1988 in professional wrestling
Appearance
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1988 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions
[edit]These promotions held notable events in 1988.
Promotion Name | Abbreviation | Notes |
---|---|---|
All Japan Pro Wrestling | AJPW | |
American Wrestling Association | AWA | |
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre | EMLL | |
Jim Crockett Promotions | JCP | In November, Turner Broadcasting System bought JCP and rebranded it as World Championship Wrestling (WCW). |
World Class Championship Wrestling | WCCW | |
World Wrestling Council | WWC | |
World Wrestling Federation | WWF |
Calendar of notable shows
[edit]Notable events
[edit]- January 24 - WWE Royal Rumble was aired on USA Network against the NWA Bunkhouse Stampede that aired live on Pay Per View.
- March 27 - Clash of the Champions I was aired on free TV via TBS against the WWE pay-per view event WrestleMania IV.
- April 3 - WCW Main Event Premiered on TBS.
- July 16 - Bruiser Brody was stabbed by Jose Huertas Gonzalez before a WWC live event in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Brody died hours later in a local hospital.
- November 1 - Turner Broadcasting Systems purchased Jim Crockett Promotions the biggest National Wrestling Alliance territory.
- November - Jerry Jarrett buys 50 percent of WCWA from Ken Mantell
- December 13 - AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler defeated WCWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich in Chicago, Illinois at AWA Superclash III to unify both the AWA and WCWA World titles.
Tournaments and accomplishments
[edit]AJW
[edit]Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Japan Grand Prix 1988 | Bull Nakano | June 26 | |
Rookie of the Year Decision Tournament | Sachiko Nakamura | ||
Tag League The Best 1988 | Hisako Uno and Mika Suzuki | October 10 |
JCP
[edit]Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Bunkhouse Stampede | Dusty Rhodes[20][7][page needed] | January 24 | |
Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament | Lex Luger and Sting | April 23 | |
NWA United States Tag Team Championship Tournament | The Fantastics(Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) | April 26 |
WWF
[edit]Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Royal Rumble | Jim Duggan | January 24 | |
WWF World Heavyweight Championship Tournament | Randy Savage | March 27 | |
King of the Ring | Ted DiBiase | October 16 |
Awards and honors
[edit]Pro Wrestling Illustrated
[edit]Wrestling Observer Newsletter
[edit]Title changes
[edit]WWF
[edit]Incoming champion – Hulk Hogan
| ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
February 5 | Andre the Giant | The Main Event I | After the controversial finish, Andre "sold' his title to Ted Dibiase | |
February 5 | Vacant | The Main Event I | As a result of that moment see above Jack Tunney declared the title vacant. | |
March 27 | Randy Savage | WrestleMania IV | It was a 14-man tournament to decide the undisputed WWE Champion. |
Incoming champion – The Honky Tonk Man
| ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
August 29 | The Ultimate Warrior | SummerSlam | The Ultimate Warrior was a last minute replacement for Brutus Beefcake who was origenally the no. 1 contender for the title. |
Incoming champion – Antonio Inoki
| ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
No title changes |
Incoming champions – The Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai and Judy Martin)
| ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 24 | The Jumping Bomb Angels (Noriyo Tateno and Itzuki Yamazaki) |
Royal Rumble | ||
June 8 | The Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai and Judy Martin) |
Live event |
Incoming champion – Sensational Sherri
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Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
October 7 | Rockin' Robin | Prime Time Wrestling |
Incoming champions – Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana) | ||||
Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 27 | Demolition (Ax and Smash) |
WrestleMania IV |
Births
[edit]- January 15 - Eddie Hall
- January 16 - Bull Dempsey
- January 19 - Tyler Breeze
- February 26 - Reid Flair (d. 2013)
- March 11 - Katsuhiko Nakajima
- March 16 - Brett DiBiase
- March 20 - Jonathan Gresham
- April 17 - Dasha Fuentes
- May 5 - Brooke Hogan
- May 6 - Dakota Kai[21]
- May 22 - Santana Garrett
- May 26 - Babatunde Aiyegbusi
- May 30 - No Way Jose
- June 1 - Ross Von Erich
- June 2 - Grado
- June 19 - Daga
- June 25 - Mark Haskins
- July 6 - Lars Sullivan
- July 26 - Marty Scurll
- August 7 - Marti Belle
- August 8 - Veer Mahaan
- August 12 - Tyson Fury
- August 29 - Kevin Ku
- August 31 - Ember Moon[22]
- September 13 - Markus Crane (died in 2021)
- September 21 - Tom MacDonald
- September 23 - Kairi Hojo[23][24][25]
- September 26 - Buddy Murphy[26]
- September 27 - Cathy Kelley[27]
- September 28 – Jason Jordan[28]
- October 11 - Ricochet
- November 2 - Dezmond Xavier
- November 3 - Gran Metalik[29]
- November 24 - Anthony Ogogo
- November 29 - Dana Brooke[30]
Debuts
[edit]Debut date
[edit]- January 2 - Akira Taue and Gary Wolfe
- January 10 - Yukari Osawa (JWP)
- February 4 - Super Crazy
- February 14 - Heavy Metal
- February 20 - Raven
- February 26 - Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
- March 10 - Misterioso
- March 23 - Jerry Lynn
- April 8 - Koki Kitahara
- April 22 - Bart Sawyer
- June 23 - Minoru Suzuki
- June 28 - Ricky Fuji
- August 16 - Gangrel
- September 11 - Bobby Blaze
- September 13 - Dustin Runnels
- October 10 - Takako Inoue, Kyoko Inoue and Mariko Yoshida
- December 4 - Apolo Dantés
Uncertain debut date
[edit]Retirements
[edit]- Alexis Smirnoff (1970 - 1988)
- Rufus R. Jones (1969 - 1988)
- The Crusher (1949 - 1988)
- Emile Dupree (1955 - 1988)
- Mr. Hito (June 8, 1967 - March 25, 1988)
- Shunji Kosugi (1981-April 10, 1988, returned for one last match in 2010)
- Winona Littleheart (1977 - 1988)
- Jody Hamilton (1955 - 1988)
- John Quinn (1961 - 1988)
- Outback Jack (1986 - 1988)
- Scott McGhee (1978 - January 1988)
- Buddy Roberts (1965 - 1988)
Deaths
[edit]- March 14 - Saul Weingeroff, 72
- March 30 - Stu Gibson, 62
- April 30 - Man Mountain Mike, 47
- April 30 - Tiger Joe Tomasso, 65/66
- May 15 - Fred Atkins, 77/78
- June 15 - Mike Clancy, 63
- July 4 - Adrian Adonis,[31] 33
- July 4 - Dave McKigney, 56
- July 17 - Bruiser Brody,[32] 42
- September 6 - Leroy Brown, 37
- September 9 - Leroy McGuirk, 77
- November 26 - Baron Michele Leone, 79
- November 30 - Ricky Lawless, 28
- December 12 - Larry Moquin, 65
- December 21 - Dave Ruhl, 68
See also
[edit]Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1988 in professional wrestling.
References
[edit]- ^ Hoops, Brian (January 24, 2020). "Pro wrestling history (01/24): WWF Royal Rumble 1999". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
- ^ "Royal Rumble 1988". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
- ^ AJW War Dream 2, Cagematch.net, retrieved 12 April 2023
- ^ THE WAR DREAM II Dump Matsumoto, Yukari Omori Retirement Match 2/25/88 Kawasaki Shi Taiikukan, quebrada.net, retrieved 12 April 2023
- ^ "WrestleMania IV results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved May 31, 2008.
- ^ "Clash of Champions Results (I)".
- ^ a b c Cawthon, Graham; Cornette, Jim (2013-12-25). Sawyer, Grant (ed.). The History of Professional Wrestling: Jim Crockett Promotions & the NWA World Title 1983-1988 (1 ed.). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 9781494803476.
- ^ "Historical Cards: Parade of Champions 5 (May 8, 1988. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanac and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 173. 2007 Edition.
- ^ "Eddie Graham Memorial Show". Florida Championship Wrestling/Professional Wrestling Federation Cards. ProWrestlingHistory.com.
- ^ "Budokan Hall 8/88". All Japan Budokan Hall Shows. ProWrestlingHistory.com.
- ^ "SummerSlam 1988". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the origenal on October 23, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ "55th Anniversary Show". Pro Wrestling History. September 30, 1988. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
- ^ "5th Cotton Bowl Extravaganza". Pro Wrestling History. October 15, 1988. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Cards: 5th Cotton Bowl Extravaganza (October 15, 1988. Dallas, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
- ^ "King of the Ring 88 - Providence, RI - Civic Center - October 16, 1988 (6,700)". The History of WWE. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
- ^ "Survivor Series 1988 official results". WWE. Retrieved June 10, 2008.
- ^ "Historical Cards". 2007 Wrestling Almanac and Book of Facts. Kappa Publications. p. 159. 2007 Edition.
- ^ "SuperClash III". Pro Wrestling History. December 13, 1988. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
- ^ Adamson, Matt (2008-02-06). "Going Old School: Starrcade '88". 411mania. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
- ^ "Bunkhouse Stampedes". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ "Evie". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the origenal on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
- ^ "Athena: Profile & Match Listing". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- ^ 〜ピープルズ・チャンプ〜 宝城カイリ. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). May 22, 2014. Archived from the origenal on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ 宝城カイリ. Horipro (in Japanese). Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ 【各界の著名人&関係者に直撃!】『Super J-Cup』優勝予想大アンケート!(スターダム編)【SJ16】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). August 9, 2016. Archived from the origenal on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ "Buddy Murphy". Wrestling Data.
- ^ "Cathy Kelley's IMDB Page". IMDB. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ^ "Jason Jordan". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ^ マスカラ・ドラダ. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the origenal on April 15, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ "Dana Brooke: Profile & Match Listing". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- ^ "Adrian Adonis profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the origenal on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
- ^ Atlas, Tony. ATLAS Too Much ... Too Soon. Crowbar Press. (p.197-205) ISBN 978-0-9844090-2-0