WWF Light Heavyweight Championship

Infobox championship

caption=The_WWF_Light_Heavyweight_Championship_belt_(1997_-_2001)
championshipname=WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
promotion=World Wrestling Federation
firstchamp=Perro Aguayo
created=March 26, 1981
mostreigns=Perro Aguayo & Villano III
(7 reigns)
longestreign=Villano III (826 days)
shortestreign=Perro Aguayo & Scotty 2 Hotty
(8 days)
oldest=Perro Aguayo
(43 years, 9 months)
youngest=Essa Rios
(21 years, 10 months)
heaviest=Shinjiro Otani (convert|236|lb|kg st|abbr=on)
lightest=The Great Sasuke
(convert|180|lb|kg st|abbr=on)
tallest=Chris Adams
(height|feet=6' 1")
shortest=Great Sasuke
(height|feet=5' 8")
titleretired=November 30, 2001
pastlook

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 215 lb.

History

The WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was first introduced in Mexico 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.

1997 tournament

8TeamBracket
RD1=Quarterfinals small|("RAW is WAR")
RD2=Semifinals small|("RAW is WAR")
RD3=Finals small|("")
RD1-seed1=Nov. 3
RD1-seed2=Hershey
RD1-team1=Águila
RD1-team2=Super Loco
RD1-score1=Pin
RD1-score2= 5:12
RD1-seed3=Nov. 10
RD1-seed4=Ottawa
RD1-team3=Taka Michinoku
RD1-team4=Devon Storm
RD1-score3=Pin
RD1-score4=5:00
RD1-seed5=Nov. 11¹
RD1-seed6=Cornwall
RD1-team5=Eric Shelley
RD1-team6=Scott Taylor
RD1-score5=Pin
RD1-score6=5:27
RD1-seed7=Nov. 24
RD1-seed8=Fayetteville
RD1-team7=Brian Christopher
RD1-team8=Flash Flanagan
RD1-score7=Pin
RD1-score8=3:30
RD2-seed1=Nov. 25²
RD2-seed2=Roanoke
RD2-team1=Águila
RD2-team2=Taka Michinoku
RD2-score1=Pin
RD2-score2= 6:19
RD2-seed3=Nov. 25²
RD2-seed4=Roanoke
RD2-team3=Scott Taylor
RD2-team4=Brian Christopher
RD2-score3=Forf³
RD2-score4=
RD3-seed1=Dec. 7
RD3-seed2=Springfield
RD3-team1=Taka Michinoku
RD3-team2=Brian Christopher
RD3-score1=Pin
RD3-score2= 12:00

Notes: ¹ small|This match aired on November 17. ² small|These matches aired on December 1. ³ small|Christopher won by forfeit after Kane chokeslammed Taylor before Christopher made his way to the ring, leaving Taylor unable to compete.

Title deactivation

In March 2001, World Wrestling Federation, Inc. purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following the conclusion of the Invasion angle at the 2001 Survivor Series Pay Per View event, the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was abandoned in favor of the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. The belt was rebranded as the WWF Cruiserweight Championship and later the WWE Cruiserweight Championship and was defended until November of 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/|title=Light Heavyweight Championship History|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2007-07-16] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/|title=History of the Cruiserweight Championship|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2008-02-19]

ee also

* List of WWF Light Heavyweight Champions
* List of WWF Light Heavyweight Championship reigns by length
* WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/ WWF Light Heavyweight Title History]
* [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/wwf-lh.html Wrestling-Titles.com: WWF World Light Heavyweight Title]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/97.htm 1997 WWF event results]
* [http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/titletny.html#lt97 1997 tournament results]
* [http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/ WWE Cruiserweight Championship Title History]