7 Greatest Chris Jericho Title Reigns
2. WCW Cruiserweight Championship (January 1998)
The wrestling world was introduced to the charismatic, cocky and oftentimes ridiculous Chris Jericho that would go on to dominate headlines and earn universal respect for his character work as much as his in-ring production in late-1997, when he was a burgeoning star for Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling.
After undergoing a heel turn, Jericho began citing conspiracy theories and digging deep into wrestling rule books for loopholes that would reverse losses and, thus, preserve his Cruiserweight Championship reign.
His primary rival throughout the reign was Dean Malenko, a respected-but-serious competitor whose abilities and family legacy were called into question by the villain. Jericho was brilliant in his role and the intensity of the feud enhanced the importance of the title he carried. Suddenly, the hottest story in WCW was not that of the New World Order but, rather, Malenko's quest for revenge against the most compelling bad guy in all of WCW.
Jericho earned himself a cult following and, eventually, and enormous contract with WWE because of his work as cruiserweight champion. And for a fleeting moment, the title itself was elevated in importance.