2002 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
These promotions held notable events in 2002.
Promotion Name | Abbreviation | Notes |
---|---|---|
All Japan Pro Wrestling | AJPW | |
CMLL | ||
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling | FMW | |
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 | |
Ring of Honor | ROH | |
World Wrestling All-Stars | WWA | |
World Wrestling Council | WWC | |
WWF/E | In March, the WWF divided its roster into two storyline divisions, Raw and SmackDown!, referred to as brands, where wrestlers exclusively performed on their respective weekly television programs. The WWF was then renamed to WWE in May due to a dispute with the World Wildlife Fund over the "WWF" initialism. | |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
January 2–14 | AJPW | Giant Baba Memorial Cup | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | N/A | ||
January 4 | NJPW | Wrestling World | Tokyo, Japan | Jun Akiyama (c) defeated Yuji Nagata in a Singles match for the GHC Heavyweight Championship | ||
January 6 | FMW | FMW PPV | Tokyo, Japan | Kintaro Kanemura vs. Kodo Fuyuki in a Singles match | ||
January 20 | WWF | Royal Rumble | Atlanta, Georgia | Triple H won by last eliminating Kurt Angle in a 30-man Royal Rumble match for an Undisputed WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X8[1] | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
February 4 | FMW | FMW PPV | Tokyo, Japan | Kodo Fuyuki and The Sandman vs. Sabu and Tetsuhiro Kuroda in a tag team match | ||
February 17 | WWF | No Way Out | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Chris Jericho (c) defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Singles match for the Undisputed WWF Championship[2] | ||
February 24 | WWA | The Revolution | Las Vegas, Nevada | Jeff Jarrett (c) defeated Brian Christopher in a Singles match for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
March 17 | AAA | Rey de Reyes | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | Canek defeated Pirata Morgan, Cibernético and Octagón in a Rey de Reyes 2002 Final elimination match | ||
March 17 | WWF | WrestleMania X8 | Toronto, Ontario | Triple H defeated Chris Jericho (c) (with Stephanie McMahon) in a Singles match for the Undisputed WWF Championship[3] | ||
March 22 | CMLL | International Gran Prix | Mexico City, Mexico | Blue Panther, Dr. Wagner Jr., and Fuerza Guerrera (c) defeated Los Guerreros del Infierno (Rey Bucanero, Tarzan Boy and Último Guerrero) in a Best two-out-of-three falls six-man tag team match for the CMLL World Trios Championship | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 12 | CMLL | 46. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | Dr. Wagner Jr., Giganté Silva and Shocker defeated El Puma Inoue, Gigante Singh and Shibata in a Six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match | ||
April 13 | WWA | The Eruption | Melbourne, Australia | Scott Steiner (with Midajah) defeated Nathan Jones (c) by submission in a Singles match for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship with Sid Vicious as special outside enforcer | ||
April 21 | WWF | Backlash | Kansas City, Missouri | Hollywood Hulk Hogan defeated Triple H (c) in a Singles match for the Undisputed WWF Championship[4] | First WWF PPV under the first brand split, in which the promotion split its roster between the Raw and SmackDown! brands, represented by the shows of the same name. | |
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 4 | WWF | Insurrextion | London, England | Triple H defeated The Undertaker in a Singles match | First Raw-exclusive PPV under the first brand split. Final event under the WWF name as the company was renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) the following day due to a dispute with the World Wildlife Fund over the "WWF" initialism. | |
May 19 | WWE | Judgement Day | Nashville, Tennessee | The Undertaker defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan (c) in a Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Championship | First event under the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) name, following the company being renamed from WWF to WWE on May 5. | |
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
June 8 | N/A | First Annual Big Dick Dudley Memorial Show | Franklin Square, New York | Balls Mahoney (c) defeated Steve Corino in a Singles match for the USA Pro Heavyweight Championship | ||
June 23 | WWE | King of the Ring | Columbus, Ohio | The Undertaker (c) defeated Triple H in a Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Championship | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
July 5 | AAA | Triplemanía X | Madero, Mexico | Octagón (with Máscara Sagrada) defeated Pentagón (with Màscara Maligna) | ||
July 21 | WWE | Vengeance | Detroit, Michigan | The Rock defeated Kurt Angle and The Undertaker (c) in a Triple Threat match for the Undisputed WWE Championship | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 3–11 | NJPW | G1 Climax | Tokyo | Masahiro Chono defeated Yoshihiro Takayama in a G1 Climax tournament final | ||
August 10 | WWE | Melbourne | The Rock (c) defeated Triple H and Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) in a Triple Threat match for the Undisputed WWE Championship[5] [6] | First SmackDown-exclusive event under the first brand split. | ||
August 25 | WWE | SummerSlam | Uniondale, New York | Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) defeated The Rock (c) in a Singles match for Undisputed WWE Championship | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
September 13 | CMLL | CMLL 69th Anniversary Show | Mexico City, Mexico | Tarzan Boy defeated Negro Casas in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match | ||
September 14 | WWC | WWC 29th Aniversario | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) (XWF Tag Team Champions) defeated Los Reggaetones in a tag team match | ||
September 16 | AAA | Verano de Escándalo | Naucalpan, Mexico | El Dandy lost to Electroshock, El Zorro, and Perro Aguayo Jr. in an Elimination match Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match | ||
September 22 | WWE | Unforgiven | Los Angeles, California | Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. The Undertaker in a Singles match for the WWE Championship ended in a double-disqualification[7] | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
October 5 | ROH | Glory By Honor | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Christopher Daniels vs. Doug Williams in a singles match | ||
October 20 | WWE | No Mercy | North Little Rock, Arkansas | Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) defeated The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship | ||
October 26 | WWE | Rebellion | Manchester, England | Brock Lesnar (c) and Paul Heyman defeated Edge in a Handicap match for the WWE Championship[8] | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
November 4 November 5 | WWE | Super Tuesday | Boston, Massachusetts Manchester, New Hampshire | Triple H, Chris Jericho, Christian, and 3-Minute Warning (Rosey and Jamal) defeated Rob Van Dam, Kane, Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley and Jeff Hardy in a ten-man tag team match | ||
November 15 | AAA | Guerra de Titanes (2002) | Veracruz, Mexico | El Alebrije, Máscara Sagráda, La Parka and Octagón defeated Abismo Negro, Cibernético, the Monsther and Leatherface in an Eight-man "Atómicos" tag team match | ||
November 17 | WWE | Survivor Series | New York, New York | Shawn Michaels defeated Triple H (c) (with Ric Flair), Chris Jericho, Kane, Booker T, and Rob Van Dam in an Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship[9] | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes | ||||||
December 6 | WWA | The Retribution | Glasgow, Scotland | Lex Luger defeated Sting in a Singles match for the vacant WWA World Heavyweight Championship | ||
December 13 | CMLL | Sin Piedad | Mexico City, Mexico | Vampiro Canadiense defeated Rey Bucanero in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta hair vs. hair match | ||
December 15 | WWE | Armageddon | Sunrise, Florida | Triple H defeated Shawn Michaels (c) 2–1 in a Three Stages of Hell match for the World Heavyweight Championship[10] | ||
December 28 | ROH | Final Battle | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Bryan Danielson vs. Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe vs. Steve Corino in a four-way match for the Number One Contender's Trophy | ||
(c) – denotes defending champion(s) |
Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan Grand Prix 2002 | Nanae Takahashi | July 9 | ||
Tag League The Best 2002 | Kayo Noumi and Momoe Nakanishi | December 23 |
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 |
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, which he subsequently won from Chris Jericho. | |
Undisputed WWF Championship #1 Contender's Tournament | Stone Cold Steve Austin | February 17 | Defeated Kurt Angle in the tournament final to win a match for the Undisputed WWF Championship at No Way Out, but was unsuccessful in winning the title. | |
King of the Ring | Brock Lesnar | June 23 | Defeated Rob Van Dam in the tournament final to win and be crowned King of the Ring as well as earn a WWE Undisputed Championship match at SummerSlam, which he subsequently won from The Rock. | |
WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament | Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit | October 20 | Defeated Edge and Rey Mysterio in the tournament final to become the inaugural WWE Tag Team Champions. |
See main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards.
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 |
See main article: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Inductee |
---|
Martin Burns |
Jack Curley |
Kenta Kobashi |
Wahoo McDaniel |
Manami Toyota |
See main article: List of 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 |
Incoming champion – Kazuyuki Fujita | |||||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 4 | Vacated | Wrestling World | |||||
February 16 | Tadao Yasuda | Fighting Spirit | |||||
April 5 | Yuji Nagata | Toukon Special |
Incoming champions – BATT | |||||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 2 | Vacated | N/A | |||||
March 24 | Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie | Hyper Battle |
Incoming champion – Kendo Kashin | |||||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 1 | Vacated | N/A | |||||
February 16 | Minoru Tanaka | Fighting Spirit | |||||
July 19 | Koji Kanemoto | Summer Fight Series |
Incoming champions – Gedo and Jado | |||||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 2 | Jushin Thunder Liger and Minoru Tanaka | Toukon Memorial Day | |||||
August 29 | Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru | Cross Road |
– Raw
Following the introduction of the brand extension in March, titles became exclusive to a brand. Only the promotion's original world championship and women's championship were non-exclusive until later in the year.
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 17 | Triple H | WrestleMania X8 | |||||
April 21 | Hollywood Hulk Hogan | Backlash | |||||
May 19 | The Undertaker | Judgment Day | |||||
July 21 | The Rock | Vengeance | Triple threat match, also involving Kurt Angle. | ||||
August 25 | Brock Lesnar | SummerSlam | |||||
November 17 | Big Show | Survivor Series | |||||
December 15 | Kurt Angle | Armageddon | |||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | 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. | ||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 20 | William Regal | Royal Rumble | |||||
March 17 | Rob Van Dam | WrestleMania X8 | |||||
April 21 | Eddie Guerrero | Backlash | |||||
May 27 | Rob Van Dam | Monday Night Raw | Ladder match | ||||
July 29 | Chris Benoit | Monday Night Raw | |||||
August 25 | Rob Van Dam | SummerSlam | |||||
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. | ||||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 2 | Billy Kidman | SmackDown! | |||||
April 21 | Tajiri | Backlash | |||||
May 14 | The Hurricane | SmackDown! | Triple threat match, also involving Billy Kidman. | ||||
June 23 | Jamie Noble | King of the Ring | |||||
November 17 | Billy Kidman | Survivor Series | |||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 4 | Jazz | Monday Night Raw | |||||
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 | |||||
November 17 | Victoria | Survivor Series | Hardcore match | ||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 29 | Diamond Dallas Page | SmackDown! | |||||
March 19 | William Regal | SmackDown! | |||||
April 8 | Spike Dudley | Monday Night Raw | |||||
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. | ||||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 7 | Spike Dudley and Tazz | Monday Night Raw | Hardcore match | ||||
February 19 | Billy and Chuck | SmackDown! | |||||
May 19 | Rico and Rikishi | Judgment Day | |||||
June 4 | Billy and Chuck | SmackDown! | Tag team elimination match. | ||||
July 2 | Edge and Hollywood Hulk Hogan | SmackDown! | |||||
July 21 | The Un-Americans | Vengeance | |||||
September 23 | Hurri-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. | ||||
width=14% | Date | width=14% | Winner | width=14% | Event/Show | width=58% | 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. | ||||
November 17 | Los Guerreros | Survivor Series | Three-way tag team elimination match, also involving Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. | ||||