1989 in professional wrestling

1989 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 1989. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesAJWEMLLFrontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFMWFounded in July.New Japan Pro-WrestlingNJPWUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWAWorld Championship WrestlingWCWWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWF

Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 15WWFRoyal RumbleHouston, TexasBig John Studd won the Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Ted DiBiaseJanuary 29 UWAUWA 14th Anniversary ShowNaucalpan, MexicoEl Canek (c) defeated Konnan in a singles match for the UWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipFebruary 15WCWClash of the Champions V: St. Valentine's MassacreCleveland, OhioThe Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) and Genichiro Tenryu (c) vs. The Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda, Kevin Sullivan and Steve Williams) ended in a double disqualification in a six-man tag team match for the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team ChampionshipFebruary 16WWFSaturday Night's Main EventHershey, PennsylvaniaHulk Hogan defeated Bad News Brown in a singles matchFebruary 20WCWChi-Town RumbleChicago, IllinoisRicky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair (c) in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 2Clash of the Champions VI: Ragin' CajunNew Orleans, LouisianaRicky Steamboat (c) defeated Ric Flair 2-1 in a Two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipWWFWrestleMania VAtlantic City, New JerseyHulk Hogan defeated Randy Savage (c) in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 24NJPWBattle Satellite in Tokyo DomeTokyo, JapanShota Chochishvili defeated Antonio Inoki (c) by KO in a singles match for the NJPW Martial Arts ChampionshipApril 25WWFSaturday Night's Main EventDes Moines, IowaHulk Hogan (c) vs. Big Boss Man in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 28 EMLL33. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoÁngel Azteca defeated Emilio Charles Jr. © in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Middleweight ChampionshipMay 6AJW Wrestlemarinepiad '89Yokohama, JapanChigusa Nagayo retired in a series of matches where she fought and teamed with Lioness Asuka. Lioness Asuka also defeated Madusa in a WWWA World Title match.May 7WCWWrestleWarNashville, TennesseeRic Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat (c) in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipJune 14Clash of the Champions VII: Guts and GloryFort Bragg, North CarolinaRicky Steamboat defeated Terry Funk by disqualification in a Singles matchJuly 18WWFSaturday Night's Main EventWorcester, MassachusettsHulk Hogan (c) vs. The Honky Tonk Man in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 23WCWThe Great American BashBaltimore, MarylandRic Flair (c) defeated Terry Funk in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 28WWFSummerSlamEast Rutherford, New JerseyBrutus Beefcake and Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Savage and Zeus in a Tag team matchSeptember 10WWCWWC 16th AniversarioBayamón, Puerto RicoCarlos Colón defeated Steve Strong (c) in a Barbed wire match for the WWC Universal ChampionshipSeptember 12WCWClash of the Champions VIII: Fall Brawl '89Columbia, South CarolinaSting and Ric Flair defeated Dick Slater and The Great Muta by disqualification in a tag team matchSeptember 21WWFSaturday Night's Main EventCincinnati, OhioHulk Hogan (c) vs. Ted DiBiase in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipSeptember 22EMLLEMLL 56th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoAtlantis (mask) and El Satánico (hair) defeated Los Infernales (Tierra Viento y Fuego (mask) and MS-1 (hair)) in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas mask and hair vs. mask and hair matchOctober 6FMWThe Grudge in NagoyaNagoya, Aichi, Japan Masashi Aoyagi defeated Atsushi Onita by TKO in a Singles matchOctober 10The Grudge in TokyoTokyo, Japan Atsushi Onita defeated Masashi Aoyagi by KO in a Singles matchWWFFirst WWF UK EventLondon, EnglandHulk Hogan (c) defeated Randy Savage in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipOctober 14King of the RingProvidence, Rhode IslandDusty Rhodes defeated Big Boss Man in a singles matchOctober 28WCWHalloween HavocPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaRic Flair and Sting defeated The Great Muta and Terry Funk in a Thunderdome match with Bruno Sammartino as special guest refereeOctober 31WWFSaturday Night's Main EventTopeka, KansasThe Genius defeated Hulk Hogan (c) by countout in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipNovember 15WCWClash of the Champions IX: New York KnockoutTroy, New YorkRic Flair defeated Terry Funk in a I Quit matchNovember 23WWFSurvivor SeriesRosemont, IllinoisThe Ultimate Warriors (The Ultimate Warrior, Jim Neidhart, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) defeated The Heenan Family (Bobby Heenan, André the Giant, Haku and Arn Anderson) in a 4-on-4 Survivor Series matchDecember 7NJPWG1 ClimaxTokyo, JapanShinya Hashimoto defeated Riki Choshu in the finalsDecember 10FMWBattle CreationTokyo, Japan Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto defeated Jerry Blayman and Mitsuhiro Matsunaga by KO in a Barbed Wire Death matchDecember 12WWFNo Holds Barred: The Match/The MovieNashville, TennesseeBrutus Beefcake and Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Savage and Zeus in a Steel Cage matchDecember 13WCWStarrcadeAtlanta, GeorgiaSting defeated Ric Flair in a tournament match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Notable events January the alliance between The American Wrestling Association and The Continental Wrestling Association ended due to AWA Owner Verne Gagne refusing to pay then-World Champion Jerry Lawler for participating on the company's first-ever Pay-Per-View AWA SuperClash III. February 7 - In a live event at St. Paul, Minnesota, Larry Zbyszko won the battle royal to capture the vacant AWA World Heavyweight Championship. The World Wrestling Association professional wrestling promotion based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, closed. August 4 WCCW becomes the USWA when Eric Embry pinned Phil Hickerson in a steel cage match in Dallas, Texas.

Tournaments and accomplishments AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesJapan Grand Prix 1989Mitsuko NishiwakiAugust 24Rookie of the Year Decision TournamentKaoru ItoTag League The Best 1989 Madusa Miceli and Mitsuko NishiwakiOctober 8

AJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesAsunaro Cup 1989Toshiaki KawadaJuly 25

NJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesWorld Cup LeagueRiki ChoshuDecember 7

WCW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesNWA World Tag Team Championship TournamentThe Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes)June 14Iron Man tournamentStingDecember 13Iron Team tournamentThe Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)December 13

WWF AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRoyal RumbleBig John StuddJanuary 15King of the RingTito SantanaOctober 14

Awards and honors Pro Wrestling Illustrated

CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearRic FlairPWI Tag Team of the YearThe Brain Busters(Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard)PWI Match of the YearRicky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (WrestleWar)PWI Feud of the YearRic Flair vs. Terry FunkPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearHulk HoganPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearRandy SavagePWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearScott SteinerPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearEric EmbryPWI Rookie of the YearThe Destruction Crew(Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom)PWI Lifetime AchievementGordon SoliePWI Editor's AwardBobby Heenan

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearRic FlairMost OutstandingRic FlairFeud of the YearRic Flair vs. Terry FunkTag Team of the YearThe Rockers(Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty)Most ImprovedLex LugerBest on InterviewsTerry Funk

Title changes WWF DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 2Hulk HoganWrestleMania V

DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 2Rick RudeWrestleMania VAugust 28The Ultimate WarriorSummerSlam

DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 24Shota ChochishviliHouse showMay 25Antonio InokiHouse showDecember 31DeactivatedN/A

DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 14RetiredN/A

DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)No title changes

Incoming champions – Demolition DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)July 18The Brain BustersSaturday Night's Main Event XXIIOctober 2DemolitionSuperstars of WrestlingAired on Tape Delay on November 4.December 13The Colossal ConnectionSuperstars of WrestlingAired on Tape Delay on December 30.

Unsanctioned championshipDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 15Ted DiBiaseSuperstars of WrestlingDiBiase had the title created for himself and unveiled the belt during a segment called "The Brother Love Show". This episode aired on tape delay on March 4.

Births January 11 – Natalia Markova January 25 – Stu Grayson February 8 – Syuri February 25 – Natsumi Sumikawa March 1 – Tenille Dashwood March 23 – Riara March 31 – Debbie Keitel April 9 – Bianca Belair April 10 - Juice Robinson April 11 – Ariya Daivari April 16 – Mia Yim April 21 – Nikki Cross April 22 –Andre Chase May 14 – Rob Gronkowski May 19 – Tom Phillips June 14 - Peter Avalon June 15 – Bayley June 23 – Billie Kay July 5 – Adam Cole July 7 - Josh Woods (wrestler) July 25 - Jake Doyle July 28 – Nick Jackson August 2 – Yuna Mizumori August 8 – Gianni Valletta August 16 – Cedric Alexander August 25 – Gene Munny August 28 – Christina Von Eerie September 2 – Kengo September 20 – Ethan Page October 3 – T. K. O'Ryan October 11 – Riddick Moss October 24 – Heidi Howitzer November 3 – Andrade "Cien" Almas December 4 – Hiromu Takahashi

Debuts Debut date

Uncertain debut date

Retirements Al Tomko (July 9, 1954 – 1989) Alfonso Dantés (1960–1989) Blue Demon (March 31, 1948 – August 27, 1989) Jonathan Boyd (1966–1989) Nelson Royal (1955–1989) Rayo de Jalisco (February 1950 – 1989) Steve Rickard (1943–1989) Victor Rivera (1964–1989) Big John Studd (1972–1989)

Deaths January 6 - Mario Galento, 73 January 7 - Aslam Pahalwan, 61 February 18 - Mildred Burke, 73 March 7 - Paul Boesch, 76 March 14 – Happy Humphrey, 62 April 17 – Villano II, 39 May 9 - Tiger Joe Marsh, 77 July 25 - Sweet Georgia Brown (wrestler), 50 September 7 - Eduardo Perez (wrestler), 60 or 61 December 7 – Haystacks Calhoun, 55 December 28 – Earl Patrick Freeman, 57

See also

List of WCW pay-per-view events List of WWF pay-per-view events List of FMW supercards and pay-per-view events

References