2003 in professional wrestling
2003 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
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List of notable promotions
These promotions held notable shows in 2003.
Promotion Name | Abbreviation | Notes |
---|---|---|
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre | CMLL | |
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide | AAA | The "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración. |
New Japan Pro-Wrestling | NJPW | |
Pro Wrestling Iron | PWI | |
Ring of Honor | ROH | |
World Wrestling All-Stars | WWA | |
World Wrestling Council | WWC | |
World Wrestling Entertainment | WWE | The WWE divided its roster into two storyline divisions, Raw and SmackDown!, referred to as brands, where wrestlers exclusively performed on their respective weekly television programs. |
Calendar of notable shows
January
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 4 | NJPW | Wrestling World | Tokyo, Japan | |
January 19 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
Royal Rumble | Boston, Massachusetts | [1] |
February
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 8 | ROH | One Year Anniversary Show | Queens, New York | |
February 23 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
No Way Out | Montreal, Quebec | [2] |
March
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 16 | AAA | Rey de Reyes | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | |
March 30 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
WrestleMania XIX | Seattle, Washington |
April
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 4 | CMLL | 47. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | |
April 27 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
Backlash | Worcester, Massachusetts |
May
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 9 | CMLL | International Gran Prix | Mexico City, Mexico | |
May 18 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
Judgment Day | Charlotte, North Carolina | |
May 25 | WWA | The Reckoning | Auckland, New Zealand | |
May 31 | N/A | Second Annual Big Dick Dudley Memorial Show | Franklin Square, New York |
June
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 7 | WWE (Raw) |
Insurrextion | Newcastle, England | |
June 15 | AAA | Triplemanía XI | Naucalpan, Mexico | |
June 15 | WWE (Raw) |
Bad Blood | Houston, Texas |
July
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 19 | ROH | Death Before Dishonor | Elizabeth, New Jersey | |
WWC | WWC 30th Aniversario | Carolina, Puerto Rico | ||
July 27 | WWE (SmackDown!) |
Vengeance | Denver, Colorado |
August
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 10–17 | NJPW | G1 Climax | Tokyo | |
August 24 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
SummerSlam | Phoenix, Arizona | |
August 31 | AAA | Verano de Escándalo-A | Monterrey, Mexico |
September
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 16 | AAA | Verano de Escándalo-B | San Luis Potosí, Mexico | |
September 19 | CMLL | CMLL 70th Anniversary Show | Mexico City, Mexico | |
September 20 | ROH | Glory By Honor II | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
September 21 | WWE (Raw) |
Unforgiven | Hershey, Pennsylvania | [3] |
September 28 | AAA | Verano de Escándalo-C | Guadalajara, Mexico |
October
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
October 19 | WWE (SmackDown!) |
No Mercy | Baltimore, Maryland | [4] |
November
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
November 15 | PWI | Mike Lockwood Memorial Show | Lathrop, California | |
November 16 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
Survivor Series | Dallas, Texas | |
November 30 | AAA | Guerra de Titanes | Veracruz, Mexico |
December
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
December 5 | CMLL | Sin Piedad | Mexico City, Mexico | |
December 14 | WWE (Raw) |
Armageddon | Orlando, Florida | [5] |
December 25 | WWE (Raw and SmackDown!) |
Tribute to the Troops | Baghdad, Iraq. | |
December 27 | ROH | Final Battle | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Accomplishments and tournaments
AAA
Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Rey de Reyes | La Parka Jr. | March 16 |
Ring of Honor
Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Field of Honor | Matt Stryker | December 27 |
TNA
Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
TNA Hard 10 Tournament | The Sandman | ||
TNA Anarchy Alliance Tag Team Tournament | America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) | June 11 | |
2003 TNA Super X Cup Tournament | Chris Sabin | September 3 |
TNA Year End Awards
Poll | Winner(s) |
---|---|
Tag Team of the Year | America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) |
Babe of the Year | Trinity |
Finisher of the Year | The Styles Clash |
Who To Watch in 2004 | Abyss |
Memorable Moment of the Year | Jeff Jarrett attacks Hulk Hogan in Japan |
X Division Star of the Year | Matt Bentley |
Match of the Year | The first ever Ultimate X Match |
Mr. TNA | A.J. Styles |
WWE
Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Royal Rumble | Brock Lesnar | January 19 | Last eliminated The Undertaker of the SmackDown! brand to win a match for his brand's WWE Championship at WrestleMania XIX |
WWE Championship #1 Contender's Tournament | John Cena | April 15 | |
WWE United States Championship Tournament | Eddie Guerrero | July 27 |
Awards and honors
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Category | Winner |
---|---|
PWI Wrestler of the Year | Kurt Angle |
PWI Tag Team of the Year | The World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) |
PWI Match of the Year | Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (SmackDown!, September 16) |
PWI Feud of the Year | Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle |
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year | Kurt Angle |
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year | Triple H |
PWI Comeback of the Year | Kurt Angle |
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year | John Cena |
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year | Zach Gowen |
PWI Rookie of the Year | Zach Gowen |
PWI Woman of the Year | Trish Stratus |
PWI Lifetime Achievement | Bret Hart |
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Inductee |
---|
Chris Benoit |
Earl Caddock |
Francisco Flores |
Shawn Michaels |
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Title changes
NJPW
Incoming champion – Yuji Nagata | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 2 | Yoshihiro Takayama | Ultimate Crush | ||
November 3 | Hiroyoshi Tenzan | Yokohama Dead Out | ||
December 9 | Shinsuke Nakamura | Battle Final 2003 |
Incoming champions – Cho-Ten (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Masahiro Chono) | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 13 | Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie | Crush | ||
December 14 | Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Osamu Nishimura | Battle Final 2003 |
Incoming champion – Koji Kanemoto | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
April 23 | Tiger Mask | Strong Energy 2003 | ||
September 23 | Vacant | N/A | ||
October 13 | Jado | Ultimate Crush | ||
December 14 | Heat | Battle Final 2003 |
Incoming champions – Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 26 | Jushin Thunder Liger and Koji Kanemoto | The First Navigation 2003 | ||
November 4 | Vacant | N/A | ||
November 29 | Gedo and Jado | Battle Final 2003 |
WWE
Incoming champion – Triple H | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 21 | Goldberg | Unforgiven | Career vs. title match | |
December 14 | Triple H | Armageddon | Triple threat match, also involving Kane. | |
Incoming champion – Kurt Angle | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 30 | Brock Lesnar | WrestleMania XIX | ||
July 27 | Kurt Angle | Vengeance | Triple threat match, also involving Big Show. | |
September 16 | Brock Lesnar | SmackDown! | 60-minute Iron Man match. Aired on tape delay on September 18. | |
(Title reactivated) | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 18 | Christian | Judgment Day | Raw Co-General Manager Stone Cold Steve Austin reactivated the title. Christian won the revived title in a battle royal. | |
July 7 | Booker T | Monday Night Raw | ||
August 10 | Christian | House show | ||
September 29 | Rob Van Dam | Monday Night Raw | Ladder match | |
October 27 | Chris Jericho | Monday Night Raw | ||
Rob Van Dam | Steel cage match | |||
December 14 | Randy Orton | Armageddon | Mick Foley was the guest referee. | |
(Title reactivated) | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
July 27 | Eddie Guerrero | Vengeance | Formerly the WCW United States Championship, the title was reactivated as an exclusive title of the SmackDown! brand. Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit in a tournament final for the revived title. | |
October 19 | Big Show | No Mercy | ||
Incoming champion – Victoria | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 30 | Trish Stratus | WrestleMania XIX | Triple threat match, also involving Jazz. | |
April 27 | Jazz | Backlash | ||
June 30 | Gail Kim | Monday Night Raw | Seven-woman battle royal, also involving Ivory, Jacqueline, Molly Holly, Trish Stratus, and Victoria. | |
July 28 | Molly Holly | Monday Night Raw | ||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 6 | William Regal and Lance Storm | Monday Night Raw | ||
January 19 | The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) |
Royal Rumble | ||
January 20 | William Regal and Lance Storm | Monday Night Raw | ||
March 24 | Vacated | Monday Night Raw | Vacated due to William Regal getting injured. | |
Chief Morley and Lance Storm | Morley awarded himself and Storm the titles. | |||
March 31 | Kane and Rob Van Dam | Monday Night Raw | Three-way tag team elimination match, also involving The Dudley Boyz. | |
June 15 | La Résistance (René Duprée and Sylvain Grenier) |
Bad Blood | ||
September 21 | The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) |
Unforgiven | Handicap tables match in which Robért Conway teamed with La Résistance. | |
December 14 | Evolution (Batista and Ric Flair) |
Armageddon | Tag team turmoil match, also involving Robért Conway and René Duprée, The Hurricane and Rosey, Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade, Val Venis and Lance Storm, and Test and Scott Steiner. | |
Incoming champions – Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero) | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 4 | Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) |
SmackDown! | Aired on tape delay on February 6. | |
May 18 | Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri | Judgment Day | Ladder match. Los Guerreros had invoked their rematch clause, but Chavo Guerrero got injured prior to the match. Instead of forfeiting, Tajiri replaced Chavo. | |
July 1 | The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) |
SmackDown! | After Benjamin and Haas lost the titles to Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri, they were "fired" from Team Angle. They then became known as The World's Greatest Tag Team. Aired on tape delay on July 3. | |
September 16 | Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero) |
SmackDown! | Aired on tape delay on September 18. | |
October 21 | The Basham Brothers (Doug and Danny Basham) |
SmackDown! | Aired on tape delay on October 23. | |
WWE Cruiserweight Championship | ||||
Incoming champion – Billy Kidman | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 23 | Matt Hardy | No Way Out | ||
June 3 | Rey Mysterio | SmackDown! | Aired on tape delay on June 5. | |
September 23 | Tajiri | SmackDown! | Aired on tape delay on September 25. | |
December 30 | Rey Mysterio | SmackDown! | Aired on tape delay on January 1. | |
Debuts
- Uncertain debut date
- Aero Star
- Brian Kendrick
- Matt Morgan
- Rene Dupree
- Rodney Mack
- Mike Mizanin
- August 2 - Mickie Knuckles
Retirements
- Steve Austin (1989–2003)
- Bruce Hart (1972–2003)[6]
- Brian Adams (1986–2003)
- Taylor Matheny (2001–2003)
Deaths
- February 10 – Curt Hennig, 44
- March 19 – Hiromichi Fuyuki, 42
- May 1 – Miss Elizabeth, 42
- June 2 – Freddie Blassie, 85
- September 25 – Anthony Durante, 36
- October 16 – Stu Hart, 88[7]
- October 19 – Road Warrior Hawk, 46
- November 6 - Crash Holly, 32
- November 29 – Moondog Spot, 51
- December 6 – Jerry Tuite, 36
- December 26 – Danny Fargo, 44
See also
- List of WWA pay-per-view events
- List of WWE pay-per-view events
References
- "Royal Rumble Event Results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- "WWE No Way Out 2003". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- "Unforgiven 2003". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
- "No Mercy 2003 at Pro Wrestling History". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- "Armageddon 2003 results". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
- Vance Nevada's Canadian Wrestling Results Archive (Stampede, December 2, 1972)
- CLEVETT, Jason (October 24, 2003). "Friends and family celebrate Stu". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer.
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