Which wrestler won the first WWE Cruiserweight Championship tournament in 1997?

Taka Michinoku won the first WWE Cruiserweight Championship tournament in 1997. He defeated Brian Christopher in the final to become the inaugural champion of the WWF-era title.

The tournament final occurred at In Your House 17: Ground Zero on September 7, 1997, in Louisville, Kentucky. The championship was created after the World Wrestling Federation acquired the rights to the older World Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Championship name and lineage.

Michinoku’s victory gave the WWF a dedicated showcase for lighter wrestlers and international high-flying styles. The championship was later renamed the Light Heavyweight Championship before the Cruiserweight name returned. It was eventually retired in 2007, although WWE later introduced a separate Cruiserweight Championship for the revived 205 Live division.