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2009 in professional wrestling

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List of years in professional wrestling
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2009 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 2009.

Promotion Name Abbreviation Notes
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL
Georgia Championship Wrestling GCW
Juggalo Championship Wrestling JCW
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide AAA The "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.
National Wrestling Alliance New Jersey territory NWA-NJ
New Japan Pro-Wrestling NJPW
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla PWG
Ring of Honor ROH
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling TNA
World Wrestling Council WWC
World Wrestling Entertainment WWE The WWE divided its roster into three storyline divisions, Raw, SmackDown, and ECW, referred to as brands, where wrestlers exclusively performed on their respective weekly television programs.

Calendar of notable shows

January

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
3 WWC Euphoria Bayamón, Puerto Rico The Sons of Tonga vs Los Aéreos (Hiram Tua y El Sensacional Carlitos)
4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III Tokyo Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Keiji Mutoh (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
11 CMLL La Hora Cero Mexico City Pierrothito defeated Shockercito in a 13-man Steel Cage "elimination" match
11 TNA Genesis Charlotte Mick Foley and The TNA Front Line (A.J. Styles and Brother Devon) defeated Cute Kip and The Main Event Mafia (Booker T and Scott Steiner) in a Six-man tag team hardcore match
25 WWE:
 Royal Rumble Detroit Randy Orton won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Triple H to earn a world championship match at WrestleMania XXV Randy Orton chose to challenge for the WWE Championship.
31 ROH Caged Collision Chicago Ridge Brent Albright, Roderick Strong, Erick Stevens, Jay Briscoe and Ace Steel defeated Sweet & Sour Inc. (Adam Pearce, Tank Toland, Eddie Edwards, Davey Richards and Bobby Dempsey) in the Steel Cage Warfare match.
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

February

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
8 N/A Eddie Graham Memorial Battle of the Belts Brooksville, Florida N/A
8 TNA Against All Odds Orlando Sting (c) defeated Kurt Angle, Brother Ray and Brother Devon in a Fatal 4-Way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
15 WWE:
 No Way Out Seattle, Washington Edge defeated John Cena (c), Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Mike Knox, and Kane in the Elimination Chamber match to win the World Heavyweight Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

March

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
15 AAA Rey de Reyes Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Rey de Reyes Finals Elimination match
15 TNA Destination X Orlando Sting (c) defeated Kurt Angle in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with Jeff Jarrett as the special guest referee and Mick Foley as the special guest enforcer.
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

April

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
4 ROH Take No Prisoners Houston Kenta and Tyler Black defeated Austin Aries and Katsuhiko Nakajima in Tag team match
5 WWE:
 WrestleMania XXV Houston Triple H (c) defeated Randy Orton in a Singles match to retain the WWE Championship
Had Triple H been counted out or disqualified, he would have lost the title
12 CMLL 53. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Negro Casas (c) defeated Místico (with La Máscara) in a Best two-out-of-three falls match for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship
19 TNA Lockdown Philadelphia Mick Foley defeated Sting (c) in Six Sides of Steel Cage match to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
26 WWE:
 Backlash Providence Edge defeated John Cena (c) in the Last Man Standing match to win the World Heavyweight Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

May

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
3 NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Fukuoka Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated Hirooki Goto in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
17 WWE:
 Judgment Day Rosemont Edge (c) defeated Jeff Hardy in a Singles match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
24 TNA Sacrifice Orlando Sting defeated Mick Foley, Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett in a Four-way Ultimate Sacrifice match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

June

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
7 WWE:
 Extreme Rules New Orleans Jeff Hardy defeated Edge (c) in a Ladder match to win the World Heavyweight Championship, then CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated Jeff Hardy (c) to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Final PPV appearance for Umaga
13 AAA Triplemanía XVII Mexico City, Mexico Team AAA (El Hijo del Santo, La Parka, Vampiro, Octagón, and Jack Evans) defeated La Legion Extranjera (Silver King, Chessman, Kenzo Suzuki, Electroshock, and Teddy Hart) in a Six Sided Steel cage match for control of AAA
18 NJPW Dominion Osaka Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Manabu Nakanishi (c) in a Singles match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
21 TNA Slammiversary Auburn Hills Kurt Angle defeated Mick Foley (c), Jeff Jarrett, A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe in the King of the Mountain match to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
28 WWE:
 The Bash Sacramento Randy Orton (c) defeated Triple H 2-1 in a Three Stages of Hell match to retain the WWE Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

July

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
11 WWC 36th WWC Aniversario San Juan, Puerto Rico Ray Gonzalez defeated La Pesadilla
19 TNA Victory Road Orlando Kurt Angle (c) defeated Mick Foley in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
26 WWE:
 Night of Champions Philadelphia Jeff Hardy defeated CM Punk (c) in a Singles match to win the World Heavyweight Championship
31 CMLL Infierno en el Ring Mexico City, Mexico 15-man Infierno en el Ring, Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair Steel cage match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

August

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
9 JCW Bloodymania III Cave-In-Rock, Illinois 10-man Tag Team match
7-16 NJPW G1 Climax final Tokyo Togi Makabe defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a G1 Climax tournament
16 TNA Hard Justice Orlando Kurt Angle (c) defeated Sting and Matt Morgan in a Three-way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
14 AAA Verano de Escándalo Zapopan, Mexico Dr. Wagner Jr. (c) defeated El Mesias and Cibernético in a Steel cage match for the AAA Mega Championship.
23 WWE:
 SummerSlam Los Angeles CM Punk defeated Jeff Hardy (c) in the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to win the World Heavyweight Championship This event was Jeff Hardy's last PPV match in WWE until 2017, as he lost to CM Punk on the following SmackDown in Steel cage match in which the loser left WWE.
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

September

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
13 WWE:
 Breaking Point Montreal CM Punk (c) defeated The Undertaker in a Submission match for the World Heavyweight Championship
17 GCW Sixth Annual Fred Ward Memorial Show Phenix City, Alabama Jimmy Rave (c) defeated Murder One in a Singles match for the GCW Heavyweight Championship
18 CMLL CMLL 76th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Místico defeated Negro Casas in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas mask vs. hair match
20 TNA No Surrender Orlando A.J. Styles defeated Kurt Angle (c), Matt Morgan, Sting and Hernandez in a Five-way match to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship (This was Hernandez's Feast or Fired title opportunity.)
26 AAA Héroes Inmortales III Monterrey, Mexico Dr. Wagner, Jr. (c) defeated El Mesías in a Singles match for the AAA Mega Championship
26 NWA-NJ Dennis Coralluzzo Invitational Wayne, New Jersey Crowbar defeated Judas Young in a tournament final
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

October

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event Notes
4 WWE:
 Hell in a Cell Newark D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) defeated The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase) in Hell in a Cell match
18 TNA Bound for Glory Irvine A.J. Styles (c) defeated Sting in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship This event was Booker T's last PPV match in TNA
25 WWE:
 Bragging Rights Pittsburgh John Cena defeated Randy Orton (c) 6–5 in a 60-minute Iron Man match to win the WWE Championship
Had Cena lost, he would have been fired from Raw.
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

November

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
8 NJPW Destruction Tokyo Shinsuke Nakamura (c) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in a Singles match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
15 TNA Turning Point Orlando A.J. Styles (c) defeated Daniels and Samoa Joe in a Three-way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
20-21 PWG Battle of Los Angeles Reseda, California Kenny Omega defeated Roderick Strong in a Battle of Los Angeles tournament
22 WWE:
 Survivor Series Washington, D.C. John Cena (c) defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a Triple threat match to retain the WWE Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

December

Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
4 CMLL Sin Salida Mexico City, Mexico El Texano Jr. and El Terrible defeated No Limit (Yujiro and Naito)
11 AAA Guerra de Titanes Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico El Mesías defeated Dr. Wagner Jr. (c) in a Domo De La Muerte cage match for the AAA Mega Championship
13 WWE:
 TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs San Antonio D-Generation X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) defeated Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho and Big Show) (c) Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship
19 WWE:
 Tribute to the Troops Joint Base Balad , Iraq John Cena (c) defeated Chris Jericho in a Singles match for the WWE Championship
19 ROH Final Battle New York City Austin Aries (c) wrestled Tyler Black to a time-limit draw in a Singles match for the ROH World Championship
20 TNA Final Resolution Orlando A.J. Styles (c) defeated Daniels in a Singles match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rey de Reyes Electroshock March 15

AAA Hall of Fame

Main article: AAA Hall of Fame
Inductee
Pepe "Tropi" Casas

TNA

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
TNA X Division Championship Tournament Alex Shelley January 11
Team 3D Invitational Tag Team Tournament Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) May 24
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament Taylor Wilde and Sarita September 20
TNA Championship Series Bobby Lashley November 26
New Year's Knockout Eve Tournament ODB December 31

WWE

Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Randy Orton January 25 Randy Orton chose to challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXV.
Money in the Bank
(World championship match contract; winner's choice) 		CM Punk April 5 CM Punk used the contract to cash in on the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk had also won the contract the previous year and used it on the same title.
Race To The Rumble Tournament John "Bradshaw" Layfield December 29

WWE Hall of Fame

Main article: WWE Hall of Fame
Category Inductee Inducted by
Individual Stone Cold Steve Austin Vince McMahon
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat Ric Flair
"Cowboy" Bill Watts Jim Ross
Howard Finkel Gene Okerlund
Koko B. Ware The Honky Tonk Man
Group The Funks

(Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr.)

Dusty Rhodes
The Von Erichs Michael Hayes

Slammy Awards

Main article: Slammy Award
Poll Results
Tag Team of the Year Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho and Big Show)
Breakout Star of the Year Sheamus
Shocker of the Year CM Punk forces Jeff Hardy to leave the company after Steel Cage Match victory
Match of the Year Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker – WrestleMania XXV
Raw Guest Host of the Year Bob Barker
Extreme Moment of the Year Jeff Hardy jumps from ladder onto CM Punk at SummerSlam
Diva of the Year Maria
The "Oh My" Moment of the Year Michael Cole vomits on Chris Jericho at SmackDown's 10th Anniversary
Superstar of the Year John Cena won a tournament to win the Superstar of the Year Award

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

2009 PWI Wrestler of the Year, Randy Orton
Main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
Category Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year Randy Orton
PWI Tag Team of the Year Team 3D
(Brother Ray and Brother Devon)
PWI Match of the Year The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXV)
PWI Feud of the Year Randy Orton vs. Triple H
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year Jeff Hardy
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Randy Orton
PWI Comeback of the Year Jerry Lynn
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year John Morrison
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Ricky Steamboat
PWI Rookie of the Year Mike Sydal
PWI Woman of the Year Mickie James
PWI Lifetime Achievement Vince McMahon

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Main article: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Category Inductee
Individual Konnan
Everett Marshall
Bill Miller
Masa Saito
Roy Shire
Group The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane and Dennis Condrey)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

2009 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestler of the Year, Chris Jericho
Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Chris Jericho
Most Outstanding Bryan Danielson
Feud of the Year Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk
Tag Team of the Year The Kings of Wrestling
(Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli)
Most Improved The Miz
Best on Interviews Chris Jericho

Title changes

AAA

AAA Mega Championship
Incoming champion – El Mesias
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
June 13 Vacated Antonio Peña Memorial Show
December 11 El Mesias Guerra de Titanes
AAA World Mini-Estrella Championship
Incoming champion – Mini Charly Manson
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
December 11 Mini Abismo Negro Guerra de Titanes
AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 21 Alex Koslov AAA Television Taping
June 13 Xtreme Tiger Triplemanía XVII
August 21 Alex Koslov Verano de Escándalo
August 30 Vacated AAA Television Taping
September 26 Xtreme Tiger Héroes Inmortales III
AAA World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – La Hermandad 187 (Joe Líder and Nicho el Millonario)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
No title changes
AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Cynthia Moreno and El Oriental
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
September 6 Aero Star and Faby Apache AAA Television Taping

NJPW

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Keiji Mutoh
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Hiroshi Tanahashi Wrestle Kingdom III
May 6 Manabu Nakanishi Dissidence
June 20 Hiroshi Tanahashi Dominion 6.20
August 29 Vacated – Title vacated due to Tanahashi fracturing his eye socket.
September 27 Shinsuke Nakamura Circuit2009 New Japan Generation tour Nakamura defeated Togi Makabe to win the vacant title.
IWGP Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – RISE (Giant Bernard and Travis Tomko)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Team 3D
(Brother Ray and Brother Devon) 		Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome
July 21 The British Invasion
(Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams) 		TNA Impact!
October 18 Team 3D
(Brother Ray and Brother Devon) 		Bound for Glory
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Wataru Inoue
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 Tiger Mask Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome
August 15 Místico G1 Climax 2009: New Lords, New Laws
November 8 Tiger Mask Destruction '09
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – No Limit (Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 The Motor City Machine Guns
(Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) 		Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome
July 5 Apollo 55
(Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) 		Circuit2009 New Japan Soul

ROH

ROH World Championship
Incoming champion – Nigel McGuinness
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 3 Jerry Lynn Supercard of Honor IV
June 13 Austin Aries Manhattan Mayhem III
ROH World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 10 The American Wolves
(Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) 		Ring of Honor Wrestling
December 19 The Briscoe Brothers
(Jay and Mark Briscoe) 		Final Battle

TNA

TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Sting
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 19 Mick Foley Lockdown This was a six sides of steel cage match
June 21 Kurt Angle Slammiversary This was a King of the Mountain match also involving A.J. Styles, Jeff Jarrett and Samoa Joe
September 20 A.J. Styles No Surrender This was a five-way match also involving Hernandez, Matt Morgan and Sting
TNA X Division Championship
Incoming champion – Vacant
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 11 Alex Shelley Genesis
March 15 Suicide Destination X
June 25 Homicide Impact!
August 16 Samoa Joe Impact!
October 5 Amazing Red Impact!
TNA World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 11 Beer Money, Inc.
(James Storm and Robert Roode) 		Genesis
April 19 Team 3D
(Brother Devon and Brother Ray) 		Lockdown
June 21 Beer Money, Inc.
(James Storm and Robert Roode) 		Slammiversary
July 19 The Main Event Mafia
(Booker T and Scott Steiner) 		Victory Road
October 18 The British Invasion
(Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams) 		Bound for Glory
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
September 20 Sarita and Taylor Wilde No Surrender
TNA Women's Knockout Championship
Incoming champion – Awesome Kong
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 19 Angelina Love Lockdown
June 25 Tara Impact!
July 19 Angelina Love Victory Road
August 16 ODB Hard Justice
August 27 Vacated Impact!
September 20 ODB No Surrender
December 20 Tara Final Resoultion
TNA Television Championship
Incoming champion – Booker T
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 15 A.J. Styles Destination X
July 19 Kevin Nash Victory Road
July 22 Mick Foley Impact!
August 16 Kevin Nash Hard Justice
October 18 Eric Young Bound for Glory

WWE

  – Raw
  – SmackDown
  - ECW

Raw and SmackDown each had a world championship, a secondary championship, a women's championship, and a male tag team championship until their respective tag team titles became shared across all the brands. ECW only had a world championship.

World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – John Cena
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 15 Edge No Way Out Elimination Chamber match, also involving Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Mike Knox, and Kane. Edge, a member of the SmackDown roster, attacked Kofi Kingston and replaced him in the match.
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand due to Edge being a member of the SmackDown roster.
April 5 John Cena WrestleMania XXV Triple threat match, also involving Big Show.
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to John Cena being a member of the Raw roster.
April 26 Edge Backlash Last Man Standing match.
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand due to Edge being a member of the SmackDown roster.
June 7 Jeff Hardy Extreme Rules Ladder match
CM Punk Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
July 26 Jeff Hardy Night of Champions
August 23 CM Punk SummerSlam Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
October 4 The Undertaker Hell in a Cell Hell in a Cell match
WWE Championship
Incoming champion – Jeff Hardy
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 25 Edge Royal Rumble No disqualification match
February 15 Triple H No Way Out Elimination Chamber match, also involving Jeff Hardy, Vladimir Kozlov, The Undertaker, and Big Show.
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2009 WWE draft when Triple H was drafted to Raw.
April 26 Randy Orton Backlash Six-man tag team match with Orton, Ted DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes against Triple H, Shane McMahon, and Batista. Orton won the championship due to his team winning.
June 7 Batista Extreme Rules Steel cage match
June 9 Vacated — Vacated when Batista suffered a torn left biceps.
June 15 Randy Orton Monday Night Raw Fatal four-way match for the vacant title, also involving Triple H, John Cena, and Big Show.
September 13 John Cena Breaking Point "I Quit" match. If anyone interfered on Randy Orton's behalf, he would have forfeited the title.
October 4 Randy Orton Hell in a Cell Hell in a Cell match
October 25 John Cena Bragging Rights 60-minute Anything Goes Iron Man match in which Cena won 6–5. If Cena lost, he would have had to leave the Raw brand.
December 13 Sheamus TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Tables match
ECW Championship
Incoming champion – Matt Hardy
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 12
(aired January 13) 		Jack Swagger ECW
April 26 Christian Backlash
June 7 Tommy Dreamer Extreme Rules Triple threat hardcore match, also involving Jack Swagger. With this win, Tommy Dreamer became the only wrestler to win the title both in the original ECW promotion, and in the WWE sponsored revival.
July 26 Christian Night of Champions
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – William Regal
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 19 CM Punk Monday Night Raw No disqualification match
March 9 John "Bradshaw" Layfield Monday Night Raw
April 5 Rey Mysterio WrestleMania XXV
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand following the 2009 WWE draft when Rey Mysterio was drafted to SmackDown.
June 7 Chris Jericho Extreme Rules No Holds Barred match
June 28 Rey Mysterio The Bash Mask vs. title match
September 1
(aired September 4) 		John Morrison SmackDown
December 13 Drew McIntyre TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
WWE United States Championship
Incoming champion – Shelton Benjamin
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 17
(aired March 20) 		Montel Vontavious Porter SmackDown
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2009 WWE draft when MVP was drafted to Raw.
June 1 Kofi Kingston Monday Night Raw
October 5 The Miz Monday Night Raw
WWE Women's Championship
Incoming champion – Beth Phoenix
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 25 Melina Royal Rumble
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand following the 2009 WWE draft when Melina was drafted to SmackDown.
June 28 Michelle McCool The Bash With this victory, McCool became the first person to hold both the Women's and Divas Championships.
WWE Divas Championship
Incoming champion – Maryse
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2009 WWE draft when Maryse was drafted to Raw.
July 26 Mickie James Night of Champions
October 12 Jillian Hall Monday Night Raw
Melina
World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – John Morrison and The Miz
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 5 The Colóns
(Carlito and Primo) 		WrestleMania XXV Lumberjack match to unify the World Tag Team Championship with the WWE Tag Team Championship.
At WrestleMania XXV, the World Tag Team Championship was unified with the WWE Tag Team Championship to become the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship. Both titles remained independently active, but were collectively defended on any brand as the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship.
WWE Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Colóns (Carlito and Primo)
At WrestleMania XXV on April 5, The Colóns defeated John Morrison and The Miz to unify the WWE Tag Team Championship with the World Tag Team Championship to become the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship. Both titles remained independently active, but were collectively defended on any brand as the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship.
Unified WWE Tag Team Championship
(World Tag Team Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship)
Incoming champions – The Colóns (Carlito and Primo)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
June 28 Edge and Chris Jericho The Bash Triple threat tag team match, also involving The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase).
July 26 Jeri-Show
(Chris Jericho and Big Show) 		Night of Champions Shortly after Edge and Chris Jericho won the title, Edge suffered a torn Achilles tendon, which required surgery and forced him to vacate his half of the championship. Jericho was allowed to keep his title and choose a new partner; he chose Big Show at Night of Champions. WWE views this as a second reign for Jericho.
December 13 D-Generation X
(Triple H and Shawn Michaels) 		TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match

Debuts

Retirements

Umaga
  • Lena Yada (January 4, 2008 – 2009)
  • Doug Basham (1993–2009)
  • John Layfield (1992 – April 6, 2009) (moved to color commentator)
  • Candice Michelle (November 15, 2004 – June 19, 2009) (although she had been fully inactive from in-ring competition since 2009, she announced her full retirement in December 2017)
  • Sharmell (1998 – October 18, 2009)
  • Umaga (1995 – November 2009)
  • Jamie Noble (1995 – November 10, 2009) (semi-retired)
  • Jon Heidenreich (2001 – November 28, 2009)
  • Christy Hemme (July 15, 2004 – December 16, 2009) (moved to ring announcer)

Deaths

Mitsuharu Misawa

See also

References

  1. ^ "Abismo negro ¡Murió ahogado!" (in Spanish). Tabasco Hoy. 2009-03-24. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  2. ^ Oliver, Greg (2009-06-23). "Billy Red Lyons dies". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  3. ^ Obituary at 411mania.com
  4. ^ Grinberg, Emanuella. "Wrestler 'Umaga' Edward Fatu dies of heart attack, friend says". CNN. Retrieved 2017-12-25.
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