Otani became the first WCW World Cruiserweight Champion, defeating Wild Pegasus in a tournament final to be crowned champion on March 20, 1996. He would lose the title to Dean Malenko on the May 2, 1996 episode of WCW WorldWide.
On August 10, 1997, Otani would win the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship from El Samurai, before vacating it on November 5.