2003 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2003. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesCMLLLucha 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 IronPWIRing of HonorROHWorld Japan Pro WrestlingWJWorld Wrestling All-StarsWWAWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWWEWWE 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 DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 4 NJPWWrestling WorldTokyo, JapanYuji Nagata (c) defeated Josh Barnett in a Singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 19 WWE:Royal RumbleBoston, MassachusettsBrock Lesnar won by last eliminating The Undertaker in a 30-man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at Wrestlemania XIX(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventFebruary 8 ROHOne Year Anniversary ShowQueens, New YorkDa Hit Squad (Mafia and Monsta Mack), Divine Storm (Chris Divine and Quiet Storm), The S.A.T. (Jose and Joel Maximo) and Mikey Whipwreck defeated Special K (Angel Dust, Brian XL, Deranged, Dixie, Hydro, Izzy, Jody Fleisch, Slim J, Slugger and Yeyo) in a Handicap Scramble matchFebruary 23 WWE:No Way OutMontreal, QuebecThe Rock defeated Hulk Hogan in a Singles match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMarch 1 WJWJ MAGMA01Tokyo, JapanRiki Choshu defeated Genichiro Tenryu at the first World Japan eventMarch 16 AAARey de ReyesZapopan, Jalisco, MexicoLa Parka Jr. defeated Abismo Negro in a 2003 Rey de Reyes tournament finalMarch 30 WWE:WrestleMania XIXSeattle, WashingtonBrock Lesnar defeated Kurt Angle (c) in a Singles match for the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 4 CMLL47. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoShocker defeated Vampiro Canadiense in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair matchApril 27 WWE:BacklashWorcester, MassachusettsGoldberg defeated The Rock in a Singles match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMay 9 CMLLInternational Gran PrixMexico City, MexicoBrazo de Plata, Cien Caras, and Gran Markus Jr. defeated Los Boricuas (Pierroth Jr., Sadam, and Violencia) in a Best two-out-of-three falls six-man tag team matchMay 18 WWE:Judgment DayCharlotte, North CarolinaBrock Lesnar (c) defeated Big Show in a Stretcher match for the WWE ChampionshipMay 25 WWAThe ReckoningAuckland, New ZealandJeff Jarrett (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) defeated Sting (WWA World Heavyweight Champion) in a Title Unification match to unify the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the WWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipMay 31 N/ASecond Annual Big Dick Dudley Memorial ShowFranklin Square, New YorkRaven defeated Balls Mahoney (c) in a Singles match for the USA Pro Heavyweight Championship (c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJune 7 WWE:InsurrextionNewcastle, England Triple H (c) defeated Kevin Nash in a Street Fight for the World Heavyweight ChampionshipJune 15 AAATriplemanía XINaucalpan, MexicoLizmark, La Parka, Octagón and Super Caló defeated Abismo Negro, Cibernético and The Headhunters (Headhunter A and Headhunter B) by disqualification in a Best two-out-of-three falls eight-man "Atómicos" tag team matchJune 15 WWE:Bad BloodHouston, TexasTriple H (c) defeated Kevin Nash in a Hell in a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship with Mick Foley as special guest referee(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJuly 19 ROHDeath Before DishonorElizabeth, New JerseySamoa Joe (c) vs. Paul London for the ROH World Championship WWCWWC 30th AniversarioCarolina, Puerto RicoThunder versus Lightning went to a no contest in a Singles matchJuly 20WJWJ MAGMA03TokyoKensuke Sasaki defeats Kenzo Suzuki in a tournament final for the vacant WMG Heavyweight TitleJuly 27 WWE:VengeanceDenver, ColoradoKurt Angle defeated Brock Lesnar (c) and Big Show in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventAugust 10–17NJPWG1 ClimaxTokyoHiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Jun Akiyama by submission in a G1 Climax tournament finalAugust 24 WWE:SummerSlamPhoenix, ArizonaTriple H (c) defeated Goldberg, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, and Kevin Nash in an Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 31 AAA Verano de Escándalo-AMonterrey, MexicoLa Parka and Latin Lover defeated Cibernético and Héctor Garza in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventSeptember 16 AAA Verano de Escándalo-BSan Luis Potosí, MexicoLa Parka, Latin Lover and Máscara Sagrada defeated Cibernético, Héctor Garza and Juventud Guerrera in a Six-man Lucha Libre rules tag team matchSeptember 19 CMLLCMLL 70th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoShocker defeated Tarzan Boy in a Best two-out-of-three Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair matchSeptember 20 ROHGlory By Honor IIPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaSamoa Joe (c) vs. Christopher Daniels for the ROH World ChampionshipSeptember 21 WWE:UnforgivenHershey, PennsylvaniaGoldberg defeated Triple H (c) in a Title vs. Career match for the World Heavyweight ChampionshipSeptember 28 AAA Verano de Escándalo-CGuadalajara, MexicoLa Parka defeated Cibernético in a Street Fight(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventOctober 19 WWE:No MercyBaltimore, MarylandBrock Lesnar (c) defeated The Undertaker in a Biker Chain match for the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNovember 15 PWI Mike Lockwood Memorial ShowLathrop, CaliforniaDonovan Morgan, Frank Murdoch and Vinny Massaro defeated Hook Bomberry and the Thomaselli Brothers (Vito and Sal Thomaselli) in a Six-man tag team matchNovember 16 WWE:Survivor SeriesDallas, Texas Goldberg (c) defeated Triple H in a Singles match for the World Heavyweight ChampionshipNovember 30 AAAGuerra de TitanesVeracruz, MexicoLatin Lover and Michael Shane defeated Mr. Aguila and David Young in a Final tag team match in the Televisa Tag Team Tournament(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventDecember 5 CMLLSin PiedadMexico City, MexicoUniverso 2000 defeated Pierroth Jr. in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta hair vs. hair matchDecember 14 WWE:ArmageddonOrlando, FloridaTriple H defeated Goldberg (c) and Kane in a Triple threat match for the World Heavyweight ChampionshipDecember 25WWE:Tribute to the TroopsBaghdad, IraqJohn Cena defeated Big Show in a Singles matchDecember 27 ROHFinal BattlePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaThe Prophecy (Christopher Daniels and Dan Maff) vs. The Great Muta and Arashi(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Accomplishments and tournaments AAA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRey de ReyesLa Parka Jr.March 16
AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesJapan Grand Prix 2003Amazing KongAugust 3Tag League The Best 2003Ayako Hamada and Nanae TakahashiDecember 23
AJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesChampion Carnival 2003Satoshi KojimaMarch 28Junior Heavyweight Champion CarnivalCarl MalenkoApril 10World's Strongest Determination League 2003Justin Credible and JamalDecember 2
Ring of Honor AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesField of HonorMatt StrykerDecember 27
TNA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesTNA Hard 10 TournamentThe SandmanTNA Anarchy Alliance Tag Team TournamentAmerica's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm)June 112003 TNA Super X Cup TournamentChris SabinSeptember 3
TNA Year End Awards
Poll Winner(s)Tag Team of the YearAmerica's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm)Babe of the YearTrinityFinisher of the YearThe Styles ClashWho To Watch in 2004AbyssMemorable Moment of the YearJeff Jarrett attacks Hulk Hogan in JapanX Division Star of the YearMatt BentleyMatch of the YearThe first ever Ultimate X MatchMr. TNAA.J. Styles
World Japan AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesWJ Strongest TournamentKensuke SasakiJuly 20WMG Tag Team Title TournamentGenichiro Tenryu and Riki ChoshuAugust 21WMJ Young Magma CupTomohiro IshiiAugust 13
WWE AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRoyal RumbleBrock LesnarJanuary 19Winner received a match for their own brand's world championship at WrestleMania XIX—either Raw's World Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown's WWE Championship. Lesnar from SmackDown last eliminated The Undertaker to win a match for the WWE Championship, which he subsequently won from Kurt Angle.WWE Championship #1 Contender's TournamentJohn CenaApril 15Defeated Chris Benoit in the tournament final to win a match for the WWE Championship at Backlash, but was unsuccessful against Brock Lesnar.WWE United States Championship TournamentEddie GuerreroJuly 27Defeated Chris Benoit in the tournament final to win the reinstated United States Championship, which was previously a World Championship Wrestling title; the title was deactivated in 2001 when it was unified with the Intercontinental Championship at that year's Survivor Series.
Awards and honors Pro Wrestling Illustrated
CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearKurt AnglePWI Tag Team of the YearThe World's Greatest Tag Team(Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin)PWI Match of the YearKurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (SmackDown!, September 16)PWI Feud of the YearBrock Lesnar vs. Kurt AnglePWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearKurt AnglePWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearTriple HPWI Comeback of the YearKurt AnglePWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearJohn CenaPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearZach GowenPWI Rookie of the YearZach GowenPWI Woman of the YearTrish StratusPWI Lifetime AchievementBret Hart
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
InducteeChris BenoitEarl CaddockFrancisco FloresShawn Michaels
Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearKenta KobashiMost OutstandingKurt AngleFeud of the YearKurt Angle vs. Brock LesnarTag Team of the YearKenta and Naomichi MarufujiMost ImprovedBrock LesnarBest on InterviewsChris Jericho
Title changes
NJPW Incoming champion – Yuji NagataDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 2Yoshihiro TakayamaUltimate CrushNovember 3Hiroyoshi TenzanYokohama Dead OutDecember 9Shinsuke NakamuraBattle Final
Incoming champions – Cho-Ten DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)June 13Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka YoshieCrushDecember 14Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Osamu NishimuraBattle Final
Incoming champion – Koji KanemotoDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 23Tiger MaskStrong EnergySeptember 23VacatedN/A October 13JadoUltimate CrushDecember 14HeatBattle Final
Incoming champions – Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Yoshinobu KanemaruDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 26Jushin Thunder Liger and Koji KanemotoThe First NavigationNovember 4VacatedN/ANovember 29Gedo and JadoBattle Final
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.
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)September 21GoldbergUnforgivenCareer vs. title matchDecember 14Triple HArmageddonTriple threat match, also involving Kane.
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 30Brock LesnarWrestleMania XIXJuly 27Kurt AngleVengeanceTriple threat match, also involving Big Show.September 16Brock LesnarSmackDown!60-minute Iron Man match.