{{Short description|Professional wrestling championship}} {{distinguish|NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship}} {{Infobox pro wrestling championship |championshipname = WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship |image = Wwwf junior heavyweight championship belt 01.jpg |caption = WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship belt (top)<br>WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship belt (bottom) |currentholder = |promotion = World Wrestling Federation (WWF)<br />New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) |created = 1965 |mostreigns = Johnny De Fazio<br />(4 reigns) |longestreign = Tatsumi Fujinami<br />({{age in days|month1=10|day1=04|year1=1979|month2=12|day2=01|year2=1981}} days) |shortestreign = Ryuma Go<br />(2 days) |titleretired = October 31, 1985 |pastnames = * WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship |image2 = WWF-Junior.JPG }} The '''WWWF/WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship''' is a former championship recognized by the World (Wide) Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro-Wrestling for wrestlers of smaller size. The title existed from 1965 through 1985.

==History== [[File:Tiger Mask, 1982.png|thumb|Tiger Mask with the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship, 1982]] In April 1994, the WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship belt was used as a trophy for the first ever Super J-Cup, which was won by Wild Pegasus.

==Reigns== Over the championship's 20-year history, there were 20 reigns between 11 champions. Johnny De Fazio has the most reigns at four times. Tatsumi Fujinami's second reign it the longest at 789 days, while Ryuma Go's reign was the shortest at two days. The Cobra and Les Thornton were the final champions, simultaneously billed as such by New Japan Pro-Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, respectively, in 1985.<ref name=WWFLast2>[https://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/wwf-lh.html WWF World Light Heavyweight Title - Wrestling-Titles]</ref>

{{Professional wrestling title history top}} {{PWtitlereign |sort number = 0.5 |type = promotion |name = World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) }} {{PWtitlereign |number = 1 |champion = {{sort|DeGalles|Paul DeGalles}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|1965|September}} |days = {{sort|{{age in days|September 30, 1965|October 15, 1965}}|<ref group=Note>The exact date DeGalles won the championship is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between {{age in days|September 30, 1965|October 15, 1965}} and {{age in days|September 1, 1965|October 15, 1965}} days.</ref>}} |location = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Location>The location of the match was not captured in any known documentation.</ref>}} |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 2 |champion = {{sortname|Johnny|De Fazio}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|October 15, 1965}} |days = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Uncertain>The length of the championship reign is too uncertain to calculate.</ref>}} |location = Pittsburgh, PA |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 3 |champion = {{sort|Nicholas|Jackie Nicholas}} |reign = 1 |date = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Date>The date of the match was not captured in any known documentation.</ref>}} |days = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Uncertain/>}} |location = New England |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 4 |champion = {{sortname|Johnny|De Fazio}} |reign = 2 |date = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Date/>}} |days = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Uncertain/>}} |location = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Location/>}} |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 5 |champion = {{sort|Nicholas|Jackie Nicholas}} |reign = 2 |date = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Date/>}} |days = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Uncertain/>}} |location = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Location/>}} |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 6 |champion = {{sortname|Johnny|De Fazio}} |reign = 3 |date = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Date/>}} |days = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Uncertain/>}} |location = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Location/>}} |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 7 |champion = {{sort|Nicholas|Jackie Nicholas}} |reign = 3 |date = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Date/>}} |days = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Uncertain/>}} |location = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Location/>}} |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 8 |champion = {{sortname|Johnny|De Fazio}} |reign = 4 |date = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Date/>}} |days = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Uncertain/>}} |location = {{sort|00|<ref group=Note name=Location/>}} |event = House show |notes = &nbsp; |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 8.5 |type = vacated |date = {{dts|1972}} |notes = Johnny De Fazio vacated the championship in 1972 upon retirement. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 0.5 |type = promotion |name = National Wrestling Alliance: World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 9 |champion = {{sortname|Carlos Jose|Estrada}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|January 20, 1978}} |days = {{age in days|month1=01|day1=20|year1=1978|month2=01|day2=23|year2=1978}} |location = Uniondale, NY |event = House show |notes = Defeated Tony Garea to reestablish the title in the WWWF. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 10 |champion = {{sortname|Tatsumi|Fujinami}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|January 23, 1978}} |days = {{age in days|month1=01|day1=23|year1=1978|month2=10|day2=02|year2=1979}} |location = New York, NY |event = ''WWWF'' |notes = Fujinami moved to New Japan Pro-Wrestling with the championship. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 10.5 |type = promotion |name = National Wrestling Alliance: World Wrestling Federation (WWF) }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 11 |champion = {{sortname|Ryuma|Go}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|October 2, 1979}} |days = {{age in days|month1=10|day1=02|year1=1979|month2=10|day2=04|year2=1979}} |location = Osaka, Japan |event = Bloody Fight Series |notes = |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 12 |champion = {{sortname|Tatsumi|Fujinami}} |reign = 2 |date = {{dts|October 4, 1979}} |days = {{age in days|month1=10|day1=04|year1=1979|month2=12|day2=01|year2=1981}} |location = Tokyo, Japan |event = Bloody Fight Series |notes = |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 12.5 |type = vacated |date = {{dts|December 1, 1981}} |notes = Tatsumi Fujinami entered the heavyweight division, thus the championship was vacated. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 13 |champion = {{sortname|Tiger|Mask|Satoru Sayama}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|January 10, 1982}} |days = {{age in days|month1=01|day1=10|year1=1982|month2=04|day2=30|year2=1982}} |location = Tokyo, Japan |event = New Year Super Fight |notes = Defeated Dynamite Kid for the vacant championship. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 13.5 |type = vacated |date = {{dts|April 30, 1982}} |notes = The championship was vacated after Tiger Mask suffered an injury. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 14 |champion = {{sortname|Black|Tiger|Mark Rocco}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|May 6, 1982}} |days = {{age in days|month1=05|day1=06|year1=1982|month2=05|day2=26|year2=1982}} |location = Fukuoka, Japan |event = Big Fight Series 1982 |notes = Defeated Gran Hamada in a decision match to win the vacant championship. |ref = <ref name=F4W0506>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-may-6-verne-gagne-vs-danny-hodge-1st-annual-von-erich | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (May 6): Verne Gagne Vs. Danny Hodge, 1st Annual Von Erich Parade of Champions show| date=May 6, 2015 | access-date=February 10, 2017 | author=F4W Staff | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}</ref> }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 15 |champion = {{sortname|Tiger|Mask|Satoru Sayama}} |reign = 2 |date = {{dts|May 26, 1982}} |days = {{age in days|month1=05|day1=26|year1=1982|month2=04|day2=03|year2=1983}} |location = Osaka, Japan |event = Big Fight Series 1982 |notes = &nbsp; |ref = <ref name=F4W0526>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-may-26-dick-bruiser-crusher-beat-larry-hennig-harley-race | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (May 26): Dick the Bruiser & Crusher beat Larry Hennig & Harley Race in a nine fall death match, Tiger Mask wins WWF Jr. Heavyweight gold | date=May 26, 2015 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | author=F4W Staff | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}</ref> }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 15.5 |type = vacated |date = {{dts|April 3, 1983}} |notes = Tiger Mask was injured by the Dynamite Kid in a tag team match two nights before. On the same April 3, Dynamite Kid and Kuniaki Kobayashi fought for the title and no winner was declared. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 16 |champion = {{sortname|Tiger|Mask|Satoru Sayama}} |reign = 3 |date = {{dts|June 13, 1983}} |days = {{age in days|month1=06|day1=13|year1=1983|month2=08|day2=12|year2=1983}} |location = Mexico City, Mexico |event = Tercera Confrontacion Mexico – Japan |notes = Defeated Fishman in decision match to win the vacant championship. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 16.5 |type = vacated |date = {{dts|August 12, 1983}} |notes = The championship was vacated due to Tiger Mask retirement.. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 0.5 |type = promotion |name = World Wrestling Federation (WWF) }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 17 |champion = {{sortname|Dynamite|Kid}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|February 7, 1984}} |days = {{age in days|month1=02|day1=07|year1=1984|month2=11|day2=06|year2=1984}} |location = Tokyo, Japan |event = New Year Golden Series 1984 |notes = Won a tournament final match over The Cobra to win the vacant championship. |ref = <ref name=F4W0207>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0207-bobby-roode-austin-aries-win-tag-team-gold-229726 | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (Feb 7): Bobby Roode & Austin Aries wins tag gold | date=February 7, 2017 | access-date=February 15, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}</ref> }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 17.5 |type = vacated |date = {{dts|November 6, 1984}} |notes = The championship was vacated after Dynamite Kid left Japan to join the WWF full time, and became a tag team wrestler. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 18 |champion = {{sortname|The|Cobra|George Takano}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|December 28, 1984}} |days = {{age in days|month1=12|day1=28|year1=1984|month2=05|day2=20|year2=1985}} |location = New York City, NY |event = ''WWF on MSG Network'' |notes = Defeated Black Tiger to win the vacant championship. |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 19 |champion = {{sortname|Hiro|Saito}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|May 20, 1985}} |days = {{age in days|month1=05|day1=20|year1=1985|month2=07|day2=28|year2=1985}} |location = Hiroshima, Japan |event = IWGP & WWF Championship Series |notes = |ref = &nbsp; }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 20 |champion = {{sortname|The|Cobra|George Takano}} |reign = 2 |date = {{dts|July 28, 1985}} |days = {{age in days|month1=07|day1=28|year1=1985|month2=10|day2=31|year2=1985}} |location = Osaka, Japan |event = Burning Spirit in Summer |notes = |ref = <ref name=F4W0728>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-july-28-lou-thesz-wrestles-husband-worlds-greatest-all | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (July 28): Lou Thesz wrestles the husband of the world's greatest all-time female athlete | date=July 28, 2015 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}</ref> }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 20.5 |type = unrecognized |champion = {{sortname|Les|Thornton}} |reign = — |date = {{dts|1985}} |days = — |location = |event = |notes = The World Wrestling Federation (WWF), after its takeover of NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling, begins billing Les Thornton, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, as alternatively holding the "WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship",<ref>[https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=37069 WWF All American Wrestling]</ref> the "WWF Jr. Light Heavyweight Championship",<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEuZ0eIyyaE Les Thornton in action All American Wrestling July 7th, 1985]</ref> or the "WWF Lt. Hvywt Championship".<ref name=NWALightJr>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGlw594lHC0|title=Piper's Pit with Les Thornton (August 1985)|work=World Wrestling Federation|accessdate=February 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name=WWFLast2/> |ref = }}{{PWtitlereign |sort number = 20.6 |type = deactivated |date = {{dts|October 31, 1985}} |notes = Vacated and abandoned when NJPW and the WWF split.<br>Eventually replaced by NJPW in February 1986 with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. |ref = &nbsp; }} {{BundleEnd}}

==See also== *IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship *NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship

==Footnotes== {{Reflist|group=Note}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050301050609/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/wwfjr.htm Wrestling Information Archive: WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title History] *[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/wwf-j.html Wrestling-Titles: WWF Junior Heavyweight Title]

{{WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship}} {{WWE Championships}} {{New Japan Pro Wrestling}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wwf Junior Heavyweight Championship}} Category:Junior heavyweight wrestling championships Category:New Japan Pro-Wrestling championships Category:WWE championships