Professional wrestling weight classes


In professional wrestling, a weight class is a standardized weight range for the wrestlers. The top class in almost every promotion is heavyweight, but super heavyweights exist. Weight class matches in modern-day American professional wrestling are rare, but weight class championships still exist. However, Japanese professional wrestling, Mexican wrestling and British wrestling use the weight classes more seriously.

Australia

Australian professional wrestling championships determined by weight class

United States

, the largest professional wrestling promotion both nationally and internationally, has a reserved championship exclusively for wrestlers under the "Cruiserweight" category. Historically, WWE has had a number of championships that were only competed by lighter wrestlers such as the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship which became defunct in 2001. Conversely, WWE's so-called "Heavyweight" championships aren't exclusive to heavyweight performers as it has been won by light wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles.
While some of the smaller, independent wrestling promotions use weight classes, most of the larger promotions do not. Even if weight classes are used, they are usually not enforced due to the scripted nature of professional wrestling. In March 2013, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling imposed a weight limit for wrestlers competing in the X Division for the TNA X Division Championship. In October 2013, however, TNA wrestler Samoa Joe, billed at, competed in an X Division Championship bout at TNA's Bound for Glory pay-per-view. Rather, it's more common for wrestling promotions to create a secondary championship to be competed for by smaller wrestlers. This championship, depending upon the promotion, is usually named Cruiserweight, Light Heavyweight or Junior Heavyweight. In some sports, most notably boxing since it has a large number of weight classes, these three names represent different separate weight classes. In professional wrestling the upper weight limit of these championships varied and are often not strictly enforced, depending upon the desires of company management, but usually ranged from a maximum of 215 pounds to 230 pounds depending upon the promotion. Throughout the years, practically all of such championships have been retired due to the wrestling promotion closing down or losing interest. The oldest of these championships still active in the United States is the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Created in 1945, the title is also recognized and frequently defended in other promotions outside of the United States.

US pro wrestling championships determined by weight class

Current NWA Weight Classes

NameWeight limitYears active
NWA World Super Heavyweight ChampionshipUnlimited2003-2005
NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipUnlimitedJuly 14, 1948 – present
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship<225 lbs.May 1945 – present
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship<200 lbs.November 6, 1952 – present
NWA World Middleweight Championship<185 lbs.1939-August 12, 2010
NWA World Welterweight Championship<170 lbs.March 15, 1946 – present

Mexico

No other professional wrestling promotions have made such an extensive use of weight classes as some located in Mexico. The lucha libre style is highly prominent in Mexico and makes extensive use of high spots and a fast, sometimes frantically so, pace that suits physically smaller wrestlers. As a result, most of the top professional wrestling stars in Mexico are lighter than those in many American promotions. Whereas the few American promotions and governing bodies, such as the National Wrestling Alliance, have what would be termed a Cruiserweight, Light Heavyweight or Junior Heavyweight division, several Mexican wrestling promotions have multiple weight classes.

Mexican pro wrestling championships determined by weight class

Japan

As with Mexico, non-heavyweight wrestling championships have risen to prominence in a number of Japanese wrestling promotions. Unlike Mexico, however, and more in line with most promotions in the United States, most Japanese wrestling companies generally have a secondary singles and, in some cases, a tag team championship geared to the Cruiserweight/Junior Heavyweight/Light Heavyweight weight division rather than multiple weight divisions.

Japanese pro wrestling championships determined by weight class

The 1947 Admiral-Lord Mountevans rules set out seven weight divisions with maximum weight limits and called for champions to be crowned of each limit: Lightweight: 11st, Welterweight 11st 11 lb, Middleweight 12st 8 lb, Heavy Middleweight 13st 5 lb, Light Heavyweight 14st 2 lb, Mid-Heavyweight 14st 13 lb and Heavyweight for all weights upwards of 15st.
An earlier system of weight classes with different levels and more divisions existed under the 1930 All-In rules. Many "American style"/"New School" promotions follow the example of modern US promotions of having a Cruiserweight/Junior Heavyweight/etc division alongside primarily Heavyweight competition.

Russian professional wrestling championships determined by weight class