2011 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2011. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesCMLLJCWLN PromotionsLNLucha 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-WrestlingNJPWPro Wrestling GuerrillaPWGRing of HonorROHTotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTNAWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWWEIn April, the promotion ceased going by its full name and began to solely refer to itself as WWE, becoming an orphaned initialism, though the full name is still the legal name for the company.
Calendar of notable shows January Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom V Tokyo Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Satoshi Kojima (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 7/8/9 WWC Euphoria San Juan, Puerto Rico Various 9 TNA Genesis Orlando Mr. Anderson defeated Jeff Hardy (c) in a Singles match to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship This event was Matt Hardy's debut in TNA 30 WWE: Royal Rumble Boston Alberto Del Rio won the 40-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Santino Marella to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVII Alberto Del Rio chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.Largest Royal Rumble match, which traditionally has 30 participants, until the 50-man Greatest Royal Rumble match in 2018.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 12 LN A Nightmare To Remember Villa Rica, Georgia Original Bad Company (Steve Lawler and John Michaels) defeated Joel Deaton and Mr. Atlanta in a Villa Rica Street Fight 13 TNA Against All Odds Orlando Jeff Hardy defeated Mr. Anderson (c) in a Ladder match to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 15 & 20 NJPW The New Beginning Tokyo (Day 1)Sendai (Day 2) 15 Feb: Hiroshi Tanahashi and Prince Devitt defeated Kojima-gun (Satoshi Kojima and Taka Michinoku) in a Tag team match20 Feb: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Satoshi Kojima in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 20 WWE: Elimination Chamber Oakland John Cena defeated CM Punk, John Morrison, Sheamus, Randy Orton, and R-Truth in an Elimination Chamber match for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania XXVII 26 ROH ROH 9th Anniversary Show Chicago Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) defeated The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) for a future match for the ROH World Tag Team Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 13 TNA Victory Road Orlando Sting (c) defeated Jeff Hardy in a No Disqualification match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 18 AAA Rey de Reyes Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico 2011 Rey de Reyes final four-way elimination match 26 JCW Hatchet Attacks Milwaukee, Wisconsin Corporal Robinson (c) defeated Ian Rotten in a Barbed wire, Tables, Ladders, and Glass match for the JCW World Heavyweight Championship (c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 1–2 ROH Honor Takes Center Stage Atlanta 1 Apr Eddie Edwards (c) defeated Christopher Daniels in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship2 Apr Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) defeated The American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) 3 WWE: WrestleMania XXVII Atlanta The Miz (c) defeated John Cena in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship This was Edge's last PPV match in his wrestling career until January 2020 17 TNA Lockdown Cincinnati Fortune (Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, Robert Roode and James Storm) defeated Immortal (Ric Flair, Abyss, Bully Ray and Matt Hardy) in Lethal Lockdown match 29 CMLL 55. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico La Máscara, La Sombra and Rush defeated La Peste Negra (Mr. Niebla and Negro Casas) and Averno(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 1 WWE: Extreme Rules Tampa John Cena defeated The Miz (c) and John Morrison in a Triple threat steel cage match to win the WWE Championship This event was Michelle McCool's last PPV match in her wrestling career and Kharma's debut in WWE 3 NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Fukuoka Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 4 JCW St. Andrews Brawl Detroit, Michigan 2 Tuff Tony and Rhino vs. Rob Conway and Sabu ended in a no contest 15 TNA Sacrifice Orlando Sting (c) defeated Rob Van Dam in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship The event was notable for the return of Chyna to in-ring competition for the first time since 2002; however, it would ultimately be her last match. 22 WWE: Over the Limit Seattle John Cena (c) defeated The Miz in an "I Quit" match to retain the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 12 TNA Slammiversary Orlando Kurt Angle defeated Jeff Jarrett in a Singles Match to determine the number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight ChampionshipIf Jarrett won, Angle would have had to give Jarrett his Olympic Gold Medal. 17 CMLL Juicio Final Mexico City La Máscara defeated Averno in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, Mask vs. Mask match 18 AAA Triplemanía XIX Mexico City, Mexico Dr. Wagner Jr. defeated Rob Van Dam in a Singles match for the inaugural AAA Latin American Championship 18 NJPW Dominion Osaka Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Hirooki Goto in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 19 WWE: Capitol Punishment Washington, D.C. John Cena (c) defeated R-Truth in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship 26 ROH Best in the World New York Davey Richards defeated Eddie Edwards (c) in a Singles match to win the ROH World Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 10 TNA Destination X Orlando A.J. Styles defeated Christopher Daniels in a Singles Match 15 WWC 38th WWC Aniversario Bayamon, Puerto Rico AJ Castillo and El Cuervo defeated Chris Joel and Steve Joel 17 WWC 38th WWC Aniversario - Night 2 Ponce, Puerto Rico Mr. Big defeated Black Pain 17 WWE: Money in the Bank Rosemont CM Punk defeated John Cena (c) in a Singles match to win the WWE ChampionshipSince Cena lost, he was supposed to be fired. The decision to fire Cena was overturned by new Chief Operating Officer Triple H and because CM Punk (kayfabe) left the WWE with the championship after winning it.This match received a 5 Star rating from Dave Meltzer, the first WWE match since 1997 to do so.(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 7 TNA Hardcore Justice Orlando Kurt Angle defeated Sting (c) in a Singles Match to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship1-14NJPWG1 Climax finalTokyoShinsuke Nakamura defeated Tetsuya Naito in a G1 Climax tournament 14 JCW Bloodymania 5 Cave-In-Rock, Illinois Corporal Robinson (c) defeated Vampiro for the JCW World Heavyweight Championship 14 WWE: SummerSlam Los Angeles CM Punk (c) defeated John Cena (c) in a Singles match to win the undisputed WWE Championship with Triple H as the special guest referee, then Alberto Del Rio cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated CM Punk (c) in a Singles match to win the WWE Championship. This was the last PPV before the end of the first brand split.20PWGBattle of Los AngelesReseda, CaliforniaEl Generico defeated Kevin Steen in a Battle of Los Angeles tournament 21 CMLL Torneo de Parejas Increibles Mexico City, Mexico N/A(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 11 TNA No Surrender Orlando Kurt Angle (c) defeated Sting and Mr. Anderson in a Three-way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 17 ROH Death Before Dishonor New York The All Night Express (Rhett Titus and Kenny King) defeated Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) in a Ladder War III to determine the number one contender for the ROH World Tag Team Championship at Glory By Honor X 18 WWE Night of Champions Buffalo Triple H defeated CM Punk in a No Disqualification match First WWE pay-per-view following the end of the first WWE brand extension. 30 CMLL CMLL 78th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico 10-man steel cage elimination match Lucha de Apuestas, "hair vs. hair" match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 2 WWE Hell in a Cell New Orleans Alberto Del Rio defeated John Cena (c) and CM Punk in a Triple threat Hell in a Cell match to win the WWE Championship 9 AAA Héroes Inmortales IV Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico Los Psycho Circus (Monster Clown, Murder Clown and Psycho Clown) defeated Los Perros del Mal (Damián 666, Halloween and Nicho el Millonario) in a Six-man tag team steel cage Masks vs. Hairs match 10 NJPW Destruction Tokyo Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Tetsuya Naito in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 16 TNA Bound for Glory Philadelphia Kurt Angle (c) defeated Bobby Roode in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 23 WWE Vengeance San Antonio Alberto Del Rio (c) defeated John Cena in a Last Man Standing match to retain the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 12 NJPW Power Struggle Osaka Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Toru Yano in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 13 TNA Turning Point Orlando Bobby Roode (c) defeated A.J. Styles in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 19 ROH Glory By Honor X Chicago Ridge Davey Richards (c) defeated El Generico in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship 20 WWE Survivor Series New York City John Cena and The Rock defeated The Miz and R-Truth in a Tag team match This was The Rock's first match since WrestleMania XX in 2004(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event1WWETribute to the TroopsFayetteville, North CarolinaJohn Cena, Big Show and CM Punk defeated Mark Henry, The Miz and Alberto Del Rio in a Six-man tag team match 11 TNA Final Resolution Orlando Bobby Roode (c) wrestled A.J. Styles to a 3–3 draw in a 30-Minute Iron Man match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 16 CMLL Sin Piedad Mexico City, Mexico Blue Panther defeated El Felino by disqualification in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match 18 WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Baltimore CM Punk (c) defeated The Miz and Alberto Del Rio in a Triple threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to retain the WWE Championship 23 ROH Final Battle New York Davey Richards (c) defeated Eddie Edwards in a Singles match to retain the ROH World Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Accomplishments and tournaments
AAA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRey de ReyesExtreme TigerMarch 18
JWP AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesBlue Star Cup 2011Manami KatsuNovember 20Tag League The Best 2011Kayoko Haruyama and Tsubasa KuragakiMarch 6
Ring of Honor AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesROH World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Lottery TournamentAdam Cole and Kyle O'ReillyJuly 8
TNA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesTNA X Division Championship #1 Contender TournamentRobbie EFebruary 13Xplosion Championship ChallengeMagnusAugust 9X Division ShowcaseAustin AriesJuly 10Turkey BowlEric YoungNovember 24Maximum Impact TournamentSamoa JoeDecember 13
WWE