2001 in professional wrestling

2001 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2001. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBig Japan Pro WrestlingBJWCMLLECWECW closed in April due to financial trouble, after which, former ECW stars began appearing on WWF programming, but still promoted as ECW stars for The Invasion storyline. The promotion's assets were later acquired by the WWF (which at that point had been renamed to WWE) in 2003.Frontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFMWLucha 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-WrestlingNJPWWorld Championship WrestlingWCWThe majority of WCW's assets were acquired by rival company WWF in March following the cancellation of its programming, after which, former WCW stars began appearing on WWF programming, but still promoted as WCW stars for The Invasion storyline.World Wrestling All-StarsWWAWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWFWorld Xtreme WrestlingWXW

Calendar of notable shows January DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 4 NJPWWrestling WorldTokyo, JapanKensuke Sasaki defeated Toshiaki Kawada in a Singles match: IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament finalJanuary 7 FMWNew Year Generation 2001: Day 1Tokyo, JapanKodo Fuyuki and Tetsuhiro Kuroda vs. Masato Tanaka and Gedo in a tag team match ECWGuilty as ChargedNew York, New YorkRob Van Dam defeated Jerry Lynn in a Singles match January 14 WCWSinIndianapolis, IndianaScott Steiner (c) defeated Jeff Jarrett, Sid Vicious and Road Warrior Animal in a Four corners match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 16 FMWNew Year Generation 2001: Day 6Tokyo, JapanKodo Fuyuki vs. Tetsuhiro Kuroda in a Singles matchJanuary 21 WWFRoyal RumbleNew Orleans, LouisianaStone Cold Steve Austin won by last eliminating Kane in a 30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X-SevenJanuary 28 AJPWNJPWGiant Baba Memorial SpectacularTokyo, JapanKensuke Sasaki (c - IWGP Heavyweight Champion) and Toshiaki Kawada defeated Genichiro Tenryu (c - AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion) and Hiroshi Hase in a Non-Title Dream match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

February DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventFebruary 6 FMWNew Year Generation 2001: Day 6Tokyo, JapanKodo Fuyuki, GOEMON and Onryo vs. Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Mammoth Sasaki and Kyoko Inoue in a tag team matchFebruary 14 WOWWOW UnleashedLos Angeles, CaliforniaThug defeated Selina Majors in a Steel Cage MatchFebruary 18 WCWSuperBrawl RevengeNashville, TennesseeScott Steiner (c) defeated Kevin Nash 2–1 in a Two-out-of-three falls "loser leaves WCW" match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipFebruary 25 WWFNo Way OutLas Vegas, NevadaThe Rock defeated Kurt Angle (c) in a Singles match for the WWF Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

March DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMarch 5 FMWWinning Road 2001: Tag 2Tokyo, JapanThe Great Sasuke vs. Tetsuhiro Kuroda in a Singles matchMarch 13 FMWWinning Road 2001: Tag 7Tokyo, JapanKintaro Kanemura vs. Tetsuhiro Kuroda in a Singles matchMarch 18 WCWGreedJacksonville, FloridaScott Steiner (c) defeated Diamond Dallas Page by technical submission in a Falls Count Anywhere match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipMarch 30 AAARey de ReyesCiudad Madero, MexicoLa Parka Jr. defeated Latin Lover, Abismo Negro and Heavy Metal in a Rey de Reyes 2001 Final elimination matchMarch 30 CMLLJuicio FinalMexico City, MexicoUniverso 2000 defeated Perro Aguayo - Two falls to one in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. hair match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

April DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 1 FMWFighting Creation 2001: Tag 2Tokyo, JapanKodo Fuyuki vs. Tetsuhiro Kuroda in a Singles matchApril 1 WWFWrestleMania X-SevenHouston, TexasStone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock (c) in a No Disqualification match for the WWF ChampionshipApril 13 CMLL45. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoDr. Wagner Jr., El Satánico and Negro Casas defeated Hijo del Santo, Emilio Charles Jr. and Último Guerrero by disqualificationApril 15 FMWFighting Creation 2001: Tag 3Tokyo, JapanTeam Kuroda (Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Mr. Gannosuke and Mammoth Sasaki) vs. The Great Sasuke, GOEMON and Onryo in a Six-man tag team matchApril 29 WWFBacklashRosemont, IllinoisThe Two-Man Power Trip (Stone Cold Steve Austin (c - WWF) and Triple H (c - Intercontinental)) defeated The Brothers of Destruction (Kane and The Undertaker) (c - WWF Tag Team) in a Tag team match for the WWF Tag Team, WWF Intercontinental, and WWF Championships(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

May DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMay 5 NJPWWrestling DontakuFukuoka, JapanManabu Nakanishi and Riki Choshu defeated Kazunari Murakami and Naoya Ogawa in a tag team matchMay 5 FMWFMW 12th Anniversary ShowKawasaki, Kanagawa, JapanHayabusa and The Great Sasuke defeated Tetsuhiro Kuroda and Mr. Gannosuke in an Exploding 15000 Volt Thunderbolt Octagon Cage Bomb DeathmatchMay 5 WWFInsurrextionLondon, EnglandThe Undertaker defeated The Power Trip (Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) and Triple H) in a Handicap match for the WWF ChampionshipMay 11 FMWNeo 2001: Day 1Tokyo, JapanHayabusa, Hisakatsu Oya and Ricky Fuji vs. Team Kuroda (Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Mr. Gannosuke and Mammoth Sasaki) in a Six-man tag team matchMay 20 WWFJudgment DaySacramento, CaliforniaStone Cold Steve Austin (c) defeated The Undertaker in a No Holds Barred match for the WWF ChampionshipMay 26 AAATriplemanía IXMexico City, MexicoPirata Morgan lost to Sangre Chicana, El Cobarde II was also in the match in a Dog collar match Lucha de Apuestas "Hair vs. Hair" match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

June DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJune 8 FMWKing of Fight 2001: Day 1Tokyo, JapanHayabusa and Tetsuhiro Kuroda vs. Mr. Gannosuke and Kintaro Kanemura in a Six-man tag team matchJune 24 WWFKing of the RingEast Rutherford, New JerseyStone Cold Steve Austin (c) defeated Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho in a Triple threat match for the WWF Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

July DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJuly 20 FMWKing of Fight II 2001: Day 9Tokyo, JapanKodo Fuyuki, Mr. Gannosuke, Kintaro Kanemura and Senmu Yoshida vs. Hayabusa, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Azusa Kudo and Shoichi Arai in an eight-man tag team matchJuly 22 WWFInvasionCleveland, OhioThe WCW-ECW Coalition (Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, Diamond Dallas Page, D-Von Dudley and Rhyno) (Alliance) defeated Team WWF (Chris Jericho, Kane, Kurt Angle, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker) (WWF) in a ten-man tag team matchJuly 24 FMWRolling Thunder Riverside Death Match Series In Edogawa KyoteiTokyo, JapanGOEMON and Hayabusa defeated Chocoball Mukai and Kodo Fuyuki in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

August DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventAugust 3 FMWSuper Dynamism 2001: Day 4Tokyo, JapanMr. Gannosuke, Kintaro Kanemura and Mammoth Sasaki vs. Hayabusa, GOEMON and Onryo in a Six-man tag team matchAugust 9 N/A Fourth Annual Brian Pillman Memorial ShowCincinnati, OhioThe Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) (WWF) defeated Edge and Christian (WWF) and Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon (WCW) in a Three-way matchAugust 4–12NJPWG1 ClimaxTokyoYuji Nagata defeated Keiji Mutoh in a G1 Climax tournament finalAugust 11 N/A Terry Gordy Memorial ShowBirmingham, AlabamaP.S. Michael Hayes and Ray Gordy defeated Tony Anthony and "Nightmare" Ken Wayne in a tag team matchAugust 11 FMWSuper Dynamism 2001: Day 6Tokyo, JapanHayabusa vs. Kintaro Kanemura in a Singles matchAugust 19 WWFSummerSlamSan Jose, CaliforniaThe Rock (WWF) defeated Booker T (c) (Alliance) in a Singles match for the WCW Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

September DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventSeptember 8 WWCWWC 28th AniversarioBayamón, Puerto RicoAbdullah the Butcher defeated Big Hail by disqualification in a Singles matchSeptember 9 FMWSuper Dynamism 2001: Day 14Tokyo, JapanKintaro Kanemura, Kodo Fuyuki and Mr. Gannosuke vs. Hayabusa, Tetsuhiro Kuroda and GOEMON in a Six-man tag team matchSeptember 16AAAVerano de EscándaloNaucalpan, MexicoCanek, Zorro, Latin Lover, and Heavy Metal defeated Cibernético, Headhunter I, Electroshock, and Abismo Negro in an Eight-man "Atómicos" tag team matchSeptember 23 WWFUnforgivenPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaKurt Angle (WWF) defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) (Alliance) by submission in a Singles match for the WWF ChampionshipSeptember 28 CMLLCMLL 68th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoMáscara Mágica lost to El SatánicoAlso in the match: Último Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, Tarzan Boy, Mephisto and Averno in a Seven-man steel cage match elimination Lucha de Apuestas match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

October DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventOctober 9 FMWPower Splash 2001: Day 4Tokyo, JapanMr. Gannosuke and Mammoth Sasaki vs. Hayabusa and Tetsuhiro Kuroda in a tag team matchOctober 21 WWFNo MercySt. Louis, MissouriStone Cold Steve Austin (c) (Alliance) defeated Kurt Angle (WWF) and Rob Van Dam (Alliance) in a Triple threat match for the WWF Championship October 22 FMWPower Splash 2001: Day 13Tokyo, JapanHayabusa vs. Mammoth Sasaki in a Singles matchOctober 26 WWAThe InceptionSydney, AustraliaJeff Jarrett defeated Road Dogg in a Steel Cage match tournament final for the vacant WWA World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

November DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNotesNovember 3 FMWIizuka Car Race Special IIizuka, Fukuoka, JapanOnryo and Tetsuhiro Kuroda defeated Chocoball Mukai and Kodo Fuyuki in a tag team matchNovember 3 WWFRebellionManchester, England Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) (Alliance) defeated The Rock (WWF) in a Singles match for the WWF ChampionshipNovember 4 FMWIizuka Car Race Special IIIizuka, Fukuoka, JapanKintaro Kanemura, Kodo Fuyuki and Mr. Gannosuke vs. GOEMON, Onryo and Ricky Fuji in a tag team matchNovember 5 FMWScramble Survivor 2001: Day 1Tokyo, JapanKodo Fuyuki, Arashi and Koki Kitahara vs. Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Hisakatsu Oya and Ricky Fuji in a Six-man tag team matchNovember 18 WWFSurvivor SeriesGreensboro, North CarolinaTeam WWF (The Rock, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Kane and Big Show) defeated The Alliance (Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Booker T and Shane McMahon) in a Winner Takes All 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match November 23AAAGuerra de TitanesMexico City, MexicoHeavy Metal lost to Perro Aguayo Jr., Héctor Garza and Latin Lover in a Luchas de Apuestas "loser loses his hair elimination" matchNovember 23 FMWScramble Survivor 2001: Day 1Tokyo, JapanTetsuhiro Kuroda and Garuda vs. Kodo Fuyuki and Genichiro Tenryu in a tag team matchNovember 29 WXWYokozuna Memorial ShowAllentown, PennsylvaniaThe Headshrinkers (Rikishi and Samu) defeated Da Hit Squad (Monsta Mack and Mafia) in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

December