2012 in professional wrestling

List of years in professional wrestling

2012 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

Calendar of notable live events

January

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom Tokyo Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Minoru Suzuki in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
6/7/8 WWC Euphoria San Juan, Puerto Rico Various
8 TNA Genesis Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy defeated Bobby Roode (c) by disqualification in Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
29 WWE Royal Rumble St. Louis, Missouri Sheamus won by last eliminating Chris Jericho, in the Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVIII [1] Sheamus chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.
This was Chris Jericho's first match in WWE since 2010
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

February

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
11 LN A Nightmare To Remember II Villa Rica, Georgia Kyle Matthews defeated Jimmy Rave
12 NJPW The New Beginning Osaka Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
12 TNA Against All Odds Orlando, Florida Bobby Roode (c) defeated Bully Ray, James Storm, and Jeff Hardy in a Four-Way match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with Sting as the Special Guest Ringside Enforcer
19 AJPW
NJPW
NOAH
All Together: Mōikkai, Hitotsu ni Narō ze Sendai Hiroshi Tanahashi, Suwama and Takeshi Morishima defeated Go Shiozaki, Seiya Sanada and Tetsuya Naito in a Six-man Tag team match
19 WWE Elimination Chamber Milwaukee, Wisconsin John Cena defeated Kane in an Ambulance match[2]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

March

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
4 ROH 10th Anniversary Show: Young Wolves Rising New York City, New York Adam Cole and Eddie Edwards defeated Team Ambition (Davey Richards and Kyle O'Reilly) in a Tag team match
12 AAA Rey de Reyes Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Rey de Reyes final four-way elimination match
18 TNA Victory Road Orlando, Florida Bobby Roode defeated Sting in a No Holds Barred match
30–31 ROH Showdown in the Sun Fort Lauderdale, Florida Davey Richards (c) defeated Eddie Edwards and Roderick Strong in a three-way elimination match for the ROH World Championship (Day 1)
Davey Richards (c) defeated Michael Elgin in a Singles match for the ROH World Championship (Day 2)
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

April

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
1 WWE WrestleMania XXVIII Miami Gardens, Florida The Rock defeated John Cena in Singles match[3] This was The Rock's first WrestleMania match since WrestleMania XX in 2004
15 TNA Lockdown Nashville, Tennessee Bobby Roode (c) defeated James Storm in a Steel cage match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
29 WWE Extreme Rules Rosemont, Illinois John Cena defeated Brock Lesnar in Extreme Rules match[4] This was Brock Lesnar's first match in WWE since 2004
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

May

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
3 NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Fukuoka Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Hirooki Goto in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
12 ROH Border Wars Toronto, Ontario Kevin Steen defeated Davey Richards (c) in a Singles match for the ROH World Championship
13 TNA Sacrifice Orlando, Florida Bobby Roode (c) defeated Rob Van Dam in a Ladder match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
20 WWE Over the Limit Raleigh, North Carolina John Laurinaitis defeated John Cena in No Disqualification match; Had Cena won, Laurinaitis would have been fired, and anyone who interfered would have been fired.[5]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

June

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
10 TNA Slammiversary Arlington, Texas Bobby Roode (c) defeated Sting in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
16 NJPW Dominion Osaka Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
17 WWE No Way Out East Rutherford, New Jersey John Cena defeated Big Show in Steel Cage match. Since Cena won, John Laurinaitis was fired, Had Show won, Cena would have been fired
24 ROH Best in the World New York, New York Kevin Steen (c) defeated Davey Richards in the Anything Goes match for the ROH World Championship
29 CMLL Infierno en el Ring Mexico City, Mexico 10-woman Infierno en el Ring, Lucha de Apuestas Hair vs. Hair Steel cage match
30 WWC 39th WWC Aniversario Bayamon, Puerto Rico The Invaders defeated Mr. X & Masked Man
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

July

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
8 TNA Destination X Orlando, Florida Austin Aries defeated Bobby Roode (c) in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
15 WWE Money in the Bank Phoenix, Arizona John Cena defeated Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, and The Miz in a Money in the Bank ladder match for a WWE Championship match contract
23 WWE Raw 1000 St. Louis, Missouri John Cena defeated CM Punk (c) by disqualification in a singles match for the WWE Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

August

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
5 AAA Triplemanía XX Mexico City, Mexico Dr. Wagner Jr. (with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Silver King) defeated Máscara Año 2000 Jr. (with Máscara Año 2000)
11 ROH Boiling Point Providence, Rhode Island Kevin Steen (c) defeated Eddie Kingston in the Anything Goes match for the ROH World Championship
1-11 NJPW G1 Climax final Tokyo Kazuchika Okada defeated Karl Anderson in a G1 Climax tournament
12 JCW Bloodymania 6 Cave-In-Rock, Illinois 2 Tuff Tony (c) defeated Kongo Kong for the JCW World Heavyweight Championship
12 TNA Hardcore Justice Orlando, Florida Austin Aries (c) defeated Bobby Roode in a Last Chance match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
19 WWE SummerSlam Los Angeles, California Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H in No Disqualification match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

September

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
1-2 PWG Battle of Los Angeles (professional wrestling) Reseda, California Adam Cole defeated Michael Elgin in a Battle of Los Angeles tournament
9 TNA No Surrender Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy defeated Bully Ray in a Singles match for final 2012 Bound for Glory Series
14 CMLL CMLL 79th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Rush defeated El Terrible in a Best two-out-of three-falls Lucha de Apuestas, Hair vs. Hair match
15 ROH Death Before Dishonor Chicago Ridge, Illinois Kevin Steen (c) defeated Rhino in the No Disqualification match for the ROH World Championship
19 WWE Night of Champions Boston, Massachusetts CM Punk (c) vs John Cena ended in a draw in a Singles match for WWE Championship
23 NJPW Destruction Kobe Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Naomichi Marufuji in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

October

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
7 AAA Heroes Inmortales San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí Jack Evans and La Secta Bizarra Cibernetica (Cibernético, Dark Cuervo and Dark Ozz) defeated Los Perros del Mal (Halloween, El Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Psicosis and Teddy Hart)
8 NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Minoru Suzuki in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
13 ROH Glory By Honor Mississauga, Ontario Kevin Steen (c) defeated Michael Elgin in a Singles match for the ROH World Championship
14 TNA Bound for Glory Phoenix, Arizona Jeff Hardy defeated Austin Aries (c) in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
28 WWE Hell in a Cell Atlanta, Georgia CM Punk (c) defeated Ryback in Hell in a Cell match to retain the WWE Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

November

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
11 NJPW Power Struggle Osaka Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Yujiro Takahashi in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
11 TNA Turning Point Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy (c) defeated Austin Aries in a Ladder match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
18 WWE Survivor Series Indianapolis, Indiana CM Punk (c) defeated John Cena and Ryback in a Triple threat match to retain the WWE Championship This event was notable for the onscreen debut of The Shield
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

December

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
9 WWE WWE Tribute to the Troops Norfolk, Virginia John Cena defeated Antonio Cesaro in a Singles match
9 TNA Final Resolution Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy (c) defeated Bobby Roode in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
14 CMLL Sin Piedad Mexico City, Mexico La Sombra (with Rush) defeated Tama Tonga (with El Terrible) in a Singles match for the 2012 La Copa Junior Tournament Final
16 WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Brooklyn, New York Dolph Ziggler (c) defeated John Cena in a Ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank contract This marked The Shield's in-ring debut
16 ROH Final Battle 2012: Doomsday New York, New York Kevin Steen (c) defeated El Generico in the Ladder War IV for the ROH World Championship This was El Generico's last match in ROH before signing with the WWE as the new ring name Sami Zayn on NXT
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rey de Reyes El Hijo del Perro Aguayo March 18

Ring of Honor

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rise and Prove Tournament TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) February 17
March Mayhem Tournament Tommaso Ciampa March 13
ROH World Tag Team Championship Tournament S.C.U.M. (Jimmy Jacobs and Steve Corino) September 15

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Wild Card Tournament Magnus and Samoa Joe January 8
TNA X Division Championship Tournament Zema Ion July 8
Turkey Bowl Eric Young November 22

WWE

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Sheamus January 29 Last eliminated Chris Jericho to win a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVIII. Sheamus chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Money in the Bank
(World Heavyweight Championship match contract)
Dolph Ziggler July 15 Defeated Damien Sandow, Tyson Kidd, Christian, Santino Marella, Tensai, Cody Rhodes, and Sin Cara to win.
Money in the Bank
(WWE Championship match contract)
John Cena Defeated Kane, Chris Jericho, Big Show, and The Miz to win.
Gold Rush Tournament Seth Rollins July 26
WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Team Rhodes Scholars
(Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow)
October 22

Title changes

AAA

AAA Mega Championship
Incoming champion – Jeff Jarrett
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 18 El Mesias Rey de Reyes
December 2 El Texano Jr. Guerra de Titanes
AAA Latin American Championship
Incoming champion – L.A. Park
No title changes
AAA World Mini-Estrella Championship
Incoming champion – Mini Psicosis
No title changes
AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
Incoming champion – Jack Evans
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 19 Juventud Guerrera Noche de Campeones
December 2 Daga Guerra de Titanes
AAA Reina de Reinas Championship
Incoming champion – Sexy Star
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
No title changes
AAA World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – La Legión Extranjera (Abyss and Chessman)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
October 7 Joe Lider and Vampiro Héroes Inmortales (2012)
AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – La Sociedad (Alan Stone and Jennifer Blake)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
October 7 Halloween and Mari Apache Héroes Inmortales (2012)
AAA World Trios Championship
Incoming champions – Los Perros del Mal (Damián 666, Halloween and X-Fly)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 11 Los Psycho Circus
(Monster Clown, Murder Clown and Psycho Clown)
Sin Límite
May 19 El Consejo
(Máscara Año 2000 Jr., El Texano Jr. and Toscano)
Noche de Campeones

NJPW

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Hiroshi Tanahashi
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 12 Kazuchika Okada The New Beginning
June 16 Hiroshi Tanahashi Dominion 6.16
IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – Masato Tanaka
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 12 Hirooki Goto The New Beginning
July 22 Shinsuke Nakamura Kizuna Road 2012
Incoming champions – Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Tencozy
(Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)
Wrestle Kingdom VI
May 3 Chaos
(Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano)
Wrestling Dontaku 2012
June 20 Vacated Iizuka and Yano were stripped of the title, after a title match between them and Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) on June 16 ended in a no contest.
July 22 Tencozy
(Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)
Kizuna Road 2012 Defeated Chaos (Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano) to win the vacant title.
October 8 K.E.S.
(Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer)
King of Pro-Wrestling
Incoming champion – Prince Devitt
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 3 Low Ki Wrestling Dontaku 2012
July 29 Kota Ibushi Last Rebellion
October 8 Low Ki King of Pro-Wrestling
November 11 Prince Devitt Power Struggle
Incoming champions – No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards and Rocky Romero)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Apollo 55
(Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi)
Wrestle Kingdom VI
February 12 No Remorse Corps
(Davey Richards and Rocky Romero)
The New Beginning
May 2 Vacated Title held up after Davey Richards was unable to attend Wrestling Dontaku 2012 due to travel issues.
June 16 Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask Dominion 6.16 Liger and Tiger Mask defeated Suzuki-gun (Taichi and Taka Michinoku) to win the vacant title.
July 22 Forever Hooligans
(Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero)
Kizuna Road
November 11 Time Splitters
(Alex Shelley and Kushida)
Power Struggle
Incoming champion – N/A
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
November 19 Masato Tanaka Shodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament Final Tanaka defeated Karl Anderson in the finals of a sixteen-man tournament to become the inaugural champion.

ROH

Incoming champion – Davey Richards
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 12 Kevin Steen Border Wars
Incoming champion – Jay Lethal
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 31 Roderick Strong Showdown in the Sun
June 29 Adam Cole Ring of Honor Wrestling
Incoming champions – The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 12 Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team
(Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin)
Border Wars
June 24 The All Night Express
(Rhett Titus and Kenny King)
Best in the World 2012: Hostage Crisis
July 10 Vacant N/A
September 15 S.C.U.M.
(Jimmy Jacobs and Steve Corino)
Best in the World 2012: Hostage Crisis
December 16 The Briscoe Brothers
(Jay and Mark Briscoe)
Final Battle 2012: Doomsday

TNA

TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Bobby Roode
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
July 8 Austin Aries Destination X Aries voluntarily vacated the X Division Championship in exchange for a TNA World Heavyweight Championship title shot at the event
October 14 Jeff Hardy Bound for Glory
TNA X Division Championship
Incoming champion – Austin Aries
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
July 8 Vacant Destination X
July 8 Zema Ion Destination X
October 14 Rob Van Dam Bound for Glory
TNA World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champion(s) – Crimson and Matt Morgan
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 12 Magnus and Samoa Joe Against All Odds
May 13 The World Tag Team Champions of the World
(Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)
Sacrifice
June 10 A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle Slammiversary X
June 28 The World Tag Team Champions of the World
(Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)
Impact Wrestling
October 14 Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez Bound for Glory
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship
Incoming champion(s) – Gail Kim and Madison Rayne
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 8 Eric Young and ODB Impact Wrestling
TNA Knockouts Championship
Incoming champion – Gail Kim
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
June 10 Miss Tessmacher Slammiversary
August 12 Madison Rayne Hardcore Justice
August 16 Miss Tessmacher Impact Wrestling
October 14 Tara Bound for Glory
TNA Television Championship
Incoming champion – Robbie E
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 18 Devon Victory Road
September 26 Vacant N/A
September 27 Samoa Joe Impact Wrestling
December 6 Devon Impact Wrestling

WWE

Incoming champion – CM Punk
No title changes
Incoming champion – Daniel Bryan
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 1 Sheamus WrestleMania XXVIII
October 28 Big Show Hell in a Cell
Incoming champion – Cody Rhodes
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 1 Big Show WrestleMania XXVIII
April 29 Cody Rhodes Extreme Rules Tables match
May 20 Christian Over the Limit
July 23 The Miz Raw 1000
October 16 Kofi Kingston Main Event Aired on tape delay on October 17.
December 29 Wade Barrett Monday Night Raw Aired on tape delay on December 31.
Incoming champion – Zack Ryder
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 15 Jack Swagger Monday Night Raw
March 5 Santino Marella Monday Night Raw
August 19 Antonio Cesaro SummerSlam Kickoff show
Incoming champion – Beth Phoenix
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 23 Nikki Bella Monday Night Raw Lumberjill match
April 29 Layla Extreme Rules Layla pinned Brie Bella to win the title from Nikki Bella after the twins switched places during the match while the referee was distracted.
September 16 Eve Torres Night of Champions
Incoming champions – Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 15 Primo & Epico House show
April 30 Kofi Kingston and R-Truth Monday Night Raw
September 16 Team Hell No
(Kane and Daniel Bryan)
Night of Champions

NXT

Incoming champion – N/A
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
July 26 Seth Rollins NXT Defeated Jinder Mahal in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion. Aired on tape delay on August 29.
December 6 Big E Langston NXT No-disqualification match. Aired on tape delay on January 9, 2013.

Awards and honors

AAA Hall of Fame

Inductee
Octagón
Perro Aguayo

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year CM Punk
Tag Team of the Year Kofi Kingston and R-Truth
Match of the Year The Undertaker vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XXVIII)
Feud of the Year Aces & Eights vs. TNA
Most Popular Wrestler of the Year John Cena
Most Hated Wrestler of the Year CM Punk
Comeback of the Year Jeff Hardy
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Ryback
Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Jerry Lawler
Rookie of the Year Veda Scott
Woman of the Year AJ Lee
Stanley Weston Award (Lifetime Achievement) Bobby Heenan

TNA Hall of Fame

Inductee
Sting

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Inductee
Mick McManus
Alfonso Morales
John Cena
Hans Schmidt
Lou Albano
Gus Sonnenberg

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Hiroshi Tanahashi
Most Outstanding Hiroshi Tanahashi
Best Box Office Draw The Rock
Feud of the Year Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
Tag Team of the Year Bad Influence
(Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)
Most Improved Kazuchika Okada
Best on Interviews CM Punk

WWE

WWE Hall of Fame

Category Inductee Inducted by
Individual Mil Máscaras Alberto Del Rio
Edge Christian
Ron Simmons John "Bradshaw" Layfield
Yokozuna Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso
Group The Four Horsemen Dusty Rhodes
Celebrity Mike Tyson D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H)

Slammy Awards

Poll Winner
Feat of Strength of the Year Sheamus delivers White Noise to Big Show
Best Dancer of the Year Brodus Clay
Top Social Media Ambassador Charlie Sheen
Tweet of the Year "Goat face is a horrible insult. My face is practically perfect in every way. In fact, from now on I demand to be called Beautiful Bryan." – Daniel Bryan
Insult of the Year John Cena to Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero: "You're the exact opposite. One enjoys eating a lot of nuts and the other is still trying to find his."
Facial Hair of the Year Daniel Bryan
Betrayal of the Year Big Show knocks out John Cena at Over the Limit
Crowd Chant of the Year "Feed Me More!"
WWE.com Exclusive Video of the Year Jerry Lawler speaks to WWE.com about his miraculous return
Upset of the Year Daniel Bryan defeats Mark Henry and Big Show at Royal Rumble
Diva of the Year AJ Lee
"Tell Me I Didn't Just See That" Moment of the Year Kofi Kingston handstands during the Royal Rumble match to avoid elimination at Royal Rumble
Comeback of the Year Jerry Lawler
Kiss of the Year AJ Lee and John Cena
Superstar of the Year John Cena
LOL! Moment of the Year The Rock throws John Cena's things into the Boston Harbor
#Trending Now of the Year Ryback's #FeedMeMore
Newcomer of the Year Ryback
Match of the Year Hell in a Cell match: The Undertaker vs. Triple HWrestleMania XXVIII

Debuts

Retirements

Deaths

See also

References

  1. Murphy, Ryan (January 29, 2012). "Sheamus won the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match". WWE. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  2. Giannini, Alex (6 February 2012). "John Cena vs. Kane (Ambulance Match)". WWE. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  3. Adkins, Greg (April 5, 2011). "Raw Results: C U at WrestleMania!". WWE. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  4. Tom Herrera (9 April 2012). "Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena – Extreme Rules Match". WWE. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
  5. "John Cena vs. John Laurinaitis". WWE. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.