10 Cruiserweight Wrestling Champions Who Later Won World Titles

7. Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy in a time when WWE was getting crowded with performers from WCW and ECW folding was once downgraded to their lower Light Heavyweight division. In June 2001 he won the Light Heavyweight Championship from Jerry Lynn on SmackDown!. He later dropped the title to X-Pac and then continued tagging with brother Matt.

Jeff was always seen as the tag or mid card performer who had the ability and potential to shoot to headline status in a moment’s notice. In his early career he was often compared to Shawn Michaels with his ariel antics and natural charisma. It took him leaving WWE in 2003 from being totally burned out for him to have the rest and clarity to come back to WWE in 2006 and finally climb his way to the World title.

Fans popped huge when he finally won the big one in 2008 by defeating Edge and Triple H in a triple threat at Armageddon to win the WWE Championship. Jeff’s one of those incredible performers that you can put in any division at any time and he’ll flourish, whether it’s Light Heavyweight, Hardcore, Tag or Heavyweight. It’s what ultimately made him a Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion.