2018 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of

professional wrestling Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 2018.

Calendar of notable shows

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Accomplishments and tournaments

All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW)

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)

International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG)

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA)

National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)

Pro Wrestling Noah

Pro Wrestling Zero1

WWE

Title changes

CMLL

Impact Wrestling

IWRG

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide

MLW

NJPW

NWA

ROH

The Crash Lucha Libre

WWE

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Raw Raw is an adjective usually describing: * Raw materials, basic materials from which products are manufactured or made * Raw food, uncooked food Raw or RAW may also refer to: Computing and electronics * .RAW, a proprietary mass spectrometry dat ...

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SmackDown ''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that as of currently airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Fox Deportes simulc ...

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NXT NXT may refer to: Professional wrestling * ''WWE NXT'', a professional wrestling television program produced by WWE that began in 2010 ** NXT (WWE brand), WWE's Florida-based brand and former developmental territory * ''NXT UK'', the British spin- ...

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NXT UK ''NXT UK'' is a professional wrestling television programme that was produced exclusively in the United Kingdom by the American promotion WWE. It aired on BT Sport and 5Action (previously known as Paramount Network). In the United States, the s ...

Raw and SmackDown

Raw and SmackDown each had a world championship, a secondary championship, a women's championship, and a male tag team championship. Raw also had a championship for their cruiserweight wrestlers, which became exclusive to the 205 Live brand.

NXT

NXT UK

Awards and honors

AAA

AAA Hall of Fame

WWE

WWE Hall of Fame

Debuts

* January 4 **

Hikari Noa is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling where she is a former International Princess Champion. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2018-pres ...

Miu Watanabe is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler currently working for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion, promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling where she is the current International Princess Championship, International Princ ...

* February 3 –

Akira Hyodo is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for his tenure with the Japanese promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling where he is a former Yokohama Shopping Street 6-Man Tag Team Champion. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit ( ...

* February 24 – Edith Surreal * April 8 –

Ronda Rousey Ronda Jean Rousey (; born February 1, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, actress, former judoka and mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand and is the current SmackDown Women’s ...

* April 22 –

Rina Shingaki is a retired Japanese professional wrestler best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotion Ice Ribbon where she is a former Triangle Ribbon Champion. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2018-2021) Shingaki made her profess ...

* May 3 –

Yuki Aino is a Japanese professional wrestler and former ring announcer currently working for the Japanese promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling where she is a former Princess Tag Team Champion. Professional wrestling career Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (2018 ...

* May 13 – Rina Amikura * May 27 –

Mei Suruga is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Japanese professional wrestling promotions Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW) and Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling. Professional wrestling career Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (2018–present) Sur ...

* June 11 – Kota Minoura * July 18 –

Omos Tolulope "Jordan" Omogbehin (born May 16, 1994) is a Nigerian-American professional wrestler and former college basketball player. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the WWE Raw brand under the ring name Omos. He played colleg ...

* August 5 **

Mina Shirakawa is a Japanese professional wrestler and idol, currently signed to the Japanese professional wrestling promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is the leader of Club Venus. She is a former Artist of Stardom and Future of Stardom Champion. P ...

** Yoshiki Inamura * August 12 –

Utami Hayashishita (born September 14, 1998) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, Since making her debut on August 12, 2018, she became a one-time World of Stardom Champion, two-time Goddesses of Stardom Ch ...

* September 2 – Ryuki Honda * October 28 **

Jessamyn Duke Jessamyn Laurel Duke (born June 24, 1986) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. As a wrestler, she worked with WWE as part of their NXT brand. She formerly competed for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Inv ...

Marina Shafir Marina Shafir (Moldovan Cyrillic: Марина Шафир; born 14 April 1988) is a Moldovan professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She formerly competed for Invicta Fighting Championsh ...

** Yuki Arai * November 6 – Dragon Dia * November 15 – Yuko Sakurai * November 17 –

Hokuto Omori is a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist currently signed to the Japanese promotions All Japan Pro Wrestling where he is a former All Asia Tag Team Champion. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2018� ...

* November 18 –

Mei Hoshizuki is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her tenures with Marvelous That's Women Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Wave. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2018–present) Hoshizu ...

* November 19 –

Momoka Hanazono is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler currently working as a feelancer and is best known for her time in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion, promotions Oz Academy and Colega Pro Wrestling. Professional wrestling ...

* December 24 –

Maria Maria may refer to: People * Mary, mother of Jesus * Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages Place names Extraterrestrial *170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877 *Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, da ...

* December 31 –

Suzu Suzuki is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her time in Ice Ribbon and Pure-J, two Japanese professional wrestling promotions. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2018–present) ...

Retirements

Aoi Kizuki is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenure with various Japanese promotions such as Ice Ribbon, JWP Joshi Puroresu and Oz Academy. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2005–2018) Kizuki made her pr ...

(2005–2018) *

Azusa Takigawa is a retired Japanese professional wrestler best known for her time with the Japanese promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling where she is a former Princess Tag Team Champion. Professional wrestling career Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (2015–2018) T ...

(2015–2018) *

Bob Backlund Robert Louis Backlund (born August 14, 1949) is an American retired amateur and professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation from 1976 to 1984 and in the 1990s, wher ...

(1973–1985, 1988–2001, 2007–2011, 2018) *

Mark Henry Mark Jerrold Henry (born June 12, 1971) is an American former powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a commentator/analyst, coach, and talent scout. He is b ...

(March 11, 1996–April 27, 2018) * Great Khali (October 7, 2000–April 27, 2018) * Mika Iida (November 21, 2010–May 4, 2018) *

Great Kabuki , better known as , is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is famous as the first to blow Asian mist in his opponents' faces. Professional wrestling career Mera was born on September 8, 1948 in Nobeoka, Japan. He started wrestling in 1 ...

(1964–September 30, 2018) *

Daigoro Kashiwa is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and referee best known for his time with the Japanese promotion Kaientai Dojo. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2001-2018) Kashiwa made his professional wrestling debut at ''Osaka Pro ...

(2001–2018) *

Gene Snitsky Eugene Alan Snisky (born January 14, 1970) is an American actor and retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Gene Snitsky, who is best known for his time spent with World Wrestling Entertainment. He played college football at ...

(1997–2018) *

Chicky Starr José Anibal Laureano Colón (born June 24, 1958) is a retired Puerto Rican professional wrestler and manager. He is better known by his ring name, Chicky Starr. He's currently the general manager of the International Wrestling Association (IWA ...

(1975–2018) *

Mark Jindrak Mark Robert Jindrak (born June 26, 1977) is an American businessman, former professional wrestler, and actor. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Mark Jindrak and ...

(1999–2018) * Maho Kurone (2016–2018)

Deaths

* January 2 – Mountain Fiji, 60 * April 4 –

Johnny Valiant John L. Sullivan (born Thomas Sullivan; November 25, 1946 – April 4, 2018) was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Johnny Valiant. He competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which be ...

, 71 * April 18 **

Bruno Sammartino Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (October 6, 1935 – April 18, 2018) was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). There, he held the WWWF World Heavywei ...

, 82 ** Paul Jones, 75 * April 21 – Neff Maivia, 93 * May 1 –

Universo 2000 Andrés Reyes González (April 18, 1963 – May 1, 2018) was a Mexican professional wrestler, or luchador, who was best known under the ring name Universo 2000. Reyes made his professional wrestling debut in 1985 and worked for Consejo Mundial de ...

, 55 * May 8 –

Big Bully Busick Nicholas Busick (June 1, 1954 – May 8, 2018) was an American professional wrestler and police officer, better known by his ring name Big Bully Busick. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1991, where ...

, 63 * June 1 –

Rockin' Rebel Charles Williams (January 13, 1966 – June 1, 2018) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rockin' Rebel. He was best known for his appearances on the U.S. independent circuit with promotions such as Eastern Cham ...

, 52 * June 13 –

Arkangel de la Muerte Alfredo Pasillas (July 16, 1966 – June 13, 2018) was a Mexican luchador and enmascarado (masked) professional wrestler, best known for his work in the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) under the rin ...

, 52 * June 18 –

Big Van Vader Leon Allen White (May 14, 1955 – June 18, 2018), better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or simply Vader, was an American professional wrestler and professional football player. Throughout his career, he performed for New Japan Pro-Wrestli ...

, 63 * June 29 –

Matt Cappotelli Matthew Lee Cappotelli (November 12, 1979 – June 29, 2018) was an American professional wrestler. After co-winning ''Tough Enough III'' with John Hennigan, he worked in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), the primary developmental territory for WWE. ...

, 38 * July 8 –

Piratita Morgan Raymundo Rodríguez (15 March 1969 – 8 July 2018) was a Mexican ''luchador'' or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Piratita Morgan. He also worked as an ''enmascarado'', or masked wrestler, under the names Battalion, Payasito ...

, 49Falleció el Piratita Morgan, ídolo mini de la lucha libre
* July 14 –

Masa Saito was a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Mr. Saito or , who wrestled for 33 years around the world. He had success as a singles wrestler, winning the AWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1990, and as a tag team wrestler with multip ...

, 76 * July 19 –

Rayo de Jalisco Sr. Máximino Linares Moreno (November 22, 1932 – July 19, 2018) was a Mexican ''luchador'' (professional wrestler) and lucha film star, better known under the ring name Rayo de Jalisco ("The Lightning Bolt from Jalisco"). He is considered to ...

, 85 * July 29 **

Brickhouse Brown Frederick Seawright (August 11, 1960 – July 29, 2018) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Brickhouse Brown. He was a top heel in several Southern promotions in the 1980s and 1990s. Professional wrestling care ...

, 57 **

Nikolai Volkoff Josip Hrvoje Peruzović (October 14, 1947 – July 29, 2018), better known by his ring name Nikolai Volkoff, was a Yugoslav-American professional wrestler best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Although Volkoff often p ...

, 70 **

Brian Christopher Brian Christopher Lawler (January 10, 1972 – July 29, 2018) was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered for his career in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), where he performed as "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher and Grand M ...

, 46 * August 9 – Brian Danovich, 38 * August 10 – Steve Travis, 67 * August 13 **

Jim Neidhart James Henry Neidhart (February 8, 1955 – August 13, 2018) was an American professional wrestler known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, where he was a two-time WWF Tag T ...

, 63 **

Ian Dean Ian Dean (3 July 1970 – 13 August 2018) was an English professional wrestler, best known as Doc Dean. He worked for All Star Wrestling, often teaming with Robbie Brookside as The Liverpool Lads. In 1997, he participated on New Japan Pro-Wrestli ...

, 48 * August 21 –

Villano III Arturo Díaz Mendoza (March 23, 1952 – August 21, 2018) was a Mexican professional wrestler who performed under the ring name Villano III (in Spanish Villano Tercero). Díaz was a second-generation wrestler, son of ''luchador'' Ray Mendoza an ...

, 66 * August 22 –

Chris Champion Christopher Dennis Ashford-Smith (February 17, 1961 – August 22, 2018), better known by his ring name Chris Champion, was an American professional wrestler. He primarily worked for various National Wrestling Alliance member territories, includ ...

, 57 * August 27 –

Aya Koyama , better known by her stage name , was a Japanese female mixed martial artist and a professional wrestler. She started her career as a pro wrestler in 1996 before starting to compete in mixed martial arts from 2001. Aya Koyama died on 27 August 2 ...

, 45 * August 30 – Ray, 36 * September 4 – Lee Wang-pyo, 64 * September 5 –

Mike Hogewood Michael Ashley Hogewood (September 13, 1954 – September 5, 2018) was an American sportscaster. He was a play-by-play announcer, studio host, and sideline reporter. Hogewood was best known for calling play-by-play and sideline reporting on ...

, 63 * September 9 –

Frank Andersson Frank Öivind Stefan Andersson (9 May 1956 – 9 September 2018) was a Swedish amateur wrestler and entertainer. He started in amateur wrestling, winning several world championship gold medals as well as a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympic ...

, 62 * September 14 – Ethel Johnson, 83 * October 8 –

Wajima Hiroshi was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa. He was the sport's 54th ''yokozuna'' and remains the only wrestler with a collegiate background to reach its highest rank. Entering professional sumo in 1970, he won a total of 14 ...

, 70 * October 13 –

Don Leo Jonathan Don Heaton (April 29, 1931 – October 13, 2018), also known as Don Leo Jonathan, was an American-Canadian professional wrestler. Professional wrestling career Jonathan, nicknamed "The Mormon Giant" was a second generation star (his father was f ...

, 87 * October 18 –

Dick Slater Richard Van Slater (May 19, 1951 – October 18, 2018) better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, was an American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid-1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Champion ...

, 67 * November 6 –

José Lothario Guadalupe Robledo (December 12, 1933 – November 6, 2018) was a Mexican professional wrestler, best known by the ring name of José Lothario. He performed for such promotions as the NWA and the WWF. Professional wrestling career Lothario sta ...

, 83 * November 25 –

Larry Matysik Larry Matysik (April 26, 1947 – November 25, 2018) was an American professional wrestling commentator, promoter and author best known for his commentary on ''Wrestling at the Chase''. Biography In 1963, Matysik was hired by St. Louis promoter ...

, 71 * December 5 –

Dynamite Kid Thomas Billington (5 December 1958 – 5 December 2018), best known by the ring name the Dynamite Kid, was a British professional wrestler. Trained by former wrestler "Dr Death" Ted Betley, he competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), ...

, 60 * December 6 –

Larry Hennig Larry Hennig (June 18, 1936 – December 6, 2018) was an American professional wrestler. He was the father of "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, and the grandfather of Curtis Axel and Amy "Ms. Perfect" Hennig. He worked in the American Wrestling Associa ...

, 82 * December 13 –

Bill Fralic William P. Fralic Jr. ( ) (October 31, 1962 – December 13, 2018) was an American professional football player who was a guard for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1985 to 1993. He played colle ...

, 56 * December 19 –

Raúl Mata Raúl Mata (January 26, 1947 – December 19, 2018) was a Mexican ''luchador'', or professional wrestler, who was mostly active from the 1960s to the 1980s. Mata was the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion for a record 1,164 days. He oft ...

, 71Raul Mata Passes Away at 71 Years Old
/ref> * December 29 –

Dieusel Berto Dieusel Berto, (March 24, 1958 – December 29, 2018) was a Haitian professional mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, and kickboxer. He is the father of professional boxers Andre Berto and James Edson Berto. Berto competed at UFC 10 in 19 ...

, 60

References

{{Years in professional wrestling