2005 in professional wrestling

2005 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of years in professional wrestling
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List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 2005.

Promotion Name Abbreviation Notes
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL
Georgia Championship Wrestling GCW
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide AAA The "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.
New Breed Wrestling Association NBWA
New Japan Pro-Wrestling NJPW
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla PWG
Ring of Honor ROH
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling TNA
World Wrestling Council WWC
World Wrestling Entertainment WWE WWE 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 in a Singles match to win the IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship
9 WWE:
 New Year's Revolution San Juan, Puerto Rico Triple H (with Ric Flair) 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) (with Ric Flair) 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 (with Ric Flair) 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 (with Dominic DeNucci) defeated Al Snow and D'Lo Brown (with Les Thatcher)
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 2015
Last PPV appearance for many wrestlers including Mike Awesome
First 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 (with James Mitchell) in 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 (with Orlando Jordan) 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 Notes
4-14 NJPW G1 Climax final Tokyo Masahiro 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 Event
3–4 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Chris 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 (with Mick Foley) 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) (with Gail Kim) 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 (with Gail Kim) 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 CMLL Juicio Final Mexico City, Mexico Universo 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 (with Bob Orton) in Hell in a Cell match
19 WWE:
 Tribute to the Troops Bagram, Afghanistan. Shawn Michaels defeated Triple H in a Boot Camp match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rey de Reyes La Parka March 11

Ring of Honor
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Best of the American Super Juniors Tournament Dragon Soldier B April 2

TNA
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
2005 TNA Super X Cup Tournament Samoa Joe August 14
Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament Alex Shelley and Sean Waltman August 16

TNA Year End Awards
Main article: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Year End Awards
Poll Winner(s)
Tag Team of the Year Team 3D (Brother Devon and Brother Ray)
Knockout of the Year Jackie Gayda
Finisher of the Year The Canadian Destroyer
Who To Watch in 2006 Christian Cage
Memorable Moment of the Year Christian Cage debuts at Genesis
X Division Star of the Year A.J. Styles
Feud of the Year A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels
Match of the Year Barbed Wire Massacre: Abyss vs. Sabu at Turning Point
Mr. TNA A.J. Styles

WWE
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Batista January 30 Winner received their choice of a championship match for either Raw's World Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown's WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21. Batista last eliminated John Cena to win and chose to challenge for his own brand's World Heavyweight Championship, which he subsequently won from Triple H.
Money in the Bank ladder match Edge April 3 This was the inaugural match. Edge defeated Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Christian, Kane, and Shelton Benjamin to win a world championship match contract. Edge cashed in the contract and won the WWE Championship from John Cena at the following year's New Year's Revolution after Cena had just retained the title in an Elimination Chamber match.
WWE Championship #1 Contender's Tournament John Cena February 20 Defeated Kurt Angle in the tournament final to win a WWE Championship match against John "Bradshaw" Layfield at WrestleMania 21, which Cena subsequently won.
WWE Championship #1 Contender's Tournament John "Bradshaw" Layfield April 26 Defeated Kurt Angle, Booker T, and Big Show in the tournament final to win a WWE Championship match against John Cena at Judgment Day. JBL, however, was unsuccessful in winning the title.
Gold Rush Tournament Edge May 16 Defeated Kane in the tournament final to win a World Heavyweight Championship match against Batista on the May 23 episode of Raw, but was unsuccessful in winning the title.

WWE Hall of Fame
Main article: WWE Hall of Fame
Category Inductee Inducted by
Individual Hulk Hogan Sylvester Stallone
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper Ric Flair
"Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr. Randy Orton
Jimmy Hart Jerry Lawler
"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff Bobby Heenan
Nikolai Volkoff Jim Ross
Iron Sheik Sgt. Slaughter

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
Category Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year Batista
PWI Tag Team of the Year MNM
(Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro)
PWI Match of the Year Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21)
PWI Feud of the Year Matt Hardy vs. Edge and Lita
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year John Cena
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Triple H
PWI Comeback of the Year Road Warrior Animal
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Batista
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Chris Candido
PWI Rookie of the Year Bobby Lashley
PWI Woman of the Year Trish Stratus
PWI Lifetime Achievement Eddie Guerrero

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Main article: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Category Inductee
Individual Paul Heyman
Triple H
Group The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, and Buddy Roberts)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Kenta Kobashi
Most Outstanding Samoa Joe
Best Box Office Draw Místico
Feud of the Year Batista vs. Triple H
Tag Team of the Year America's Most Wanted
(Chris Harris and James Storm)
Most Improved Roderick Strong
Best on Interviews Eddie Guerrero

Title changes

NJPW
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 20 Satoshi Kojima New Year Gold Series
May 14 Hiroyoshi Tenzan Nexess VI
July 18 Kazuyuki Fujita Summer Fight Series
October 8 Brock Lesnar Toukon Souzou New Chapter
IWGP Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
October 30 Cho-Ten
(Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Masahiro Chono)		 Toukon Series
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Heat
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Tiger Mask IV Toukon Festival: Wrestling World
October 8 Black Tiger Toukon Souzou New Chapter
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Gedo and Jado
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 4 American Dragon and Curry Man Big Fight Series
May 14 Hirooki Goto and Minoru Nexess VI

TNA
TNA X Division Championship
Incoming champion – Petey Williams
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 16 A.J. Styles Final Resolution
March 13 Christopher Daniels Destination X
September 11 A.J. Styles Unbreakable
December 11 Samoa Joe Turning Point

WWE
  – Raw
  – SmackDown

Raw and SmackDown each had a world championship, a secondary championship, and a tag team championship for male wrestlers. SmackDown also had a title for their cruiserweight wrestlers. There was only one women's championship and it was exclusive to Raw.

World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Vacant
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 9 Triple H New Year's Revolution Elimination Chamber match for the vacant title, also involving Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Batista, and Edge. Shawn Michaels was the special guest referee.
April 3 Batista WrestleMania 21
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand following the 2005 WWE draft lottery when Batista was drafted to SmackDown.
WWE Championship
Incoming champion – John "Bradshaw" Layfield
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 3 John Cena WrestleMania 21
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2005 WWE draft lottery when John Cena was drafted to Raw.
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – Shelton Benjamin
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
June 20 Carlito Monday Night Raw
September 18 Ric Flair Unforgiven
WWE United States Championship
Incoming champion – John Cena
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 1
(aired March 3)		 Orlando Jordan SmackDown!
August 21 Chris Benoit SummerSlam
October 18
(aired October 21)		 Booker T SmackDown!
November 22
(aired November 25)		 Vacated SmackDown! Vacated when Booker T's title defense against Chris Benoit ended in a double pinfall.
WWE Women's Championship
Incoming champion – Lita
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 9 Trish Stratus New Year's Revolution
World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Eugene and William Regal
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 16 La Résistance
(Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier)		 House show Jonathan Coachman replaced Eugene in this match due to injury.
February 4
(aired February 7)		 William Regal and Tajiri Monday Night Raw
May 1 The Hurricane and Rosey Backlash Tag team turmoil match, also involving The Heart Throbs, Simon Dean and Maven, and La Résistance.
September 18 Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch Unforgiven
November 1 Kane and Big Show Taboo Tuesday Kane and Big Show were voted into this match as a result of neither winning the WWE Championship voting.
WWE Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 11
(aired January 13)		 The Basham Brothers
(Doug and Danny Basham)		 SmackDown! Fatal four-way tag team elimination match, also involving the teams of Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns, and Booker T and Eddie Guerrero.
February 20 Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio No Way Out
April 18
(aired April 21)		 MNM
(Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro)		 SmackDown!
July 24 The Legion of Doom
(Animal and Heidenreich)		 The Great American Bash
October 25
(aired October 28)		 MNM
(Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro)		 SmackDown! Fatal four-way tag team match, also involving The Mexicools, and the team of Paul Burchill and William Regal.
December 13
(aired December 16)		 Batista and Rey Mysterio SmackDown!
December 27
(aired December 30)		 MNM
(Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro)		 SmackDown!
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Incoming champion – Funaki
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 20 Chavo Guerrero Jr. No Way Out Six-way Cruiserweight Open, also involving Paul London, Akio, Shannon Moore, and Spike Dudley.
March 29
(aired March 31)		 Paul London SmackDown! Seven-man battle royal.
August 2 Nunzio Velocity
October 9 Juventud No Mercy
November 15 Nunzio House show
November 22
(aired November 25)		 Juventud SmackDown!
December 18 Kid Kash Armageddon

Debuts
  • Uncertain debut date

Retirements

Deaths
Eddie Guerrero
Chris Candido

See also

References
  1. "WWE Diva Search Contestant Joy Giovanni". Online World of Wrestling. 2004. Archived from the original on 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  2. "Amy Weber's IMDB". IMDB.
  3. "Wrestler Profiles: Pez Whatley". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  4. Oliver, Greg (19 January 2005). "'Pistol' Pez Whatley Dead At 54". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. "Chris Candido Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  6. Clevett, Jason (29 April 2005). "Chris Candido Dead At 33". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. Stein, Nate (2005-05-30). "Northeast Wrestling Spyder/Dan Quirk Passes Away". 411mania.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07.
  8. "Shinya Hashimoto Dies Suddenly". Slam Wrestling. 11 July 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. Johnson, Steven (16 July 2005). "Miguel Perez Dead At 68". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. "Alfred Hayes". The Daily Telegraph. 16 August 2005. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
  11. Oliver, Greg (21 July 2005). "Lord Al Hayes Dead At 76". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  12. Oliver, Greg (13 August 2005). "Chris Tolos Dies Of Cancer". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  13. "COLLEEN BAUMAN, Individually et al. v. DAISY GWIN, et al". Justia Law. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  14. Clevett, Jason (19 August 2005). "Independent Wrestler Chris Cash Dies In Motorcycle Accident". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  15. Oliver, Greg (26 August 2005). "Sailor White Dead At 56". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  16. Oliver, Greg (27 September 2005). "Mr. America Stanlee A Showboating Pioneer". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  17. Sullivan, Patricia (October 28, 2005). "Wrestler Reggie 'The Crusher' Lisowski Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  18. Oliver, Greg (23 October 2005). "The Crusher Dead At 79". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  19. "Remembering Eddie Guerrero".
  20. "Eddie Guerrero Found Dead". Slam Wrestling. 13 November 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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