WCW was way ahead of the curve in terms of developing a cruiserweight division, and the WWE was far behind.  In 1997, they tried to rectify that, and TAKA Michinoku became the centerpiece of that movement.

Michinoku wrestled in his native Japan, making a mark for himself in FMW and Michinoku Pro, and it gave him the springboard to go to North America, first for ECW, and then for the WWF, where he was the dance partner of the Great Sasuke.  Michinoku jobbed for Sasuke twice, but the masked wrestler never came back to the WWF, and TAKA was signed and a division was built around him.  He won the tournament to win the Light Heavyweight Title, and held it for a year before he settling into to an enhancement team with Sho Funaki.

Michinoku returned to Japan, and formed his own promotion, Kaientai Dojo, which would help train wrestlers to reach larger ones.  Taka was still a top light heavyweight for years, and his legacy in Japan is very strong.

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