2005 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2005. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreCMLLGCWLucha 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.NBWANew Japan Pro-WrestlingNJPWPro Wrestling GuerrillaPWGRing of HonorROHTotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTNAWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWWEWWE 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 Notes 4 NJPW Toukon Festival: Wrestling World Tokyo, Japan Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship 9 WWE: New Year's Revolution San Juan, Puerto Rico Triple H defeated Edge, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Batista, and Randy Orton in an Elimination Chamber match to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship with Shawn Michaels as special guest referee 16 TNA Final Resolution Orlando Jeff Jarrett (c) defeated Monty Brown in a Singles match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 30 WWE: Royal Rumble Fresno, California Batista won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating John Cena to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania 21 Batista chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 13 TNA Against All Odds Orlando Jeff Jarrett (c) defeated Kevin Nash in a Singles match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 19 ROH Third Anniversary Celebration: Part 1 Elizabeth, New Jersey The Carnage Crew (H. C. Loc & Tony DeVito) vs. Generation Next (Roderick Strong & Jack Evans) vs. The Ring Crew Express (Dunn & Marcos) vs. Special K (Azrieal & Dixie) vs. Special K (Izzy & Deranged) in a Scramble Cage Match 20 WWE: No Way Out Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania John "Bradshaw" Layfield (c) defeated Big Show in a Barbed Wired Steel Cage match to retain the WWE Championship 25 ROH Third Anniversary Celebration: Part 2 Dayton, Ohio Jimmy Rave defeated A.J. Styles in a Singles match 26 ROH Third Anniversary Celebration: Part 3 Chicago Ridge, Illinois Austin Aries (c) defeated Samoa Joe in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 11 AAA Rey de Reyes Ciudad Madero, Mexico Elimination match: finals of the 2005 Rey de Reyes tournament. 13 TNA Destination X Orlando Jeff Jarrett (c) defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Singles match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 18 NBWA Mike Lockwood Memorial Tournament South Bend, Indiana B. J. Whitmer defeated Nigel McGuiness (c) in a Singles match for the NBWA Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 3 WWE: WrestleMania 21 Los Angeles, California Batista defeated Triple H (c) in a Singles match to win the World Heavyweight Championship The event also featured the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin who started his part-time appearances with WWE at this event. First event to feature the Money in the Bank ladder match 8 CMLL 49. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Los Perros del Mal (Damián 666, Halloween and Pierroth) defeated Dr. Wagner Jr., Místico and Negro Casas by disqualification 24 TNA Lockdown Orlando A.J. Styles defeated Abyss in Six Sides of Steel match for an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match at Hard Justice(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 1 WWE: Backlash Manchester, New Hampshire Batista (c) defeated Triple H in a Singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship 5 N/A Mark Curtis Memorial Reunion Johnson City, Tennessee Mick Foley and Shane Douglas defeated Al Snow and D'Lo Brown 15 AAA Triplemanía XIII Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Latin Lover, La Parka and Octagón defeated Los Hell Brothers (Chessman and Cibernético) and Fuerza Guerrera 15 TNA Hard Justice Orlando A.J. Styles defeated Jeff Jarrett (c) in a Singles match to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with Tito Ortiz as Special Guest Referee 22 WWE: Judgment Day Minneapolis, Minnesota John Cena (c) defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield in a "I Quit" match to retain the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 12 WWE ECW One Night Stand New York City The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) defeated Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman in a Tag team match This event was The Dudley Boyz and Rhyno's last appearance in WWE until 2015Last PPV appearance for many wrestlers including Mike AwesomeFirst event produced by WWE to promote the former Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion. This would be the genesis of the launch of the ECW brand the following year. 18 ROH Death Before Dishonor III Morristown, New Jersey CM Punk defeated Austin Aries (c) in a Singles match to win the ROH World Championship 19 TNA Slammiversary Orlando Raven defeated A.J. Styles (c), Abyss, Monty Brown and Sean Waltman in the King of the Mountain match to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship This event was Samoa Joe's debut in TNA 26 WWE: Vengeance Las Vegas, Nevada Batista (c) defeated Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 17 TNA No Surrender Orlando Raven (c) defeated Abyss in a Dog Collar match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship This event was Rhyno's debut in TNA 24 WWE: The Great American Bash Buffalo, New York John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated Batista (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes4-14NJPWG1 Climax finalTokyoMasahiro Chono defeated Kazuyuki Fujita in a G1 Climax tournament 6 GCW Second Annual Fred Ward Memorial Show Columbus, Georgia David Young and Chris Stevens defeated Erik Watts and Sonny Siaki 14 TNA Sacrifice Orlando Jeff Jarrett and Rhino defeated Raven and Sabu in a Tag team match 21 WWE: SummerSlam Washington, D.C. Hulk Hogan defeated Shawn Michaels in a Singles match Last PPV appearance of Chris Jericho in WWE until late 2007, he lost to John Cena on the following night's Raw in a Loser Leaves WWE match as his contract expired after.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event3–4PWG Battle of Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaChris Bosh defeated A.J. Styles in a Battle of Los Angeles tournament 11 TNA Unbreakable Orlando A.J. Styles defeated Christopher Daniels (c) and Samoa Joe in a Triple threat match to win the TNA X Division Championship 16 CMLL CMLL 72nd Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Héctor Garza lost to Perro Aguayo Jr. and Universo 2000 in a Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair vs. hair elimination match 17 ROH Glory By Honor IV Lake Grove, New York A.J. Styles defeated Jimmy Rave in a Finishers match 18 AAA Verano de Escándalo Veracruz, Mexico Electrified steel cage match "Loser has his head shaved" match. 18 WWE: Unforgiven Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Kurt Angle defeated John Cena (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the WWE Championship 23 CMLL International Gran Prix Mexico City, Mexico Místico defeated Último Guerrero by disqualification in a Best two-out-of-three falls match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 9 WWE: No Mercy Houston, Texas Batista (c) defeated Eddie Guerrero in a Singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship Last PPV appearance for Eddie Guerrero before his death in November 23 TNA Bound for Glory Orlando Rhino defeated Jeff Jarrett (c) in a Singles match to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with Tito Ortiz as special guest referee The show was promoted as TNA's premiere PPV event and their equivalent to the rival WWE's WrestleMania.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 1 WWE: Taboo Tuesday San Diego, California John Cena (c) defeated Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels in a Triple threat match to retain the WWE Championship Last PPV appearance of Christian in WWE until 2009. This event was also involved the SmackDown! roster. 5 WWC 32nd WWC Aniversario Bayamón, Puerto Rico Carlito defeated Shane 13 TNA Genesis Orlando Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) and Rhino defeated America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) and Jeff Jarrett in a Six-man tag team match This event was Christian (under new ring name Christian Cage)'s debut in TNA It was also dedicated to WWE wrestler Eddie Guerrero, who died the day of the show.It was Team 3D's first PPV match in TNA 27 WWE: Survivor Series Detroit, Michigan Team SmackDown! (Batista, Rey Mysterio, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Bobby Lashley, and Randy Orton) defeated Team Raw (Shawn Michaels, Kane, Big Show, Carlito, and Chris Masters) in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match Eddie Guerrero was booked to be the captain of Team SmackDown! before his death, after his death he was replaced by Batista(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 2 CMLLJuicio FinalMexico City, MexicoUniverso 2000 defeated Halloween in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match 10 AAA Guerra de Titanes Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Abismo Negro, Latin Lover and La Parka, defeated La Secta Cibernetica (Cibernético, Dark Cuervo, and Dark Escoria) 11 TNA Turning Point Orlando Jeff Jarrett (c) defeated Rhino in a Singles match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 17 ROH Final Battle 2005 Edison, New Jersey Kenta (c) defeated Low Ki to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship 18 WWE: Armageddon Providence, Rhode Island The Undertaker defeated Randy Orton in Hell in a Cell match19WWE:Tribute to the TroopsBagram, AfghanistanShawn Michaels defeated Triple H in a Boot Camp match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Accomplishments and tournaments
AAA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRey de ReyesLa ParkaMarch 11
Ring of Honor AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesBest of the American Super Juniors TournamentDragon Soldier BApril 2
TNA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotes2005 TNA Super X Cup TournamentSamoa JoeAugust 14Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team TournamentAlex Shelley and Sean WaltmanAugust 16
TNA Year End Awards
Poll Winner(s)Tag Team of the YearTeam 3D (Brother Devon and Brother Ray)Knockout of the YearJackie GaydaFinisher of the YearThe Canadian DestroyerWho To Watch in 2006Christian CageMemorable Moment of the YearChristian Cage debuts at GenesisX Division Star of the YearA.J. StylesFeud of the YearA.J. Styles and Christopher DanielsMatch of the YearBarbed Wire Massacre: Abyss vs. Sabu at Turning PointMr. TNAA.J. Styles
WWE