1998 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 1998. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWCatch Wrestling AssociationCWACMLLECWFrontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFMWIWRGLucha Libre AAA WorldwideAAAThe "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.New Japan Pro-WrestlingNJPWWorld Championship WrestlingWCWWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWF
Calendar of notable shows January DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 4 NJPWFinal Power Hall in Tokyo DomeTokyo, JapanKensuke Sasaki (c) defeated Keiji Mutoh in a singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 10 ECW House Party Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States The Sandman defeated Sabu in a Stairway to Hell matchJanuary 18 WWF Royal Rumble San Jose, California, United States Shawn Michaels (c) defeated The Undertaker in a Casket match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 24 WCW: Souled Out Dayton, Ohio, United States Lex Luger defeated Randy Savage by submission in a singles matchJanuary 31 ECW Hostile City Showdown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Rob Van Dam and Sabu vs. The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) vs. The Gangstanators (John Kronus and New Jack) vs. The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer in a Four-Way Dance(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventFebruary 15 WWF No Way Out of Texas: In Your House Houston, Texas, United States Cactus Jack, Chainsaw Charlie, Owen Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg), Savio Vega and Triple H in a Non-sanctioned eight-man tag team matchFebruary 21 ECW Cyberslam Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Rob Van Dam and Sabu in a tag team matchNote that this was an internet pay-per-view event (iPPV)February 22 WCW: SuperBrawl VIII Daly City, California, United States Sting vs. Hollywood Hogan in a singles match for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipFebruary 28 NWA Third Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Show Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Doug and Tommy Gilbert vs. Buddy Landell and Dory Funk Jr. in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMarch 1 AAARey de ReyesNaucalpan, MexicoPerro Aguayo defeated Latin Lover, Cibernético and Octagón in a 1998 Rey de Reyes finalMarch 1 ECWLiving DangerouslyAsbury Park, New Jersey, United StatesAl Snow and Lance Storm defeated Shane Douglas and Chris Candido in a tag team matchMarch 15 WCW:UncensoredMobile, Alabama, United StatesHollywood Hogan fought Randy Savage to a no-contest in a Steel cage matchMarch 20 CMLLHomenaje a Salvador LutterothMexico City, MexicoEmilio Charles Jr. defeated El Satánico in a Lucha de Apuesta, Hair vs. Hair matchMarch 29 WWFWrestleMania XIVBoston, Massachusetts, United StatesStone Cold Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels (c) in a Singles match for the WWF Championship with Mike Tyson as special outside enforcer(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 4 WWF Mayhem in ManchesterManchester, England, United KingdomStone Cold Steve Austin (c) defeated Triple H in a Singles match for the WWF ChampionshipThe Undertaker defeated Kane in a Singles matchApril 19 WCW:Spring StampedeDenver, Colorado, United StatesRandy Savage defeated Sting (c) in a No Disqualification match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 24 CMLL42. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoGran Markus Jr. defeated Brazo de Oro in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair matchApril 26 WWFUnforgiven: In Your HouseGreensboro, North Carolina, United StatesDude Love defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the WWF ChampionshipApril 29 N/A First Annual Brian Pillman Memorial ShowNorwood, Ohio, United StatesChris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho in a Singles matchApril 30 FMWFMW 9th Anniversary ShowTokyo, JapanHayabusa defeated Mr. Gannosuke (c) in a Singles match for the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship and the FMW Independent Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMay 1 AJPWAJPW 25th AnniversaryTokyo, JapanToshiaki Kawada defeated Mitsuharu Misawa in a Triple Crown title match May 3 ECWWrestlepaloozaMarietta, Georgia, United StatesShane Douglas (c) defeated Al Snow in a Singles match for the ECW World Heavyweight ChampionshipMay 14 ECWIt Ain't SeinfeldQueens, New York, United StatesThe Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Big Dick Dudley) defeated the Sandman, Spike Dudley and Tommy Dreamer by pinfall in a Six-man tag team matchMay 16 ECWA Matter of RespectPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSpike Dudley, The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Big Dick Dudley) in a Stairway to Hell matchMay 17 WCW:SlamboreeWorcester, Massachusetts, United StatesSting and The Giant defeated The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) (c) in a Tag team match for the WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipMay 19 FMWNeo 1998: Day 1Tokyo, JapanHayabusa vs. Masato Tanaka in a Singles matchMay 31 WWFOver the Edge: In Your HouseMilwaukee, Wisconsin, United StatesStone Cold Steve Austin (c) defeated Dude Love in a Falls Count Anywhere match for the WWF Championship with Mr. McMahon as special guest referee(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJune 7 AAATriplemanía VIChihuahua City, Chihuahua, MexicoKick Boxer defeated Heavy Metal in a Steel cage match, Lucha de Apuestas, "Hair of Pepe Casas vs. Hair of El Tirantes" matchJune 11 N/A Third Annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial ShowBuffalo, New York, United StatesKevin Nash and Diamond Dallas Page defeated Hollywood Hogan and Bret Hart in a tag teamJune 14 WCW:The Great American BashBaltimore, Maryland, United StatesSting defeated The Giant in a Singles match for control of the WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipJune 19 FMWKing of Fight 1998: Day 2Tokyo, JapanHayabusa, Hisakatsu Oya, Ricky Fuji and Daisuke Ikeda vs. Team No Respect (Kodo Fuyuki, Koji Nakagawa, Gedo and Yukihiro Kanemura) in four-man tag team matchJune 28 WWFKing of the RingPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United StatesKane defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) in a First Blood match for the WWF Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJuly 10 FMWKing of Fight II 1998: Day 2Tokyo, JapanHayabusa, Hisakatsu Oya, Ricky Fuji and Daisuke Ikeda vs. Team No Respect (Kodo Fuyuki, Koji Nakagawa, Jado and Gedo) in an eight-man tag team matchJuly 12 WCW:Bash at the BeachSan Diego, California, United StatesHollywood Hogan and Dennis Rodman defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone in a tag team matchJuly 18 CMLLRuleta de la MuerteMexico City, MexicoEl Hijo del Santo defeated Guerrero del Futuro in Lucha de Apuesta, mask vs. hair matchJuly 26 WWFFully Loaded: In Your HouseFresno, California, United StatesStone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker defeated Kane and Mankind (c) in a tag team match for the WWF Tag Team Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventAugust 1 WWCWWC 25th AniversarioSan Juan, Puerto RicoRicky Santana defeated El Texano in a hair vs. hair matchAugust 2 ECWHeat WaveDayton, Ohio, United StatesTommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Spike Dudley defeated The Dudleys (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Big Dick Dudley) in a Street FightAugust 8 WCW:Road WildSturgis, South Dakota, United StatesDiamond Dallas Page and Jay Leno defeated Hollywood Hogan and Eric Bischoff in a tag team matchAugust 11 FMWAtsushi Onita Presents Liar, LiarTokyo, JapanAtsushi Onita, Mr. Pogo, Shoichi Arai and Yoshinori Sasaki defeated Go Ito and Team No Respect (Kodo Fuyuki, Koji Nakagawa and Yukihiro Kanemura) in a Shoichi Arai Presidency vs. Hosakas and Kurodas Freedom Weapons Death MatchAugust 13 N/ASecond Annual Plum Mariko Memorial ShowTokyo, JapanMayumi Ozaki and Devil Masami defeated Cutie Suzuki and Dynamite Kansai in a tag team matchAugust 14 CMLLInternational Gran PrixMexico City, MexicoApolo Dantés defeated Rayo de Jalisco Jr. in a 1998 International Gran Prix final matchAugust 22 FMWWelcome to the DarksideTokyo, JapanKoji Nakagawa defeated Darkside Hayabusa in a Singles matchAugust 30 WWFSummerSlamNew York City, New York, United StatesStone Cold Steve Austin (c) defeated The Undertaker in a Singles match for the WWE Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventSeptember 8 FMWSuper Dynamism 1998: Day 11Tokyo, JapanHayabusa and Daisuke Ikeda vs. Kodo Fuyuki and Yukihiro Kanemura in a tag team matchSeptember 13 WCW:Fall BrawlWinston-Salem, North Carolina, United StatesTeam WCW (Diamond Dallas Page, Roddy Piper and The Warrior) defeated nWo Hollywood (Hollywood Hogan, Bret Hart and Stevie Ray) and nWo Wolfpac (Kevin Nash, Sting and Lex Luger) in a WarGames matchSeptember 18AAAVerano de EscándaloCiudad Madero, Tamaulipas, MexicoHeavy Metal and Blue Demon Jr. defeated Kick Boxer and Abismo Negro in a Steel cage matchSeptember 18CMLLCMLL 65th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoLos Hermanos Dinamita (Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000) and Emilio Charles Jr. defeated Los Boricuas (Kevin Quinn, La Boricua and Miguel Perez, Jr.) in a Best two out of three falls tag team matchSeptember 19 ECWUltraClashPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesRob Van Dam and Sabu and Masato Tanaka fought the Triple Threat (Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Candido, and Shane Douglas) to a no contestSeptember 27 WWFBreakdown: In Your HouseHamilton, Ontario, CanadaKane and The Undertaker defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) in a Triple threat match for the WWF Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventOctober 6 FMWFlashover 1998: Day 10Tokyo, JapanHayabusa vs. Koji Nakagawa in a Singles matchOctober 18 WWFJudgment Day: In Your HouseRosemont, Illinois, United StatesKane vs. The Undertaker ended in a double pinfall in a Singles match for the vacant WWF Championship with Stone Cold Steve Austin as special guest refereeOctober 25 WCW:Halloween HavocParadise, Nevada, United StatesGoldberg (c) defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNovember 1 ECWNovember to RememberNew Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesNew Triple Threat (Sabu, Rob Van Dam and Taz) defeated The Triple Threat (Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Candido)November 15 WWFSurvivor SeriesSt. Louis, Missouri, United StatesThe Rock defeated Mankind by submission in a Tournament final match for the vacant WWF ChampionshipNovember 20 FMWScramble Survivor 1998: Day 6Yokohama, JapanHayabusa vs. Kodo Fuyuki in a Singles matchNovember 22 WCW:World War 3Auburn Hills, Michigan, United StatesDiamond Dallas Page (c) defeated Bret Hart in a Singles match for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December