Current Champion
Bárbaro Cavernario is the champion. He defeated Niebla Roja on July 15, 2022 in Arena Mexico.
History of Championship
Among the singles championships in CMLL, the CMLL Light Heavyweight championship is highly respected. It has a history of long title reigns by quality wrestlers in prestigious positions. Most of top stars are light heavyweights, or are close enough light heavyweights to reasonable challenge for this championship.
Shocker's championship reign was the first of a series of title changes designed to leverage the title into springboarding the new champion. Shocker defeating Villano III was part of his new role of top regular tecnico in the company. While the light heavyweight was not always the focus, the title reign and the aftermath appears to be the peak of Shocker's career.
While Shocker winning the title made him a bigger tecnico, Ultimo Guerrero winning it was to firmly position the new champion as one of the rudos in the company. Ultimo Guerrero was already respected as a wrestler and had been going toe to toe with the best CMLL had to offer, but his championship reign established Ultimo Guerrero himself as the best. It's not uncommon for lucha libre championship reigns to last three and half years, but rarely are they filled with as many defenses (and those of quality) as Ultimo Guerrero's.
Ultimo Guerrero lost the championship to former partner Rey Bucanero as a way to climax their split. Unfortunately, the story of the split never got over with the fans. In part because with the short turnaround from fallout to big match, the match didn't have the expected interest or level. Bucanero has been a credible champion, but when the promotion lost interest in Bucanero as a tecnico, the importance of this belt fell with him. The title has had a little more meaning since Bucanero returned to the rudo side, but still a bit off to the side, like all championships which do not involve Mistico.
In late May of 2009, as CMLL resumed running shows after the flu cancellations, Bucanero and Ephesto started feuding. Bucanero was not booked on the first show back, so he sat in the front row to watch the show. Ephesto bumped into Bucnaero during his match, Bucanero threw his beer at Ephesto, and the two began brawling. Ephesto's Hijo de Averno teammates pitched in and Bucanero took the worst of it. Bucanero struck back with the help of his Guerreros del Atlantida partners, and the two factions started feuding. Bucanero and Ephesto were still the center of the feud, with Ephesto scoring clean victories on Bucanero in trios matches during the short time between the feud and the title match.
The May 28th match had an usual outcome. Ephesto worked over Bucanero's left knee thru the third fall, and Bucanero was unable to continue after being thrown out of the ring onto the bad knee. The ringside doctor stopped the match, and Ephesto was awarded the win and the championship. Ephesto's title win was seen as a bit of an upset, as Bucanero had been booked at a level higher in recent years. This was also Ephesto's first major singles championship win.
Ephesto's championship reign was very quiet. Bucanero returned from his knee injury after nearly a year, but Ephesto was able to prove he was the rightful champion by winning in his rematch. Ephesto did not otherwise defend the championship, and lost in the first round of the first two CMLL Universal Tournaments.
Rising star Rush defeated Ephesto after a short month long feud. Rush is the most recent champion. He vacated the championship on January 15,2013 and a tournament was took place to determine a new champion.
Champions Listing
| #
|
Champion(s)
|
Defeated
|
Date
|
Location
|
|
| sixteen man tournament to determine first champion
|
|
| 1
|
Jerry Estrada
|
Pierroth Jr.
|
1991.09.26
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
|
1
|
Lizmark
|
1991.12.15
|
Arena Mexico
|
[1]
|
| 2
|
Pierroth Jr.
|
Jerry Estrada
|
1992.03.19
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
[2]
|
|
|
1
|
Mascara Sagrada
|
1992.04.11
|
Arena Coliseo De San Luis Potosi
|
|
|
|
2
|
Lizmark Sr.
|
1992.06.12
|
Arena Coliseo De San Luis Potosi
|
|
|
|
3
|
Brazo de Oro
|
1992.07.01
|
Arena Naucalpan
|
[3]
|
|
|
4
|
Pirata Morgan
|
1992.07.11
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
5
|
Lizmark Sr.
|
1992.08.21
|
Auditroio Morelos, Morelia, Michoacán
|
[4]
|
|
|
6
|
Love Machine
|
1992.09.16
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
[5]
|
|
|
7
|
MS-1
|
1992.09.19
|
Arena Puebla
|
[6]
|
|
|
8
|
Pirata Morgan
|
1992.10.04
|
Arena Mexico
|
[7]
|
|
|
9
|
Pirata Morgan
|
1992.12.17
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
[8]
|
|
|
10
|
Pirata Morgan
|
1992.12.29
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
[9]
|
|
|
11
|
Fabuloso Blondy
|
1993.01.27
|
Arena Naucalpan
|
|
|
|
12
|
Pirata Morgan
|
1993.03.18
|
Arena Toluca
|
|
| 3
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
Pierroth Jr.
|
1993.04.02
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Atlantis
|
1993.05.09
|
El Toreo De Naucalpan
|
|
|
|
2
|
Dos Caras
|
1993.06.28
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
3
|
El Dandy
|
1993.06.29
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
4
|
Hector Garza
|
1993.10.24
|
Arena Obreros del Progreso, Saltillo, Coahuila
|
[10]
|
|
|
5
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1993.11.30
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
| 4
|
Atlantis
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
1994.03.02
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
|
1
|
Mano Negra
|
1994.04.17
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
2
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
1994.05.11
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
|
3
|
Silver King
|
1994.08.03
|
Arena Naucalpan
|
|
|
|
4
|
Javier Cruz
|
1994.10.08
|
Jilotepec
|
|
|
|
5
|
Satanico
|
1994.11.17
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
|
6[11]
|
Kraneo
|
1995.03.02
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
| 5
|
Dr. Wagner Jr. [2]
|
Atlantis
|
1995.12.17
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
1[12]
|
Atlantis
|
1996.01.15
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
2
|
Hector Garza
|
1996.02.09
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
3
|
El Texano
|
1996.03.03
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
4
|
Silver King
|
1996.04.27
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
|
5[13]
|
Hector Garza
|
1996.05.05
|
Plaza de Toros Valente Arellano, Torreón, Coahuila
|
|
|
|
6
|
Dos Caras
|
1996.05.26
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
| next two title changes are unapproved and believed to be unrecognized by CMLL
|
|
| -
|
Aquarius
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
1996.07.19
|
Tokyo
|
|
| -
|
Dr. Wagner Jr. [3]
|
Aquarius
|
1996.07.27
|
Sapporo, Japan
|
|
|
|
7
|
Jushin Lyger
|
1996.11.15
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
8
|
Ricky Santana
|
1997.08.03
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
9
|
Mr. Niebla
|
1997.09.02
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
10
|
Atlantis
|
1997.11.23
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
11
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1998.02.27
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
12
|
Mr. Niebla
|
1998.12.27
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
[14]
|
| 6
|
Atlantis [2]
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
1999.05.10
|
Arena Puebla
|
[15]
|
|
|
1
|
Blue Panther
|
1999.05.26
|
Arena Coliseo Acapulco
|
[16]
|
|
|
2
|
Villano III
|
1999.06.13
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
3
|
Villano III
|
1999.08.03
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
4
|
Villano III
|
1999.09.27
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
| 7
|
Villano III
|
Atlantis
|
1999.11.22
|
Tampico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Atlantis
|
1999.12.16
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
|
2
|
Atlantis
|
2000.02.11
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
3
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
2000.05.10
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
|
4
|
Blue Panther
|
2000.06.18
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
5
|
Blue Panther
|
2000.11.19
|
Arena Coliseo De Reynosa
|
|
|
|
6
|
Scorpio Jr.
|
2001.05.09
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
|
7
|
Blue Panther
|
2001.06.18
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
| 8
|
Shocker
|
Villano III
|
2001.10.17
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
1
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
2001.11.08
|
Arena Neza
|
|
|
|
2
|
Tarzan Boy
|
2001.11.28
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
|
3
|
Black Warrior
|
2001.12.10
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
4
|
Mr. Niebla
|
2002.01.06
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
5
|
Tarzan Boy
|
2002.02.22
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
6
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
2002.03.26
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
7
|
Tarzan Boy
|
2002.04.18
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
|
8
|
Atlantis
|
2002.07.01
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
9
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2002.10.07
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
10
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
2002.10.10
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
| 9
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
Shocker
|
2002.12.13
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Shocker
|
2003.02.14
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
2
|
Shocker
|
2003.02.26
|
Arena Lopez Mateos
|
|
|
|
3
|
Shocker
|
2003.03.06
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
|
4
|
Shocker
|
2003.03.26
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
|
5
|
Shocker
|
2003.06.24
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
6
|
Atlantis
|
2003.07.13
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
7
|
Lizmark Jr.
|
2003.08.19
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
8
|
El Mephisto
|
2003.10.06
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
9[17]
|
Mr. Guerrero
|
2003.10.16
|
Arena Olimpico Laguna - Gomez Palacio
|
|
|
|
10
|
Terrible
|
2004.02.18
|
Arena Lopez Mateos
|
|
|
|
11
|
Blue Panther
|
2004.02.23
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
12
|
Lizmark Jr.
|
2004.04.05
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
13
|
LA Park
|
2004.04.18
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
14
|
Vertigo
|
2004.05.08
|
Arena Iztapalpa
|
|
|
|
15
|
Blue Panther
|
2004.06.20
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
16[18]
|
El Astuto
|
2004.07.08
|
Arena Olimpico Laguna
|
|
|
|
17
|
Blue Panther
|
2004.07.25
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
18
|
Atlantis
|
2004.08.17
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
19
|
LA Park
|
2004.09.17
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
20[19]
|
Soberano Jr.
|
2004.09.30
|
Gimnasio Municipal Luis L. Vargas
|
|
|
|
21
|
Black Warrior
|
2004.10.31
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
22[20]
|
Blue Panther
|
2004.12.25
|
Gimnasio Municipal Luis L. Vargas
|
|
|
|
23
|
Shocker
|
2005.02.13
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
24
|
Dos Caras Jr.
|
2005.05.27
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
25
|
Atlantis
|
2005.05.31
|
Auditorio Benito Juarez - Cuautitlan
|
|
|
|
26
|
The Tiger
|
2005.07.19
|
Korakuen Hall
|
|
|
|
27
|
Soberano Jr.
|
2005.12.29
|
Arena Olimpico Laguna - Gomez Palacio
|
|
|
|
28
|
Soberano Jr.
|
2006.01.05
|
Arena Olimpico Laguna - Gomez Palacio
|
|
|
|
29
|
Dos Caras Jr.
|
2006.03.12
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
30
|
Hector Garza
|
2006.04.28
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
31
|
Dos Caras Jr.
|
2006.06.20
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
32
|
Stuka I
|
2006.07.13
|
Arena Olimpico Laguna - Gomez Palacio
|
|
| 10
|
Rey Bucanero
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2006.07.14
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2006.08.27
|
Gimnasio Nuevo Leon
|
|
|
|
2
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2006.09.18
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
3
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2006.10.01
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
4
|
Kenzo Suzuki
|
2006.11.20
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
5
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2007.01.21
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
6
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2007.02.15
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
|
7
|
Hector Garza
|
2007.04.30
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
8
|
Atlantis
|
2007.07.22
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
|
9
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2007.09.16
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
10
|
Mr. Águila
|
2008.03.04
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
11
|
Alex Koslov
|
2008.05.25
|
Arena Coliseo
|
|
|
|
12
|
Hector Garza
|
2008.10.19
|
Arena Coliseo
|
|
|
|
13
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
2008.11.10
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
14
|
Maximo
|
2009.01.06
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
15
|
Volador Jr.
|
2009.02.01
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
| 11
|
Ephesto
|
Rey Bucanero
|
2009.05.26
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Rey Bucanero
|
2010.06.15
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
| 12
|
Rush
|
Ephesto
|
2011.02.22
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Rey Bucanero
|
2011.04.03
|
Arena Coliseo
|
|
|
|
2
|
Psicosis
|
2011.05.10
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
3
|
Mr. Águila
|
2011.08.23
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
4
|
Terrible
|
2011.11.13
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
5
|
Terrible
|
2012.03.04
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
6
|
Yujiro
|
2012.06.07
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
7
|
Rey Bucanero
|
2012.09.09
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
| Rush vacates championship on 2013.01.15 to challenge for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
|
|
| 16 man cibernetico with final 2 facing off the following week
|
|
| 13
|
Rey Escorpion
|
Volador Jr.
|
2013.01.30
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Stuka Jr.
|
2013.04.30
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
2
|
Gallo
|
2013.06.02
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
3
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
2013.08.19
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
4
|
Rush
|
2013.12.01
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
|
|
5
|
Máximo
|
2013.12.17
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
6
|
Mascara Dorada
|
2013.12.28
|
Cancha German Evers, Mazatlan, Sinaloa
|
|
|
|
7
|
Máximo
|
2014.01.17
|
Shinkiba 1st Ring, Tokyo
|
|
|
|
8
|
Máximo
|
2014.04.20
|
Arena México
|
|
|
|
9
|
La Mascara
|
2014.05.05
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
10
|
Atlantis
|
2014.06.16
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
11
|
Hijo de Rey Misterio[21]
|
2014.09.14
|
Gimnasio Solidaridad, Hermosillo, Sonora
|
|
| 14
|
Angel de Oro
|
Rey Escorpion
|
2014.10.28
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Okumura
|
2015.01.17
|
Tokyo, Japan
|
|
|
|
2
|
Gran Guerrero
|
2015.03.01
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
3
|
Reaper
|
2015.06.01
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
4[22]
|
Polvora
|
2015.07.28
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
5[23]
|
Polvora
|
2015.08.10
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
| 15
|
La Máscara[24]
|
Angel de Oro
|
2016.04.08
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Atlantis
|
2016.12.17
|
Arena Coliseo
|
|
| championship vacant on 2017.05.22 when Mascara is fired by CMLL
|
|
| Torneo Cibernetico to decide new champion with final 2 competitors facing off in a one fall match
|
|
| 16
|
Niebla Roja
|
Bárbaro Cavernario
|
2017.06.10
|
Arena Coliseo
|
|
|
|
1
|
Rey Bucanero
|
2017.10.14
|
Arena Coliseo
|
|
|
|
2
|
Bárbaro Cavernario
|
2017.10.24
|
Arena México
|
|
|
|
3
|
Gran Guerrero
|
2018.01.19
|
Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
|
|
|
|
4
|
Sanson (II)
|
2018.07.17
|
Arena México
|
|
|
|
4
|
Luciferno
|
2019.01.28
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
5
|
Gran Guerrero
|
2019.10.14
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
6
|
Mephisto
|
2019.11.18
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
7
|
Forastero
|
2020.03.07
|
Arena Coliseo
|
|
|
|
8
|
Felino
|
2020.10.31
|
Arena Mexico
|
[25]
|
| 17
|
Bárbaro Cavernario
|
Niebla Roja
|
2022.07.15
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
1
|
Averno
|
2022.09.05
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
2
|
Esfinge
|
2023.09.29
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
3
|
Angel de Oro
|
2022.10.23
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
|
|
|
| title change
|
| successful title defense
|
| championship matches which were announced, but results were not found
|
Gallery of Champions
Sources
Wrestling-Titles.com
