2002 in professional wrestling

List of years in professional wrestling

2002 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

Calendar of notable live events

January

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
AJPW Giant Baba Memorial Cup January 2-14 Various venues Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Various
NJPW Wrestling World 2002 January 4 Tokyo Dome Tokyo, Japan 52,000
FMW FMW PPV January 6 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan N/A
WWF Royal Rumble (2002) January 20 Philips Arena Atlanta, Georgia 16,106[1]

February

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
FMW FMW PPV February 4 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan N/A
WWF No Way Out (2002) February 17 Bradley Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin 15,291[2]
WWA The Revolution February 24 The Aladdin Casino Center Las Vegas, Nevada 2,800

March

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
AAA Rey de Reyes (2002) March 17 Convention Center Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico N/A
WWF WrestleMania X8 March 17 SkyDome Toronto, Ontario 68,237[3]
CMLL International Gran Prix March 22 Arena Mexico Mexico City, Mexico N/A

April

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
CMLL 46. Aniversario de Arena México April 12 Arena México Mexico City, Mexico
WWA The Eruption April 13 Rod Laver Arena Melbourne, Australia 2,800
WWF Backlash (2002) April 21 Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri 12,489[4]

May

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
WWF (Raw brand) Insurrextion (2002) May 4 Wembley Arena London, England 10,500
WWE Judgment Day (2002) May 19 Gaylord Entertainment Center Nashville, Tennessee 14,521

June

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
N/A First Annual Big Dick Dudley Memorial Show June 8 Franklin Square Firehouse Franklin Square, New York N/A
WWE King of the Ring (2002) June 23 Nationwide Arena Columbus, Ohio 14,198

July

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
AAA Triplemanía X July 5 Convention Center Madero, Mexico N/A
WWE Vengeance (2002) July 21 Joe Louis Arena Detroit, Michigan 12,000

August

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
NJPW G1 Climax August 3-11 N/A Tokyo N/A
WWE SummerSlam (2002) August 25 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Uniondale, New York 14,797

September

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
CMLL CMLL 69th Anniversary Show September 13 Arena México Mexico City, Mexico N/A
WWC WWC 29th Aniversario September 14 Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium Bayamón, Puerto Rico N/A
AAA Verano de Escándalo (2002) September 16 El Toreo Naucalpan, Mexico N/A
WWE Unforgiven (2002) September 22 Staples Center Los Angeles, California 16,000[5]

October

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
ROH Glory By Honor (2002) October 5 Murphy Recreational Center Philadelphia, Pennsylvania N/A
WWE No Mercy (2002) October 20 Alltel Arena North Little Rock, Arkansas 10,000
WWE (SmackDown brand) Rebellion (2002) October 26 Manchester Arena Manchester, England 13,416[6]

November

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
WWE Super Tuesday November 4
November 5
Fleet Center
Verizon Wireless Arena
Boston, Massachusetts
Manchester, New Hampshire
AAA Guerra de Titanes (2002) November 15 El Toreo Veracruz, Mexico 11,500
WWE Survivor Series (2002) November 17 Madison Square Garden New York, New York 17,930[7]

December

Promotion(s) Event Date Venue Location Attendance
WWA The Retribution December 6 Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre Glasgow, Scotland 3,000
CMLL Sin Piedad (2002) December 13 Arena México Mexico City, Mexico N/A
WWE Armageddon (2002) December 15 Office Depot Center Sunrise, Florida 9,000[8]
ROH Final Battle (2002) December 28 Murphy Recreational Center Philadelphia, Pennsylvania N/A

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rey de Reyes Canek March 17

Ring of Honor

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
ROH Championship Tournament Low Ki July 27
ROH Tag Team Championship Tournament The Prophecy (Christopher Daniels and Donovan Morgan) September 21

WWF/E

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Triple H January 20 Last eliminated Kurt Angle to win an Undisputed WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X8
Undisputed WWF Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Stone Cold Steve Austin February 17
Undisputed WWF Championship #1 Contender's Tournament The Undertaker April 21
King of the Ring Brock Lesnar June 23
WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle October 20

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Category Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year Brock Lesnar
PWI Tag Team of the Year Billy and Chuck
PWI Match of the Year The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8)
PWI Feud of the Year Eric Bischoff vs. Stephanie McMahon
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year Rob Van Dam
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Chris Jericho
PWI Comeback of the Year Hollywood Hulk Hogan
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Brock Lesnar
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Eddie Guerrero
PWI Rookie of the Year Maven
PWI Woman of the Year Trish Stratus
PWI Lifetime Achievement Jim Ross

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Inductee
Martin Burns
Jack Curley
Kenta Kobashi
Wahoo McDaniel
Manami Toyota

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Kurt Angle
Most Outstanding Kurt Angle
Tag Team of the Year Los Guerreros
(Eddie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero)
Most Improved Brock Lesnar
Best on Interviews Kurt Angle

Title changes

NJPW

Incoming champion – Kazuyuki Fujita
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Vacant Wrestling World 2002
February 16 Tadao Yasuda Fighting Spirit 2002
April 5 Yuji Nagata Toukon Special
Incoming champions – BATT
(Keiji Mutoh and Taiyo Kea)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 2 Vacant N/A
March 24 Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie Hyper Battle 2002
Incoming champion – Kendo Kashin
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 1 Vacant N/A
February 16 Minoru Tanaka Fighting Spirit 2002
July 19 Koji Kanemoto Summer Fight Series 2002
Incoming champions – Gedo and Jado
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 2 Jushin Thunder Liger and Minoru Tanaka Toukon Memorial Day
August 29 Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru Cross Road

WWF/E

    Raw
    SmackDown
Incoming champion – Chris Jericho
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 17 Triple H WrestleMania X8
April 21 Hollywood Hulk Hogan Backlash
The title was renamed to Undisputed WWE Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
It was then renamed to WWE Undisputed Championship.
May 19 The Undertaker Judgment Day
July 21 The Rock Vengeance Triple threat match, also involving Kurt Angle.
August 25 Brock Lesnar SummerSlam
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand after Brock Lesnar signed an exclusive deal to only appear for SmackDown!.
The World Heavyweight Championship was then created for the Raw brand.
The title was renamed to WWE Championship as it was no longer "undisputed".
November 17 Big Show Survivor Series
December 15 Kurt Angle Armageddon
Incoming champion – N/A
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
September 2 Triple H Monday Night Raw Awarded the title by Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff as Triple H was originally the number one contender for the WWE Undisputed Championship, which became exclusive to SmackDown! and dropped the "Undisputed" moniker.
November 17 Shawn Michaels Survivor Series First-ever Elimination Chamber match, also involving Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Kane.
December 15 Triple H Armageddon Three Stages of Hell match.
Incoming champion – Edge
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 20 William Regal Royal Rumble
March 17 Rob Van Dam WrestleMania X8
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2002 WWF draft lottery when Rob Van Dam was drafted to Raw.
April 21 Eddie Guerrero Backlash
The title was renamed to WWE Intercontinental Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
May 27 Rob Van Dam Monday Night Raw Ladder match
July 29 Chris Benoit Monday Night Raw
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand due to Chris Benoit transferring to SmackDown!.
August 25 Rob Van Dam SummerSlam
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to Rob Van Dam being a member of the Raw roster.
September 16 Chris Jericho Monday Night Raw
September 30 Kane Monday Night Raw
October 20 Triple H No Mercy Title for title unification match, in which Triple H also defended the World Heavyweight Championship.
Deactivated Unified with the World Heavyweight Championship.
Incoming champion – Tajiri
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
The title became exclusive to the Smackdown! brand following the 2002 WWF draft lottery when Tajiri was drafted to SmackDown!.
April 2 Billy Kidman SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on April 4.
April 21 Tajiri Backlash
The title was renamed to WWE Cruiserweight Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
May 14 The Hurricane SmackDown! Triple threat match, also involving Billy Kidman. Aired on tape delay on May 16.
June 23 Jamie Noble King of the Ring
November 17 Billy Kidman Survivor Series
Incoming champion – Trish Stratus
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 4 Jazz Monday Night Raw
The title was renamed to WWE Women's Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
May 13 Trish Stratus Monday Night Raw Hardcore mixed tag team match where both Jazz's title and Steven Richards' WWE Hardcore Championship were on the line. Stratus teamed with Bubba Ray Dudley and defeated Jazz and Richards.
June 23 Molly Holly King of the Ring
September 22 Trish Stratus Unforgiven
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand.
November 17 Victoria Survivor Series Hardcore match
Incoming champion – Christian
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 29 Diamond Dallas Page SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on January 31.
March 19 William Regal SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on March 21.
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2002 WWF draft lottery when William Regal was drafted to Raw.
April 8 Spike Dudley Monday Night Raw
The title was renamed to WWE European Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
May 6 William Regal Monday Night Raw
July 8 Jeff Hardy Monday Night Raw
July 22 Rob Van Dam Monday Night Raw Title for title unification match, in which Van Dam also defended the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Retired Unified with the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Incoming champions – The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 7 Spike Dudley and Tazz Monday Night Raw Hardcore match
February 19 Billy and Chuck SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on February 21.
The titles became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand following the 2002 WWF draft lottery when Billy and Chuck were drafted to SmackDown!.
The titles were renamed to WWE Tag Team Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
May 19 Rico and Rikishi Judgment Day
June 4 Billy and Chuck SmackDown! Tag team elimination match. Aired on tape delay on June 6.
July 2 Edge and Hollywood Hulk Hogan SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on July 4.
July 21 The Un-Americans
(Christian and Lance Storm)
Vengeance
The titles became exclusive to the Raw brand due to The Un-Americans being members of the Raw roster.
The titles were renamed to World Tag Team Championship.
September 23 Hurri-Kane
(The Hurricane and Kane)
Monday Night Raw
October 14 Christian and Chris Jericho Monday Night Raw On October 20, the WWE Tag Team Championship was established for the SmackDown! brand.
December 15 Booker T and Goldust Armageddon Four-way tag team elimination match, also involving The Dudley Boyz and William Regal and Lance Storm.
Incoming champions – N/A
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
October 20 Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit No Mercy Defeated Edge and Rey Mysterio in the tournament final to become the inaugural champions.
November 5 Edge and Rey Mysterio SmackDown! Two out of three falls match. Aired on tape delay on November 7.
November 17 Los Guerreros
(Eddie and Chavo Guerrero)
Survivor Series Three-way tag team elimination match, also involving Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit.
Incoming champion – The Undertaker
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 5 Maven SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on February 7.
February 26 Goldust SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on February 28.
March 11 Al Snow Monday Night Raw
March 12 Maven SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on March 14.
March 17 Spike Dudley WrestleMania X8 Pinned Maven during a title defense against Goldust.
The Hurricane Pinned Spike Dudley in the backstage area.
Mighty Molly Pinned The Hurricane in the backstage area.
Christian Pinned Molly Holly in the backstage area.
Maven Pinned Christian in the backstage area.
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand following the 2002 WWF draft lottery when Maven was drafted to SmackDown!.
March 26 Raven SmackDown! Aired on tape delay on March 28.
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to Raven being a member of the Raw roster.
April 1 Bubba Ray Dudley Monday Night Raw
April 6 William Regal House show
Goldust
Raven
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 7 William Regal House show
Goldust
Raven
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 12 William Regal House show
Spike Dudley
Goldust
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 13 William Regal House show
Spike Dudley
Goldust
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 14 William Regal House show
Spike Dudley
Goldust
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 15 Raven Monday Night Raw
Tommy Dreamer
Steven Richards
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 19 Goldust House show
Raven
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 20 Goldust House show
Raven
Bubba Ray Dudley
April 29 Steven Richards Monday Night Raw Pinned Bubba Ray Dudley during a title defense against Jazz.
May 1 Tommy Dreamer House show
Goldust
Steven Richards
May 2 Shawn Stasiak House show
Justin Credible
Crash Holly
Steven Richards
Shawn Stasiak
Steven Richards
May 3 Crash Holly House show
Steven Richards
May 4 Booker T Insurrextion
Crash Holly
Booker T
Steven Richards
The title was renamed to WWE Hardcore Championship on May 5 when the WWF became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
May 6 Bubba Ray Dudley Monday Night Raw
Raven
Justin Credible
Crash Holly
Trish Stratus
Steven Richards
May 25 Tommy Dreamer House show
Raven
Steven Richards
May 26 Tommy Dreamer House show
Raven
Steven Richards
May 27 Terri Monday Night Raw Pinned Steven Richards during an interview.
Steven Richards Immediately pinned Terri to regain the championship.
June 2 Tommy Dreamer House show
Raven
Steven Richards
June 3 Bradshaw Monday Night Raw
June 22 Raven House show
Spike Dudley
Shawn Stasiak
Bradshaw
June 28 Shawn Stasiak House show
Spike Dudley
Steven Richards
Bradshaw
June 29 Shawn Stasiak House show
Spike Dudley
Steven Richards
Bradshaw
June 30 Raven House show
Crash Holly
Stevie Richards
Bradshaw
July 6 Steven Richards House show
Crash Holly
Christopher Nowinski
Bradshaw
July 7 Steven Richards House show
Crash Holly
Christopher Nowinski
Bradshaw
July 12 Justin Credible House show
Spike Dudley
Big Show
Bradshaw
July 13 Justin Credible House show
Shawn Stasiak
Bradshaw
July 14 Justin Credible House show
Shawn Stasiak
Bradshaw
July 15 Johnny Stamboli Monday Night Raw
Bradshaw
July 22 Johnny Stamboli Monday Night Raw
Bradshaw
July 26 Raven House show
Justin Credible
Shawn Stasiak
Bradshaw
July 27 Raven House show
Justin Credible
Shawn Stasiak
Bradshaw
July 28 Raven House show
Justin Credible
Shawn Stasiak
Bradshaw
July 29 Jeff Hardy Monday Night Raw
Johnny Stamboli
Tommy Dreamer
August 3 Bradshaw House show
Tommy Dreamer
August 4 Bradshaw House show
Tommy Dreamer
August 9 Shawn Stasiak House show
Steven Richards
Tommy Dreamer
August 10 Shawn Stasiak House show
Steven Richards
Tommy Dreamer
August 11 Shawn Stasiak House show
Steven Richards
Tommy Dreamer
August 17 Raven House show
Shawn Stasiak
Tommy Dreamer
August 18 Shawn Stasiak House show
Steven Richards
Tommy Dreamer
August 19 Bradshaw Monday Night Raw Hardcore battle royal.
Crash Holly Hardcore battle royal.
Tommy Dreamer Hardcore battle royal. The 24/7 rule was deactivated on August 19, 2002.
August 26 Rob Van Dam Monday Night Raw Title for title unification match, in which Van Dam also defended the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Retired Unified with the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Debuts

Deaths

See also

References

  1. Wahlers, Dan (2004-01-21). "Royal Rumble history part two". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  2. "No Way Out 2002". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  3. "WrestleMania X8". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  4. "Backlash 2002". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  5. "Unforgiven 2002". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  6. "Historical Cards: Rebellion (October 26, 2002. Manchester, England)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 157. 2007 Edition.
  7. "Survivor Series 2002 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  8. "Armageddon 2002 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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