NXT Cruiserweight Championship

NXT Cruiserweight Championship
The final NXT Cruiserweight Championship belt with default side plates
(2020–2022)
Details
PromotionWWE
Date establishedSeptember 14, 2016
Date retiredJanuary 4, 2022
(unified with the NXT North American Championship)
Other name(s)
  • WWE Cruiserweight Championship
    (2016–2019)
  • NXT Cruiserweight Championship
    (2019–2022)
Statistics
First champion(s)T. J. Perkins
Final champion(s)Carmelo Hayes
Most reigns2 reigns:
Longest reignJordan Devlin
(439 days[a])
Shortest reignCarmelo Hayes
(<1 minute[b])
Oldest championRoderick Strong
(38 years, 57 days)
Youngest championLio Rush
(24 years, 332 days)
Heaviest champion205 lb (93 kg):
Lightest championAkira Tozawa
(156 lb (71 kg))

The NXT Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that was created and promoted by the American promotion WWE. Before its retirement, it was defended across the NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live brand divisions, which were developmental territories for WWE. During its short tenure, it was the promotion's only championship with a weight limit, wherein only wrestlers 205 lb (93 kg) and under—designated as cruiserweights—could compete for the title.

Originally established as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, it was first unveiled on September 14, 2016, as the award for the Cruiserweight Classic, which was won by T. J. Perkins. It was originally defended on Monday Night Raw as part of the Raw brand's cruiserweight division before the premiere of the cruiserweight-exclusive 205 Live in November 2016, after which, it was defended on both shows. Following WrestleMania 34 in 2018, the title became exclusively defended on the 205 Live brand.[1][2] In October 2019, 205 Live merged under NXT and the title was renamed NXT Cruiserweight Championship, and the title's contendership was extended to NXT UK in January 2020. On January 4, 2022, at New Year's Evil, the title was unified into the NXT North American Championship, officially retiring the title in the process, with Carmelo Hayes recognized as the final champion.

The title was distinct from the previous WWE Cruiserweight Championship that originated in World Championship Wrestling and was retired in 2007. The two titles had shared the same name, but did not share the same title history.[3]


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  1. ^ McMahon, Vince (November 30, 2016). "Vince McMahon on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  2. ^ Casey, Connor (June 29, 2018). "Here's Why the 205 Live Roster Is No Longer on Monday Night Raw". ComicBook.com. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "WWE Cruiserweight Championship". WWE.com.