2012 in professional wrestling

none 2012 professional wrestling 2012 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling. List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 2012. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreCMLLJuggalo Championship WrestlingJCWLN 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 GuerrillaPWGPro Wrestling NoahNOAHRing of HonorROHTotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTNAWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWE—WWE stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, which is still the legal name, but the company ceased using the full name in April 2011, with the WWE abbreviation becoming an orphaned initialism.NXT became WWE's developmental territory in June, replacing Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which ceased operations. Calendar of notable shows January Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom VI Tokyo Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Minoru Suzuki in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 6/7/8 WWC Euphoria San Juan, Puerto Rico Various 8 TNA Genesis Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy defeated Bobby Roode (c) by disqualification in a singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 29 WWE Royal Rumble St. Louis, Missouri Sheamus won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Chris Jericho to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania XXVIIIMurphy Ryan January 29, 2012 Sheamus won the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/2012/royal-rumble-match WWE 31 January 2012 Sheamus chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.This was Chris Jericho's first match in WWE since 2010(c) – denotes defending champion(s) February Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 11 LN A Nightmare To Remember II Villa Rica, Georgia Kyle Matthews defeated Jimmy Rave 12 NJPW The New Beginning Osaka Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 12 TNA Against All Odds Orlando, Florida Bobby Roode (c) defeated Bully Ray, James Storm, and Jeff Hardy in a Four-Way match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with Sting as the Special Guest Ringside Enforcer 19 AJPW NJPW NOAH All Together: Mōikkai, Hitotsu ni Narō ze Sendai Hiroshi Tanahashi, Suwama and Takeshi Morishima defeated Go Shiozaki, Seiya Sanada and Tetsuya Naito in a Six-man Tag team match 19 WWE Elimination Chamber Milwaukee, Wisconsin John Cena defeated Kane in an Ambulance matchGiannini Alex John Cena vs. Kane (Ambulance Match) http://www.wwe.com/shows/eliminationchamber/2012/cena-kane-ambulance-match WWE 13 February 2012 6 February 2012(c) – denotes defending champion(s) March Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 4 ROH 10th Anniversary Show: Young Wolves Rising New York City, New York Adam Cole and Eddie Edwards defeated Team Ambition (Davey Richards and Kyle O'Reilly) in a Tag team match 12 AAA Rey de Reyes Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Rey de Reyes final four-way elimination match 18 TNA Victory Road Orlando, Florida Bobby Roode defeated Sting in a No Holds Barred match 25 Progress Progress Chapter One: In The Beginning London, England Nathan Cruz defeated El Ligero, Marty Scurll and Mike Mason to become the inaugural Progress World Champion 30–31 ROH Showdown in the Sun Fort Lauderdale, Florida Davey Richards (c) defeated Eddie Edwards and Roderick Strong in a three-way elimination match for the ROH World Championship (Day 1)Davey Richards (c) defeated Michael Elgin in a Singles match for the ROH World Championship (Day 2)(c) – denotes defending champion(s) April Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 1 WWE WrestleMania XXVIII Miami Gardens, Florida The Rock defeated John Cena in a singles matchhttp://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2011-04-04/results Raw Results: C U at WrestleMania! WWE Greg Adkins April 5, 2011 April 5, 2011 June 29, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160629174912/http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2011-04-04/results dead This was The Rock's first WrestleMania match since WrestleMania XX in 2004 15 TNA Lockdown Nashville, Tennessee Bobby Roode (c) defeated James Storm in a Steel cage match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 29 WWE Extreme Rules Rosemont, Illinois John Cena defeated Brock Lesnar in an Extreme Rules matchBrock Lesnar vs. John Cena – Extreme Rules Match Tom Herrera 9 April 2012 http://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2012/lesnar-cena 2012-04-10 WWE This was Brock Lesnar's first match in WWE since 2004(c) – denotes defending champion(s) May Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 3 NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Fukuoka Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Hirooki Goto in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 12 ROH Border Wars Toronto, Ontario Kevin Steen defeated Davey Richards (c) in a Singles match for the ROH World Championship 13 TNA Sacrifice Orlando, Florida Bobby Roode (c) defeated Rob Van Dam in a Ladder match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 20 WWE Over the Limit Raleigh, North Carolina John Laurinaitis defeated John Cena in a No Disqualification match Had Cena won, Laurinaitis would have been fired, and anyone who interfered would have been fired.http://www.wwe.com/shows/wweoverthelimit/2012/john-cena-vs-john-laurinaitis John Cena vs. John Laurinaitis WWE 2012-04-30(c) – denotes defending champion(s) June Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 10 TNA Slammiversary Arlington, Texas Bobby Roode (c) defeated Sting in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 16 NJPW Dominion Osaka Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 17 WWE No Way Out East Rutherford, New Jersey John Cena defeated Big Show in a steel cage match. Since Cena won, John Laurinaitis was fired, Had Show won, Cena would have been fired.24 Progress Progress Chapter Two: The March Of Progress London, England Nathan Cruz (c) defeated Marty Scurll score (2-1) in a Best two out of three falls match to retain the PROGRESS World Championship ROH Best in the World New York, New York Kevin Steen (c) defeated Davey Richards in the Anything Goes match for the ROH World Championship 29 CMLL Infierno en el Ring Mexico City, Mexico 10-woman Infierno en el Ring, Lucha de Apuestas Hair vs. Hair Steel cage match 30 WWC 39th WWC Aniversario Bayamon, Puerto Rico The Invaders defeated Mr. X & Masked Man(c) – denotes defending champion(s) July Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 3 WWE SuperSmackDown LIVE: The Great American Bash Corpus Christi, Texas Zack Ryder won by last eliminating Kane in a 20-Man Battle Royal to determine the guest General Manager for next week's SmackDown. 8 TNA Destination X Orlando, Florida Austin Aries defeated Bobby Roode (c) in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 15 WWE Money in the Bank Phoenix, Arizona John Cena defeated Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, and The Miz in a Money in the Bank ladder match for a WWE Championship match contract(c) – denotes defending champion(s) August Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 5 AAA Triplemanía XX Mexico City, Mexico Dr. Wagner Jr. defeated Máscara Año 2000 Jr. (with Máscara Año 2000) 11 ROH Boiling Point Providence, Rhode Island Kevin Steen (c) defeated Eddie Kingston in an Anything Goes match for the ROH World Championship1-11NJPWG1 Climax finalTokyoKazuchika Okada defeated Karl Anderson in a G1 Climax tournament 12 JCW Bloodymania 6 Cave-In-Rock, Illinois 2 Tuff Tony (c) defeated Kongo Kong for the JCW World Heavyweight Championship 12 TNA Hardcore Justice Orlando, Florida Austin Aries (c) defeated Bobby Roode in a Last Chance match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 19 WWE SummerSlam Los Angeles, California Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H in a No Disqualification match(c) – denotes defending champion(s) September Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event1-2PWGBattle of Los AngelesReseda, CaliforniaAdam Cole defeated Michael Elgin in a Battle of Los Angeles tournament 9 TNA No Surrender Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy defeated Bully Ray in the final of the 2012 Bound for Glory Series 14 CMLL CMLL 79th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Rush defeated El Terrible in a two-out-of three-falls Lucha de Apuestas, Hair vs. Hair match 15 ROH Death Before Dishonor Chicago Ridge, Illinois Kevin Steen (c) defeated Rhino in a No Disqualification match for the ROH World Championship 16 WWE Night of Champions Boston, Massachusetts CM Punk (c) vs John Cena for the WWE Championship ended in a draw 23 NJPW Destruction Kobe Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Naomichi Marufuji in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 30 Progress Progress Chapter Three: Fifty Shades Of Pain London, England Dave Mastiff and Greg Burridge defeated El Ligero and Nathan Cruz(c) – denotes defending champion(s) October Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event 7 AAA Heroes Inmortales San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí Jack Evans and La Secta Bizarra Cibernetica (Cibernético, Dark Cuervo and Dark Ozz) defeated Los Perros del Mal (Halloween, El Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Psicosis and Teddy Hart) 8 NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling Tokyo Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Minoru Suzuki in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 13 ROH Glory By Honor Mississauga, Ontario Kevin Steen (c) defeated Michael Elgin in a Singles match for the ROH World Championship 14 TNA Bound for Glory Phoenix, Arizona Jeff Hardy defeated Austin Aries (c) in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 28 WWE Hell in a Cell Atlanta, Georgia CM Punk (c) defeated Ryback in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s) November Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes 11 NJPW Power Struggle Osaka Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Yujiro Takahashi in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 11 TNA Turning Point Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy (c) defeated Austin Aries in a Ladder match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 18 WWE Survivor Series Indianapolis, Indiana CM Punk (c) defeated John Cena and Ryback in a Triple threat match to retain the WWE Championship This event was notable for the onscreen debut of The Shield(c) – denotes defending champion(s) December Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main event Notes9WWETribute to the TroopsNorfolk, VirginiaJohn Cena defeated Antonio Cesaro in a Singles match 9 TNA Final Resolution Orlando, Florida Jeff Hardy (c) defeated Bobby Roode in a Singles match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship 14 CMLL Sin Piedad Mexico City, Mexico La Sombra defeated Tama Tonga in a Singles match for the 2012 La Copa Junior Tournament Final 16 WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Brooklyn, New York Dolph Ziggler (contract holder) defeated John Cena in a Ladder match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank contract This marked The Shield's in-ring debut 16 ROH Final Battle 2012: Doomsday New York, New York Kevin Steen (c) defeated El Generico in the Ladder War IV for the ROH World Championship This was El Generico's last match in ROH before signing with the WWE as the new ring name Sami Zayn on NXT(c) – denotes defending champion(s) Accomplishments and tournaments AAA AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRey de ReyesEl Hijo del Perro AguayoMarch 18 JWP AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesTag League the Best 2012Ran Yu-Yu and Toshie UematsuApril 8 Ring of Honor AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRise and Prove TournamentTMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste)February 17March Mayhem TournamentTommaso CiampaMarch 13ROH World Tag Team Championship TournamentS.C.U.M. (Jimmy Jacobs and Steve Corino)September 15 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesWild Card TournamentMagnus and Samoa JoeJanuary 8TNA X Division Championship TournamentZema IonJuly 8Turkey BowlEric YoungNovember 22 WWE thumb|upright|200px|Sheamus won the 2012 Royal Rumble Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes Royal Rumble Sheamus January 29 Winner received their choice of a championship match for either the WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXVIII; Sheamus last eliminated Chris Jericho to win and chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship, which he subsequently won from Daniel Bryan. Money in the Bank ladder match Dolph ZigglerJuly 15 Defeated Damien Sandow, Tyson Kidd, Christian, Santino Marella, Tensai, Cody Rhodes, and Sin Cara to win a World Heavyweight Championship match contract. Ziggler cashed in the contract on the April 8, 2013 episode of Raw and won the title from Alberto Del Rio. Money in the Bank ladder match John Cena Defeated Kane, Chris Jericho, Big Show, and The Miz to win a WWE Championship match contract. Cena cashed in the contract on the July 23 episode of Raw but won the match against champion CM Punk by disqualification thanks to interference from Big Show, thus Cena did not win the title. Gold Rush Tournament Seth Rollins July 26(aired August 29) Defeated Jinder Mahal in the tournament final to win the inaugural NXT Championship. WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Team Rhodes Scholars(Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow) October 22 Defeated Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara in the tournament final to win a WWE Tag Team Championship match at Hell in a Cell, but were unsuccessful in winning the title from Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane). Title changes AAA AAA Mega ChampionshipIncoming champion – Jeff JarrettDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 18El MesiasRey de ReyesDecember 2El Texano Jr.Guerra de Titanes AAA Latin American ChampionshipIncoming champion – L.A. ParkNo title changes AAA World Mini-Estrella ChampionshipIncoming champion – Mini PsicosisNo title changes AAA World Cruiserweight ChampionshipIncoming champion – Jack EvansDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 19Juventud GuerreraNoche de CampeonesDecember 2DagaGuerra de Titanes AAA Reina de Reinas ChampionshipIncoming champion – Sexy StarDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)No title changes AAA World Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – La Legión Extranjera (Abyss and Chessman)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)October 7Joe Líder and VampiroHéroes Inmortales AAA World Mixed Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – La Sociedad (Alan Stone and Jennifer Blake)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)October 7Halloween and Mari ApacheHéroes Inmortales AAA World Trios ChampionshipIncoming champions – Los Perros del Mal (Damián 666, Halloween and X-Fly)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 11Los Psycho Circus(Monster Clown, Murder Clown and Psycho Clown)Sin LímiteMay 19El Consejo(Máscara Año 2000 Jr., El Texano Jr. and Toscano)Noche de Campeones NJPW IWGP Heavyweight ChampionshipIncoming champion – Hiroshi TanahashiDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 12Kazuchika OkadaNew Beginning The New BeginningJune 16Hiroshi TanahashiDominion 6.16 Dominion 6.16 IWGP Intercontinental ChampionshipIncoming champion – Masato TanakaDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 12Hirooki GotoNew Beginning The New BeginningJuly 22Shinsuke NakamuraKizuna Road 2012 Kizuna Road IWGP Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 4Tencozy(Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome Wrestle Kingdom VIMay 3Chaos(Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano)Wrestling Dontaku 2012 Wrestling DontakuJune 20— Vacated–Iizuka and Yano were stripped of the titles after a title match between them and Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) on June 16 ended in a no contest.July 22Tencozy(Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)Kizuna Road 2012 Kizuna RoadDefeated Chaos (Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano) to win the vacant title.October 8K.E.S.(Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer)King Of Pro-Wrestling King of Pro-Wrestling IWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipIncoming champion – Prince DevittDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 3Low KiWrestling Dontaku 2012 Wrestling DontakuJuly 29Kota IbushiLast Rebellion Last RebellionOctober 8Low KiKing Of Pro Wrestling King of Pro-WrestlingNovember 11Prince DevittPower Struggle Power Struggle IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards and Rocky Romero)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 4Apollo 55(Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi)Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome Wrestle Kingdom VIFebruary 12No Remorse Corps(Davey Richards and Rocky Romero)New Beginning The New BeginningMay 2— Vacated–Title held up after Davey Richards was unable to attend Wrestling Dontaku 2012 due to travel issues.June 16Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger MaskDominion 616 Dominion 6.16Liger and Tiger Mask defeated Suzuki-gun (Taichi and Taka Michinoku) to win the vacant title.July 22Forever Hooligans(Alex Koslov and Rocky Romero)Kizuna Road 2012 Kizuna RoadNovember 11Time Splitters(Alex Shelley and Kushida)Power Struggle Power Struggle NEVER Openweight Championship(Title created)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)November 19Masato TanakaShodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament Final Shodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament FinalTanaka defeated Karl Anderson in the finals of a sixteen-man tournament to become the inaugural champion. ROH ROH World ChampionshipIncoming champion – Davey RichardsDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 12Kevin SteenBorder Wars ROH World Television ChampionshipIncoming champion – Jay LethalDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 31Roderick StrongShowdown in the SunJune 29Adam ColeRing of Honor Wrestling ROH World Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – The Briscoe Brothers (Jay and Mark Briscoe)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 12Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team(Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin)Border WarsJune 24The All Night Express(Rhett Titus and Kenny King)Best in the World 2012: Hostage CrisisJuly 10— VacatedN/ASeptember 15S.C.U.M.(Jimmy Jacobs and Steve Corino)Death Before Dishonor X: State of EmergencyDecember 16The Briscoe Brothers(Jay and Mark Briscoe)Final Battle 2012: Doomsday TNA TNA World Heavyweight ChampionshipIncoming champion – Bobby RoodeDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)July 8Aries Austin AriesDestination X 2012 Destination XAries voluntarily vacated the TNA X Division Championship in exchange for a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match at the event.October 14Hardy, Jeff Jeff HardyBound for Glory 2012 Bound for Glory TNA X Division ChampionshipIncoming champion – Austin AriesDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)July 8— VacatedDestination XAustin Aries voluntarily vacated the TNA X Division Championship in exchange for a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match at the event.Zema IonUltimate X match for the vacant title, also involving Kenny King, Mason Andrews, and Sonjay Dutt.October 14Rob Van DamBound for Glory TNA World Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – Crimson and Matt MorganDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 12Magnus and Samoa JoeAgainst All OddsMay 13The World Tag Team Champions of the World(Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)SacrificeJune 10A.J. Styles and Kurt AngleSlammiversary XJune 28The World Tag Team Champions of the World(Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)Impact WrestlingOctober 14Chavo Guerrero and HernandezBound for Glory TNA Knockouts Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – Gail Kim and Madison RayneDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 8Eric Young and ODBImpact Wrestling TNA Knockouts ChampionshipIncoming champion – Gail KimDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)June 10Miss TessmacherSlammiversaryAugust 12Madison RayneHardcore JusticeAugust 16Miss TessmacherImpact WrestlingOctober 14TaraBound for Glory TNA Television ChampionshipIncoming champion – Robbie EDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 18DevonVictory RoadSeptember 26— VacatedN/ASeptember 27Samoa JoeImpact WrestlingDecember 6DevonImpact Wrestling WWE WWE ChampionshipIncoming champion – CM Punk No title changes World Heavyweight ChampionshipIncoming champion – Daniel BryanDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 1SheamusWrestleMania XXVIIIOctober 28Big ShowHell in a Cell WWE Intercontinental ChampionshipIncoming champion – Cody RhodesDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 1Big ShowWrestleMania XXVIIIApril 29Cody RhodesExtreme RulesTables matchMay 20ChristianOver the LimitJuly 23The MizRaw 1000October 16(aired October 17)Kofi KingstonMain EventDecember 29(aired December 31)Wade BarrettMonday Night Raw WWE United States ChampionshipIncoming champion – Zack RyderDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 16Jack SwaggerMonday Night RawMarch 5Santino MarellaMonday Night RawAugust 19Antonio CesaroSummerSlamPre-Show WWE Divas ChampionshipIncoming champion – Beth PhoenixDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 23Nikki BellaMonday Night RawLumberjill matchApril 29LaylaExtreme RulesLayla pinned Brie Bella to win the title from Nikki Bella after the twins switched places during the match while the referee was distracted.September 16Eve TorresNight of Champions WWE Tag Team ChampionshipIncoming champions – Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 15Primo & EpicoHouse showApril 30Kofi Kingston and R-TruthMonday Night RawSeptember 16Team Hell No(Kane and Daniel Bryan)Night of Champions NXT NXT Championship(Title created)DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)July 26(aired August 29)Seth RollinsNXTDefeated Jinder Mahal in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion.December 6(aired January 9, 2013)Big E LangstonNXTNo-disqualification match. Awards and honors AAA Hall of Fame AAA Hall of Fame InducteeOctagónPerro Aguayo Pro Wrestling Illustrated List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearCM PunkTag Team of the YearKofi Kingston and R-TruthMatch of the YearThe Undertaker vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XXVIII)Feud of the YearAces & Eights vs. TNAMost Popular Wrestler of the YearJohn CenaMost Hated Wrestler of the YearCM PunkComeback of the YearJeff HardyMost Improved Wrestler of the YearRybackInspirational Wrestler of the YearJerry LawlerRookie of the YearVeda ScottWoman of the YearAJ LeeStanley Weston Award (Lifetime Achievement)Bobby Heenan TNA Hall of Fame TNA Hall of Fame InducteeSting Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame InducteeMick McManusAlfonso MoralesJohn CenaHans SchmidtLou AlbanoGus Sonnenberg Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearHiroshi TanahashiMost OutstandingHiroshi TanahashiBest Box Office DrawThe RockFeud of the YearHiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika OkadaTag Team of the YearBad Influence(Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)Most ImprovedKazuchika OkadaBest on InterviewsCM Punk WWE WWE Hall of Fame WWE Hall of Fame CategoryInducteeInducted byIndividualMil MáscarasAlberto Del RioEdgeChristianRon SimmonsJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield John LayfieldYokozunaJimmy Uso and Jey UsoGroupThe Four HorsemenDusty RhodesCelebrityMike TysonD-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) Slammy Awards Slammy Award Poll WinnerFeat of Strength of the Year Sheamus delivers White Noise to Big ShowBest Dancer of the Year Brodus ClayTop Social Media Ambassador Charlie SheenTweet of the Year "Goat face is a horrible insult. My face is practically perfect in every way. In fact, from now on I demand to be called Beautiful Bryan." – Daniel BryanInsult of the Year John Cena to Dolph Ziggler & Vickie Guerrero: "You're the exact opposite. One enjoys eating a lot of nuts and the other is still trying to find his."Facial Hair of the Year Daniel BryanBetrayal of the Year Big Show knocks out John Cena at Over the LimitCrowd Chant of the Year "Feed Me More!"WWE.com Exclusive Video of the Year Jerry Lawler speaks to WWE.com about his miraculous returnUpset of the Year Daniel Bryan defeats Mark Henry and Big Show at Royal RumbleDiva of the Year AJ Lee"Tell Me I Didn't Just See That" Moment of the Year Kofi Kingston handstands during the Royal Rumble match to avoid elimination at Royal RumbleComeback of the Year Jerry LawlerKiss of the Year AJ Lee and John CenaSuperstar of the Year John CenaLOL! Moment of the Year The Rock throws John Cena's things into the Boston Harbor#Trending Now of the Year Ryback's #FeedMeMoreNewcomer of the Year RybackMatch of the Year Hell in a Cell match: The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania XXVIII Debuts thumb|120px|Charlotte Flair unknown date – Moose January 7 – Dale Patricks January 14 – Ayumu Gunji January 22 – Natsumi Sumikawa March 31 – Gene Munny April 1 – Will Ospreay and Tetsuya Endo April 8 – Ayumu Honda April 12 – Ilja Dragunov April 13 – Hideyoshi Kamitani May 12 – Reyna Isis July 11 – Drew Parker July 12 – Charlotte Flair and Emersyn Jayne July 14 – Anthony Greene July 28 – Yoshihisa Uto August 8 – Mojo Rawley August 12 – Rydeen Hagane August 18 – Konosuke Takeshita September 1 – Aaron Henare September 22 – Jacob Fatu October 14 – Tank Nagai October 18 – Baron Corbin October 21 – Van Vert Jack October 25 – Enzo Amore October 28 – Kyuri November 15 – Sho Tanaka November 19 – Yohei Komatsu November 23 – Sagat December 2 – Chris Ridgeway December 4 – Shigeyuki Kawahara December 12 – El Hijo del Vikingo December 22 – David Finlay (wrestler) December 29 – SAKI and MIZUKI2012 「超満員札止」御礼ならびに試合結果。 Thank you for "super crowded ticket stop" and match results. Japanese LLPW http://llpw-x.jugem.jp/?page=0 13 March 2023 December 31 – Erin (Ice Ribbon), Rutsuko Yamaguchi (Ice Ribbon), Hiroko Terada (Ice Ribbon), Ayano Takeda (Ice Ribbon) and 235 (Ice Ribbon) Retirements thumb|upright|120px|Ric Flair thumb|upright|120px|Ron Simmons Hulk Hogan (1977–January 27, 2012) Mick Foley (1986-January 29, 2012) Christina Crawford (July 8, 2010 – 2012) Chuck Palumbo (1998-2012) Doug Somers (1971 – February 23, 2012) Ron Simmons (1986-March 17, 2012) Sage Beckett (2007 - June 24, 2012) (return to wrestling in 2014 and retired in 2018) Sylvester Terkay (2000 - March 31, 2012) Dominic DeNucci (1958-April 14, 2012) Kenny Jay (1958-June 16, 2012) Tiger Jeet Singh (1965-July 1, 2012) Road Warrior Animal (1982-July 17, 2012) Tyler Reks (February 2007 – August 22, 2012) Jerry Lawler (1970-September 10, 2012, had a heart attack and returned to wrestling in 2013) Sara Del Rey (2001 – September 2012) (moved to a trainer) Vladimir Kozlov (April 7, 2006 – October 16, 2012) Richie Steamboat (July 25, 2008 – October 25, 2012) Beth Phoenix (May 2001 – October 29, 2012) (Commentator in NXT, occasional wrestler) Ric Flair (December 10, 1972 – December 3, 2012) (full retirement, return for one in 2022 for Ric Flair's Last Match) Kelly Kelly (June 13, 2006 – December 4, 2012) (brief return in 2018 - Royal Rumble and WWE Evolution, 2020 event) Dave Finlay (1974 – December 22, 2012) Deaths January 12- MS-1 (wrestler), 55 Savannah Jack, 63 February 26 - Don Joyce (American football), 82 February 29 - Woody Farmer, 76 March 2 – Doug Furnas, 52 March 12 - Dick Woehrle, 81 March 13 - Joe McCarthy, 82 March 22 - Joe Blanchard, 83 April 3 – Chief Jay Strongbow, 83 April 14 - Dom Travis, 31 May 26 – Hans Schmidt, 87 June 23 - Adorable Rubí, 68 July 12 - Dara Singh, 83 July 16 - Bob Babbitt, 74 July 20 - Goldie Rogers, 61 August 12 - Red Bastien, 81 August 17 - Joey Kovar, 29 September 29 - Eric Pomeroy, 79 September 30 – Bobby Jaggers, 64 October 10 - Alex Karras, 77 October 18 – Brain Damage, 34 c. October 19 – Mike Graham, 61 November 1 – Brad Armstrong, 50 November 12 - Seigfried Stanke, 74 November 15 - Awesome Kong, 54 November 29 – Buddy Roberts, 65 December 9 - Mike Boyette, 69 December 22 - Rip Hawk, 82 December 28 - Bill Dromo, 75 Emilio Charles Jr., 56 December 29 - Argentine Zuma, 85 See also List of NJPW pay-per-view events List of ROH pay-per-view events List of TNA pay-per-view events List of WWE pay-per-view events References professional wrestling