View source for List of WWF Light Heavyweight Champions

{{short description|none}}
[[File:Villano III.jpg|thumb|215x215px|[[Villano III]] (pictured 2018) holds the record for longest combined WWF Light Heavyweight title reign. ]]
The [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] was a [[professional wrestling]] [[Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)|cruiserweight]] [[Championship (professional wrestling)|championship]] owned and promoted by the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF). Only cruiserweight wrestlers that weighed less than {{convert|220|lb|kg}}, called "light heavyweights" by the WWF, were allowed to challenge for the title. From 1981 through the 1990s, the WWF had a business partnership with the [[Universal Wrestling Association]] (UWA), a Mexican-based [[lucha libre]] [[professional wrestling promotion|promotion]], which resulted in the creation of the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship for the UWA. When the UWA ceased operations in 1995, the title traveled to the Japanese promotions [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling]] (MPW) and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW). In 1997, as a result of the WWF owning the trademarks to the championship, NJPW was forced to return the title to the WWF. One month later, the WWF began utilizing the title in the United States.<ref name="History1">{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/lhwwf.html|title=WWF Light Heavyweight Championship History|work=Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan and Gary Will|publisher=Solie.org|access-date=2008-12-01}}</ref> After [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) and its assets were acquired by the WWF in March 2001,<ref name="Purchase">{{cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_03_23.jsp |access-date=2008-05-24 |title=WWE Entertainment, Inc. acquires WCW from Turner Broadcasting |publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]] Corporate |date=2001-03-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408044957/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_03_23.jsp |archive-date=2005-04-08 }}</ref> the conceptually similar [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]] was also used by the promotion, before completely replacing the Light Heavyweight Championship in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/|title=WWF LightHeavyweight Championship at WWE.com|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=2008-12-01|quote=The title was abandoned in 2001 when WWE finally put the WCW/ECW Alliance out of business. WWE then adopted the WCW Cruiserweight Championship as its version of the Cruiserweight Championship.}}</ref>

Title reigns were determined by [[professional wrestling match types|professional wrestling matches]] that involved wrestlers in pre-existing [[script (recorded media)|scripted]] [[feud (professional wrestling)|feuds]], [[plot (narrative)|plots]], and [[narrative thread|storylines]] or were awarded the title due to scripted circumstances. Wrestlers were portrayed as either [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villains]] or [[Face (professional wrestling)|heroes]] as they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a match or series of matches for the championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm |title=How Pro Wrestling Works |last=Grabianowski |first=Ed |publisher=HowStuffWorks |access-date=2008-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108081648/http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm |archive-date=2013-11-08 }}</ref> The title was won in Japan, Mexico, and 11 American states. The first champion to be recognized by the UWA and NJPW was [[Perro Aguayo]], who won the title in a tournament final in March 1981. [[Shinjiro Otani]] was the final champion recognized by the NJPW before the title was returned to the WWF; he had won the title in August 1997. Although his reign is unrecognized by the WWF, [[Último Dragón]] is the only wrestler to hold a WWF championship and a WCW championship at the same time before WWF's purchase of WCW, having held the WWF Light Heavyweight and WCW Cruiserweight championships simultaneously in 1996. The first champion recognized by the WWF was [[Taka Michinoku]], who won the title in a tournament final on December 7, 1997. After winning the championship in August 2001, [[Sean Waltman|X-Pac]] was the final wrestler to have held the title before it was replaced by the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Aguayo and [[Villano III]] held the title the most times, with eight reigns each. At 826 days, Villano III's reign from 1984 to 1986 was the longest in the title's history. Perro Aguayo and [[Scotty 2 Hotty]] had the shortest reigns, each having reigns lasting eight days. Overall, there were 45 title reigns in the championship's history.

==Reigns==

===Recognition by the UWA/MPW/NJPW===
{{Professional wrestling title history top}}
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[Universal Wrestling Association]] (UWA)
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 1
|champion = {{sortname|Perro|Aguayo}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1981|3|26}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=26|year1=1981|month2=09|day2=25|year2=1981}}
|location = [[Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka|Shimizu]], [[Japan]]
|event    = [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] Big Fight Series
|notes    = Aguayo defeated [[Gran Hamada]] in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion.
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 2
|champion = {{sortname||Fishman|dab=wrestler}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1981|9|25}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=09|day1=25|year1=1981|month2=10|day2=10|year2=1981}}
|location = [[Los Angeles]], [[California|CA]]	
|event    = [[NWA Hollywood Wrestling|Hollywood Wrestling]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 3
|champion = {{sortname|Perro|Aguayo}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1981|10|10}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=10|day1=10|year1=1981|month2=10|day2=18|year2=1981}}
|location = [[Los Angeles]], [[California|CA]]	
|event    = [[NWA Hollywood Wrestling|Hollywood Wrestling]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 4
|champion = {{sortname|Chris|Adams|dab=wrestler}}	
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1981|10|18}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=10|day1=18|year1=1981|month2=12|day2=13|year2=1981}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]	
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    =  
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 5
|champion = {{sortname|Perro|Aguayo}}
|reign    = 3
|date     = {{dts|1981|12|13}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=12|day1=13|year1=1981|month2=04|day2=21|year2=1982}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 6
|champion = {{sortname|Gran|Hamada}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1982|4|21}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=21|year1=1982|month2=08|day2=29|year2=1982}}
|location = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]	
|event    = [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 7
|champion = {{sortname|Perro|Aguayo}}
|reign    = 4
|date     = {{dts|1982|8|29}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=29|year1=1982|month2=03|day2=20|year2=1983}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 8
|champion = {{sortname|Villano|III}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1983|3|20}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=20|year1=1983|month2=08|day2=07|year2=1983}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 9
|champion = {{sortname|Perro|Aguayo}} 
|reign    = 5
|date     = {{dts|1983|8|7}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=07|year1=1983|month2=04|day2=17|year2=1984}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 10
|champion = {{sortname|Gran|Hamada}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1984|4|17}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=17|year1=1984|month2=05|day2=20|year2=1984}}
|location = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|UWF]] Opening Series
|notes    = 
|ref      = <ref name=F4WApril17>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0417-wcw-spring-stampede-1994-309086 | title=Daily pro wrestling (04/17): WCW Spring Stampede 1994 | date=April 17, 2020 | access-date=April 17, 2020 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] | first=Brian | last=Hoops}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 11
|champion = {{sortname|Villano|III}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1984|5|20}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=05|day1=20|year1=1984|month2=08|day2=24|year2=1986}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 12
|champion = {{sortname||Fishman|dab=wrestler}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1986|8|24}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=24|year1=1986|month2=12|day2=24|year2=1986}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 13
|champion = {{sortname|Perro|Aguayo}} 
|reign    = 6
|date     = {{dts|1986|12|24}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=12|day1=24|year1=1986|month2=05|day2=03|year2=1987}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 13.5
|type     = vacated
|date     = {{dts|1987|5|3}}
|notes    = The UWA forced [[Perro Aguayo]] to relinquish the championship after a title defense against [[Villano III]] ended in controversy.
|ref      = <ref name=DiaMay3>{{cite web | url=https://superluchas.com/2015/05/03/en-un-dia-como-hoy-1987-perro-aguayo-casi-pierde-la-vida-en-el-ring-ultima-funcion-de-el-toreo-antes-de-la-muerte-de-francisco-flores/ | title=En un día como hoy… 1987: Perro Aguayo casi pierde la vida en el ring… Última función de El Toreo antes de la muerte de Francisco Flores | first=Teddy | last=Centinela | date=May 3, 2015 | access-date=July 1, 2015 | work=[[Súper Luchas]] | language=es}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 14
|champion = {{sortname|Villano|III}}
|reign    = 3
|date     = {{dts|1987|6|17}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=17|year1=1987|month2=10|day2=04|year2=1987}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = Villano III defeated [[Perro Aguayo]] in a rematch for the championship.
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 15
|champion = Rambo
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1987|10|4}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=10|day1=04|year1=1987|month2=07|day2=11|year2=1988}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 16
|champion = {{sortname|Villano|III}}
|reign    = 4
|date     = {{dts|1988|7|11}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=07|day1=11|year1=1988|month2=08|day2=14|year2=1989}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 17 
|champion = {{sortname|Sangre|Chicana}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1989|8|14}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=14|year1=1989|month2=10|day2=15|year2=1989}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 		
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 18
|champion = {{sortname|Perro|Aguayo}}
|reign    = 7
|date     = {{dts|1989|10|15}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=10|day1=15|year1=1989|month2=12|day2=03|year2=1989}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 19
|champion = {{sortname|Sangre|Chicana}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1989|12|3}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=12|day1=03|year1=1989|month2=05|day2=27|year2=1990}}
|location = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 20
|champion = {{sortname|Villano|III}}
|reign    = 5
|date     = {{dts|1990|5|27}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=05|day1=27|year1=1990|month2=03|day2=03|year2=1991}}
|location = [[Naucalpan]], [[Mexico]]	
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = <ref name=DiaMay27>{{cite web | url=https://superluchas.com/2015/05/27/en-un-dia-como-hoy-1990-fallece-guillermo-hernandez-lobo-negro-villano-iii-recupera-el-titulo-wwf/ | title=En un día como hoy… 1990: Fallece Guillermo Hernández "Lobo Negro"… Villano III recupera el título WWF | first=Teddy | last=Centinela | date=May 27, 2015 | access-date=July 1, 2015 | work=[[Súper Luchas]] | language=es}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 21
|champion = {{sortname|Pegasus|Kid|Chris Benoit}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1991|3|3}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=03|year1=1991|month2=09|day2=13|year2=1992}}
|location = [[Naucalpan]], [[Mexico]]	
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = <ref name=F4WMarch3>{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0303-sting-wins-tna-world-title-278366 | title=Daily pro wrestling history (03/03): Sting wins TNA World Title | first=Brian | last=Hoops | date=March 3, 2019 | access-date=March 3, 2019 | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Figure Four Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 22
|champion = {{sortname|Villano|III}}
|reign    = 6
|date     = {{dts|1992|9|13}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=09|day1=13|year1=1992|month2=01|day2=01|year2=1993}}
|location = [[Naucalpan]], [[Mexico]]	
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 23
|champion = {{sortname|El|Signo}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1993|1|1}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=01|day1=01|year1=1993|month2=07|day2=18|year2=1994}}
|location = [[Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl|Nezahualcóyotl]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 24
|champion = {{sortname|Villano|III}}
|reign    = 7
|date     = {{dts|1994|7|18}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=07|day1=18|year1=1994|month2=01|day2=10|year2=1995}}
|location = [[Puebla]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 24.5
|type     = vacated
|date     = {{dts|1995|1|10}}
|notes    = [[Villano III]] was forced to vacate the championship by the UWA after he signed a contract with the [[Promo Azteca|PROMELL]] [[professional wrestling promotion|promotion]].
|ref      = 
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling]] (MPW)
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 25
|champion = {{sort|Flash, Aero|Aero Flash}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1995|6|16}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=16|year1=1995|month2=03|day2=24|year2=1996}}
|location = [[Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl|Nezahualcóyotl]], [[Mexico]]
|event    = [[Universal Wrestling Association|UWA]] [[house show]]
|notes    = Flash won the vacant championship by defeating The King in a tournament final. During this win the title was recognized by [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling]].
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 26
|champion = {{sortname|The Great|Sasuke|Masanori Murakawa}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1996|3|24}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=24|year1=1996|month2=06|day2=22|year2=1996}}
|location = [[Shirakawa, Fukushima|Shirakawa]], [[Japan]]	
|event    = [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|MPW]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 27
|champion = {{sortname|El|Samurai|Osamu Matsuda}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1996|6|22}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=22|year1=1996|month2=08|day2=04|year2=1996}}
|location = [[Naruko, Miyagi|Naruko]], [[Japan]]	
|event    = [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|MPW]] [[house show]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 28
|champion = {{sortname|The Great|Sasuke|Masanori Murakawa}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1996|8|4}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=04|year1=1996|month2=10|day2=11|year2=1996}}
|location = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
|event    = [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] [[G1_Climax#1996|G1 Climax 1996]]
|notes    = During this reign, the championship becomes part of the [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]]'s [[J-Crown]].
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 29
|champion = {{sortname|Último|Dragón}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1996|10|11}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=10|day1=11|year1=1996|month2=01|day2=04|year2=1997}}
|location = [[Osaka]], [[Japan]]
|event    = [[Wrestle Association-R|WAR]] Osaka Crush Night!
|notes    =  
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 30
|champion = {{sortname|Jushin Thunder|Liger}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1997|1|4}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=01|day1=04|year1=1997|month2=07|day2=06|year2=1997}}
|location = [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
|event    = [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] [[Wrestling World 1997]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 31
|champion = {{sortname|El|Samurai|Osamu Matsuda}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|1997|7|6}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=07|day1=06|year1=1997|month2=08|day2=10|year2=1997}}
|location = [[Sapporo]], [[Japan]]
|event    = [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] Summer Struggle 1997
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 32
|champion = {{sortname|Shinjiro|Otani}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1997|8|10}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=10|year1=1997|month2=11|day2=05|year2=1997}}
|location = [[Nagoya]], [[Japan]]
|event    = [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling|NJPW]] The Four Heaven in Nagoya
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 32.5
|type     = vacated
|date     = {{dts|1997|11|5}}
|notes    = On November 5, 1997, the [[J-Crown]] championships (with the exception of the [[IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship]]) were vacated. [[Shinjiro Otani]] returned its component belts to their home promotions, including the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. 
|ref      = 
}}
{{BundleEnd}}

===Recognition by the WWF===
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=no|dayless=yes|unrecognized=yes|days2=yes}}
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF)
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 33
|champion = {{sortname|Taka|Michinoku}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1997|12|7}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=12|day1=07|year1=1997|month2=10|day2=18|year2=1998}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=12|day1=07|year1=1997|month2=10|day2=17|year2=1998}}
|location = [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield, MA]]
|event    = [[D-Generation X: In Your House]]. 
|notes    = Michinoku defeated [[Brian Christopher]] in a tournament final to win the championship. After this win WWF recognized [[Taka Michinoku]] as the inaugural champion.
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 34
|champion = {{sortname||Christian|dab=wrestler}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1998|10|18}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=10|day1=18|year1=1998|month2=11|day2=17|year2=1998}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=10|day1=18|year1=1998|month2=11|day2=16|year2=1998}}
|location = [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago, IL]]
|event    = [[Judgment Day: In Your House]]
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 35
|champion = [[Gillberg (wrestler)|Gillberg]]
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|1998|11|17}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=11|day1=17|year1=1998|month2=02|day2=08|year2=2000}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=11|day1=17|year1=1998|month2=02|day2=05|year2=2000}}
|location = [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus, OH]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw is War]]''
|notes    = This match aired on November 23, 1998 via [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]]. Gillberg won the title under the [[ring name]] "Duane Gill" but defended it under the name Gillberg.
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 36
|champion = {{sortname|Essa|Rios|Mr. Águila}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2000|2|08}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=02|day1=08|year1=2000|month2=03|day2=13|year2=2000}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=02|day1=08|year1=2000|month2=03|day2=10|year2=2000}}
|location = [[Austin, Texas|Austin, TX]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Heat|Heat]]''
|notes    = This match aired on February 13, 2000 via [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]].
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 37
|champion = {{sortname|Dean|Malenko}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2000|3|13}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=13|year1=2000|month2=04|day2=17|year2=2000}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=13|year1=2000|month2=04|day2=16|year2=2000}}
|location = [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford, NJ]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 38
|champion = {{sortname|Scotty|2 Hotty}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2000|4|17}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=17|year1=2000|month2=04|day2=25|year2=2000}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=17|year1=2000|month2=04|day2=26|year2=2000}}
|location = [[State College, Pennsylvania|State College, PA]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''
|notes    = 
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 39
|champion = {{sortname|Dean|Malenko}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|2000|4|25}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=25|year1=2000|month2=03|day2=13|year2=2001}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=25|year1=2000|month2=03|day2=12|year2=2001}}
|location = [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte, NC]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]''
|notes    = This match aired on April 27, 2000 via [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]].
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 40
|champion = {{sortname|Crash|Holly}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2001|3|13}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=13|year1=2001|month2=04|day2=29|year2=2001}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=03|day1=13|year1=2001|month2=04|day2=26|year2=2001}}
|location = [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim, CA]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Heat|Heat]]''
|notes    = This match aired on March 18, 2001 via [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]].
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 41
|champion = {{sortname|Jerry|Lynn}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2001|4|29|}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=29|year1=2001|month2=06|day2=05|year2=2001}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=04|day1=29|year1=2001|month2=06|day2=06|year2=2001}}
|location = [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago, IL]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Heat|Heat]]''
|notes    =  
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 42
|champion = {{sortname|Jeff|Hardy}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2001|6|5}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=05|year1=2001|month2=06|day2=25|year2=2001}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=05|year1=2001|month2=06|day2=22|year2=2001}}
|location = [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks, ND]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]''
|notes    = This match aired on June 7, 2001 via [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]].
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 43
|champion = {{sortname||X-Pac}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2001|6|25}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=25|year1=2001|month2=08|day2=06|year2=2001}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=06|day1=25|year1=2001|month2=08|day2=05|year2=2001}}
|location = [[New York City|New York City, NY]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''
|notes    = X-Pac later defeated [[Billy Kidman]] on July 30, 2001 to win the [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]].
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 44
|champion = {{sortname||Tajiri|Yoshihiro Tajiri}}
|reign    = 1
|date     = {{dts|2001|8|6}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=06|year1=2001|month2=08|day2=19|year2=2001}}
|days2    = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=06|year1=2001|month2=08|day2=18|year2=2001}}
|location = [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim, CA]]
|event    = ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''
|notes    =  [[X-Pac]]'s [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]] was not on the line.
|ref      = 
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number   = 45
|champion = {{sortname||X-Pac}}
|reign    = 2
|date     = {{dts|2001|8|19}}
|days     = {{age in days nts|month1=08|day1=19|year1=2001|month2=03|day2=08|year2=2002}}
|days2    = yes
|location = [[San Jose, California|San Jose, CA]]
|event    = [[SummerSlam (2001)|SummerSlam]]
|notes    = X-Pac was the reigning [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Champion]] until losing the Cruiserweight title to [[Billy Kidman]] on October 9, 2001. X-Pac was the final wrestler to hold the title, a title unification match at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] against WCW Cruiserweight Champion [[Yoshihiro Tajiri|Tajiri]] was canceled because X-Pac was injured.
|ref      = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/|title=History of the Light Heavyweight Championship|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 45.5
|type     = deactivated
|date     = {{dts|2002|03|08}}
|days2    = yes
|notes    = The championship was removed from television after [[Sean Waltman|X-Pac's]] injury, but he would continue to defend the title on [[House show|house shows]] until it was officially retired on March 8, 2002.
|ref      = 
}}
{{BundleEnd}}

==Combined reigns recognized by the UWA/MPW/NJPW==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Rank
!Wrestler
!No. of<br>reigns
!Combined<br />days
|-
!1
||[[Villano III]]||7||2,040
|-
!2
||[[Perro Aguayo]]||7||956
|-
!3
||[[El Signo]]||1||563
|-
!4
||[[Chris Benoit|The Pegasus Kid]]||1||560
|-
!5
||Aero Flash||1||282
|-
!6
||Rambo||1||281
|-
!7
||[[Sangre Chicana]]||2||237
|-
!8
||[[Jushin Thunder Liger]]||1||183
|-
!9
||[[Gran Hamada]]||2||163
|-
!10
||[[Masanori Murakawa|The Great Sasuke]]||2||158
|-
!11
||[[Fishman (wrestler)|Fishman]]||2||137
|-
!12
||[[Shinjiro Otani]]||1||87
|-
!13
||[[Último Dragón]]||1||85
|-
!14
||[[Osamu Matsuda|El Samurai]]||2||78
|-
!15
||[[Chris Adams (wrestler)|Chris Adams]]||1||56
|-
|}

==Combined reigns recognized by WWE==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Rank
!Wrestler
!No. of<br>reigns
!Combined<br />days
|-
!1
||[[Gillberg (wrestler)|Duane Gill/Gillberg]]||1||448
|-
!2
||[[Dean Malenko]]||2||357
|-
!3
||[[Taka Michinoku]]||1||315
|-
!4
||[[Sean Waltman|X-Pac]]||2||243
|-
!5
||[[Crash Holly]]||rowspan=7|1||47
|-
!6
||[[Jerry Lynn]]||37
|-
!7
||[[Mr. Águila|Essa Rios]]||34
|-
!8
||[[Christian (wrestler)|Christian]]||30
|-
!9
||[[Jeff Hardy]]||20
|-
!10
||[[Yoshihiro Tajiri|Tajiri]]||13
|-
!11
||[[Scotty 2 Hotty]]||8
|}

==Combined reigns recognized by All Companies==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
!Rank
!Wrestler
!No. of<br>reigns
!Combined<br />days
|-
!1
||[[Villano III]]||7||2,040
|-
!2
||[[Perro Aguayo]]||7||956
|-
!3
||[[El Signo]]||1||563
|-
!4
||[[Chris Benoit|The Pegasus Kid]]||1||560
|-
!5
||[[Gillberg (wrestler)|Duane Gill/Gillberg]]||1||448
|-
!6
||[[Dean Malenko]]||2||357
|-
!7
||[[Taka Michinoku]]||1||315
|-
!8
||Aero Flash||1||282
|-
!9
||Rambo||1||281
|-
!10
||[[Sean Waltman|X-Pac]]||2||243
|-
!11
||[[Sangre Chicana]]||2||237
|-
!12
||[[Jushin Thunder Liger]]||1||183
|-
!13
||[[Gran Hamada]]||2||163
|-
!14
||[[Masanori Murakawa|The Great Sasuke]]||2||158
|-
!15
||[[Fishman (wrestler)|Fishman]]||2||137
|-
!16
||[[Shinjiro Otani]]||1||87
|-
!17
||[[Último Dragón]]||1||85
|-
!18
||[[Osamu Matsuda|El Samurai]]||2||78
|-
!19
||[[Chris Adams (wrestler)|Chris Adams]]||1||56
|-
!20
||[[Crash Holly]]||rowspan=7|1||47
|-
!21
||[[Jerry Lynn]]||37
|-
!22
||[[Mr. Águila|Essa Rios]]||34
|-
!23
||[[Christian (wrestler)|Christian]]||30
|-
!24
||[[Jeff Hardy]]||20
|-
!25
||[[Yoshihiro Tajiri|Tajiri]]||13
|-
!26
||[[Scotty 2 Hotty]]||8
|}

==See also==
*[[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1996–2007)]]
*[[List of WWE Cruiserweight Champions (1996–2007)]]

==References==
;General
* {{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/lhwwf.html|title=WWF Light Heavyweight Championship reigns by Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Solie.org|work=Wrestling Title Histories by Royal Duncan & Gary Will|access-date=2008-12-13}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/|title=History of the Light Heavyweight Championship|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|access-date=2008-12-13}} 
;Specific
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/ Official WWF Light Heavyweight Championship title history]
*[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/wwf-lh.html WWF Light Heavyweight Championship at Wrestling-Titles.com]

{{WWF Light Heavyweight Championship}}
{{WWE Championships}}
{{featured list}}

[[Category:WWE championships lists]]