Last month, Stephanie McMahon announced on Raw that the cruiserweight division would be returning to WWE and would be the sole property of the Raw brand. She offered no other details, but now, PWInsider is confirming that along with the division, the WWE Cruiserweight Championship is also returning.
Reportedly, the company has commissioned a new title belt.
WWE first introduced the Light Heavyweight Title in 1997, but dropped it in 2001 after purchasing WCW and receiving the rights to that company's Cruiserweight Title. Renamed the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, the belt became exclusive to Smackdown following the first WWE brand split in 2002. For the next five years, a host of stars under the 225-pound weight limit contested for and won the belt, including Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero, Tajiri, Juventud, and Gregory Helms. In 2007, Hornswoggle won the title and it was soon retired.
There was no further mention of cruiserweight-exclusive action in WWE until earlier this year, when the company unveiled the Cruiserweight Classic. The tournament, a 32-man affair composed of 205-pound-and-under talent from all over the world, has so far drawn rave reviews, leading to the upcoming resurrection of the division.
There has been no confirmation of when the title will return, but many speculate that it could be awarded to the winner of the Cruiserweight Classic, which will conclude on September 14.
