NXT Cruiserweight Championship

NXT Cruiserweight Championship
Information
Current champion(s):	Neville
Date won:	January 29, 2017
Promotion:	WWE
Brand:	RAW
Date created:	September 14, 2016
Most reigns:	T.J. Perkins, The Brian Kendrick, Rich Swann & Neville (1)
First champion(s):	T.J. Perkins

The WWE Cruiserweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE on the Raw brand. Unveiled on September 14, 2016 as the award for the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic, it is contested in WWE's cruiserweight division by wrestlers at a maximum weight of 205lbs. The championship shares its name with the previous Cruiserweight Championship in WWE that originated in World Championship Wrestling, however, it does not share the same title history. The current champion is Neville, who is in his first reign.

History

The Cruiserweight Classic, was a professional wrestling WWE Network series and tournament produced by WWE with all participants billed at a weight of 205 lbs. or less. Tournament qualifying matches took place in various promotions of the independent circuit, including well known promotions such as Revolution Pro Wrestling, Progress Wrestling, and Evolve. Many cruiserweight wrestlers from around the world were given the chance to qualify for the 32-man tournament, which took place over four dates: June 23, July 13, August 26, and September 14, 2016.

The final of the Cruiserweight Classic came down to T.J. Perkins and Gran Metalik. Originally, the winner was to receive a trophy and be crowned the first winner of WWE's Cruiserweight Classic. However, before the final match began, Triple H announced that the winner would also be crowned the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion for the new cruiserweight division on the Raw brand. Perkins defeated Metalik to become the inaugural champion.

The title shares its name with the previous WWE Cruiserweight Championship that originated in World Championship Wrestling and was retired in 2007. The new championship, however, does not share the same title history.

Inaugural tournament

Round of 32 (Taped June 23)

Round of 16 Taped July 14

Quarter-finals Taped August 26

Semi-finals Live on September 14

Final Live on September 14

July 20 –

Kenneth Johnson

Pin

August 17 –

Akira Tozawa

09:46

Akira Tozawa

Pin

August 3 –

Jack Gallagher

11:38

Jack Gallagher

Pin

August 31 -

Fabian Aichner

06:45

Akira Tozawa

Pin

July 20 –

Gran Metalik

15:49

Yoshihiro Tajiri

Pin

August 10 –

Damien Slater

05:28

Yoshihiro Tajiri

Pin

July 13 –

Gran Metalik

10:53

Alejandro Saez

Pin

September 14 –

Gran Metalik

04:04

Gran Metalik

Pin

July 27 –

Zack Sabre Jr.

13:13

Harv Sihra

Sub

August 24 –

Drew Gulak

05:18

Drew Gulak

Pin

July 27 –

Zack Sabre Jr.

08:27

Zack Sabre Jr.

Sub

September 7 -

Tyson Dux

08:28

Zack Sabre Jr.

Sub

August 3 –

Noam Dar

Noam Dar

Sub

August 17 –

Gurv Sihra

05:26

Noam Dar

Sub

July 13 –

Ho Ho Lun

07:02

Ariya Daivari

Pin

September 14 –

Ho Ho Lun

05:03

Gran Metalik

Sub

July 27 –

T.J. Perkins

17:47

Raul Mendoza

Sub

August 17 –

Brian Kendrick

07:35

Brian Kendrick

Sub

July 27 –

Tony Nese

13:42

Anthony Bennett

Pin

August 31 -

Tony Nese

06:34

Brian Kendrick

Pin

July 13 –

Kota Ibushi

13:58

Kota Ibushi

Pin

August 10 –

Sean Maluta

09:40

Kota Ibushi

Pin

July 13 –

Cedric Alexander

15:00

Cedric Alexander

Pin

September 14 –

Clement Petiot

05:58

Kota Ibushi

Sub

July 20 –

T.J. Perkins

14:52

T.J. Perkins

Sub

August 24 –

Da Mack

06:32

T.J. Perkins

Sub

August 3 –

Johnny Gargano

12:18

Third place

Johnny Gargano

Pin

September 7 -

Tommaso Ciampa

10:47

T.J. Perkins

Sub

July 20 –

Rich Swann

Mustafa Ali

Pin

August 24 –

Lince Dorado

05:55

Lince Dorado

Pin

August 3 –

Rich Swann

08:14

Rich Swann

Pin

Jason Lee

03:47

* – Denotes number of overtime periods.

External links

• WWE Cruiserweight Championship at CAGEMATCH.net
• Official WWE Cruiserweight Championship Title History