Professional wrestling tournament
Encyclopedia
On various occasions in professional wrestling
a single-elimination tournament
of varying match types are held, often to determine a championship
or number-one contendership therein. It has been known for promotions to use title tournament that are fictitious in nature (that is, the title may have been simply awarded under the pretext of winning a tournament elsewhere) - notable ones include the tournaments that established the WWE Championship
, the WWE Intercontinental Championship
, and the WWE United States Championship
(the latter when it was the NWA United States Championship).
In tournaments with a fixed bracket, a multiple-disqualification or a multiple-countout eliminates all parties involved, and those who are slated to face the winner of such a match simply partakes in a match with one less opponent (or simply does not wrestle, if no opponents remain). Tournaments, however, rarely have a final match where only one such finalist remain, with no others qualifying for the final round.
Tournaments may employ a single match type throughout, or may vary match by match or round by round.
When Drew Mcinthyre was fired of the WWE, the title became vacant, so they organised a Intercontinental Championship tournament. Kofi Kingston was the winner but finally Drew came back so he was the number one contender.
After CM Punk won the WWE Championship by defeating John Cena at WWE Money In The Bank 2011 and walked out of the company with the title, Vince McMahon
set up a tournament to decide a new champion the following night on Raw. A week later in the final, Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz in the opening match of the broadcast to become WWE Champion. However, he would lose the title to Cena later that night, who would win the title for a WWE record ninth time. CM Punk then returned to the WWE with the title he won, meaning that for the first time in WWE history, two men had a claim to the title. The issue was settled at Summerslam
where Punk won a controversial rematch with Cena to become Undisputed Champion though he would lose the title to Raw Money In The Bank winner Alberto Del Rio seconds later.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
a single-elimination tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
of varying match types are held, often to determine a championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
or number-one contendership therein. It has been known for promotions to use title tournament that are fictitious in nature (that is, the title may have been simply awarded under the pretext of winning a tournament elsewhere) - notable ones include the tournaments that established the WWE Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
, the WWE Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
, and the WWE United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
(the latter when it was the NWA United States Championship).
In tournaments with a fixed bracket, a multiple-disqualification or a multiple-countout eliminates all parties involved, and those who are slated to face the winner of such a match simply partakes in a match with one less opponent (or simply does not wrestle, if no opponents remain). Tournaments, however, rarely have a final match where only one such finalist remain, with no others qualifying for the final round.
Tournaments may employ a single match type throughout, or may vary match by match or round by round.
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
- King of the RingKing of the RingKing of the Ring is a professional wrestling single-elimination tournament held by WWE. The tournament was held annually from 1985 to 2002, with the exception of 1990 and 1992, and from 1993 to 2002 the tournament was produced as a pay-per-view event....
- King of the Ring was a World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
event held initially in 1985 and evolving into its own pay per view event in 1993. The weeks leading to the tournament were often filled with qualifying matches, while only the semifinal and final rounds (and occasionally the quarterfinal round) making it to the actual King of the Ring PPV card. The tournament (but not the event) made its return in April 2006 where all the matches would be contested as part of the SmackDown brand. It was again used in 2008 and 2010 during an episode of WWE RawWWE RAWWWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
.
- Brawl for All
- The Brawl For All was a shootShoot (professional wrestling)A shoot in professional wrestling is a term that refers to any unplanned, unscripted or real-life occurrence within a wrestling event. Contrary to popular belief, the name does not originate from "shooting in" for a takedown, as in amateur wrestling - rather it is a carny term shortened from...
(unscripted) contest held in the World Wrestling Federation that took place from June 29 to August 24, 1998.
- Deadly GameSurvivor Series (1998)Survivor Series was the twelfth annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation , which took place on November 15, 1998 at the Kiel Center in St...
- At the 1998 edition of the Survivor Series pay per view, a fourteen-man tournament billed as the Deadly Games tournament was held to determine the WWF ChampionWWE ChampionshipThe WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
which had been vacated. The Rock won the tournament and the title.
- Road to WrestleMania
- This was an eight-man tournament to determine a number one contender for the WWE ChampionshipWWE ChampionshipThe WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
at WrestleManiaWrestleManiaWrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut...
. Held in both 2005 and 2006 a few months before that year's WrestleMania.
- WWE Women's Championship TournamentWWE Women's ChampionshipThe WWE Women's Championship was a professional wrestling championship in the World Wrestling Entertainment promotion. Created in 1956, it was the oldest active professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment history until its retirement in 2010 as a result from a unification...
- This was a seven DivaWWE DivaDiva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
tournament to determine a new Women's Champion due to the title being vacated by Trish Stratus following her winning the title in her last matchUnforgiven (2006)Unforgiven was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on September 17, 2006 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. It was the eighth annual Unforgiven event. The show's seven matches showcased prominent WWE wrestlers, who...
as a full time performer. LitaAmy DumasAmy Christine Dumas , known by her primary stage name Lita, is the lead singer for the band The Luchagors as well as a retired professional wrestler and WWE Diva active from 1999 to 2006....
defeated Mickie JamesMickie JamesMickie Laree James , better known simply as Mickie James, is an American professional wrestler and singer of mixed Native American-Caucasian descent, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she is a former two-time TNA Women's Knockout Champion.James began her professional...
in a Diva Lumberjack match at the 2006 Cyber SundayCyber Sunday (2006)Cyber Sunday was the first annual Cyber Sunday professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on November 5, 2006 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, with 7,000 fans attending...
to win the tournament and the title.
- United States ChampionshipWWE United States ChampionshipThe WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
- This eight-man tournament was to determine the first United States Champion of the WWE era (the title was originally a WCW championship which was reactivated). Eddie GuerreroEddie GuerreroEduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
won, defeating Chris BenoitChris BenoitChristopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
in the finals.
- WrestleMania IVWrestleMania IVWrestleMania IV was the fourth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on March 27, 1988 at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey....
- A fourteen-man tournament was held at the event for the vacant WWF Championship. The first round only had twelve competitors, however Hulk HoganHulk HoganTerrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and André the GiantAndré the GiantAndré René Roussimoff , best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His best remembered acting role was that of Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride...
received byes into the quarterfinals, increasing the field to fourteen. Randy SavageRandy SavageRandall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
won the tournament by defeating Ted DiBiaseTed DiBiaseTheodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career...
in the finals.
- The Wrestling ClassicThe Wrestling ClassicThe Wrestling Classic was a World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event that took place on November 7, 1985 from the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois....
- A sixteen-man tournament held in November 1985. Junkyard DogJunkyard DogSylvester Ritter was an American professional wrestler and professional football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as The Junkyard Dog...
defeated Randy Savage to win the tournament.
- Gold Rush Tournament
- An eight man tournament used to determine the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, held in May 2005. EdgeAdam CopelandAdam Joseph Copeland is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract....
defeated KaneKane (wrestler)Glenn Thomas Jacobs is a Spanish-born American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name, Kane. He is signed to WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand, but is currently inactive due to injury....
in the finals to win the tournament.
- Royal RumbleRoyal RumbleThe Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every January by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1988, with its inaugural event taking place on January 24, 1988 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario...
- It's a 30 man battle royal to determine the number one contender of the World Heavyweight Championship or the WWE championship at Wrestlemania.
- Money in the Bank ladder matchMoney in the Bank ladder matchThe Money in the Bank ladder match is a professional wrestling ladder match held by WWE. The match can feature anywhere from six to ten participants from any WWE brand, with the objective being to retrieve a briefcase that is suspended 20 feet above the ring...
- It's a ladder match of 6 to 10 participants and the winner gets a chance to attack when he wants with the briefcase the World or WWE champion. Jack Swagger won it by beating Kofi Kingston, Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, Christian, Drew Mcinthyre, Kane, Evan Bourne, MVP and Dolph Ziggler.
- Intercontinental Championship
When Drew Mcinthyre was fired of the WWE, the title became vacant, so they organised a Intercontinental Championship tournament. Kofi Kingston was the winner but finally Drew came back so he was the number one contender.
- WWE ChampionshipWWE ChampionshipThe WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
After CM Punk won the WWE Championship by defeating John Cena at WWE Money In The Bank 2011 and walked out of the company with the title, Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
set up a tournament to decide a new champion the following night on Raw. A week later in the final, Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz in the opening match of the broadcast to become WWE Champion. However, he would lose the title to Cena later that night, who would win the title for a WWE record ninth time. CM Punk then returned to the WWE with the title he won, meaning that for the first time in WWE history, two men had a claim to the title. The issue was settled at Summerslam
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in August by professional wrestling promotion WWE. The inaugural SummerSlam took place on August 29, 1988 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York and was broadcast via pay-per-view, unlike the Royal Rumble of that...
where Punk won a controversial rematch with Cena to become Undisputed Champion though he would lose the title to Raw Money In The Bank winner Alberto Del Rio seconds later.
World Championship Wrestling
- Cruiserweight Tag Team ChampionshipWCW Cruiserweight Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title created in 2001 just prior to World Championship Wrestling being sold to the World Wrestling Federation.-History:...
- A WCWWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
tournament was held where multiple Cruiserweight Tag Teams fought in an eight-team tournament for the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championships.
- United States ChampionshipWWE United States ChampionshipThe WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
- In the NWA/WCW era (which precedes the title's WWE era mentioned above), there had been 9 tournaments to fill the title vacancy (not counting the fictitious "tournament" in early 1975 that enabled Harley RaceHarley RaceHarley Leland Race is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 7 times...
to be billed as the first champion). All the tournaments were single-elimination. The finals have been as follows:-
- Terry FunkTerry FunkTerrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
over Paul JonesPaul Jones (wrestler)Paul Jones is a retired professional wrestler and manager. He had success in the National Wrestling Alliance 's Mid-Atlantic region, including an NWA World Tag Team title reign with Ricky Steamboat.-Career:...
- The first 16-man tournament ever to determine the champion. - Jimmy SnukaJimmy SnukaJames William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...
over Ricky SteamboatRicky SteamboatRichard Henry Blood , better known by his ring name Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, is a retired American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He was one of the few wrestlers who stayed a babyface throughout his career... - Sgt. SlaughterSgt. SlaughterRobert Remus , better known by his ring name Sgt. Slaughter, is an American former WWE personality and semi-retired professional wrestler. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Slaughter had success in the National Wrestling Alliance, American Wrestling Association, and World Wrestling...
over Ricky Steamboat - Barry WindhamBarry WindhamBarry Clinton Windham is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling ....
over Nikita KoloffNikita KoloffNikita Koloff is a retired American professional wrestler,. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he wrestled as "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff, which was a play on the nickname of fan favorite "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes .Nikita was brought into the National... - StingSting (wrestler)Steven James "Steve" Borden , better known by his ring name Sting, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
over Steve AustinStone Cold Steve AustinSteve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler... - Dustin Rhodes over Rick Steamboat - originally the final a No. 1 contendership tournament, it became a title deciding match when Rick RudeRichard RoodRichard Erwin Rood , better known by his ring name "Ravishing" Rick Rude, was an American professional wrestler who performed for many promotions, including World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation , in the 1980s and 1990s.Among other accolades, Rude was a four-time world...
was injured. - Sting over Meng - a 16-man tournament, marred by the elimination of both Ric FlairRic FlairRichard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
and Randy SavageRandy SavageRandall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
in their semifinal bracket. Sting vs. Meng, which was the other semifinal bracket, became the final instead. - Scott SteinerScott SteinerScott Carl Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Scott Steiner. Steiner is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling alongside his older brother Rick as the Steiner Brothers and as a member of the New World Order...
over Booker TBooker HuffmanRobert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World... - Scott Steiner over Sting
- Terry Funk
-
- Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team TournamentJim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team TournamentThe Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was a tag team professional wrestling tournament held annually in the month of April from 1986 through 1988. Jim Crockett Promotions , headed by Jim Crockett, Jr., hosted the Crockett Cup, held in honor of Crockett's father, JCP founder Jim...
- The Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was an invitational tag team tournament.
- Bunkhouse StampedeBunkhouse StampedeThe Bunkhouse Stampede was a professional wrestling show held annually by Jim Crockett Promotions from 1985 through 1988.-Concept:In 1985, the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions came up with a new match to increase the fans' interest in their product...
- Bunkhouse Stampede
- A series of tournaments where wrestlers competed for Bunkhouse points which would allow them to qualify for the Bunkhouse stampede finals.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
- Chris Candido Cup
- A memorial TNATotal Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
tag team tournament was held in 2005 in memory for Chris CandidoChris CandidoChristopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
, which featured teams consisting of one established veteran and one young rookie, representing Candido's veteran status at a young age and his commitment to working with and helping younger wrestlers.
- Hard 10
- This was a HardcoreHardcore wrestlingHardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
tournament featured in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where a wrestler must build over 10 points and be 2 points above the opponent to win the match. Points are awarded for using a weapon (1 point), and putting an opponent though a table (5 points).
- Super X-Cup
- This was a TNA tournament for the X-Cup, featuring X DivisionX DivisionThe X Division is a high-flying, high-risk, fast-paced style of professional wrestling seen originally in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and since then in various NWA member promotions...
superstars from around the world. Super X-Cup Tournaments have been held in 2003 and 2005 (Christopher Daniels Invitational)TNA 2005 Super X Cup TournamentThe 2005 Super X Cup Tournament was a professional wrestling X Cup tournament held by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Then X Division Champion Christopher Daniels provided guest commentary for a number of the matches, where he coined the unofficial nickname for the tournament: "The Christopher...
.
- America's X-Cup
- This was a TNA tournament-like event, first seen in 2004, where two four-man teams have 4 singles matches, 2 tag team matches, and one 8-man tag elimination. The singles matches are worth 1 point, the tag teams are worth 2 and the Elimination is worth 4. To win you must have the most points. The Tournament would later become the World X-Cup.
- World X-Cup
- With a point based system like the America's X-Cup, the World X-Cup would see four teams enter at the same time competing in a variety of matches; firstly a Gauntlet Battle Royal, where the last two remaining would earn a point for their team and would compete against each other for a further two points, next tag team matches for two points, following this a ladder matchLadder matchA ladder match is a type of match in professional wrestling that is most commonly used to describe a match where an item is hung above the ring, and the winner is the contestant who climbs a ladder and retrieves the item...
where a member from each team would compete for three points. from her the team with the lowest score would be removed allowing one member from each team to compete in an Ultimate X match for the final 3 points.
- Fight for the Right TournamentFight for the Right TournamentThe Fight for the Right Tournament is a professional wrestling tournament in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling designed to determine a new #1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship. The tournament was held in 2006 and 2007, both starting in the month of October.-2006:The inaugural Fight for...
- This setup starts with a reverse battle royal with 18 wrestlers trying to be among the first seven to get into the ring over the top rope. Those seven then compete with traditional TNA battle royal rules to determine tournament seeding. The final two in the ring go to pin or submission with the winner getting a bye into the tournament final. The other six compete in singles matches with the winners facing each other in a three-way match with the winner facing the wrestler who received the bye.
Combat Zone Wrestling
- CZW Best of the BestCZW Best of the BestCombat Zone Wrestling's Best of the Best is a professional wrestling tournament and supershow held in the CZW promotion. The annual Best of The Best was originally a junior heavyweight tournament, which in 2005 was repurposed as an all weight tournament....
- This is a tournament held in the Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
promotion. The annual Best of The Best was originally a junior heavyweight tournament, which in 2005 was repurposed as an all weight tournament.
- CZW Tournament of DeathCZW Tournament of DeathThe Tournament of Death is an annual professional wrestling tournament organised by Combat Zone Wrestling since 2002, during which a number of wrestlers compete in various deathmatches in a single-elimination tournament which is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment's King of the Ring tournament...
- This is CZW's version of the King of the Deathmatch, 8 superstars start out, each match has an extreme variation.
Ring of Honor
- Field of Honor
- This was a Ring of HonorRing of HonorRing of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
tournament held in 2003. Matt StrykerBrian WoermannBrian Woermann is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Matt Stryker.-Career:Brian Woermann attended Milford High School, where he played basketball and Diving...
came out as the winner.
- Survival of the Fittest
- Ring of HonorRing of HonorRing of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
held this one-night tournament in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 with the winners being Bryan DanielsonBryan DanielsonBryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand as Daniel Bryan, and currently holds the SmackDown Money in the Bank briefcase, which enables him to have a World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of his choosing...
, Roderick StrongRoderick StrongChris Lindsey is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Roderick Strong. Strong currently competes in several independent promotions, most notably Ring of Honor , Full Impact Pro , and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla .He initially debuted as The Jester on the Floridian...
, DeliriousDelirious (wrestler)Hunter Johnston is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Delirious. He is currently wrestling for Ring of Honor, International Wrestling Cartel, Chikara, Pro Wrestling Noah, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
, Chris HeroChris HeroChris Spradlin is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Hero. He is a mainstay of many independent wrestling promotions, including Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan...
and Tyler BlackTyler BlackColby Lopez is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tyler Black. He is signed to a contract with WWE, where he competes in their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Seth Rollins. He is a former FCW 15 Champion and FCW Florida Tag Team Champion with...
respectively.
- ROH ChampionshipROH World ChampionshipThe Ring of Honor World Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in Ring of Honor. The championship has also been through other companies in cooperation with ROH through the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance , the governing body of many independent wrestling...
- This tournament was held in 2002 to crown ROH'sRing of HonorRing of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
first champion. Low Ki emerged victorious.
- ROH Pure Wrestling ChampionshipROH Pure ChampionshipThe Ring of Honor Pure Championship was a professional wrestling championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor...
- In February 2004, A.J. StylesA.J. StylesAllen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
won this tournament to become the first Pure Champion.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
- Bad Ass Mother 3000
- The Bad Ass Mother 3000Aqua Teen Hunger ForceAqua Teen Hunger Force , retitled Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 in 2011, is an American animated television series on Cartoon Network late night programing block, Adult Swim, as well as Teletoon's Teletoon at Night block and later G4 Canada's ADd block in Canada...
was a tournament held on August 29 and 30, 2003, in Eagle Rock, CaliforniaEagle Rock, Los Angeles, CaliforniaIn 1909, Hill Avenue, now Hill Drive, was one of Eagle Rock's most beautiful streets. Other streets were Royal Drive , Acacia Street , Kenilworth Avenue , Highland Avenue , and Fairmont Avenue...
and City of Industry, CaliforniaIndustry, CaliforniaIndustry is an industrial suburb of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. Home to over 2,500 businesses and 80,000 jobs, but only 219 residents at the 2010 census - down from 777 residents as of the 2000 United States census - the city is almost entirely industrial...
. The winner of the tournament would become the inaugural PWG ChampionPWG World ChampionshipThe PWG World Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla professional wrestling promotion. It was first introduced in 2003 as the PWG Championship...
.
- Tango and Cash Invitational
- The Tango & CashTango & CashTango & Cash is a 1989 American buddy cop film starring Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, Jack Palance and Teri Hatcher. It was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, although Albert Magnoli took over in the later stages of filming....
Invitational was a tag team tournament held on January 24 and 25, 2004, in Santa Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
. The winners of the tournament would be crowned the first ever PWG Tag Team ChampionsPWG World Tag Team ChampionshipThe PWG World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the tag team division of the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla promotion...
.
- Battle of Los Angeles
- This is an annual tournament held by Pro Wrestling GuerrillaPro Wrestling GuerrillaPro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...
. Over the years, the tournament has attracted numerous famous independent wrestlers from A.J. StylesA.J. StylesAllen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and Christopher DanielsChristopher DanielsDaniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
to Bryan DanielsonBryan DanielsonBryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand as Daniel Bryan, and currently holds the SmackDown Money in the Bank briefcase, which enables him to have a World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of his choosing...
. The tournament is infamous for having many of its winners never receiving the title shot they're promised for winning (although Chris BoshChris Bosh (wrestler)Christopher Hancock is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla under the ring name Chris Bosh, where he was a three time World Tag Team Champion.-Revolution Pro Wrestling:...
, the winner of the 2005 tournament, did receive his). In 2009 the tournament was contested for the then vacant PWG ChampionshipPWG World ChampionshipThe PWG World Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla professional wrestling promotion. It was first introduced in 2003 as the PWG Championship...
.
- Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament (DDT4)
- The Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament (DDT4) is an annual tag team tournament contested for the PWG World Tag Team Championship. If the title isn't vacant, the reigning Champions will be forced to enter the tournament and defend their titles in every one of their matches. The tournament was created in 2007 after QuicksilverQuicksilver (wrestler)Richard "Rick" Clements is a retired American professional wrestler from San Diego, California, better known as Quicksilver.-Career:Quicksilver was a regular on the California independent circuit, working for local promotions in the area such as Alternative Wrestling Show, Revolution Pro Wrestling,...
(then one half of the PWG Tag Team Champions)PWG World Tag Team ChampionshipThe PWG World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the tag team division of the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla promotion...
was forced to retire and thus the titles became vacant.
CHIKARA Pro
- King of TriosKing of TriosKing of Trios is a three-night tournament promoted by the Chikara wrestling promotion. The tournament is a different take on the Tag World Grand Prix event that the company is known for annually promoting; in King of Trios, instead of tag teams, there are trios that will compete in six-man tag team...
- King of Trios is a three-night tournament promoted by CHIKARA Pro. In King of Trios, there are trios that will compete in six-man tag team matches to see which of them will advance. All in all, sixteen trios competed in the tournament, making for a total of forty-eight competitors. The tournament marked the 2007 season premiere of the promotion. The three nights of the 2007 tournament took place on February 16, 2007 in Hellertown, PennsylvaniaHellertown, PennsylvaniaHellertown is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Hellertown is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state, and geographically in the Saucon Valley.The population of Hellertown was 5,606 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, February 17 in Barnesville, PennsylvaniaBarnesville, PennsylvaniaBarnesville is an unincorporated community in Rush and Ryan Townships of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located in the northeastern part of the state, Barnesville lies within the anthracite coal region...
, and February 18 in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.The 2008 King of Trios Tournament was held at the New Alhambra ArenaNew Alhambra ArenaAsylum Arena, known as the ECW Arena from 1993 to 2001, is a former warehouse and current multi-purpose venue used primarily for professional wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts events. It is located in South Philadelphia on the corner of South Swanson Street and West Ritner Street...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This time the tournament featured 28 teams, up from the 16 of 2007. The 2009 King of Trios tournament only had 16 teams due to the financial troubles of last year (down from the 28 of last year). Since 2009, the tournament has only featured 16 teams.
- Chikara Young Lions CupChikara Young Lions CupThe Young Lions Cup is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Chikara.-History:...
- A tournament is held every year to determine the champion. The primary basis for eligibility was later changed to age, making the tournament open only to wrestlers who are 25 years old or younger. The winner of the Young Lions Cup can defend the cup as an actual title until the following tournament, and Young Lions Cup tournament winners are not allowed to compete in the tournament again once they win it.
- Torneo CiberneticoTorneo ciberneticoA Torneo Cibernetico is a type of elimination tag-team match that frequently appears in Lucha Libre promotions.The match is a 16-man elimination tag team match consisting of 2 teams of 8. It uses standard Lucha Libre tag-team rules with elimination occurring with a pinfall, submission,...
- The match is a 16-man elimination tag team match consisting of 2 teams of 8. It uses standard Lucha LibreLucha libreLucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
tag-team rules with elimination occurring with a pinfall, submission, disqualification and count out. A special 'batting' system is also used in which the wrestlers are given a specific order and may only tag in and out in this order. If two or more men from the same team remain, they must face each other to determine one individual winner.
- Rey de Voladores
- CHIKARA used to have this as a stand alone event in 2007 and 2008, then it was included in the King of Trios weekend in 2009. It is a "King of Flyers" mini tournament featuring the more agile wrestlers that are out of the King of Trios tournament itself. In 2007 and 2008, the tournament features eight wrestlers and holds two Fatal Four-Way elimination matches. The winner of both matches goes on to wrestle on the next night to crown the King of Flyers. Since 2009, the Fatal Four-Way matches have been held on Night 2 of King of Trios and the finals being held on Night 3.
- La Lotería LetalLa Lotería LetalLa Lotería Letal is a tag team tournament that was held in autumn 2008 by professional wrestling promotion CHIKARA. It consisted of eight teams, who competed in a single-elimination tournament.-Background:...
- In English, La Lotería Letal means The Lethal Lottery. It is a tag team tournament that was held in autumn 2008. It consisted of eight teams, who competed in a single-elimination tournament. To determine the participants in the tournament, eighteen CHIKARA regulars and other independent wrestlers. Names were drawn at random to form tag teams and determine the match pairings. The two remaining wrestlers, faced each other in a singles match at the September 6 event.
- Tag World Grand PrixTag World Grand PrixThe Tag World Grand Prix was a tag team professional wrestling tournament promoted by the Chikara wrestling promotion.-2003:Tag World Grand Prix 2003 was the first Tag World Grand Prix tournament held by Chikara. The tournament ran over two nights, with the preliminary rounds being held on July 5,...
- The Tag World Grand Prix is a tag team professional wrestling tournament that was held in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008. In 2003 was the first Tag World Grand Prix tournament. Twelve teams entered the tournament with the finals being scheduled in a three-way dance format. In 2005, the number of participating teams was expanded to 32. In 2006 was to crowned CHIKARA's first-ever Campeones de ParejasChikara Campeonatos de ParejasThe Campeonatos de Parejas is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based promotion Chikara.-History:The Campeonatos de Parejas were introduced in February 2006...
(Tag Team Champions). The tournament was won by the Kings of WrestlingKings of WrestlingThe Kings of Wrestling is a professional wrestling stable that wrestles on the independent circuit, formed in Chikara, but also appearing in other promotions. It originally included Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, Larry Sweeney, Arik Cannon, Mitch Ryder, Max Boyer, Chuck Taylor, Icarus, Gran Akuma...
(Chris HeroChris HeroChris Spradlin is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Hero. He is a mainstay of many independent wrestling promotions, including Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan...
and Claudio CastagnoliClaudio CastagnoliClaudio Castagnoli is a Swiss professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name Antonio Cesaro...
). In 2008 was to date the final Tag World Grand Prix tournament. The tournament was held in Oberhausen, Germany. This time only 12 teams entered the tournament, with the finals being scheduled to be contested under three-way elimination match.
Other promotions
- ECWA Super 8 TournamentECWA Super 8 TournamentThe Super 8 Tournament is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by the East Coast Wrestling Association. The tournament is contested by eight wrestlers in a one-night single-elimination format.-History:...
- This is an annual tournament held by the East Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
. The eight man tournament is known for jump-starting the careers of many indy wrestlers, often booking veterans (ex. Billy Kidman) and relatively unknown wrestlers (ex. Eric Matlock) alike.
- FWA Flyweight ChampionshipFWA Flyweight ChampionshipThe British Flyweight Championship is a British flyweight professional wrestling championship currently defended in XWA. It was created in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance , a promotion that was closed in 2007...
- On June 30, 2003, Ross JordanRoss JordanRoss Jones, better known by his ring name Ross Jordan, is a British professional wrestler. He is currently working under the ring name RJ Singh...
won a tournament to become Frontier Wrestling AllianceFrontier Wrestling AllianceFrontier Wrestling Alliance is a British professional wrestling promotion. Established in 1993 as the Fratton Wrestling Association it soon became the Frontier Wrestling Alliance six years later and until 2007 when it lost a scripted inter-promotional feud with International Pro Wrestling: United...
's first flyweightCruiserweight (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
champion.
- Grand Prix
- Exclusive to the UWAUWA/PWA Hardcore WrestlingUWA Hardcore Wrestling was a Canadian independent professional wrestling promotion, which never revealed exactly what the initials UWA stood for. They operated out of Toronto, Ontario. The UWA was run by Osiris and Joe E. Slick, and staged shows on a monthly basis at a series of venues...
, the Grand Prix tournament starts out with eight wrestlers, the winner gets a UWA Canadian Championship shot at a future event.
- King of the Deathmatch
- This is an eight-man tournament with extreme violence. Each match has an extreme variation. Most famous tournaments based on this include the IWA JAPAN 1995 King of the Death, and CZW's Tournament Of Death. Also the IWA Mid South holds an annual KOTDM featuring sixteen men.
- Ted Petty InvitationalTed Petty InvitationalThe Ted Petty Invitational tournament is an independent wrestling tournament in North America, run and promoted by Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South. Created as the Sweet Science Sixteen in 2000 by Ian Rotten, the tournament was originally supposed to showcase the top technical...
- The Ted Petty Invitational tournament (the TPI) was an independent wrestling tournament in North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, run and promoted by Independent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-South is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.- History :...
. Created as the Sweet Science Sixteen in 2000 by Ian RottenIan RottenJohn Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"...
, the tournament was originally supposed to showcase the top technical independent wrestlers. After the death of Ted PettyRocco RockTheodore James Petty was an American professional wrestler better known as "Flyboy" Rocco Rock, one half of The Public Enemy.-Career:...
in September, 2002, Rotten changed the name to honor his friend. The tournament was expanded to 24 participants, with a three-way final, in 2003. Over the years, the tournament has attracted numerous famous independent wrestlers from Ken Anderson, A.J. StylesA.J. StylesAllen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
to James GibsonJamie NobleJames Howard Gibson better known by his WWE ring name Jamie Noble, is an American former professional wrestler currently working for WWE as a trainer. He is best known for his work from 2002 to 2009 when a severe back injury forced him to retire from competition...
.
- World Tag Team Tournament
- This was an American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling AssociationThe American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
tournament for their AWA World Tag Team ChampionshipAWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
s in Rochester, MinnesotaRochester, MinnesotaRochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
on October 1, 1989.
- ECCW Pacific Cup
- Since 2000, ECCW has held an annual tournament called the ECCW Pacific Cup, considered to be the Canadian equivalent of such American tournaments as the East Coast Wrestling Association's Super 8 Tournament. The first edition of the tournament took place on November 24, 2000 in New Westminster, with Asian Cougar defeating Havoc and Tony Kozina in the final; beginning with the 2002 edition (it was not held in 2001), the event was moved closer to the start of the year and alternated between Surrey and Vancouver in later years. As well, in 2004 ECCW held the first, and so far only, tag version of the Pacific Cup.