2022 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the professional wrestling industry worldwide, with many promotions presenting shows behind closed doors. Some events were canceled while others were rescheduled to occur in 2021 and then some in 2022. Larger companies such as All Elite Wrestling and WWE resumed live touring with full-capacity crowds in July 2021—further companies also began readmitting fans to events in 2022.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events throughout 2022.
Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesAll Elite Wrestling AEWAll Japan Pro Wrestling AJPWCyberFight CFCyberFight is an umbrella brand that oversees and promotes four individual promotions: DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling (GanPro), Pro Wrestling Noah (NOAH), and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW).Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLLBig Japan Pro Wrestling BJWDDT Pro-Wrestling DDTDragon Gate —Game Changer Wrestling GCWImpact Wrestling ImpactJim Crockett Promotions JCPThe assets of JCP had been purchased by Turner Broadcasting System in 1988 and rebranded as World Championship Wrestling. Over 33 years later, in May 2022, JCP was revived.Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide AAAThe "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.Major League Wrestling MLWNational Wrestling Alliance NWANew Japan Pro-Wrestling NJPWPro Wrestling Guerrilla PWGPro Wrestling Noah NoahPro Wrestling Zero1 Zero1Ring of Honor ROHAcquired by AEW President and Chief Executive Officer Tony Khan on March 2.World Wonder Ring Stardom StardomWWE —"WWE" stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, which remains the company's legal name, though the company ceased using the full name in April 2011, with the WWE abbreviation becoming an orphaned initialism.Xtreme Pro Wrestling XPW
Calendar of notable shows January DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNotes1 CF:Noah The New Year 2022Tokyo, JapanKatsuhiko Nakajima (c) defeated Go Shiozaki to retain the GHC Heavyweight ChampionshipWWE:Day 1Atlanta, GeorgiaBrock Lesnar defeated Big E (c), Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Bobby Lashley in a fatal five-way match to win the WWE ChampionshipWWE's first PPV to take place on New Year's Day. CMLL Sin Salida Mexico City, Mexico Dulce Gardenia defeated Disturbio in a Lucha de Apuestas elimination masks vs. hair steel cage match4WWE:New Year's EvilOrlando, FloridaBron Breakker defeated Tommaso Ciampa (c) to win the NXT ChampionshipAired as a special episode of NXT 2.0. Final event to feature the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.NJPWWrestle Kingdom 16Tokyo, JapanKazuchika Okada defeated Shingo Takagi (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight ChampionshipFirst Wrestle Kingdom to be held on three nights as well as the first in which one night was not held at the Tokyo Dome.5Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Will Ospreay to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship8NJPWCF:Yokohama, JapanKazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Keiji Mutoh and Kaito Kiyomiya4 CF:Reboot 2022Tokyo, JapanStinger (Hayata and Yoshinari Ogawa) (c) defeated Los Perros del Mal de Japón (Kotaro Suzuki and Yo-Hey) to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship5New Sunrise 2022Daiki Inaba, Go Shiozaki, Kaito Kiyomiya, Masa Kitamiya and Yoshiki Inamura defeated M's Alliance (Keiji Muto, Masato Tanaka and Naomichi Marufuji) and Sugiura-gun (Kazuyuki Fujita and Takashi Sugiura) 8AEWBattle of the Belts ICharlotte, North Carolina Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (c) defeated Riho to retain the AEW Women's World ChampionshipThe first episode in AEW's quarterly Battle of the Belts television special series on TNT.ImpactHard To KillDallas, TexasMickie James (c) defeated Deonna Purrazzo in a Texas Deathmatch to retain the Impact Knockouts World ChampionshipNWADuuuval BrawlJacksonville, FloridaTrevor Murdoch (c) defeated Gangrel to retain the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship 14 GCWMost Notorious Detroit, Michigan Alex Colon (c) defeated Hoodfoot to retain the GCW Ultraviolent Championship GCW's debut in the Harpos Theatre.15NJPWThe New Beginning USASeattle, WashingtonJay White defeated Jay Lethal16 CF:Bumper Crop 2022 In SendaiSendai, JapanKatsuhiko Nakajima (c) defeated Masa Kitamiya to retain the GHC Heavyweight Championship21MLWBlood & ThunderDallas, Texas Jacob Fatu defeated Mads Krügger22 CF:Noah Higher Ground 2022Osaka, JapanMasakatsu Funaki defeated Kenoh (c) to win the GHC National Championship 23 GCWThe Wrld on GCW New York, New York Matt Tremont and Nick Gage defeated The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) (c) in a Tag team open challenge to win the GCW Tag Team Championship GCW's debut in the Hammerstein Ballroom and the first wrestling event in the venue since 2019.26AEWBeach BreakCleveland, OhioOrange Cassidy defeated Adam Cole in an Unsanctioned Lights Out matchAired live as a special episode of Dynamite. Featured Cody Rhodes' final match in AEW.Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) (c) defeated Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) to retain the AEW World Tag Team ChampionshipAired on tape delay on January 28 as a special episode of Rampage.28 CMLL Reyes del Aire Mexico City, Mexico Místico defeated Último Guerrero29WWE:Royal RumbleSt. Louis, Missouri Brock Lesnar won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Drew McIntyre to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania 38 The event notably saw the return of Ronda Rousey, who won the women's Royal Rumble match to earn a women's championship match at WrestleMania 38. Lesnar chose to challenge Roman Reigns for SmackDown's Universal Championship while Rousey chose to challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women's Championship. Stardom Nagoya Supreme Fight Nagoya, Japan Syuri (c) defeated Mirai to retain the World of Stardom ChampionshipPWGBattle of Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaDaniel Garcia defeated Mike Bailey to win the 2022 Battle of Los Angeles30(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNotes11NJPWNew Years Golden Series in SendaiSendai, JapanEl Desperado (c) defeated Master Wato to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship12NWAPowerrrTripOak Grove, KentuckyMatt Cardona defeated Trevor Murdoch (c) to win the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship13NJPWNew Years Golden Series in OsakaOsaka, JapanLos Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito and Sanada) defeated Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi15WWE:Vengeance DayOrlando, FloridaBron Breakker (c) defeated Santos Escobar to retain the NXT ChampionshipAired as a special episode of NXT 2.0. First Vengeance to air as a television special.17NJPWRivalsLos Angeles, CaliforniaJay White defeated Shane Strickland 19WWE:Elimination ChamberJeddah, Saudi ArabiaBrock Lesnar defeated Bobby Lashley (c), AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Riddle, and Seth "Freakin" Rollins in an Elimination Chamber match to win the WWE ChampionshipFirst Elimination Chamber held in Saudi Arabia, as well as the first held outside the United States and on a Saturday. Impact No Surrender Westwego, Louisiana Honor No More (Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, PCO, Vincent, and Kenny King) defeated Team Impact (Chris Sabin, Willie Mack, Rhino, Rich Swann, and Steve Maclin) AAARey de ReyesVeracruz, VeracruzHijo del Vikingo (c) defeated Johnny Superstar to retain the AAA Mega ChampionshipNJPWNew Years Golden Series in SapporoSapporo, JapanSanada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship20Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Tetsuya Naito to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship23 CF:Gain Control 2022 In NagoyaNagoya, JapanKazuyuki Fujita defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) to win the GHC Heavyweight ChampionshipStardomCinderella JourneyNagaoka, JapanSaya Kamitani (c) defeated Natsupoi to retain the Wonder of Stardom Championship25 CMLL Torneo Increible De Parejas Mexico City, Mexico Atlantis Jr. and Stuka Jr. defeated Averno and Mistico to win 2022 Torneo Increible De Parejas.26 CMLL NJPW NJPW X CMLL Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Mistico, Negro Casas and Templario defeated Atlantis, Rey Bucanero and Ultimo GuerreroMLWSuperFightCharlotte, North CarolinaThe Von Erichs (Marshall von Erich and Ross von Erich) defeated The Mortons (Kerry Morton and Ricky Morton)(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNotes1NJPWNJPW 50th Anniversary ShowTokyo, JapanKazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr.) and Yoshiaki Fujiwara4 CMLL Mexican National Heavyweight Championship Tournament Mexico City, Mexico Euforia defeated Gran Guerrero to win the vacant Mexican National Heavyweight Championship. 5 Impact Sacrifice Louisville, Kentucky Moose (c) defeated Heath to retain the Impact World Championship 6AEWRevolutionOrlando, Florida"Hangman" Adam Page (c) defeated Adam Cole to retain the AEW World Championship8WWE:RoadblockOrlando, FloridaDolph Ziggler defeated Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker (c) in a triple threat match to win the NXT ChampionshipAired as a special episode of NXT 2.0. First Roadblock since December 2016 and the first held as a television special. 11 Stardom New Blood 1 Tokyo, Japan Utami Hayashishita defeated Miyu Amasaki 12 GCW Astronaut Atlanta, Georgia The H8 Club (Matt Tremont and Nick Gage) (c) vs. The Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner and Matthew Justice) for the GCW Tag Team Championship ended in a double pin. GCW's debut in Center Stage.15 CMLL CMLL World Lightweight Championship Tournament Mexico City, Mexico Star Jr., Titan and Volador Jr. defeated Los Malditos (El Sagrado, Gemelo Diablo I and Gemelo Diablo II)16AEWSt. Patrick's Day SlamSan Antonio, TexasThunder Rosa defeated Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. (c) in a Steel Cage match to win the AEW Women's World ChampionshipAired as a special episode of Dynamite.18CMLLHomenaje a Dos LeyendasMexico City, MexicoMístico and Averno defeated TJP and Volador Jr.19NWACrockett CupNashville, TennesseeThe Commonwealth Connection (Doug Williams and Harry Smith) defeated Gold Rushhh (Jordan Clearwater and Marshe Rockett) by submission in a Crockett Cup quarterfinals tag team match20Matt Cardona (c) defeated Nick Aldis by disqualification to retain the NWA Worlds Heavyweight ChampionshipNJPWStrong Style EvolvedTampa, FloridaJay White defeated Chris SabinCF:Judgement 2022: DDT 25th AnniversaryTokyo, JapanTetsuya Endo defeated Konosuke Takeshita (c) to win the KO-D Openweight Championship21 CF:Great Voyage in Fukuoka 2022Fukuoka, JapanKazuyuki Fujita (c) defeated Masato Tanaka to retain the GHC Heavyweight ChampionshipCMLLHomenaje a Dos LeyendasPuebla, MexicoMistico defeats Gran GuerreroAJPWAJPW Champions Night 3: 50th Anniversary TourTokyo, JapanKento Miyahara (c) defeated Shuji Ishikawa to retain the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship22CMLLHomenaje a Dos LeyendasGuadalajara, MexicoAverno and Black Warrior defeated Mistico and Titan26StardomWorld Climax 2022Tokyo, JapanSyuri (c) defeated Giulia to retain the World of Stardom Championship27Syuri (c) defeated Mayu Iwatani to retain the World of Stardom ChampionshipNJPWNew Japan CupOsaka, JapanZack Sabre Jr. defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the 2022 New Japan Cup31MLWIntimidation GamesDallas, TexasThe Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich) defeated 5150 (Danny Rivera and Hernandez) in a Bunkhouse Brawl AAAAAA Invades WrestleConPsycho Clown defeated Black Taurus WrestleConMark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShowThe Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) defeated The Rottweilers (Homicide and Low Ki)GCWBloodsport 8Chris Dickinson defeated Minoru SuzukiJoey Janela's Spring Break 6 Part 1John Wayne Murdoch defeated Alex Colon to win the GCW Ultraviolent Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April