10 Cruiserweight Wrestling Champions Who Later Won World Titles

5. Jerry Lynn

Jerry Lynn, even though he won the ECW World Championship in October 2000 at Anarchy Rulz and was regarded as ‘The New F'N Show’, was hugely downgraded to working mostly on Heat when he signed with WWF in 2001. He was able to capture the Light Heavyweight Championship for a few months before losing it to Jeff Hardy. And after he lost the title was jobbed out before being released.

Striving to get his confidence back, he started competing for TNA. He actually wrestled in the first match in TNA history and later won their X-Division Championship twice and had awesome encounters with AJ Styles, Chris Sabin and Christopher Daniels. Then in 2008 he moved onto Ring of Honor where he returned to the heavyweight division and won the ROH World Championship at Supercard of Honor IV by defeating Nigel McGuinness and ending his 545-day long reign.

It was vindication for Lynn after being wasted like so many others in WWE for him to be seen in the eyes of fans/promoters as a heavyweight/headliner again. He won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated award for ‘Comeback of the Year’ in 2009 for his stellar run in ROH. Jerry Lynn now coaches and produces world champions for AEW