2008 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2008. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreCMLLGCWJCWLucha 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 WrestlingTNAWorld 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.
Calendar of notable shows January
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom II Tokyo Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 6 TNA Final Resolution Orlando, Florida Kurt Angle (c) defeated Christian Cage in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 6 WWC Euphoria Bayamón, Puerto Rico Mini Abismo Negro vs. Octagoncito 27 WWE: Royal Rumble New York, New York John Cena won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Triple H to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania XXIV This was the first WWE PPV to be broadcast in HD.John Cena chose to challenge for the WWE Championship, but used his title shot at No Way Out instead of waiting until WrestleMania.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 10 TNA Against All Odds Greenville, South Carolina Kurt Angle (c) defeated Christian Cage in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with Samoa Joe as the special outside enforcer 17 WWE: No Way Out Las Vegas, Nevada Triple H defeated Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Umaga, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield in the Elimination Chamber match for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania XXIV(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 9 TNA Destination X Norfolk, Virginia The Unlikely Alliance (Christian Cage, Kevin Nash and Samoa Joe) defeated The Angle Alliance (Kurt Angle, A.J. Styles and Tomko) in a Six-man Tag team match 16 AAA Rey de Reyes Monterrey, Mexico Rey de Reyes Finals Elimination match 16 ROH Take No Prisoners Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Nigel McGuiness (c) defeated Tyler Black in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship 30 WWE: WrestleMania XXIV Orlando, Florida The Undertaker defeated Edge (c) by submission in a Singles match to win the World Heavyweight Championship Ric Flair wrestled his last WWE match at this PPV against Shawn Michaels(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 13 TNA Lockdown Lowell, Massachusetts Samoa Joe defeated Kurt Angle (c) in a Six Sides of Steel Cage match to win TNA World Heavyweight Championship. If Joe had lost, he had to retire from professional wrestling. 18 CMLL 52. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Héctor Garza and Místico (c) drew with Los Perros del Mal (Averno and Mephisto) - Double disqualification in a Best two-out-of-three falls tag team match for the CMLL World Tag Team Championship 27 WWE: Backlash Baltimore, Maryland Triple H defeated Randy Orton (c), John Cena, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield in a Fatal-4-Way elimination match to win the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 11 TNA Sacrifice Orlando, Florida Samoa Joe (c) defeated Kaz and Scott Steiner in a Three-way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 18 WWE: Judgment Day Omaha, Nebraska Triple H (c) defeated Randy Orton in a Steel Cage match to retain the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 1 WWE: One Night Stand San Diego, California Edge defeated The Undertaker in the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship 7 ROH Respect is Earned Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black) (c) defeated TeamWork (Austin Aries and Bryan Danielson) in a Tag team match to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship 8 TNA Slammiversary Southaven, Mississippi Samoa Joe (c) defeated Booker T, Christian Cage, Rhino and Robert Roode in the King of the Mountain match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with Kevin Nash as special guest enforcer 13 AAA Triplemanía XVI Naucalpan, Mexico Cibernético (c) defeated El Zorro in a Singles match for the AAA Mega Championship 13 CMLL Infierno en el Ring Mexico City, Mexico 10-man Infierno en el Ring, Lucha de Apuesta hair vs. hair Steel cage match 29 WWE: Night of Champions Dallas, Texas Triple H (c) defeated John Cena in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 13 TNA Victory Road Houston, Texas Samoa Joe (c) vs Booker T went to a no contest in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 19 WWC 35th WWC Aniversario San Juan, Puerto Rico Ray Gonzalez defeated Carlito 20 WWE: The Great American Bash Uniondale, New York Triple H (c) defeated Edge in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship This PPV is notable for being the last TV-14 rated WWE PPV. Immediately after the PPV, WWE turned their product PGThe event also determined the inaugural champion for the Diva Championship, new title for the SmackDown Divas, where Michelle McCool defeated Natalya. 25 CMLL International Gran Prix Mexico City, Mexico Místico defeated Perro Aguayo Jr. (2-1) in a Best two-out-of-three-falls match, 2008 Leyenda de Plata tournament final 26 ROH New Horizons Detroit, Michigan Bryan Danielson defeated Tyler Black in a Singles match 28 WWE: Saturday Night's Main Event XXXVI Washington, D.C. Edge defeated Jeff Hardy in a Singles match note that this aired in the United States on NBC on August 2.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 10 JCW Bloodymania II Cave-In-Rock, Illinois Corporal Robinson (c) defeated Raven for the JCW World Heavyweight Championship 10 TNA Hard Justice Trenton, New Jersey Samoa Joe (c) defeated Booker T in the Six Sides of Steel Weapons match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship9-17NJPWG1 Climax finalTokyoHirooki Goto defeated Togi Makabe in a G1 Climax tournament 17 WWE: SummerSlam Indianapolis, Indiana The Undertaker defeated Edge in a Hell in a Cell match 29 CMLL Sin Piedad Mexico City Blue Panther, Dos Caras Jr. and Dr. Wagner Jr. defeated Black Warrior, Mr. Niebla and Rey Bucanero in a Best two-out-of-three falls six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 4 GCW Fifth Annual Fred Ward Memorial Show Phenix City, Alabama Micah Taylor and Diane Hewes defeated Johnny Swinger and Quentin Michaels in an All or Nothing match for control of GCW 7 WWE: Unforgiven Cleveland, Ohio Chris Jericho defeated Batista, Kane, John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Rey Mysterio in the Championship Scramble to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship 14 AAA Verano de Escándalo Zapopan, Mexico Vampiro defeated El Mesías in Steel cage "street fight" match 14 TNA No Surrender Oshawa, Ontario Samoa Joe (c) defeated Christian Cage and Kurt Angle in the Three Ways to Glory match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 19 ROH Driven Boston, Massachusetts Kevin Steen and El Generico defeated The Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black) (c) in a Tag team match to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship 19 CMLL CMLL 75th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Villano V defeated Blue Panther in a Lucha de Apuestas mask vs. mask match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 5 WWE: No Mercy Portland, Oregon Chris Jericho (c) defeated Shawn Michaels in the Ladder match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship 12 TNA Bound for Glory Hoffman Estates, Illinois Sting defeated Samoa Joe (c) in a Singles match to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 13 NJPW Destruction Tokyo Keiji Mutoh (c) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 24 AAA Antonio Peña Memorial Show Veracruz, Mexico La Legión Extranjera (Electroshock, Konnan, Rellik and Kenzo Suzuki) defeated Team AAA (Latin Lover, Octagón, La Parka and Super Fly) in a steel cage elimination match 26 WWE: Cyber Sunday Phoenix, Arizona Batista defeated Chris Jericho (c) in a Singles match to win the World Heavyweight Championship with Stone Cold Steve Austin as special guest referee.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event1-2PWGBattle of Los AngelesBurbank, CaliforniaLow Ki defeated Chris Hero in a Battle of Los Angeles tournament 9 TNA Turning Point Orlando Sting (c) defeated A.J. Styles in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 14 N/A Second Annual Sensational Sherri Memorial Cup Tournament Montreal, Quebec Misty Haven and Michael Von Payton defeated Kacey Diamond and Marko Estrada in a Tournament Finals match 22 ROH Rising Above Chicago Ridge, Illinois Nigel McGuinness (c) defeated Bryan Danielson in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship 23 WWE: Survivor Series Boston, Massachusetts John Cena defeated Chris Jericho (c) in a Singles match to win the World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event5WWE:Tribute to the Troops BaghdadJohn Cena, Batista and Rey Mysterio defeated Randy Orton, Chris Jericho and Big Show in a Six-man tag team match 6 AAA Guerra de Titanes Orizaba, Mexico Steel Cage Match Luchas de Apuestas 7 TNA Final Resolution Orlando The Main Event Mafia (Sting (c), Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner and Booker T) defeated The TNA Front Line (A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, Brother Ray and Brother Devon) in an Eight-man tag team match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 14 WWE: Armageddon Buffalo, New York Jeff Hardy defeated Edge (c) and Triple H in a Triple threat match to win the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Accomplishments and tournaments AAA
AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRey de ReyesEl ZorroMarch 16
AAA Hall of Fame
InducteeEddie Guerrero
Ring of Honor
AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesROH World Championship #1 Contender TournamentKevin SteenFebruary 22ROH World Championship #1 Contender TournamentTyler BlackMarch 16ROH World Tag Team Championship TournamentThe Age of the Fall (Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs)June 6
Sendai Girls
AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesJaja Uma Tournament Hiroyo MatsumotoJune 27
TNA
AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesDeuces Wild Tag Team TournamentThe Latin American Xchange (Hernandez and Homicide)May 112008 TNA World X Cup TournamentTeam MexicoJuly 13Turkey BowlRhinoNovember 27
WWE