1993 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 1993. Promotion NameAbbreviationAAAAJWCatch Wrestling AssociationCWACMLLEastern Championship WrestlingECWFrontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFMWNew Japan Pro-WrestlingNJPWUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWAWorld Championship WrestlingWCWWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWF
Calendar of notable shows January DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 4 NJPWFantastic Story in Tokyo DomeTokyo, JapanGenichiro Tenryu defeated Riki Choshu in a Singles matchJanuary 4 WCW NJPWWCW/New Japan Supershow IIITokyo, JapanSting defeated Hiroshi Hase in a Singles matchJanuary 13WCWClash of the Champions XXIIMilwaukee, Wisconsin, United StatesDustin Rhodes, Sting and Cactus Jack defeated Big Van Vader, Barry Windham and Paul Orndorff in a Thundercage matchJanuary 23 ECWBattle of the BeltsPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesTerry Funk defeated Eddie Gilbert in a I Quit Texas Death MatchJanuary 24 WWFRoyal RumbleSacramento, California, United StatesYokozuna won by last eliminating Randy Savage in a 30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania IXJanuary 31 UWA18th AnniversaryNaucalpan, MexicoVampiro defeated El Canek (c) in a Singles match for the UWA World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventFebruary 21 WCWSuperBrawl IIIAsheville, North Carolina, United StatesBig Van Vader defeated Sting in a White Castle of Fear Strap match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 2 AJWAll-Star DreamslamYokohama, JapanAJW's Manami Toyota and Toshiyo Yamada defeat FMW's Megumi Kudo and Combat Toyoda in a tag team match CMLL37. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoDr. Wagner Jr. defeated Pierroth Jr. (c) in a Best two-out-of-three falls match for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 2 NJPW / WARWAR vs. NJPWTokyo, JapanRiki Choshu & Shinya Hashimoto defeated Genichiro Tenryu & Takashi Ishikawa in a tag team matchApril 2 WWFWrestleMania IXParadise, Nevada, United StatesHulk Hogan defeated Yokozuna (c) in a Singles match for the WWF ChampionshipApril 11 AJWAll-Star Dreamslam 2Osaka, Japan JWP's Mayumi Ozaki and Dynamite Kansai defeat AJW's Manami Toyota and Toshiyo Yamada for the WWWA World Tag Team ChampionshipApril 11WWFUK RampageSheffield, England, United KingdomLex Luger defeated Jim Duggan by disqualification in a Singles matchApril 30 AAATriplemanía IMexico City, D.F., MexicoCien Caras defeated Konnan in a Best two-out-of-three falls retirement match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMay 3 NJPWWrestling DontakuFukuoka, JapanAntonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Genichiro Tenryu and Riki Choshu via submission in a tag team matchMay 5 FMW4th AnniversaryKawasaki, Kanagawa, JapanAtsushi Onita defeated Terry Funk in a No Rope Exploding Barbed Wire Time Bomb DeathmatchMay 23 WCWSlamboreeAtlanta, Georgia, United StatesDavey Boy Smith defeated Big Van Vader (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJune 13 WWFKing of the RingDayton, Ohio, United StatesBret Hart defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in a King of the Ring final matchJune 16WCWClash of the Champions XXIIINorfolk, Virginia, United StatesRic Flair and Arn Anderson defeated The Hollywood Blonds (Brian Pillman and Steve Austin) (c) 2-0 by disqualification in a Two-out-of-three falls match for both the NWA and WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipsJune 19 ECWSuper Summer Sizzler SpectacularPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert defeated Terry Funk in a Texas chain match massacre for the title of "King of Philadelphia"(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJuly 18 WCWBeach BlastBiloxi, Mississippi, United StatesSting and Davey Boy Smith defeated The Masters of the Powerbomb (Big Van Vader and Sid Vicious) in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventAugust 7NJPWG1 ClimaxTokyo, JapanHiroshi Hase defeated Tatsumi Fujinami in the finalsAugust 8WWC20th AniversarioCarlos Colón defeated Terry Funk in a Singles matchAugust 18WCWClash of the Champions XXIVDaytona Beach, Florida, United StatesBig Van Vader (c) defeated Davey Boy Smith in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 22 FMWSummer SpectacularNishinomiya, Hyōgo, JapanAtsushi Onita defeated Mr. Pogo in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Time Bomb Cage Deathmatch for the vacant FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 25 AJWLegacy of QueensTokyo, JapanAJW's Aja Kong defeat JWP's Dynamite Kansai in a singles matchAugust 30 WWFSummerSlamAuburn Hills, Michigan, United StatesLex Luger defeated Yokozuna (c) by countout in a Singles match for the WWF Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNotesSeptember 18 ECWUltraClashPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesThe Headhunters (Headhunter A and Headhunter B) defeated Miguelito Pérez and Crash the Terminator in a Baseball Bat matchSeptember 19 WCWFall BrawlHouston, Texas, United StatesSting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes and The Shockmaster defeated Sid Vicious, Vader and Harlem Heat (Kole and Kane) in a WarGames matchSeptember 29 AJW/ LLPW Nagoya Super WhirlwingNagoya, Japan LLPW's Shinobu Kandori defeats AJW's Yumiko Hotta in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventCMLL60th AnniversaryMexico City, MexicoAtlantis defeated Mano Negra in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. mask matchECWNWA BloodfestPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesTerry Funk (c) defeated Jimmy Snuka by escaping the cage in a Steel cage match for the ECW Television ChampionshipOctober 9 AJWWrestlemarinepiad 1993Tokyo, JapanAja Kong defeats Akira Hokuto in a singles matchOctober 23 AJPW21st Anniversary ShowTokyo, JapanMitsuharu Misawa defeated Stan Hansen to retain the Triple Crown Heavyweight ChampionshipOctober 24 WCWHalloween HavocNew Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesBig Van Vader defeated Cactus Jack in a Texas Death match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNovember 10WCWClash of the Champions XXVSt. Petersburg, Florida, United StatesRic Flair defeated Vader (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipNovember 12 ECWTerror at TaborPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesTommy Dreamer defeated Johnny Grunge in a Singles matchNovember 13 ECWNovember to RememberPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSabu (c - World Heavyweight) and Road Warrior Hawk defeated Terry Funk (c - World Television) and King Kong Bundy in a Winner Takes All match for the ECW Heavyweight Championship and the ECW Television ChampionshipNovember 20 WCWBattlebowlPensacola, Florida, United StatesVader won the 16-man battle royal by lastly eliminating StingNovember 24 WWFSurvivor SeriesBoston, Massachusetts, United StatesThe All-Americans (Lex Luger, The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) and The Undertaker) defeated The Foreign Fanatics (Crush, Quebecer Jacques, Ludvig Borga and Yokozuna) in a 4-on-4 Survivor Series elimination matchNovember 28 AJWWrestling QueendomOsaka, JapanAJW's Yumiko Hotta and Takako Inoue defeat LLPW's Shinobu Kandori and Miki Handa in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventDecember 6 AJWSt. Battle Final 1993Tokyo, Japan LLPW's Shinobu Kandori defeats AJW's Akira Hokuto in a singles matchDecember 8 FMWYear End SpectacularTokyo, JapanAtsushi Onita (c) defeated Mitsuhiro Matsunaga in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch for the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight ChampionshipDecember 18CWAEuro Catch FestivalBremen, GermanyRambo (c) defeated The Barbarian in Round 6 in a Singles match for the CWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipDecember 26 FMWFMW/MPWTokyo, JapanAtsushi Onita, Tarzan Goto and The Great Sasuke vs. Mr. Pogo, Jinsei Shinzaki and Masaru Toi in a Six-man tag team matchDecember 26 ECWHoliday HellPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesTommy Dreamer won a battle royalDecember 27 WCWStarrcadeCharlotte, North Carolina, United StatesRic Flair defeated Vader (c) in a Title vs. Career match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Accomplishments and tournaments
AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotes AJW Japan Grand Prix 1993Akira HokutoAugust 21 AJW Tag League The Best 1993Akira Hokuto and Manami ToyotaDecember 10
AJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesChampion Carnival 1993Stan HansenApril 21World's Strongest Determination League 1993Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu MisawaDecember 2
ECW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesECW Television Championship TournamentJimmy SnukaMarch 12ECW Tag Team Championship TournamentEddie Gilbert and The Dark PatriotAugust 8
JWP AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesBlue Star Cup 1993 Candy Okutsu
WCW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesWCW United States Championship TournamentDustin RhodesJanuary 11WCW World Television Championship TournamentPaul OrndorffMarch 2
WCW Hall of Fame
Inductee
WWF AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRoyal RumbleYokozunaJanuary 24King of the RingBret HartJune 13WWF Women's Championship TournamentAlundra BlayzeDecember 13
WWF Hall of Fame
CategoryInducteeInducted byNotesIndividualNone Inaugural inductee Sole inductee
Awards and honors Pro Wrestling Illustrated
CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearBig Van VaderPWI Tag Team of the YearThe Steiner Brothers(Rick and Scott Steiner)PWI Match of the YearShawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (Raw, July 19)PWI Feud of the YearBret Hart vs. Jerry LawlerPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearLex LugerPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearJerry LawlerPWI Comeback of the YearLex LugerPWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearYokozunaPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearCactus JackPWI Rookie of the YearVampire WarriorPWI Lifetime AchievementAndré the GiantPWI Editor's AwardJim Cornette
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearBig Van VaderMost OutstandingKenta KobashiFeud of the YearBret Hart vs. Jerry LawlerTag Team of the YearThe Hollywood Blonds(Steve Austin and Brian Pillman)Most ImprovedTracy SmothersBest on InterviewsJim Cornette
Notable events January 9 - WWF Mania aired its first episode on the USA Network with host Todd Pettengill who's making his WWF TV Debut. January 11 - WWF Monday Night Raw premiered on the USA Network, its first episode was from the Manhattan Center in New York City February 10 - Bill Watts resigned as Executive Vice President of Wrestling Operations for WCW. February 12 – Eric Bischoff becomes Executive Producer of all World Championship Wrestling television and Ole Anderson was announced as new Vice President of Wrestling Operations for WCW. February 21 – Ric Flair makes his WCW return and Davey Boy Smith makes his WCW debut at WCW SuperBrawl III in Asheville, North Carolina February 22 – Hulk Hogan makes his WWF return live on Monday Night Raw. February 25 - Jim Ross resigned from WCW. April 2 - All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling holds their All-Star Dreamslam event. The event featured multiple inter-promotional matches between AJW, FMW, Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling and JWP Joshi Puroresu. April 4 – Jim Ross makes his WWF TV debut at WrestleMania IX April 6 - ECW Hardcore TV debuts on SportsChannel Philadelphia.