Forgotten Titles
Chapter Two: WCW World Light Heavyweight Title
#PWHS #Article #ForgottenTitles #FT #WCW #WorldChampionshipWrestling
This is a weird title when it comes to being forgotten as not everyone has totally forgotten about it. Hardly surprising considering it only went out of existence just over twenty years ago. The problem with it is that the majority of people who have heard of it think it's the beginning to the WCW Cruiserweight Championship and many of them wouldn't know that it was ever called WCW World Light Heavyweight Championship. Of course there are the very new fans to the wrestling world who won't have heard of it also.
So, Who Held The Title?
Flyin', Liger, Flamingo and Injury Demise
With a growing number of youngsters, smaller guys, and guys just doing nothing on the roster WCW decided a good way to try and improve business was to get into a market that the WWF did not acknowledge, the Light Heavyweights. It was decided the best way to kick start a healthy, new division was with a tournament. The finals would see Flyin' Brian Pillman take on Richard Morton, formerly of the Rock 'N' Roll Express, at the 1991 Halloween Havoc pay-per-view. Brian Pillman picked up the victory and the brand new title on October 27.
It appears that Pillman only defended the title a few times over the course of the next two months, mainly against Johnny B. Badd later Marc Mero, and The Diamond Studd later Razor Ramon and Scott Hall. Neither of these men would capture the title from the young Pillman though. It took a star of international caliber to do that. Jushin 'Thunder' Liger defeated Pillman on December 25 for the belt. The two kept up their feud until February 29, 1992 when Pillman regained his title at the SuperBrawl II pay-per-view.
This time around the title was defended against a plethora of talent including Tom Zenk, Richard Morton, Johnny B. Badd. After defeating Scotty Flamingo later Johnny Polo and Raven, several times it was actually Flamingo who beat Pillman. The win occurred on June 20 at the Beach Blast pay-per-view. Flamingo's run was only short though as less than fifteen days later on July 5 Brad Armstrong picked up the win over Flamingo. Other than a couple of rematches, Flamingo was effectively out of the title picture just like that.
After two month reign and just a handful of title defenses, Armstrong suffered an injury forcing him to take time off. On September 2 the title was officially vacated. Originally WCW announced that they would be holding a tournament to crown a new champion in the new year, that tournament never materialized though. The new division pretty much stayed in place, but nothing happened in regards to giving the guys a title, they started being involved in the United States Heavyweight Title and the World Television Championship scenes until the whole division was revamped in 1996 and a totally new title was created called the Cruiserweight Championship.
So, Who Held The Title?
Flyin', Liger, Flamingo and Injury Demise
With a growing number of youngsters, smaller guys, and guys just doing nothing on the roster WCW decided a good way to try and improve business was to get into a market that the WWF did not acknowledge, the Light Heavyweights. It was decided the best way to kick start a healthy, new division was with a tournament. The finals would see Flyin' Brian Pillman take on Richard Morton, formerly of the Rock 'N' Roll Express, at the 1991 Halloween Havoc pay-per-view. Brian Pillman picked up the victory and the brand new title on October 27.
It appears that Pillman only defended the title a few times over the course of the next two months, mainly against Johnny B. Badd later Marc Mero, and The Diamond Studd later Razor Ramon and Scott Hall. Neither of these men would capture the title from the young Pillman though. It took a star of international caliber to do that. Jushin 'Thunder' Liger defeated Pillman on December 25 for the belt. The two kept up their feud until February 29, 1992 when Pillman regained his title at the SuperBrawl II pay-per-view.
This time around the title was defended against a plethora of talent including Tom Zenk, Richard Morton, Johnny B. Badd. After defeating Scotty Flamingo later Johnny Polo and Raven, several times it was actually Flamingo who beat Pillman. The win occurred on June 20 at the Beach Blast pay-per-view. Flamingo's run was only short though as less than fifteen days later on July 5 Brad Armstrong picked up the win over Flamingo. Other than a couple of rematches, Flamingo was effectively out of the title picture just like that.
After two month reign and just a handful of title defenses, Armstrong suffered an injury forcing him to take time off. On September 2 the title was officially vacated. Originally WCW announced that they would be holding a tournament to crown a new champion in the new year, that tournament never materialized though. The new division pretty much stayed in place, but nothing happened in regards to giving the guys a title, they started being involved in the United States Heavyweight Title and the World Television Championship scenes until the whole division was revamped in 1996 and a totally new title was created called the Cruiserweight Championship.
List of Champions
01 - Brian Pillman, October 27, 1991
02 - Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, December 25, 1991
03 - Brian Pillman, February 29, 1992
04 - Scotty Flamingo, June 20, 1992
05 - Brad Armstrong, July 5, 1992
// - Vacated, September 2, 1992
// - Retired, Early 1993
01 - Brian Pillman, October 27, 1991
02 - Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, December 25, 1991
03 - Brian Pillman, February 29, 1992
04 - Scotty Flamingo, June 20, 1992
05 - Brad Armstrong, July 5, 1992
// - Vacated, September 2, 1992
// - Retired, Early 1993
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Two.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: August 15, 2014.
Article: #50.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Two.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: August 15, 2014.
Article: #50.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Three - Read Here.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter One - Read Here.
Other articles by Jimmy can be Read Here.