2006 in professional wrestling

2006 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 2006.

Promotion Name Abbreviation Notes
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL
Georgia Championship Wrestling GCW
Hustle –
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 Japan Pro-Wrestling NJPW
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla PWG
Ring of Honor ROH
Sal Corrente –
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. A third brand, ECW, was launched in June, a relaunch of the former Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion, which WWE had acquired in 2003.

Calendar of notable shows

January
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
4 NJPW Toukon Shidou Chapter 1 Tokyo, Japan Brock Lesnar defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
8 WWE:
 New Year's Revolution Albany, New York Edge (with Lita) defeated John Cena (c) for the WWE Championship when he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase
15 TNA Final Resolution Orlando Christian Cage and Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown (with Gail Kim) in a Tag team match This event was Sting's debut in TNA
29 WWE:
 Royal Rumble Miami, Florida Kurt Angle (c) defeated Mark Henry (with Daivari) in a Singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship Rey Mysterio won the Royal Rumble match and chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

February
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
12 TNA Against All Odds Orlando Christian Cage defeated Jeff Jarrett (c) (with Gail Kim) in a Singles match to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
19 WWE:
 No Way Out Baltimore, Maryland Kurt Angle (c) defeated The Undertaker in a Singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship Rey Mysterio lost his WrestleMania 22 World Heavyweight Championship opportunity to Randy Orton, but still ended up being in the championship match at WrestleMania
25 ROH Fourth Anniversary Show Edison, New Jersey Generation Next (Austin Aries & Roderick Strong) (c) defeated A.J. Styles & Matt Sydal to retain ROH Tag Team Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

March
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
4 WWE:
 WWE SmackDown Road to WrestleMania 22 Tour Wellington, New Zealand Kurt Angle (c) defeated Mark Henry (with Daivari) and The Undertaker by disqualification in a Triple Threat match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
5 Sal Corrente World Wrestling Legends Orlando, Florida Scott Steiner defeated Buff Bagwell in a Singles match
10 AAA Rey de Reyes Ciudad Madero, Mexico Elimination match for the 2006 Rey de Reyes trophy
12 TNA Destination X Orlando Christian Cage (c) defeated Monty Brown in a Singles match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
25 ROH Best in the World New York, New York KENTA and Naomichi Marufuji defeated Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson
31 ROH Supercard of Honor Chicago Ridge, Illinois Bryan Danielson (c) defeated Roderick Strong to retain the ROH World Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

April
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
2 WWE:
 WrestleMania 22 Rosemont, Illinois John Cena (c) defeated Triple H by submission in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship This was CM Punk's first appearance in WWE – who wrestled in Ohio Valley Wrestling at the time
23 TNA Lockdown Orlando Sting's Warriors (Sting, A.J. Styles, Ron Killings and Rhino) defeated Jeff Jarrett's Army (Jeff Jarrett, Scott Steiner, Chris Harris and James Storm) (with Gail Kim and Jackie Gayda) This event was Christy Hemme's debut in TNA
28 CMLL 50. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Los Guerreros de la Atlantida (Rey Bucanero and Tarzan Boy) defeated Los Perros del Mal (Damián 666 and Mr. Águila) in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match
30 WWE:
 Backlash Lexington, Kentucky John Cena (c) defeated Triple H, and Edge (with Lita) in Triple threat match to retain the WWE Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

May
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
12 CMLL International Gran Prix Mexico City, Mexico Black Warrior defeated Místico (c) in a Best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Middleweight Championship
14 TNA Sacrifice Orlando Christian Cage (c) defeated Abyss (with James Mitchell) in the Full Metal Mayhem match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
21 WWE:
 Judgment Day Phoenix, Arizona Rey Mysterio (c) defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield in a Singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

June
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
7 WWE:
 WWE vs. ECW Head-to-Head Dayton, Ohio John Cena (WWE) defeated Sabu (ECW) by disqualification in a Singles match
11 WWE:
 One Night Stand New York City Rob Van Dam cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated John Cena (c) in an Extreme Rules match to win the WWE Championship First WWE PPV for the ECW brand, a relaunch of the former Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion.
18 AAA Triplemanía XIV Naucalpan, Mexico La Parka defeated Muerta Cibernética in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta, "Mask vs. Mask" match. As a result, Muerte Cibernetica was unmasked and revealed to be Ricky Banderas
18 TNA Slammiversary Orlando Jeff Jarrett defeated Christian Cage (c), Abyss (with James Mitchell), Ron Killings and Sting in the King of the Mountain match to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
25 WWE:
 Vengeance Charlotte, North Carolina D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) defeated The Spirit Squad (Kenny, Johnny, Mitch, Nicky, and Mikey) in a Handicap match Last WWE PPV appearance for Kurt Angle as an in-ring performer until 2017
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

July
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
15 ROH Death Before Dishonor IV Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ROH (Samoa Joe, Adam Pearce, B. J. Whitmer, Ace Steel and Homicide) defeated CZW (Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, Necro Butcher, Nate Webb and Eddie Kingston) in a Cage of Death
9-11 Hustle Hustle King Memorial Six Man Tag Team Tournament Kanagawa and Tokyo, Japan Various matches
16 TNA Victory Road Orlando Sting defeated Scott Steiner, Samoa Joe and Christian Cage in the Road to Victory match
23 WWE:
 The Great American Bash Indianapolis, Indiana King Booker (with Queen Sharmell) defeated Rey Mysterio (c) in a Singles match to win the World Heavyweight Championship First event to feature a Punjabi Prison match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

August
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
12 WWC 33rd WWC Aniversario Bayamón, Puerto Rico Carlito defeated X-Pac in a Singles match
6-13 NJPW G1 Climax Tokyo Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Satoshi Kojima in a G1 Climax tournament
13 TNA Hard Justice Orlando Jeff Jarrett (c) (with Scott Steiner) defeated Sting (with Christian Cage) in a Singles match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
16 N/A NZPWI Invitational Lynfield, New Zealand Alfred Valentine defeated Sweet Ass (with Gary O. Davis) in a Singles match
20 WWE:
 SummerSlam Boston, Massachusetts Edge (c) (with Lita) defeated John Cena in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship This PPV is notable for being the last WWE event to feature a match for Hulk Hogan who wrestled Randy Orton
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

September
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
1-3 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Reseda, California Davey Richards defeated Cima and Super Dragon in a via pinfall in 13:42 to win the 2006 Battle of Los Angeles tournament
15 ROH Glory By Honor V East Windsor, Connecticut KENTA and Naomichi Marufuji defeated The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe)
16 ROH New York City, New York Bryan Danielson (c) defeated KENTA to retain the ROH World Championship
17 AAA Verano de Escándalo Naucalpan, Mexico Gronda, Octagón, and La Parka defeated La Legión Extranjera (Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, and Konnan) by disqualification in a Six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match
17 WWE:
 Unforgiven Toronto, Ontario John Cena defeated Edge (c) (with Lita) in the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to win the WWE Championship
Had Cena lost, Cena would leave Raw for SmackDown!		 This event featured Trish Stratus's retirement match. She won the match after forcing Lita to submit to the sharpshooter, thus becoming a record setting seven time WWE Women's Champion. She would periodically return later and had a second retirement match in 2019.
23 GCW Third Annual Fred Ward Memorial Show Columbus, Georgia Chris Stevens (c) defeated Elix Skipper and Johnny Swinger in a No-DQ Three-Way Dance match for the GCW Heavyweight Championship
24 TNA No Surrender Orlando Samoa Joe defeated Jeff Jarrett in a "Fan's Revenge" Lumberjack match At the end of the event, it was announced that Kurt Angle had been signed with TNA
29 CMLL CMLL 73rd Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Místico defeated Black Warrior in a Lucha de Apuestas mask vs. mask match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

October
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
8 WWE:
 No Mercy Raleigh, North Carolina King Booker (c) (with Queen Sharmell) defeated Bobby Lashley, Batista and Finlay in Fatal 4-way match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
20 N/A Pitbull/Public Enemy Memorial Cup Philadelphia, Pennsylvania All Money Is Legal (K-Murda and K-Pusha) defeated The Rottweilers (Homicide and Ricky Reyes)
22 TNA Bound for Glory Plymouth Township, Michigan Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett (c) in Title vs. Career match to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with Kurt Angle as the special outside enforcer This event was Kurt Angle's first appearance in TNA PPV
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

November
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
5 WWE:
 Cyber Sunday Cincinnati, Ohio King Booker (c) (with Queen Sharmell) (SmackDown) defeated John Cena (Raw) and Big Show (ECW) in a Triple threat match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
19 TNA Genesis Orlando Kurt Angle defeated Samoa Joe in a Singles match
26 WWE:
 Survivor Series Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Batista defeated King Booker (c) (with Queen Sharmell) in Last Chance match to win the World Heavyweight Championship This featured Lita's retirement match, where she lost the WWE Women's Championship to Mickie James. Lita would return for a couple of matches in 2018.
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

December
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
3 WWE:
 December to Dismember Augusta, Georgia Bobby Lashley defeated Big Show (c) (with Paul Heyman), Rob Van Dam, Hardcore Holly, CM Punk, and Test in an Extreme Elimination Chamber match to win the ECW World Championship This PPV event was universally panned and is often considered to be the worst wrestling PPV event of all time
Last WWE PPV appearance for Paul Heyman until 2012
This event received the lowest buyrate in WWE history until the introduction of the WWE Network in 2014. Final ECW-exclusive PPV before all WWE PPVs became tri-branded.
8 AAA Guerra de Titanes Madero, Mexico Cibernético defeated Muerte Cibernetica in a Singles match
10 TNA Turning Point Orlando Samoa Joe defeated Kurt Angle in a Singles match
15 CMLL Sin Piedad Mexico City Shocker and Universo 2000 defeated Kenzo Suzuki and Marco Corleone
17 WWE:
 Armageddon Richmond, Virginia Batista and John Cena (Raw) defeated King Booker and Finlay (with Queen Sharmell) in a Tag team match
23 ROH Final Battle New York, New York Homicide defeated Bryan Danielson (c) to win the ROH World Championship
25 WWE:
 Tribute to the Troops Baghdad, Iraq Carlito defeated Randy Orton in a Singles match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rey de Reyes Vampiro March 10

TNA
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
2006 TNA World X Cup Tournament Team TNA May 18
Fight for the Right Tournament Abyss November 9

TNA Year End Awards
Main article: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Year End Awards
Poll Winner(s)
Tag Team of the Year A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels
Knockout of the Year Christy Hemme
Finisher of the Year The Canadian Destroyer
Who To Watch in 2007 Kurt Angle
Memorable Moment of the Year Kurt Angle's debut at No Surrender
Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Eric Young
X Division Star of the Year Samoa Joe
Feud of the Year Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle
Match of the Year Ultimate X Match: A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels vs. The Latin American Xchange (Hernandez and Homicide) at No Surrender
Mr. TNA Samoa Joe

WWE
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Rey Mysterio January 29 Winner received their choice of a championship match for either Raw's WWE Championship or SmackDown's World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22. Mysterio last eliminated Randy Orton to win and chose to challenge for his own brand's World Heavyweight Championship, but lost his title opportunity to Randy Orton at No Way Out, but still ended up being in the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania, which became a triple threat match between Mysterio, Orton, and champion Kurt Angle that Mysterio won.
Road to WrestleMania Tournament Triple H February 20 Defeated Big Show and Rob Van Dam in the tournament final to determine the number one contender against John Cena for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 22; Triple H was unsuccessful in winning the title.
Money in the Bank ladder match Rob Van Dam April 2 Defeated Bobby Lashley, Finlay, Matt Hardy, Ric Flair, and Shelton Benjamin to win a world championship match contract. Van Dam, who had been drafted to the new ECW brand, used the contract to cash in on Raw's WWE Championship at ECW One Night Stand, where he defeated John Cena to win the title and was also awarded the reinstated ECW World Heavyweight Championship. The WWE Championship transferred to ECW but was transferred back to Raw the following month when Edge defeated Van Dam for the title at Vengeance.
King of the Ring Booker T May 21 Defeated Bobby Lashley in the tournament final to win and be crowned King of the Ring; Booker T subsequently changed his ring name to King Booker.
WWE Women's Championship Tournament Lita November 6 Defeated Mickie James in the tournament final to win the vacant WWE Women's Championship; previous champion Trish Stratus had retired, thus vacating the title.

WWE Hall of Fame
Main article: WWE Hall of Fame
Category Inductee Inducted by
Individual Bret "Hit Man" Hart Stone Cold Steve Austin
Eddie Guerrero Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio, and Chavo Guerrero
"Mean" Gene Okerlund Hulk Hogan
Sensational Sherri Ted DiBiase
Verne Gagne Greg Gagne
"Mr. USA" Tony Atlas S. D. Jones
Group The Blackjacks Bobby Heenan
Celebrity William "The Refrigerator" Perry John Cena

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
Category Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year John Cena
PWI Tag Team of the Year A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels
PWI Match of the Year Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon (WrestleMania 22)
PWI Feud of the Year John Cena vs. Edge
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year Samoa Joe
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Edge
PWI Comeback of the Year Sting
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Bobby Lashley
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Matt Cappotelli
PWI Rookie of the Year The Boogeyman
PWI Woman of the Year Trish Stratus
PWI Lifetime Achievement Harley Race

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Main article: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Inductee
Paul Bowser
Eddie Guerrero
Hiroshi Hase
Masakatsu Funaki
Aja Kong

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Místico
Most Outstanding Bryan Danielson
Best Box Office Draw Kenta Kobashi
Tag Team of the Year The Latin American Exchange
(Homicide and Hernandez)
Most Improved Takeshi Morishima
Best on Interviews Mick Foley

Title changes

NJPW
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Brock Lesnar
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
July 15 Vacated N/A
July 17 Hiroshi Tanahashi Circuit 2006 Turbulence
IWGP Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Cho-Ten (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Masahiro Chono)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
July 2 Shiro Koshinaka and Togi Makabe Circuit 2006 Turbulence
September 20 Vacated
September 28 Wild Child
(Manabu Nakanishi and Takao Omori)		 Circuit 2006 Final: Next Progress
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Black Tiger
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 19 Tiger Mask IV Acceleration
May 3 Koji Kanemoto New Japan Cup 2006 Special
December 24 Minoru Battle Xmas! Catch the Victory
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Hirooki Goto and Minoru
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 19 El Samurai and Ryusuke Taguchi Circuit 2006 Acceleration
July 8 Gedo and Jado Circuit 2006 Turbulence

TNA
TNA X Division Championship
Incoming champion – Samoa Joe
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 12 Christopher Daniels Destination X
April 10 Samoa Joe Impact!
June 19 Senshi Impact!
October 22 Chris Sabin Bound for Glory
October 24 A.J. Styles Impact!
November 6 Christopher Daniels Impact!

WWE
  – Raw
  – SmackDown!
  - ECW

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

WWE Championship
Incoming champion – John Cena
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 8 Edge New Year's Revolution Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract from WrestleMania 21 immediately after John Cena won an Elimination Chamber match
January 29 John Cena Royal Rumble
June 11 Rob Van Dam ECW One Night Stand Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract from WrestleMania 22. This was an Extreme Rules match. Van Dam was then awarded the reinstated ECW World Heavyweight Championship for the new ECW brand
The title became property of the new ECW brand due to Rob Van Dam joining the ECW roster.
July 3 Edge Monday Night Raw Triple threat match, also involving John Cena
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to Edge being a member of the Raw roster.
September 17 John Cena Unforgiven Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Batista
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 10
(aired January 13)		 Vacated SmackDown! Batista vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legit triceps injury.
Kurt Angle 20-man battle royal for the vacant title.
April 2 Rey Mysterio WrestleMania 22 Triple threat match, also involving Randy Orton. The championship was referred to as the "World Championship", due to Mysterio not being a heavyweight
July 23 King Booker The Great American Bash
November 26 Batista Survivor Series Last Chance match
ECW World Heavyweight Championship
(Title reactivated)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
June 13 Rob Van Dam ECW The title was revived by WWE for the new ECW brand. Van Dam was awarded the title by Paul Heyman for winning the WWE Championship at ECW One Night Stand.
July 4 Big Show ECW Extreme Rules match
December 3 Bobby Lashley December to Dismember Extreme Elimination Chamber match, also involving Rob Van Dam, Hardcore Holly, Test, and CM Punk
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – Ric Flair
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 20 Shelton Benjamin Monday Night Raw
April 30 Rob Van Dam Backlash Title for contract match, where Van Dam also defended his Money in the Bank contract
May 15 Shelton Benjamin Monday Night Raw 3-on-2 handicap Texas tornado match, featuring Benjamin, Chris Masters, and Triple H against WWE Champion John Cena and Rob Van Dam, in which anyone who beat Cena or Van Dam would win their respective title; Benjamin pinned Van Dam
June 25 Johnny Nitro Vengeance Triple threat match, also involving Carlito
October 2 Jeff Hardy Monday Night Raw
November 6 Johnny Nitro Monday Night Raw No disqualification match
November 13 Jeff Hardy Monday Night Raw
WWE United States Championship
Incoming champion – Vacant
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 10
(aired January 13)		 Booker T SmackDown! Best of Seven series against Chris Benoit. After winning the first three matches, Randy Orton substituted for Booker T due to injury, losing the next three matches, but winning the final for the vacant title.
February 19 Chris Benoit No Way Out
April 2 John "Bradshaw" Layfield WrestleMania 22
May 23
(aired May 26)		 Bobby Lashley SmackDown!
July 11
(aired July 14)		 Finlay SmackDown!
August 29
(aired September 1)		 Mr. Kennedy SmackDown! Triple threat match, also involving Bobby Lashley.
October 10
(aired October 13)		 Chris Benoit SmackDown!
WWE Women's Championship
Incoming champion – Trish Stratus
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 2 Mickie James WrestleMania 22
August 14 Lita Monday Night Raw
September 17 Trish Stratus Unforgiven Trish Stratus' retirement match
September 18 Vacated Monday Night Raw Vacated due to Trish Stratus' retirement
November 5 Lita Cyber Sunday Lumberjill match. Lita defeated Mickie James in a tournament final
November 26 Mickie James Survivor Series Lita's retirement match
World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Kane and Big Show
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 3 The Spirit Squad
(Johnny, Kenny, Mikey, Mitch, and Nicky)		 Monday Night Raw Kenny and Mikey won the match, but all five members were recognized as champions under the Freebird Rule.
November 5 Ric Flair and Roddy Piper Cyber Sunday Piper was voted into this match via web poll.
Kenny and Mikey represented The Spirit Squad.
November 13 Rated-RKO
(Edge and Randy Orton)		 Monday Night Raw
WWE Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 21 Paul London and Brian Kendrick Judgment Day
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Incoming champion – Kid Kash
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 29 Gregory Helms Royal Rumble Six-way match, also involving Funaki, Jamie Noble, Nunzio, and Paul London. Helms transferred from Raw to SmackDown! after winning the title

Debuts
Kofi Kingston

Retirements
Trish Stratus

Births

Deaths

See also

References
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