| # | Wrestler | Reigns | Date | Days held: | Location | Event | Notes |
| 001 1 | Brian Pillman | 1 | 01991-10-27 October 27, 1991 | 59 | Chattanooga, TN | Halloween Havoc (1991) | Defeated Richard Morton in a tournament final to become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion.[3] WCW did not recognize Light Heavyweight reigns as being part of the Cruiserweight title's history.[4] |
| 002 2 | Jushin Liger | 1 | 01991-12-25 December 25, 1991 | 66 | Atlanta, GA | Live event | [5] |
| 003 3 | Brian Pillman | 2 | 01992-02-29 February 29, 1992 | 112 | Milwaukee, WI | SuperBrawl II | [6] |
| 004 4 | Scotty Flamingo | 1 | 01992-06-20 June 20, 1992[7] | 15 | Mobile, AL | Beach Blast (1992) | [8] |
| 005 5 | Brad Armstrong | 1 | 01992-07-05 July 5, 1992 | 59 | Atlanta, GA | Live event | [9] |
| 05.5 - | Vacated | 0 - | 01992-09-02 September 2, 1992 | 0 | Atlanta, GA | Clash of the Champions XX | Vacated due to knee injury. A tournament to decide the title is scheduled, but never occurs.[9] |
| 006 6 | Shinjiro Otani | 1 | 01996-03-20 March 20, 1996 | 43 | Nagoya, Japan | NJPW | Defeated Wild Pegasus in tournament final to determine the new WCW Cruiserweight Champion.[10][11] |
| 007 7 | Dean Malenko | 1 | 01996-05-02 May 2, 1996 | 67 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | WorldWide | [7] |
| 008 8 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 1 | 01996-07-08 July 8, 1996 | 111 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Monday Nitro | [12] |
| 009 9 | Dean Malenko | 2 | 01996-10-27 October 27, 1996 | 63 | Las Vegas, NV | Halloween Havoc (1996) | [7][13] |
| 010 10 | Último Dragón | 1 | 01996-12-29 December 29, 1996 | 23 | Nashville, TN | Starrcade (1996) | This match was also for Dragon's J-Crown.[7][14] |
| 011 11 | Dean Malenko | 3 | 01997-01-21 January 21, 1997 | 33 | Milwaukee, WI | Clash of the Champions XXXIV | [7] |
| 012 12 | Syxx | 1 | 01997-02-23 February 23, 1997 | 125 | Daly City, CA | SuperBrawl VII | [15] |
| 013 13 | Chris Jericho | 1 | 01997-06-28 June 28, 1997 | 30 | Inglewood, CA | Monday Nitro | [7] |
| 014 14 | Alex Wright | 1 | 01997-07-28 July 28, 1997 | 15 | Charleston, WV | Monday Nitro | [7][16] |
| 015 15 | Chris Jericho | 2 | 01997-08-12 August 12, 1997 | 33 | Colorado Springs, CO | Saturday Night | Aired on August 16.[7] |
| 016 16 | Eddy Guerrero | 1 | 01997-09-14 September 14, 1997 | 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | Fall Brawl (1997) | [17] |
| 017 17 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 2 | 01997-10-26 October 26, 1997 | 15 | Las Vegas, NV | Halloween Havoc (1997) | This was a Mask vs. Title match.[7][18] |
| 018 18 | Eddy Guerrero | 2 | 01997-11-10 November 10, 1997 | 49 | Memphis, TN | Monday Nitro | [7][16] |
| 019 19 | Ultimo Dragon | 2 | 01997-12-29 December 29, 1997 | 8 | Baltimore, MD | Monday Nitro | [7][16] |
| 020 20 | Juventud Guerrera | 1 | 01998-01-08 January 8, 1998 | 7 | Daytona Beach, FL | Thunder | [7][19] |
| 021 21 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 3 | 01998-01-15 January 15, 1998 | 9 | Lakeland, FL | Thunder | [7][19] |
| 022 22 | Chris Jericho | 3 | 01998-01-24 January 24, 1998 | 113 | Dayton, OH | Souled Out (1998) | [20] |
| 023 23 | Dean Malenko | 4 | 01998-05-17 May 17, 1998 | 25 | Worcester, MA | Slamboree (1998) | Malenko won a battle royal earlier in the night, wearing a mask as Ciclope, to earn a title shot.[21] |
| 023.5 - | Vacated | 0 - | 01998-06-11 June 11, 1998 | 0 | Buffalo, NY | Thunder | Vacated due to Malenko not earning the title shot as himself.[1][21] |
| 024 24 | Chris Jericho | 4 | 01998-06-14 June 14, 1998 | 55 | Baltimore, MD | The Great American Bash (1998) | Defeated Dean Malenko by disqualification.[22] On July 12 at Bash at the Beach, Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Jericho for the title due to interference from Malenko; Jericho was returned the title the following night.[1] |
| 025 25 | Juventud Guerrera | 2 | 01998-08-08 August 8, 1998 | 37 | Sturgis, SD | Road Wild (1998) | Dean Malenko was the special guest referee.[7][23] |
| 026 26 | Billy Kidman | 1 | 01998-09-14 September 14, 1998 | 63 | Greenville, SC | Monday Nitro | [7][24] |
| 027 27 | Juventud Guerrera | 3 | 01998-11-16 November 16, 1998 | 6 | Wichita, KS | Monday Nitro | [7][24] |
| 028 28 | Billy Kidman | 2 | 01998-11-22 November 22, 1998 | 113 | Auburn Hills, MI | World War 3 (1998) | [7][25] |
| 029 29 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 4 | 01999-03-15 March 15, 1999 | 30 | Cincinnati, OH | Monday Nitro | [7][26] |
| 030 30 | Psychosis | 1 | 01999-04-19 April 19, 1999 | 7 | Gainesville, FL | Monday Nitro | This was a four-way match also involving Juventud Guerrera and Blitzkrieg.[7][26] |
| 031 31 | Rey Misterio, Jr. | 5 | 01999-04-26 April 26, 1999 | 115 | Fargo, ND | Monday Nitro | [7][26] |
| 032 32 | Lenny Lane | 1 | 01999-08-19 August 19, 1999 | 46 | Lubbock, TX | Thunder | [27][28] |
| 032.5 - | Vacated | 0 - | 01999-10-04 October 4, 1999 | 0 | N/A | N/A | Vacated due to Lenny Lane being stripped of the title after Turner Broadcasting did not approve of the publicity garnered through Lane's homosexual gimmick.[27] |
| 033 33 | Psychosis | 2 | 01999-10-04 October 4, 1999 | 0 | Kansas City, MO | Monday Nitro | Was announced on Nitro to have defeated Lenny Lane during a house show match, however the match never took place.[29] Later histories state Psychosis was awarded the title on Monday Nitro for unexplained reasons.[26][27][30] |
| 034 34 | Disco Inferno | 1 | 01999-10-04 October 4, 1999 | 48 | Kansas City, MO | Monday Nitro | [26] |
| 035 35 | Evan Karagias | 1 | 01999-11-21 November 21, 1999 | 28 | Toronto, ON | Mayhem (1999) | [7][31] |
| 036 36 | Madusa | 1 | 01999-12-19 December 19, 1999 | 28 | Washington, D.C. | Starrcade (1999) | Became the first female Cruiserweight Champion.[32] |
| 037 37 | Oklahoma | 1 | 02000-01-16 January 16, 2000 | 2 | Cincinnati, OH | Souled Out (2000) | [7][33] |
| 037.5 - | Vacated | 0 - | 02000-01-18 January 18, 2000 | 0 | Evansville, IN | N/A | Vacated due to Oklahoma exceeding the weight limit, aired on January 19.[1][34] |
| 038 38 | The Artist | 1 | 02000-02-20 February 20, 2000 | 29 | Daly City, CA | SuperBrawl 2000 | Defeated Lash LeRoux in a tournament final.[7][35][36] |
| 039 39 | Billy Kidman | 3 | 02000-03-30 March 30, 2000 | 1 | Baltimore, MD | Live event | [7] |
| 040 40 | The Artist | 2 | 02000-03-31 March 31, 2000 | 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | Live event | [37] |
| 040.5 - | Vacated | 0 - | 02000-04-10 April 10, 2000 | 0 | Denver, CO | Monday Nitro | Vacated by Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo, along with all other WCW titles.[1][37] |
| 041 41 | Chris Candido | 1 | 02000-04-16 April 16, 2000 | 29 | Chicago, IL | Spring Stampede (2000) | Defeated The Artist, Juventud Guerrera, Shannon Moore, Lash LeRoux and Crowbar in a six-way match.[38] |
| 042 42 | Crowbar and Daffney | 1 | 02000-05-15 May 15, 2000 | 7 | Biloxi, MS | Monday Nitro | Defeated Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch in a mixed tag team match to become co-champions on Monday Nitro.[39][40] |
| 042.5 42 | Daffney | 1 | 02000-05-22 May 22, 2000 | 15 | Grand Rapids, MI | Monday Nitro | Defeated Crowbar to become undisputed champion.[39][40] |
| 043 43 | Lieutenant Loco | 1 | 02000-06-06 June 6, 2000 | 55 | Knoxville, TN | Thunder | This was a triple threat match also involving Disco Inferno, aired on June 7.[1] |
| 044 44 | Lance Storm | 1 | 02000-07-31 July 31, 2000 | 14 | Cincinnati, OH | Monday Nitro | Simultaneously held WCW Cruiserweight Championship, WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and WCW Hardcore Championship.[7][40] |
| 045 45 | Elix Skipper | 1 | 02000-08-14 August 14, 2000 | 49 | Kelowna, BC | Monday Nitro | Skipper was awarded the title by his Team Canada partner Storm, who called it the "100 KG and Under Championship".[41] |
| 046 46 | Mike Sanders | 1 | 02000-10-02 October 2, 2000 | 63 | Daly City, CA | Monday Nitro | Sanders and Kevin Nash defeated Skipper in a Handicap Powerbomb match.[7][40][42] |
| 047 47 | Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (formerly Lieutenant Loco) | 2 | 02000-12-04 December 4, 2000 | 104 | Lincoln, NE | Thunder | [7] |
| 048 48 | Shane Helms | 1 | 02001-03-18 March 18, 2001 | 107 | Jacksonville, FL | Greed | [43] WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation later that month.[7] |
| 049 49 | Billy Kidman | 4 | 02001-07-03 July 3, 2001 | 27 | Tacoma, WA | SmackDown! | Aired July 5.[44] |
| 050 50 | X-Pac (formerly Syxx) | 2 | 02001-07-30 July 30, 2001 | 71 | Philadelphia, PA | Raw is War | This was a unification match to seal X-Pac's WWF Light Heavyweight Championship.[45] |
| 052 51 | Billy Kidman | 5 | 02001-10-09 October 9, 2001 | 13 | Moline, IL | SmackDown! | Aired on October 11.[46] |
| 053 53 | Tajiri | 1 | 02001-10-22 October 22, 2001 | 162 | Kansas City, MO | Raw | The title became the WWF Cruiserweight Championship when the WWF defeated The Alliance at Survivor Series on November 18 and replaced the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. The title became exclusive to SmackDown on March 25, 2002.[47] |
| 054 54 | Billy Kidman | 6 | 02002-04-02 April 2, 2002 | 19 | Rochester, NY | SmackDown! | Aired on April 4.[48] |
| 055 55 | Tajiri | 2 | 02002-04-21 April 21, 2002 | 23 | Kansas City, MO | Backlash (2002) | The title became the WWE Cruiserweight Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment.[49] |
| 056 56 | The Hurricane (formerly Shane Helms) | 2 | 02002-05-14 May 14, 2002 | 40 | Montreal, QC | SmackDown! | This was a triple threat match that aired on May 16, also involving Billy Kidman.[50] |
| 057 57 | Jamie Noble | 1 | 02002-06-23 June 23, 2002 | 147 | Columbus, OH | King of the Ring (2002) | [51] |
| 058 58 | Billy Kidman | 7 | 02002-11-17 November 17, 2002 | 98 | New York, NY | Survivor Series (2002) | [52] |
| 059 59 | Matt Hardy | 1 | 02003-02-23 February 23, 2003 | 100 | Montreal, QC | No Way Out (2003) | [53] |
| 060 60 | Rey Mysterio (formerly Rey Misterio, Jr.) | 6 | 02003-06-03 June 3, 2003 | 112 | Anaheim, CA | SmackDown! | Aired on June 5.[54] |
| 061 61 | Tajiri | 3 | 02003-09-23 September 23, 2003 | 98 | Philadelphia, PA | SmackDown! | Aired on September 25.[55] |
| 062 62 | Rey Mysterio | 7 | 02003-12-30 December 30, 2003 | 47 | Laredo, TX | SmackDown! | Aired on January 1.[56] |
| 063 63 | Chavo Guerrero (formerly Chavo Guerrero, Jr.) | 3 | 02004-02-15 February 15, 2004 | 79 | Daly City, CA | No Way Out (2004) | [57] |
| 064 64 | Jacqueline | 1 | 02004-05-04 May 4, 2004 | 12 | Tucson, AZ | SmackDown! | Aired on May 6.[58] |
| 065 65 | Chavo Guerrero | 4 | 02004-05-16 May 16, 2004 | 2 | Los Angeles, CA | Judgment Day (2004) | Guerrero won the title with one hand tied behind his back, though his father Chavo Classic untied it during the match.[59] |
| 066 66 | Chavo Classic | 1 | 02004-05-18 May 18, 2004 | 28 | Las Vegas, NV | SmackDown! | This was a triple threat match also involving Spike Dudley, which aired on May 20.[60] |
| 067 67 | Rey Mysterio | 8 | 02004-06-15 June 15, 2004 | 42 | Chicago, IL | SmackDown! | Aired on June 17.[61] |
| 068 68 | Spike Dudley | 1 | 02004-07-27 July 27, 2004 | 138 | Cincinnati, OH | SmackDown! | Aired on July 29.[62] |
| 069 69 | Funaki | 1 | 02004-12-12 December 12, 2004 | 70 | Atlanta, GA | Armageddon (2004) | [63] |
| 070 70 | Chavo Guerrero | 5 | 02005-02-20 February 20, 2005 | 37 | Pittsburgh, PA | No Way Out (2005) | Won the title in a six-man Cruiserweight Open, also including Paul London, Akio, Shannon Moore and Spike Dudley.[64] |
| 071 71 | Paul London | 1 | 02005-03-29 March 29, 2005 | 126 | Houston, TX | SmackDown! | Won an 8-man battle royal, aired on March 31.[65] |
| 072 72 | Nunzio | 1 | 02005-08-02 August 2, 2005 | 68 | Bridgeport, CT | Velocity | [66] |
| 073 73 | Juventud (formerly Juventud Guerrera) | 4 | 02005-10-09 October 9, 2005 | 37 | Houston, TX | No Mercy (2005) | [67] |
| 074 74 | Nunzio | 2 | 02005-11-15 November 15, 2005 | 7 | Rome, Italy | Live event | [68] |
| 075 75 | Juventud | 5 | 02005-11-22 November 22, 2005 | 26 | Sheffield, England | SmackDown! | Aired on November 25.[1][69] |
| 076 76 | Kid Kash | 1 | 02005-12-18 December 18, 2005 | 42 | Providence, RI | Armageddon (2005) | [70] |
| 077 77 | Gregory Helms (formerly The Hurricane) | 3 | 02006-01-29 January 29, 2006 | 385 | Miami, FL | Royal Rumble (2006) | This was a six-way match also involving Funaki, Jamie Noble, Nunzio and Paul London. Helms, who was on the Raw roster at that time, moved to SmackDown! after winning the title.[71] |
| 078 78 | Chavo Guerrero | 6 | 02007-02-18 February 18, 2007 | 154 | Los Angeles, CA | No Way Out (2007) | This was an 8-man Cruiserweight Open at No Way Out, also involving Daivari, Shannon Moore, Funaki, Jamie Noble, Jimmy Wang Yang and Scotty 2 Hotty.[72] |
| 079 79 | Hornswoggle | 1 | 02007-07-22 July 22, 2007 | 65 | San Jose, CA | The Great American Bash (2007) | This was a six-man Cruiserweight Open also involving Jimmy Wang Yang, Shannon Moore, Funaki and Jamie Noble.[73] |
| 079.5 - | Vacated | 0 - | 02007-09-25 September 25, 2007 | 0 | Indianapolis, IN | Smackdown! | Vacated on the September 25, 2007 edition of SmackDown! (aired September 28) by acting General Manager Vickie Guerrero, citing that his status as Mr. McMahon's (kayfabe) son and his dimunitive stature would eventually jeopardize his well-being. |
| 079.6 - | Retired | 0 - | 02008-03-04 March 4, 2008 | 0 | N/A | N/A | On March 4, 2008, WWE.com put the title on the retired section with the other past titles. |