1991 in professional wrestling

1991 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of years in professional wrestling
+...

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1991.

Promotion Name Abbreviation Notes
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling AJW
Catch Wrestling Association CWA
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre/Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre EMLL/CMLL During the fall, EMLL was renamed to CMLL.
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling FMW
New Japan Pro-Wrestling NJPW
Universal Wrestling Association UWA
Universal Wrestling Federation UWF
World Championship Wrestling WCW
World Wrestling Council WWC
World Wrestling Federation WWF

Calendar of notable shows
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
January 11 AJW All Japan Women's event at Kawasaki-shi Taiikukan Kawasaki, Japan Bull Nakano and Kyoko Inoue defeat Aja Kong and Bison Kimura in a tag team hair vs hair match
January 19 WWF Royal Rumble Miami, Florida Hulk Hogan won by last eliminating Earthquake in the 30-man Royal Rumble match
January 27 UWA UWA 16th Anniversary Show Naucalpan, Mexico Mil Mascaras, Dos Caras and El Canek defeated The Hawaiian Beasts (Fatu, Kokina and Nikozuna) in a Best two out of three falls Six-man tag team match
February 24 WCW WrestleWar Phoenix, Arizona The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Barry Windham and Sid Vicious) and Larry Zbyszko (with Arn Anderson) defeated Sting, Brian Pillman and The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) in a WarGames match[1]
March 21 WCW
NJPW		 WCW/New Japan Supershow I Tokyo, Japan Tatsumi Fujinami (IWGP Champion) defeated Ric Flair (NWA Champion) in a Title for Title for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
March 24 WWF WrestleMania VII Los Angeles, California Hulk Hogan defeated Sgt. Slaughter (c) (with General Adnan) in a Singles match for the WWF Championship
March 30 WWF / SWS WrestleFest Tokyo, Japan The Legion of Doom (Road Warrior Hawk & Road Warrior Animal) beat Hulk Hogan & Genichiro Tenryu via countout
April 24 WWF UK Rampage London, England Hulk Hogan (c) defeated Sgt. Slaughter (with General Adnan) in a Singles match for the WWF Championship
May 19 WCW SuperBrawl I St. Petersburg, Florida Ric Flair (c-WCW) defeated Tatsumi Fujinami (c-NWA) in a Singles match for the NWA and WCW World Heavyweight Championships[2][3]
June 9 UWF Beach Brawl Palmetto, Florida Steve Williams defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in a Tournament final for the inaugural UWF SportsChannel Television Championship
July 6 WWC WWC 18th Aniversario Bayamón, Puerto Rico Dino Bravo defeated Carlos Colón (c) via reverse decision in a Singles match for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship with El Vikingo as the special referee.
July 14 WCW The Great American Bash Baltimore, Maryland Rick Steiner defeated Arn Anderson and Paul E. Dangerously in a Steel Cage match
August 18 AJW All Japan Women's event at Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Kyoko Inoue defeats Bison Kimura in the finals of the Japan Grand Prix 1991
August 26 WWF SummerSlam New York City, New York Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior defeated Col. Mustafa, General Adnan and Sgt. Slaughter in a 3 vs 2 Handicap match with Sid Justice as special guest referee
September 7 WWF King of the Ring Providence, Rhode Island Bret Hart defeated Irwin R. Schyster in a King of the Ring tournament final match
AJW Exciting Zone Omiya Night Omiya, Japan Bull Nakano defeats Kyoko Inoue in a WWWA World Title match
September 8 EMLL EMLL 58th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Konnan defeated Perro Aguayo, Cien Caras was also on the match in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, triangular hair vs. hair match[4]
September 23 FMW FMW 2nd Anniversary Show Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan Atsushi Onita defeated Tarzan Goto by knockout in a No Rope Exploding Barbed Wire Steel Cage Deathmatch
October 3 WWF Battle Royal at the Albert Hall London, England The British Bulldog won by last eliminating Typhoon in a 20-man battle royal
October 27 WCW Halloween Havoc Chattanooga, Tennessee Lex Luger (c) (with Harley Race) defeated Ron Simmons (with Dusty Rhodes) in a Two-out-of-three-falls match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
November 21 AJW Wrestle Marinepiad '91 Kawasaki, Japan Bull Nakano and Monster Ripper defeat Aja Kong and Bison Kimura in a cage match. Nakano and Ripper then advance into a singles cage match which Nakano wins.
November 27 WWF Survivor Series Detroit, Michigan The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer defeated Hulk Hogan (c) in a Singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
December 3 This Tuesday in Texas San Antonio, Texas Hulk Hogan defeated The Undertaker (c) (with Paul Bearer) in a Singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship[5]
December 9 AJW All Japan Women's event at Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Toshiyo Yamada and Kyoko Inoue defeat Aja Kong and Bison Kimura in the finals of Tag League the Best 1991
December 12 WWF / SWS SuperWrestle Tokyo, Japan Hulk Hogan defeated Genichiro Tenryu
December 13 CMLL Juicio Final Mexico City, Mexico Máscara Año 2000 defeated Aníbal (2-1) in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas mask vs. mask match[6]
December 21 CWA Euro Catch Festival Bremen, Germany Rambo (c) defeated Ken Patera in Round 8 in a Singles match for the CWA World Heavyweight Championship
December 29 WCW Starrcade Norfolk, Virginia Sting last eliminated Lex Luger to win the Battlebowl battle royal[7]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Accomplishments and tournaments

AJW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Japan Grand Prix 1991 Kyoko Inoue August 18
Rookie of the Year Decision Tournament Akemi Torisu
Tag League The Best 1991 Kyoko Inoue and Toshiyo Yamada December 9

AJPW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Champion Carnival 1991 Jumbo Tsuruta April 18
World's Strongest Determination League 1991 Terry Gordy and Steve Williams December 6

JWP
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rookie of the Year Tournament Yasha Kurenai February 11

WCW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
WCW United States Championship Tournament Sting August 25
WCW World Tag Team Championship Tournament The Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko) September 5
WCW Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament Brian Pillman October 27

WWF
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Hulk Hogan January 19
King of the Ring Bret Hart September 7

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
Category Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year Hulk Hogan
PWI Tag Team of the Year The Enforcers
(Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko)
PWI Match of the Year The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) vs. Sting and Lex Luger (SuperBrawl I)
PWI Feud of the Year The Ultimate Warrior vs. The Undertaker
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year Sting
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Sgt. Slaughter
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Dustin Rhodes
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year The Patriot
PWI Rookie of the Year Johnny B. Badd
PWI Lifetime Achievement The Fabulous Moolah
PWI Editor's Award Bobby Heenan

Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Jumbo Tsuruta
Most Outstanding Jushin Thunder Liger
Feud of the Year Mitsuharu Misawa and company vs. Jumbo Tsuruta and company
Tag Team of the Year Mitsuharu Misawa and Toshiaki Kawada
Most Improved Dustin Rhodes
Best on Interviews Ric Flair

Title changes

WWF
WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – The Ultimate Warrior
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 19 Sgt. Slaughter Royal Rumble
March 24 Hulk Hogan WrestleMania VII
November 27 The Undertaker Survivor Series
December 3 Hulk Hogan This Tuesday in Texas
December 4 Vacant Superstars of Wrestling Hogan was stripped of the title by WWF President Jack Tunney due to the controversy surrounding both of the previous title changes. It aired on tape delay on December 7, 1991.
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – Mr. Perfect
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
August 26 Bret Hart SummerSlam
WWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 7 Perro Aguayo and Gran Hamada N/A Later abandoned in 1991.
WWF Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 24 The Nasty Boys
(Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags)		 WrestleMania VII
August 26 The Legion of Doom
(Animal and Hawk)		 SummerSlam
Million Dollar Championship
Incoming champion – Ted DiBiase
unsanctioned championship
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
August 26 Virgil SummerSlam
November 11 Ted DiBiase Survivor Series Showdown This program aired on tape delay on November 24, 1991.

WCW
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 11 Ric Flair House show Defeated Sting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. WCW began recognizing Flair as WCW World Heavyweight Champion while still using the NWA belt (i.e. the Big Gold Belt)
WWE recognizes this reign as an NWA world title reign (and not a WCW one)
July 1 Vacant Ric Flair left for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was stripped of the title. When Flair left, he took the Big Gold Belt, which represented the NWA and WCW world titles, with him.
July 14 Lex Luger The Great American Bash
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Lex Luger
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
July 14 Vacant The Great American Bash Vacated when Lex Luger won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
August 25 Sting House show Defeated Steve Austin in a tournament final
November 19 Rick Rude Clash of the Champions XVII
WCW United States Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 6 Vacant World Wide Wrestling
May 19 The Fabulous Freebirds
(Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes)		 SuperBrawl Defeated The Young Pistols for the vacant title
August 12 The Patriots
(Todd Champion and Firebreaker Chip)		 World Championship Wrestling
November 5 The Young Pistols
(Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers)		 Main Event
WCW World Television Championship
Incoming champion – The Z-Man
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 7 Arn Anderson World Wide Wrestling
May 19 Bobby Eaton SuperBrawl
June 3 Steve Austin World Wide Wrestling
WCW Light Heavyweight Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
October 27 Brian Pillman Halloween Havoc Defeated Richard Morton in the finals of a tournament to decide the inaugural champion.
December 25 Jushin Thunder Liger House show
WCW World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Doom (Ron Simmons and Butch Reed)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 24 The Fabulous Freebirds
(Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes)		 WrestleWar
February 18 The Steiner Brothers
(Rick and Scott Steiner)		 Pro
July 20 Vacant WCW
September 5 The Enforcers
(Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko)		 Clash of the Champions XVI: Fall Brawl
November 19 Ricky Steamboat and Dustin Rhodes Clash of the Champions XVII
WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
(Title created)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 17 Junkyard Dog, Ricky Morton and Tommy Rich House show
June 3 The Fabulous Freebirds
(Brad Armstrong, Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes)		 WCW Main Event Aired on June 30
August 5 Big Josh, Dustin Rhodes and Tom Zenk WCW Worldwide Aired on August 24
October 8 The York Foundation
(Richard Morton, Thomas Rich and Terrance Taylor)		 WCW Main Event Aired on November 10
December 1 Deactivated N/A

Births

Debuts
  • Uncertain debut date

Retirements

Deaths
  • January 21 – Nick Gulas, American wrestling promoter (b. 1914)
  • April 23 - Frankie Williams (wrestler), American wrestler (b. 1940)
  • June 30 – Duke Keomuka, Japanese wrestler (b. 1921)
  • August 15- Tank Morgan, American wrestler (b. 1933)
  • August 25 – Vivian Vachon, Canadian wrestler (b. 1951)
  • August 27 – Martín Karadagian, Argentina wrestler (b. 1922)
  • September 12 – Chris Von Erich, American wrestler (b. 1969)
  • September 30 - King Levinsky, American wrestle and boxer (b. 1910)
  • October 27 - Rocky Hata, Japanese wrestler (b. 1948)
  • October 31 – Gene Anderson, American wrestler (b. 1939)
  • November 10 – Dick the Bruiser, American wrestler (b. 1929)
  • November 9 - Abe Yourist, Russian wrestler (b. 1909)
  • November 12 – Ripper Collins, American wrestler (b. 1933)
  • December 25 – Wilbur Snyder, American wrestler (b. 1929)

See also

References
  1. "WrestlWar 1991". Pro Wrestling History. February 24, 1991. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  2. "Historical Cards: SuperBrawl I (May 19, 1991. St. Petersburg, Florida)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 156. 2007 Edition.
  3. "SuperBrawl "Return of the Rising Sun"". Pro Wrestling History. May 19, 1991. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  4. "58th Anniversary Show". Pro Wrestling History. September 8, 1991. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  5. "WWF This Tuesday in Texas results/info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  6. "Juicio Final con Aníbal". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish) (#1970): 3–4. December 20, 1991.
  7. Adamson, Matt (2008-02-18). "Going Old School: Starrcade '91". 411mania. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  8. "Internet Wrestling Database". Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  9. "Nikola Bogojevic". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
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