Rey Mysterio loses WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles in Final Days of WCW

Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman’s eight-day reign ended at WCW Greed

Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman lost the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles to Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo at Greed on 18 March 2001: a match that capped an eight-team tournament and came eight days before Vince McMahon bought WCW.

What happened at Greed?

The finals of the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship tournament took place at Greed, the final pay-per-view in WCW history. Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo defeated Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman of the Filthy Animals in a fast-paced match to become the first champions. The Filthy Animals had held the titles for just eight days after winning a number one contenders match on the final Nitro.

Why it matters for Rey Mysterio

The loss at Greed marked the end of Rey Mysterio’s brief run as a tag champion in WCW. The cruiserweight division was WCW’s calling card, and Mysterio’s spot in the finals underscored his standing among the division’s top stars. The tournament also featured AJ Styles, who teamed with Air Paris in one of the eight teams.

The final days of WCW

Vince McMahon’s WWE bought WCW on 26 March 2001, eight days after Greed. The final Nitro featured Booker T becoming a double champion, Sting vs Ric Flair in the main event, and the Filthy Animals regaining the tag titles. The cruiserweight tag titles themselves vanished with WCW, leaving Mysterio’s eight-day reign as a footnote in the company’s final chapter.