2018 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2018. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreCMLLDDT Pro-WrestlingDDTImpact WrestlingImpactIWRGLucha 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.Lucha Libre EliteEliteMajor League WrestlingMLWNational Wrestling AllianceNWANew Japan Pro-WrestlingNJPWPro Wrestling GuerrillaPWGRevolution Pro WrestlingRevProRing of HonorROHThe Crash Lucha LibreThe CrashWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWE—WWE stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, which is still the legal name, but the company ceased using the full name in April 2011, with the WWE abbreviation becoming an orphaned initialism.
Calendar of notable shows
January
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes 1 CMLL Sin Piedad Mexico City Negro Casas defeated Sam Adonis in a Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match IWRG IWRG 22nd Anniversary Show Naucalpan, Mexico Impossible (c) defeated Dr. Cerebro in a Steel cage match for the IWRG Rey del Ring Championship 4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 Tokyo, Japan Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Tetsuya Naito in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship First NJPW event to feature Chris Jericho in nearly two decades 7 IWRG Zona de Ejecucion Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico Aramis defeated Black Dragon, Alas de Acero, Diablo Jr., Dinamic Black, Dragon Fly, El Hijo del Alebrije, Pantera I, Eterno, Freelance, Heddi Karaoui, Imposible, Tortuga Leo, Tortuga Mike, Tortuga Rafy, and Tortuga Teelo 19 CMLLNJPWFantastica Mania(Tokyo shows) Tokyo, Japan Niebla Roja (c) defeated Gran Guerrero for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship 21 Volador Jr. (c) defeated Barbaro Cavernario for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship 22 Los Guerreros Laguneros (Gran Guerrero and Último Guerrero) defeated Dragon Lee and Místico in a CMLL Brothers Tag Tournament Final Match 26 AAA Guerra de Titanes Mexico City El Hijo del Fantasma (c) defeated El Texano Jr. in a Steel cage match to retain the AAA Latin American ChampionshipThe event was also notable for the surprise appearance of the formers CMLL stars Máximo and La Máscara following then the match between Psycho Clown and Rey Escorpión. 27 WWE: TakeOver: Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Andrade "Cien" Almas (c) defeated Johnny Gargano in a Singles match to retain the NXT Championship First appearance of Ricochet and the return of EC3, who had last performed in WWE in 2013 under former ring name Derrick Bateman. 27 NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo Sapporo, Japan Minoru Suzuki defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship 28 Jay White defeated Kenny Omega (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship 28 WWE: Royal Rumble Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Asuka won the 30-woman Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Nikki Bella to earn a women's championship match at WrestleMania 34 This was the first event to feature a women's Royal Rumble match, which was the second women's match to main event a WWE PPV, and the first to main event one of WWE's "Big Four" PPVs. Asuka chose to challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 34.The event was also notable for the surprise appearance of former UFC star Ronda Rousey following the women's match, officially confirming that she had signed a full-time deal with WWE.Shinsuke Nakamura won the men's Royal Rumble match and chose to challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 34.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes 9ROHHonor Reigns Supreme Concord, North CarolinaThe Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) defeat Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) 10 NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka Osaka, Japan Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Sanada in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 11 IWRG Cabellera vs. Cabellera Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico Black Dragon defeated Oficial Spartan by disqualification As a result of his loss, Oficial Spartan had his hair shaved off 23 ROH NJPW Honor Rising: Japan Tokyo, Japan Cody Rhodes, Hangman Page, Marty Scurll defeated Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Chase Owens in a 6 Man Tag Team Match 24 Golden☆Lovers (Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega) defeated Bullet Club (Marty Scurll and Cody) in a Tag team match25WWE:Elimination ChamberLas Vegas, NevadaRoman Reigns defeated Braun Strowman, Elias, Finn Bálor, John Cena, Seth Rollins, and The Miz in an Elimination Chamber match for a WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 34First event to feature a women's Elimination Chamber match and the first ever seven-man Elimination Chamber Last Raw-exclusive PPV of the second brand split, as following WrestleMania 34, all WWE PPVs ceased being brand exclusive.IWRGEl ProtectorNaucalpan, State of Mexico, MexicoRokambole Jr. and Villano V Jr. defeated Ram El Carnero and Trauma IEl Protector tournament finalsDDTInto The Fight 2018Tokyo, JapanShuji Ishikawa and Daisuke Sekimoto defeated Konosuke Takeshita and Harashima(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes3ROHManhattan MayhemNew York CityBULLET CLUB (Hangman Page, Marty Scurll, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) defeat Shane Taylor & The Kingdom (Matt Taven, T. K. O'Ryan & Vinny Marseglia) 3 Impact One Night Only: March Breakdown Belleville, Michigan Kongo Kong and RJ City defeated Austin Aries and Alberto El Patron Aired on March 16. 4 AAA Rey de Reyes Puebla, Mexico El Hijo del Fantasma defeated El Texano Jr. in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta, mask vs. hair match. 6 NJPW 46th Anniversary Show Tokyo, Japan IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defeated IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay in a non-title Champion vs Champion match. 9–10ROH16th Anniversary ShowSunrise Manor, Nevada Dalton Castle (c) defeated Jay Lethal in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship11WWE:FastlaneColumbus, OhioAJ Styles (c) defeated Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, and John Cena in a Six-Pack Challenge to retain the WWE Championship Last SmackDown-exclusive PPV, and brand-exclusive PPV, of the second brand split, as following WrestleMania 34, all WWE PPVs ceased being brand exclusive.16CMLLHomenaje a Dos LeyendasMexico CityEl Cuatrero defeated Ángel de Oro Mask vs Mask match 18 IWRG Rebelión de los Juniors Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico El Hijo del Alebrije defeated Apolo Estrada Jr., Capo del Norte, Diablo Jr., Dr. Karonte, El Hijo del Medico Asesino, El Hijo del Pantera, Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Lunatic Extreme, Mascara Magica Jr., and Hip Hop Man 21 NJPW New Japan Cup Final Nagaoka, Japan Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi 24 Impact One Night Only: Cali Combat Belleville, Michigan Austin Aries (c) defeated Eli Drake for the Impact World Championship Aired on May 11. 25 DDT Judgement 2018: DDT 21st Anniversary Tokyo, Japan Konosuke Takeshita (c) defeated Shuji Ishikawa to retain the KO-D Openweight Championship NJPW Strong Style Evolved Long Beach, California Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi) defeated The Young Bucks in a Tag team match IWRG Cabellera vs. Cabellera Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico Ricky Marvin defeated Dr. Cerebro As a result of his loss, Dr. Cerebro had all his hair shaved off(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes1NJPWSakura GenesisTokyo, JapanKazuchika Okada (c) defeated Zack Sabre Jr. in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship6Impact LUImpact Wrestling vs. Lucha UndergroundNew Orleans, LouisianaPentagón Dark defeated Austin Aries and Fénix in a Three-way match7ROHSupercard of Honor XIINew Orleans, LouisianaDalton Castle (c) defeated Marty Scurll in a Singles match to retain the ROH World ChampionshipFirst Ring of Honor show to sell 6,000 fans in attendance WWE:TakeOver: New OrleansNew Orleans, LouisianaJohnny Gargano defeated Tommaso Ciampa by submission in an unsanctioned match First event to feature the NXT North American ChampionshipCMLL75. Aniversario de Arena ColiseoMexico City, MexicoAtlantis and Blue Panther defeated Fuerza Guerrera and El Satánico8WWE:WrestleMania 34New Orleans, LouisianaBrock Lesnar (c) defeated Roman Reigns in a Singles match to retain the WWE Universal ChampionshipThis was Daniel Bryan's in-ring return after 3 years, as he was forced to retire, but was cleared to compete again.This was also Ronda Rousey's in-ring debut.10NJPW Lion's Gate Project 11Tokyo, JapanAyato Yoshida and Go Asakawa defeated Yuji Nagata and Shota Umino in a Tag team match15ROHMasters of the CraftColumbus, OhioMarty Scurll defeated Dalton Castle, Beer City Bruiser and Punishment Martinez IWRGGuerra del GolfoNaucalpan, State of Mexico, MexicoTortuga Mike defeated Tortuga TeeloTeelo lost a Steel Cage match and had to unmask22ImpactRedemptionOrlando, FloridaPentagón Jr. defeated Austin Aries (c) and Rey Fenix in Triple threat match to win the Impact World Championship27WWE:Greatest Royal RumbleJeddah, Saudi ArabiaBraun Strowman won by last eliminating Big Cass in a 50-man Royal Rumble match for the Greatest Royal Rumble ChampionshipFirst-ever 50-man Royal Rumble match last appearance of Chris Jericho CMLL62. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoAtlantis, Místico and Volador Jr. defeated La Peste Negra (Bárbaro Cavernario and Negro Casas) and Último Guerrero 27 ROH Bound By Honor West Palm Beach, FloridaThe Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) (c) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship 28 Lakeland, FloridaBullet Club (Cody, Marty Scurll, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) defeated Dalton Castle, Silas Young & The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) 29NJPWWrestling HinokuniKumamoto, JapanTetsuya Naito defeated Minoru Suzuki (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May