. Seven wrestlers were used for the tournament—three quarter final matches, one of whom entered at the semi-final stages. The first two quarter finals were broadcast on WorldWide in August 1991, and saw The York Foundation's Richard Morton defeat Johnny Rich, and Badstreet defeat Joey Maggs. The next month, WCW's Main Event featured the last quarter final, in which Mike Graham triumphed over another York Foundation member in Terrance Taylor.[1]

Both of the semi-final matches were held at September's Clash of the Champions XVI event in Augusta, Georgia; Morton defeated Graham in a heel finish which depicted him using several illegal advantages to win. In the other leg of the tournament, Badstreet was defeated by the newly-entering Brian Pillman with a body press from the top rope.[1] Morton and Pillman contested the final round at the 1991 Halloween Havoc event, held in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Pillman won the match and championship with another top rope body press.[2][3]

Inaugural championship tournament

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Quarter finalsSemi finalsFinal
 
          
 
WorldWide
 
 
Richard Morton
 
Clash of the Champions XVI
 
Johnny Rich
 
Richard MortonPin
 
Main Event
 
Mike Graham7:40
 
Terrence Taylor
 
Halloween Havoc
 
Mike Graham
 
Richard MortonPin
 
 
Brian Pillman12:43
 
 
 
 
 
BadstreetPin
 
WorldWide
 
Brian Pillman6:52
 
Badstreet
 
 
Joey Maggs
 

Defending the title

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A man in a red and white bodysuit with an elaborate horned mask looks off to one side
Former WCW Light Heavyweight Champion Jushin Thunder Liger, pictured in 2015

Pillman's reign as champion continued until December 1991, when he began to feud with masked Japanese wrestler Jushin Thunder Liger, who defeated Pillman for the championship at a house show held in Atlanta, Georgia on December 25, 1991.[4] Pillman reclaimed the title in a rematch at the SuperBrawl II pay-per-view event on February 29 the following year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, becoming the only wrestler to hold the championship more than once.[4]

Pillman successfully defended the championship against Tom Zenk at the May 17 WrestleWar event in Jacksonville, Florida,[5] before being defeated by Scotty Flamingo in Mobile, Alabama, during the June 20 Beach Blast pay-per-view. Flamingo's brief reign was ended by Brad Armstrong during a house show; the match was filmed out-of-sequence with several other televised championship matches, which meant Flamingo would tape a defense against Scott Sandlin despite having already lost the championship, while Armstrong recorded a match against Tracy Smothers that would air as a title defense despite being shot before his win was officially acknowledged.[4][5] Armstrong's reign saw the return of Liger as a challenger; they fought on several occasions, either with Armstrong winning or the match ending in a draw. Armstrong's last successful defense of the Light Heavyweight Championship was against Flamingo on August 14 in Fort Myers, Florida.[5]

Vacancy and legacy

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As the September 1992 Clash of the Champions XX approached, Armstrong suffered a knee injury in a match with The Great Muta during a tour with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and was unable to participate in a planned title match against Pillman at the event. Armstrong was formally stripped of the belt at Clash of the Champions, depicted as the result of him not defending it for thirty days, and another tournament to appoint a new champion was announced. However, Bill Watts had taken over the role of head booker for WCW and began to implement several changes in the work being produced. Among Watts' edicts was a new rule that would depict any maneuver performed from the top rope of the ring as illegal and resulting in disqualification; this effectively ended the viability of the light heavyweight style, which relied extensively on such moves, even though the matches involved in the championship picture had been considered "outstanding" by the fans. As a result, the planned tournament was never held and the light heavyweight division was ignored for the remainder of Watts' tenure.[6][7]

In 1996, WCW once again held a tournament to crown a champion for the weight class, this time under the title WCW Cruiserweight Championship. The first champion under this new lineage was Shinjiro Otani, who defeated Chris Benoit in the tournament final. After the acquisition of WCW's assets by rival company WWE, both title lineages were considered to be related, and WWE refers to the holders of the Light Heavyweight Championship as former Cruiserweight Champions.[8]

Reigns

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Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
 1  Brian Pillman  October 27, 1991  Halloween Havoc Chattanooga, TN  1  59 Pillman defeated Richard Morton in the finals of a tournament to decide the inaugural champion. [3][4][9]
 2  Jushin Thunder Liger  December 25, 1991  House show Atlanta, GA  1  66 [4][9][10]
 3  Brian Pillman  February 29, 1992  SuperBrawl II Milwaukee, WI  2  112 [4][9]
 4  Scotty Flamingo  June 20, 1992  Beach Blast Mobile, AL  1  15 [4][9]
 5  Brad Armstrong  July 5, 1992  House show Atlanta, GA  1  59 [4][9][11]
— Deactivated  September 2, 1992  Clash of the Champions XX: 20th Anniversary Atlanta, GA — — The championship was vacated due to Brad Armstrong's injury; a tournament to crown a new champion was announced, but never held. [4][9]

Combined reigns

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Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns 		Combined
days
1 Brian Pillman 2 171
2 Jushin Thunder Liger 1 66
3 Brad Armstrong 1 59
4 Scotty Flamingo 1 15

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "WCW Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament – 1991". The History of WWE. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  2. ^ Lentz 2003, p. 271.
  3. ^ a b Lipinski, Keith (October 28, 2003). "Strap On, Strap Off – This Week in History, Halloween Havoc Remembered (Part II)". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "WCW World Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "WCW – 1992". The History of WWE. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  6. ^ Hoops, Brian (November 27, 2007). "WCW Clash of the Champions (15 Yrs. Ago): Steamboat & Douglas vs. Windham & Rhodes". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  7. ^ Klein 2012, p. 129.
  8. ^ "Cruiserweight Championship". WWE. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Schadler, Kyle (December 7, 2011). "Abandoned: The History of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  10. ^ Mueller, Chris (November 9, 2009). "The Best International Star: Jushin "Thunder" Liger". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  11. ^ Lentz 2003, p. 18.
  • Klein, Greg (2012). The King of New Orleans: How the Junkyard Dog Became Professional Wrestling's First Black Superhero. ECW Press. ISBN 1770902244.
  • Lentz, Harris M. (2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling (2nd ed.). McFarland. ISBN 147660505X.
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