Zach Linder of WWE.com is featuring an article looking back at the history of the WWF/WWE Light Heavyweight Championship.
“Although it was officially established in WWE 15 years ago on Dec. 7, 1997, the title’s spiritual history actually goes back much further. In 1981, WWE created the title in partnership with Mexico’s Universal Wrestling Association. UWA went out of business in 1995 and the title moved to New Japan Pro Wrestling, where it became part of the J-Crown — a unified championship consisting of eight different organization’s lightweight titles. In a unique piece of sports-entertainment history, Ultimo Dragon defended the J-Crown on WCW programming as champion. That means in the heart of the Monday Night War, one of WWE’s titles unofficially appeared in its rival’s ring.”