2010 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2010. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesCombat Zone WrestlingCZWConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreCMLLJersey All Pro WrestlingJAPWJCWLucha Libre AAA WorldwideAAAThe "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-WrestlingNJPWPro Wrestling GuerrillaPWGRing of HonorROHTotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTNAWestside Xtreme WrestlingwXwWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWWEWWE divided its roster into three storyline divisions, Raw, SmackDown, and ECW, referred to as brands, where wrestlers exclusively performed on their respective weekly television programs until February, when ECW was disbanded, leaving only Raw and SmackDown.
Calendar of notable shows January Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom IV Tokyo Shinsuke Nakamura (c) defeated Yoshihiro Takayama in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 3 WWC Euphoria San Juan, Puerto Rico El Sensacional Carlitos pinned Hiram Tua 17 TNA Genesis Orlando AJ Styles (c) defeated Kurt Angle in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship This event was Ken Anderson (now under ring name Mr. Anderson) and Brian Kendrick's debut in TNA. 31 WWE: Royal Rumble Atlanta Edge won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating John Cena to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVI Edge chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.Final WWE PPV to feature the ECW brand, as well as the ECW Championship, as the brand was disbanded on February 16, and the title was deactivated along with it.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 14 TNA Against All Odds Orlando D'Angelo Dinero defeated Mr. Anderson in Finals of the 8 Card Stud Tournament 21 WWE: Elimination Chamber St. Louis Chris Jericho defeated The Undertaker (c), John Morrison, R-Truth, CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio in an Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 12 AAA Rey de Reyes Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico Rey de Reyes final three-way elimination match 13 wXw The Vision Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thumbtack Jack defeats Drake Younger in a Pain In The Glass Match. First show in the United States. 21 TNA Destination X Orlando AJ Styles (c) fought Abyss to a no-contest for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 28 WWE: WrestleMania XXVI Glendale The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels in No Disqualification Streak vs. Career match This was Shawn Michaels's last match in his wrestling career until he had one further match at Crown Jewel 2018.Last WrestleMania to feature the Money in the Bank ladder match due to the establishment of an annual pay-per-view based on the match.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 3 ROH ROH The Big Bang! Charlotte Blue Demon, Jr. and Magno defeated Super Parka and Misterioso in a Tag team match 16 CMLL 54. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico El Felino defeated Místico 18 TNA Lockdown Saint Charles Team Hogan (Abyss, Rob Van Dam, Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Hardy, and D'Angelo Dinero) defeated Team Flair (Sting, James Storm, Robert Roode, Desmond Wolfe, and Samoa Joe)Lethal Lockdown match. Had Team Flair won, Hulk Hogan would have left the company. 25 WWE: Extreme Rules Baltimore John Cena (c) defeated Batista in Last Man Standing match to retain the WWE Championship This was Triple H's last appearance as full-time wrestler(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 3 NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Fukuoka, Japan Togi Makabe defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 16 TNA Sacrifice Orlando Rob Van Dam (c) defeated AJ Styles in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 23 WWE: Over the Limit Detroit John Cena (c) defeated Batista in an "I Quit" match to retain the WWE Championship This was Batista's last match in WWE until 2014(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 6 AAA Triplemanía XVIII Mexico City, Mexico L.A. Park defeated La Parka in a Singles match for the rights to the name "La Parka" 6 CMLL Sin Salida Mexico City, Mexico Máximo defeated Taichi in a Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match 13 TNA Slammiversary Orlando Rob Van Dam (c) defeated Sting in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 19 NJPW Dominion Osaka Togi Makabe (c) defeated Go Shiozaki in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 19 ROH Death Before Dishonor Toronto Tyler Black (c) defeated Davey Richards in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship 20 WWE: Fatal 4-Way Uniondale Sheamus defeated John Cena (c), Randy Orton, and Edge in a Fatal 4-Way match to win the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 10 CZW/JAPW Acid-Fest: A Tribute to Trent Acid South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Johnny Kashmere defeated Devon Moore 11 TNA Victory Road Orlando Rob Van Dam (c) defeated Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson and Abyss in a Fatal 4-Way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 11 WWC 37th WWC Aniversario Bayamon, Puerto Rico Carlito defeated Orlando Colon by countout; Booker T vs. Carlito saw no winner as the official referee was knocked out; Banderas defeated Carlito after he revealed himself as the third opponent 12 CMLL Promociones Gutiérrez 1st Anniversary Show Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico Místico defeated El Oriental in a Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. mask match 18 CMLL Infierno en el Ring Mexico City, Mexico 12-man Infierno en el Ring, Lucha de Apuestas mask vs. mask Steel cage match 18 WWE: Money in the Bank Kansas City Sheamus (c) defeated John Cena in a Steel Cage match to retain the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 8 TNA Hardcore Justice Orlando Rob Van Dam defeated Sabu in a Hardcore Rules match 12 TNA The Whole F'n Show Orlando Rob Van Dam (c) defeated Abyss in a Stairway to Janice Ladder match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with Eric Bischoff as the guest referee 14 AAA Verano de Escándalo Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico El Mesías defeated Dr. Wagner Jr. (c) in a Domo De La Muerte cage match for the AAA Mega Championship6–15NJPWG1 Climax finalTokyoSatoshi Kojima defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in the G1 Climax tournament 15 JCW Bloodymania IV Cave-In-Rock, Illinois Corporal Robinson (c) defeated Mike Knox and Raven 15 WWE: SummerSlam Los Angeles Team WWE (John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Edge, Chris Jericho, Bret Hart, R-Truth and John Morrison) defeated The Nexus (Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, David Otunga, Skip Sheffield, Michael Tarver and Darren Young) in a 7-on-7 Elimination tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes4–5PWGBattle of Los AngelesReseda, CaliforniaJoey Ryan defeated Chris Hero in a Battle of Los Angeles tournament 5 TNA No Surrender Orlando Mr. Anderson defeated D'Angelo Dinero in Semi-Finals of the TNA World Heavyweight Championship Tournament 11 ROH Glory By Honor New York City Roderick Strong defeated Tyler Black (c) No Disqualification match to win the ROH World Championship This was Tyler Black's last match in ROH before signing with WWE. 19 WWE: Night of Champions Rosemont Randy Orton defeated Sheamus (c), Wade Barrett, John Cena, Edge, and Chris Jericho in a Six-Pack Challenge to win the WWE Championship Last event of Women's Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 1 AAA Héroes Inmortales IV Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico Legado AAA (Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Heavy Metal and La Parka) defeated La Sociedad (Electroshock, El Zorro, Hernandez and L.A. Park) 3 CMLL CMLL 77th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico 14-man elimination steel cage match 3 WWE: Hell in a Cell Dallas Kane (c) defeated The Undertaker in Hell in a Cell match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship 10 TNA Bound for Glory Daytona Beach Jeff Hardy defeated Mr. Anderson and Kurt Angle in a Three-way match to win the vacant TNA World Heavyweight ChampionshipSince Angle lost, he had to retire. 11 NJPW Destruction Tokyo Satoshi Kojima defeated Togi Makabe (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 15 CMLL CMLL Entre el Cielo y el Infierno Mexico City Charly Manson defeated Negro Casas 24 WWE: Bragging Rights Minneapolis Wade Barrett defeated Randy Orton (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the WWE ChampionshipHad Barrett lost, John Cena would have been fired. Team SmackDown won for the second time in a row in a 14-man elimination tag team match This was The Undertaker's last appearance as a full-time wrestler(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 7 TNA Turning Point Orlando Jeff Hardy (c) defeated Matt Morgan in a Single match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 21 WWE: Survivor Series Miami Randy Orton (c) defeated Wade Barrett in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship with John Cena as special guest referee Since Orton won, Cena was fired. Had Barrett won, Cena would be free from Nexus(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 3 CMLL Sin Piedad Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico Rey Bucanero defeated Mr. Águila in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match 5 AAA Guerra de Titanes Guadalajara, Jalisco Six-man tag team steel cage Lucha de Apuestas, hair-vs.-mask match 5 TNA Final Resolution Orlando Jeff Hardy (c) defeated Matt Morgan in a No Disqualification match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with Mr. Anderson as special guest referee11WWE:Tribute to the TroopsFort Hood, TexasJohn Cena, Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton defeated Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett and The Miz 18 ROH Final Battle New York City El Generico defeated Kevin Steen in an Unsanctioned Fight Without Honor for El Generico's mask vs. Kevin Steen leaving ROH 19 WWE: TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Houston John Cena defeated Wade Barrett in a Chairs match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Accomplishments and tournaments
AAA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRey de ReyesChessmanMarch 12
DDT AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesYoung Drama CupSoma TakaoNovember 28
Ring of Honor AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesROH World Television Championship TournamentEddie EdwardsMarch 5
TNA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotes8 Card Stud TournamentD'Angelo DineroApril 18TNA Tag Team Championship SeriesBeer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode)July 11TNA World Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders TournamentDesmond Wolfe and MagnusJuly 27TNA World Heavyweight Championship TournamentJeff HardyOctober 10TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship TournamentThe Beautiful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky)December 23
WWE