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Professional wrestling weight classes

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In professional wrestling, a weight class is a standardized weight range for the wrestlers. The top class in almost every promotion is heavyweight, but super heavyweights exist. Weight class matches in modern-day American professional wrestling are rare, but weight class championships still exist. However, Japanese professional wrestling, Mexican wrestling and traditional British wrestling use the weight classes more seriously.

Australia

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Australian professional wrestling championships determined by weight class

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Name Promotion Weight limit
Australian Light Heavyweight Championship National Unknown
Australian Middleweight Championship National Unknown
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (Australian version) World Championship Wrestling (Australia) 92–97 kg
Pacific Pro Wrestling Light Heavyweight Championship[1] Pacific Pro Wrestling <85 kg
World Light Heavyweight Championship (Australian version) National Unknown
WWA International Cruiserweight Championship World Wrestling All-Stars Unknown

United States

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WWE, the largest professional wrestling promotion both nationally and internationally, had a reserved championship exclusively for wrestlers under the "Cruiserweight" category until 2022. Historically, WWE has had a number of championships that were only competed by lighter wrestlers such as the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship which became defunct in 2001. Conversely, WWE's so-called "Heavyweight" championships are not exclusive to heavyweight performers (240 lbs and above), as they have been won by comparatively smaller wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles.

While some of the smaller, independent wrestling promotions use weight classes, most of the larger promotions do not. Even if weight classes are used, they are usually not enforced due to the scripted nature of professional wrestling. In March 2013, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) imposed a 230 lb (104 kg) weight limit for wrestlers competing in the X Division for the TNA X Division Championship. In October 2013, however, TNA wrestler Samoa Joe, billed at 280 lb (127 kg), competed in an X Division Championship bout at TNA's Bound for Glory pay-per-view. Rather, it's more common for wrestling promotions to create a secondary championship to be competed for by smaller wrestlers. This championship, depending upon the promotion, is usually named Cruiserweight, Light Heavyweight or Junior Heavyweight. In some sports, most notably boxing since it has a large number of weight classes, these three names represent different separate weight classes. In professional wrestling the upper weight limit of these championships varied and are often not strictly enforced, depending upon the desires of company management, but usually ranged from a maximum of 215 pounds to 230 pounds depending upon the promotion. Throughout the years, practically all of such championships have been retired due to the wrestling promotion closing down or losing interest. The oldest of these championships still active in the United States is the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Created in 1945, the title is also recognized and frequently defended in other promotions outside of the United States.

US pro wrestling championships determined by weight class

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Name Promotion Weight limit Years active
AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship American Wrestling Association <220 lbs. June 1981 – 1993
TNA X Division Championship Total Nonstop Action Wrestling No official weight limits, formerly 225, 230 lbs. June 19, 2002 – present
WCW Cruiserweight Championship World Championship Wrestling/WWE <225 lbs. March 20, 1996 – September 25, 2007 After WCW was purchased by WWE, then the WWF, in March 2001, the WWF included the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship as part of the lineage of the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. The title was renamed the WWE Cruiserweight title when, WWF turned into WWE.
WCW Light Heavyweight Championship World Championship Wrestling <235 lbs. October 27, 1991 – September 2, 1992
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship WWE/UWA <215 lbs. March 26, 1981 – November 25, 2001 Originally sanctioned as a co-promotion with the Mexican UWA until its closure in 1995, it was then defended in NJPW before becoming a full-time WWF title in 1997. It was abandoned in favor of the WWE Cruiserweight title.
NXT Cruiserweight Championship WWE <205 lbs. September 14, 2016 – January 4, 2022

Former NWA Weight Classes

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The only active National Wrestling Alliance championships in a specified weight division are the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (active since July 14, 1948) and the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (revived in March 2022). The usual weight limit between the two is 225 lbs., but in practice the heavyweight championship is open to any weight class.

Name Weight limit Years active Notes
NWA World Super Heavyweight Championship[2] Unlimited 2003 – 2005 Controlled by Pro Wrestling Zero1
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship <200 lbs. November 6, 1952 – August 2010 Controlled by Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre since 1958 and kept by successor promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre until 2010; replaced with Historic version (see below). An alternate version existed in New Jersey from 1997 to 1998.
NWA World Middleweight Championship <185 lbs. 1939 – August 2010 Controlled by Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre and kept by successor promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre until 2010; replaced with Historic versions (see below).
NWA World Welterweight Championship <170 lbs. March 15, 1946 – June 1992
December 1995 – April 2016

Mexico

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No other professional wrestling promotions have made such an extensive use of weight classes as some located in Mexico. The lucha libre style is highly prominent in Mexico and makes extensive use of high spots and a fast, sometimes frantic, pace that suits physically smaller wrestlers. As a result, most of the top professional wrestling stars in Mexico are lighter than those in many American promotions. Whereas the few American promotions and governing bodies, such as the National Wrestling Alliance, have what would be termed a Cruiserweight, Light Heavyweight or Junior Heavyweight division, several Mexican wrestling promotions have multiple weight classes.

Mexican pro wrestling championships determined by weight class

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Name Promotion Weight limit Years active
AAA World Cruiserweight Championship Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide <105 kg May 21, 2009 – present
CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre between 92 and 97 kg September 26, 1991 – present
CMLL World Middleweight Championship between 82 and 87 kg December 18, 1991 – present
CMLL World Welterweight Championship between 70 and 78 kg February 15, 1992 – present
CMLL World Lightweight Championship between 63 and 70 kg February 27, 1999 – present
NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship between 92 and 97 kg August 12, 2010 – present
NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship between 82 and 87 kg
NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship between 70 and 78 kg
Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship between 92 and 97 kg September 25, 1942 – present
Mexican National Welterweight Championship between 77 and 87 kg June 17, 1934 – present
Mexican National Lightweight Championship between 63 and 70 kg June 28, 1934 – present
IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship International Wrestling Revolution Group between 82 and 87 kg July 27, 1997 – present
IWRG Intercontinental Welterweight Championship between 70 and 78 kg March 1, 1998 – present
IWRG Intercontinental Lightweight Championship between 63 and 70 kg May 29, 2008 – present
IWRG Intercontinental Super Welterweight Championship between 70 and 78 kg November 19, 2006 – 2007

Japan

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As with Mexico, non-heavyweight wrestling championships have risen to prominence in a number of Japanese wrestling promotions. Unlike Mexico, however, and more in line with most promotions in the United States, most Japanese wrestling companies generally have a secondary singles and, in some cases, a tag team championship geared to the Cruiserweight/Junior Heavyweight/Light Heavyweight weight division rather than multiple weight divisions; lower weight division belts are usually imported from Mexico, as in the case of the UWA titles.

Japanese pro wrestling championships determined by weight class

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United Kingdom

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The 1947 Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules set out seven weight divisions with maximum weight limits and called for champions to be crowned of each limit: Lightweight: 11st (154 lb or ~70 kg), Welterweight 11st 11 lb (165 lb or ~75 kg), Middleweight 12st 8 lb (176 lb or ~80 kg), Heavy Middleweight 13st 5 lb (187 lb or ~85 kg), Light Heavyweight 14st 2 lb (198 lb or ~90 kg), Mid-Heavyweight 14st 13 lb (209 lb or ~95 kg) and Heavyweight for all weights upwards of 15st (210 lb or ~95 kg).[3][4]

An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions existed under the 1930 All-In rules.[5] Many "American style"/"New School" promotions follow the example of modern US promotions of having a Cruiserweight/Junior Heavyweight/etc division alongside primarily Heavyweight competition.

An exclusion does apply to charity ran organisations whereby, the organisation is not required to have weight divisions and may use the weight, without impersonation, to market their product for the charity and/or cause and nothing further. Organisations of this nature may also have a smaller roster of professional wrestlers to be able to separate weight divisions and therefore, all athletes must sign a contractual disclaimer in order to compete.

Russian Federation

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Russian professional wrestling championships determined by weight class

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  • IWF Lightweight Championship: limited by 187 lbs

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "DropCatch.com". www.dropcatch.com.
  2. ^ "ZERO-ONE O-300 Super Heavyweight Championship". cagematch.net. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  3. ^ "The History of British Wrestling: Part One". Bleacher Report. 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  4. ^ "The Wrestling Furnace Picture Gallery - Weight Divisions". wrestlingfurnace.site.
  5. ^ Blue Blood on the Mat - Atholl Oakeley, S Paul, 1971 - Appendix:Rules of All In Professional Wrestling
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