2003 in professional wrestling

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.

Calendar of notable shows

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA

AJW

AJPW

Ring of Honor

TNA

TNA Year End Awards

World Japan

WWE

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

Title changes

NJPW

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.

Births

• January 23 – Kaho Matsushita
• March 10 – Komomo Minami
• March 27 – Kazuma Sumi
• August 3 – Bozilla

Debuts

• Uncertain debut date

*Aero Star

* Drew McIntyre

* John Wayne Murdoch

• January 31 – Nobutaka Moribe
• June 26 – Daichi Kakimoto
• February 2 - Hiroshi Nagao
• February 15 - LA Knight
• March 16 - Hiroshi Nagao and
• July 6 -
• July 7 -
• July 20 - Kyoko Kimura
• August 1 – Mike Mizanin
• August 2 – Mickie Knuckles
• September 17 - TAMURA
• October 3 - Andrade El Idolo
• October 11 - Ricochet
• December 14 - , and

Retirements

• Steve Austin (1989–March 2003) (returned to wrestle at Wrestlemania 38)
• Bruce Hart (1972–2003)
• Brian Adams (1986–January 2003)
• Eric Angle (2000-December 2003)
• Taylor Matheny (2001–2003)
• Nick Mondo (1999-2003) (Returned for a match in 2017)
• Christopher Nowinski (2001-June 24, 2003)
• Ahmed Johnson (1989-November 2003)

Deaths

• January 18 - The Original Sheik, 76
• February 3 - Shadito Cruz, 88
• February 10 – Curt Hennig, 44
• March 19 – Hiromichi Fuyuki, 42
• March 20 - Sailor Art Thomas, 79
• April 16 - Ray Mendoza, 73
• May 1 – Miss Elizabeth, 42
• June 2 – Freddie Blassie, 85
• July 20 - Bullwhip Johnson, 49
• August 8 - Giant Ochiai, 30
• August 24 - Kent Walton, 86
• September 7 - Great Antonio, 75
• September 25 – Anthony Durante, 36
• October 16 – Stu Hart, 88
• October 19 – Road Warrior Hawk, 46
• October 26 - Floyd Creatchman, 46
• November 6 - Crash Holly, 32
• November 24 - Dick Hutton, 80
• November 29 – Moondog Spot, 51
• December 6 – Jerry Tuite, 36
• December 19 - Mike Lozansky, 35
• December 26 – Danny Fargo, 44

See also

• List of WWA pay-per-view events
• List of WWE pay-per-view events

References