CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
Current Champion
Ephesto, a member of Hijos del Averno, defeated Rey Bucanero for the championship on May 26, 2009.
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.
Champions Listing
Sources:
Gallery of Champions
 Jerry Estrada, 1st Champion |
 Pierroth, 2nd Champion |
 Dr. Wagner Jr., 3rd & 5th Champion |
 Villano III, 7th Champion |
 Shocker, 8th Champion |
 Ultimo Guerrero, 9th Champion |
 Rey Bucanero, 10th Champion |
