Eric Bischoff imported high-flying stars from Japan and Mexico to a mainstream audience with WCW. World Championship Wrestling highlighted a fresh style of wrestling, while WWE went even further by turning a select handful of cruiserweights into world champions. Certain cruiserweight stars would find their big break with WCW but would go a step further with Vince McMahon's brand of pro wrestling.

RELATED: 10 Wrestlers Eric Bischoff Loved & Then Gave Up On

McMahon's product totally transformed certain stars from WCW, making them more synonymous with heavyweight wrestlers rather than the cruiserweight or light heavyweight divisions. In other cases, certain WCW cruiserweights found less success when crossing over to WWE. McMahon increased the legacy of some wrestlers, while others were best suited with Bischoff.

11 Chris Jericho: Better In WWE

Chris Jericho World Champion Cruiserweight Title

While Chris Jericho was an amazingly talented and charismatic performer in WCW, he was just that much better in WWE. During his three-year run with World Championship Wrestling, The Man of 1,004 Holds won multiple titles, including four reigns with the Cruiserweight Title and one reign as TV Champion. Jericho was the best talker of the cruiserweight division, and he could more than back it up in the ring.

However, Jericho would become a living legend as Y2J in WWE. Jericho has the most reigns as Intercontinental Champion in the title's history, with nine title runs in total. He won six singles world titles in WWE, including becoming the last-ever WCW Champion right before the title was unified with the WWE Championship, making Jericho an Undisputed Champion. Jericho is one of the most decorated champions in WWE history and will undoubtedly be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame someday unless something truly unexpected occurs.

10 Ultimo Dragon: Better In WCW

Ultimo Dragon WWE WCW

Ultimo Dragon was one of the top cruiserweight acts in WCW, but he barely made a dent in WWE. During his two years down south in WCW, Dragon held two reigns apiece with the Cruiserweight and TV titles. During part of Dragon's first reign as Cruiserweight Champion, he held 10 major singles titles at once, including NJPW's J-Crown which is basically eight titles in one.

RELATED: The 5 Best WCW Cruiserweight Title Matches (& The 5 Worst)

Dragon's WWE debut started off with a good start, defeating Shannon Moore in Madison Square Garden on a June 2003 episode of SmackDown! It wouldn't take long until the Japanese star became a mainstay on Velocity. WWE reportedly hoped that Dragon would be a standout talent that'd help push the division forward, akin to Rey Mysterio. However, Dragon would have a forgettable run with WWE that would end in April 2004, a month after his botched WrestleMania entrance.

9 Rey Mysterio: Better In WWE

Rey Mysterio WWE WCW

Rey Mysterio was one of WCW's most successful cruiserweight wrestlers, holding five reigns with the WCW Cruiserweight Championship along with multiple tag title reigns. Mysterio made his WCW debut during the early days of the division, challenging Dean Malenko for the Cruiserweight Title at The Great American Bash 1996. While Rey would find his greatest success wrestling heavyweights in WWE, he became known as The Giant Killer in WCW, pulling off upset victories over Kevin Nash, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Scott Norton.

Mysterio had a legendary career in WCW, staying with the company until the final night of Nitro where he won the Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles alongside Billy Kidman. However, Rey's career in WWE would make the masked luchador even more legendary. While with WWE, Mysterio became a three-time world champion, kicking off his first reign by defeating Randy Orton and Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 22 for the World Heavyweight Championship. Mysterio would win the Big Gold Belt once more in 2010, and he had an extremely short reign as WWE Champion in the summer of 2011.

RELATED: 11 Things You Learn About Rey Mysterio From His Book

While with WWE, Mysterio added three additional Cruiserweight Title reigns to his resume. Since making his WWE debut in 2002, Rey has become one of the most decorated champions in WWE history. Rey won gold in every available division, including two reigns apiece with the Intercontinental and US titles. Mysterio also received five reigns in WWE's tag team division, with his most recent reign occurring alongside his son Dominik as SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Rey also won the 2006 Royal Rumble from the number two position, lasting over an hour in the match.

8 Dean Malenko: Better In WCW

Dean-Malenko-Bret-Hart-WCW-WWE

"The Iceman" Dean Malenko was the first WCW star to become Cruiserweight Champion. During Dean's nearly five-year run with World Championship Wrestling, Malenko was noted as one of the company's best wrestlers. He received the award of "Best Technical Wrestler" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in 1996 and 1997. In '97, Dean was also ranked as the top wrestler in the world by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

RELATED: 5 Best Dean Malenko Opponents In WCW (& 5 In WWE)

In WCW, Malenko was one of the WCW cruiserweight division's most decorated stars, winning cruiserweight gold on four occasions. Dean also held one reign apiece with the WCW United States and Tag Team titles. While he did find some success in WWE, becoming a two-time Light Heavyweight Champion, his run paled in comparison to his WCW tenure. Besides his introduction as part of The Radicalz faction, Malenko's most notable storyline with the company was when he tried to seduce Lita. Malenko would continue his tag team with Perry Saturn before hanging up his wrestling boots for good in 2001.

7 Eddie Guerrero: Better In WWE

Eddie Guerrero WWE WCW

Latino Heat found moderate success in WCW, becoming a former US Champion and a two-time Cruiserweight Champion. Eddie Guerrero also briefly led his own faction, the Latino World Order. During his time in WCW, he had notable rivalries with the likes of Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Jericho, and Rey Mysterio, among others. Eddie would win gold from both DDP and Y2J. Though he would lose the Cruiserweight Title to Mysterio, their match at Halloween Havoc '97 would go down as arguably both of their best matches.

While Guerrero would win divisional and mid-ranking titles in WCW, Eddie would become a main event talent with WWE. Guerrero spent a few years as a mid-card act in WWE, winning the IC Title twice and the US Title one more time, while also finding success in the tag team division alongside Tajiri and his nephew Chavo. Guerrero was also a double champion with the tag team and U.S. titles. At the 2004 No Way Out pay-per-view, Eddie would finally reach the top of the mountain by defeating Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion. Guerrero successfully defended the title against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XX, but he would lose the gold months later during his feud with John "Bradshaw" Layfield.

RELATED: 10 Worst Things Eddie Guerrero Did In Wrestling

Guerrero would shock the wrestling world when he passed away on November 13, 2005. Months before his death, Eddie had one last great feud with Rey Mysterio. He was also rumored to be in line for a run with the World Heavyweight Championship, a title reign that never took place because of his death. Eddie was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2006.

6 Psychosis: Better In WCW

Psychosis WCW WWE

Psychosis was one of the stars of WCW's cruiserweight division. But in WWE, the luchador was most remembered as a wrestler who rode a lawnmower to the ring. During his stint with World Championship Wrestling, the high-flyer became a two-time WCW Cruiserweight Champion. However, both of his title reigns were extremely short-lived, with his first reign ending in a week and his second reign not even lasting an entire episode of Monday Nitro.

Despite his short title reigns, Psychosis had a much greater presence on WCW's roster than during his time with WWE's blue brand. He was with the division during its early stages in 1996 and departed WCW in 2000, with his last match being against The Artist at WCW Uncensored in a losing effort for the Cruiserweight Title. Some fans might like his ECW matches the best, but The Land of Extreme never wrestled with the cruiserweight concept.

RELATED: 5 Best Mexican Wrestlers In WWE History (& 5 That Should Have Been Bigger Stars)

He spent about a year with WWE, wrestling as Psicosis. He made his first appearance at ECW One Night Stand 2005 where he lost to former WCW opponent Rey Mysterio. In late June, Psicosis made his SmackDown debut alongside Super Crazy and Juventud in a faction known as The Mexicools. The formerly masked luchador didn't win any titles and didn't make much of an impact before his WWE release in November 2006.

5 Jamie Noble: Better In WWE

Jamie Noble WWE WCW

Jamie Noble did have quality matches in WCW, most notably as part of The Jung Dragons in their feud with 3 Count. But it was in WWE where Noble really stood out as a professional wrestler. Noble's first stint with WWE was also his best as he adopted a trailer park gimmick alongside his onscreen girlfriend Nidia.

While some fans may prefer the triangle ladder match at Starrcade 2000, it is in WWE where he found his greatest success. Jamie Knoble failed in his attempts to become Cruiserweight Champion in WCW, but he achieved that feat at the 2002 King of the Ring pay-per-view by defeating The Hurricane. Jamie would go on a lengthy run with the title before dropping it to Billy Kidman at that year's Survivor Series.

Noble found greater success as a producer than a wrestler in his second stint with WWE, yet he remained a fixture of the cruiserweight division until the title was retired in 2007.

4 Juventud Guerrera: Better In WCW

Juventud Guerrera WCW WWE

Juventud Guerrera was one of WCW's top cruiserweights from 1996 to 2000. However, Juventud's ego and actions would prevent The Juice from having a long career with WWE. Whereas his WCW career lasted years, his WWE run lasted months. In June 2005, Juvi would arrive on SmackDown as part of The Mexicools. He'd win the WWE Cruiserweight Title on two occasions, but Juventud would be released in January 2006 shortly after a match against Kid Kash for the latter's Cruiserweight gold. During the match, Juvi used the 450 Splash, which was banned by WWE at the time because of an earlier match where he injured Paul London.

While with WCW, Juvi not only became a three-time Cruiserweight Champion, but he'd also win the tag titles alongside Rey Mysterio, Jr., and become a one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

3 Chavo Guerrero: Better In WWE

Chavo Guerrero WCW WWE

WCW's Chavo Guerrero, Jr. was there from the start of the Cruiserweight Division to the very last episode of Nitro, losing to champion Shane Helms in a Cruiserweight Title match. During his time with WCW, Chavo would win the Cruiserweight Title twice, with his first reign as Lieutenant Loco and his second reign under his real name. He'd also win the WCW World Tag Team Titles under the Lt. Loco moniker, alongside Corporal Cajun as part of The Misfits In Action.

RELATED: Golden Families: 10 Fathers & Sons Who Won The Same Wrestling Championship

Chavo feuded with his uncle Eddie in both WCW and WWE, but it is in WWE where he found championship success alongside Latino Heat. As part of the SmackDown Six, Los Guerreros would win the WWE Tag Team Titles twice. Chavo would find even more success as a cruiserweight, becoming a four-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion. In 2008, Guerrero would become ECW Champion. He'd leave WWE in June 2011 after a 10-year career with the company.

2 Shannon Moore: Better In WCW

3 Count Shannon Moore Brock Lesnar

Although his career was significantly longer in WWE, Moore was better featured in WCW. Shannon was part of the trio known as 3 Count, a parody of the boy band fad. While the gimmick might sound annoying, Moore, Shane Helms, and Evan Karagias were great in their role and very talented in the ring. 3 Count's matches with The Jung Dragons stand out as a bright spot during late-era WCW.

While with WWE, Moore is mostly remembered as Matt Hardy's sidekick, known as a Mattitude Follower. He'd be released in 2005 only to return a year later to be slapped down by CM Punk. Moore would stick around with WWE until 2008, having formed a forgotten tag team with Jimmy Wang Yang a year prior.

Moore won no titles with WWE, but he did win one title with WCW under unusual circumstances. However, Shannon did challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship on a late 2003 episode of SmackDown!

1 The Hurricane: Better In WWE

Hurricane Rosey 3 Count

Shane Helms joined WCW during the dying years of the company, debuting as part of 3 Count in late 1999. By February 2000, all three members of the group became Hardcore Champion at the same time. Helms would also have a run as Cruiserweight Champion during the final days of WCW.

Stand back, there's a hurricane coming through! While Helms had a decent run with WCW, his career would take off in WWE. Not long after joining WWE, Helms would adopt a superhero gimmick, calling himself The Hurricane. He'd win various different titles with the company, including one reign apiece with the Hardcore and European titles. Helms would also become a two-time World Tag Team Champion, with his first reign alongside Kane and his second reign with Rosey, a superhero in training. He'd also become a two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, once as The Hurricane and then under the "Gregory Helms" moniker.

The Hurricane also has a singles victory over The Rock.