WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
Encyclopedia
The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling
championship
. The title was challenged by light heavyweights
at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.
for the Universal Wrestling Association
. It eventually migrated to Japan
as well, although it wasn't considered as an official WWF title until after 1997, when a tournament was held in the United States
to crown a champion. Before the tournament, the title was a part of the J-Crown
.
1
2
3
purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following the conclusion of the Invasion angle at the 2001 Survivor Series
pay-per-view, the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was quietly abandoned in favor of the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Simultaneously, the WCW Cruiserweight Championship was rebranded as the WWF Cruiserweight Championship. It would become the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
in accordance with the company's name change in May 2002, and it would be defended until September 2007. The title will be in WWE '12
.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
. The title was challenged by light heavyweights
Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.
History
The WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was first introduced in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
for the Universal Wrestling Association
Universal Wrestling Association
The Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
. It eventually migrated to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as well, although it wasn't considered as an official WWF title until after 1997, when a tournament was held in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to crown a champion. Before the tournament, the title was a part of the J-Crown
J-Crown
-Title history:-External links:*...
.
1997 tournament
Notes:1
2
3
Title deactivation
In March 2001, World Wrestling Federation, Inc.World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following the conclusion of the Invasion angle at the 2001 Survivor Series
Survivor Series (2001)
Survivor Series was the fifteenth annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation...
pay-per-view, the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was quietly abandoned in favor of the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Simultaneously, the WCW Cruiserweight Championship was rebranded as the WWF Cruiserweight Championship. It would become the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 215 lbs...
in accordance with the company's name change in May 2002, and it would be defended until September 2007. The title will be in WWE '12
WWE '12
WWE '12 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 systems. It is the first game in the WWE series and the fourteenth overall in the combined series. It is the sequel to WWE SmackDown vs...
.