1994 in professional wrestling

1994 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 1994.

Promotion Name Abbreviation Notes
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling AJW
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración AAA
Catch Wrestling Association CWA
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL
Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling ECW In August, Eastern Championship Wrestling seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and became Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling FMW
International Wrestling Council IWC
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

January
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
January 4 NJPW Battlefield Tokyo, Japan Genichiro Tenryu defeated Antonio Inoki in a Singles match
January 22 WWF Royal Rumble Providence, Rhode Island, United States Bret Hart and Lex Luger co-won the Royal Rumble by last eliminating each other in a 30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania X[1]
January 30 UWA UWA 19th Anniversary Show Naucalpan, Mexico Yamato and Los Villanos (Villano III and Villano V) defeated El Canek, Gran Hamada and Transformer in a Best two out of three falls Six-man tag team match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

February
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
February 5 ECW The Night the Line Was Crossed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Sabu (with 911 and Paul E. Dangerously), Shane Douglas (with Sherri Martel), and Terry Funk (c) wrestled to a time limit draw in a Three way dance for the ECW Heavyweight Championship
February 20 WCW SuperBrawl IV Albany, Georgia, United States Ric Flair (c) defeated Vader (with Harley Race) by submission in a Thundercage match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

March
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
March 20 WWF WrestleMania X New York City, New York, United States Bret Hart defeated Yokozuna (c) (with Mr. Fuji and Jim Cornette) in a Singles match for the WWF Championship with Roddy Piper as special guest referee[2][3]
March 26 ECW Ultimate Jeopardy Devon, Pennsylvania, United States Shane Douglas, Mr. Hughes and the Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated Terry Funk (c), Road Warrior Hawk, Kevin Sullivan and the Tazmaniac by pinfall in an Ultimate Jeopardy Steel Cage match for the ECW Heavyweight Championship
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

April
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
April 15 CMLL International Gran Prix Mexico City, Mexico Emilio Charles Jr. defeated La Fiera in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match[4]
CMLL 38. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico [5]
April 17 WCW Spring Stampede Chicago, Illinois, United States Ric Flair (c) fought Ricky Steamboat to a double pin in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
April 26 AAA Triplemanía II-A Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico Heavy Metal defeated Jerry Estrada in a Lucha de Apuestas "Hair vs. Hair" match[6]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

May
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
May 1 NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Fukuoka, Japan Antonio Inoki defeated The Great Muta in a Singles match
May 5 FMW FMW 5th Anniversary Show Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan Genichiro Tenryu defeated Atsushi Onita in a No Rope Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch
May 14 ECW When Worlds Collide Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Bobby Eaton and Sabu (with 911 and Paul E. Dangerously) defeated Arn Anderson and Terry Funk by submission in a tag team match
May 15 AAA Triplemanía II-B Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Konnan, Perro Aguayo, and Cien Caras defeated Jake Roberts, Love Machine, and Miguel Pérez Jr. in a Best two-out-of-three falls six-man "lucha libre rules" tag team match[7]
May 22 WCW Slamboree Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Sting defeated Vader by pinfall in a Singles match for the vacant WCW International World Heavyweight Championship
May 27 AAA Triplemanía II-C Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Konnan defeated Jake Roberts (with The Warlord) in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta, "Hair vs. Hair" match[8]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

June
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
June 19 WWF King of the Ring Baltimore, Maryland, United States Roddy Piper defeated Jerry Lawler in a Singles match[9]
June 24 ECW Hostile City Showdown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Sabu (with Paul E. Dangerously and 911) defeated Cactus Jack in a Singles match
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

July
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
July 9 CWA Euro Catch Festival in Graz Graz, Austria Rambo (c) defeated Papa Shango in Round 6 in a Singles match for the CWA World Heavyweight Championship
July 14 FMW FMW/LLPW/AJW Tokyo, Japan Bull Nakano defeated Shinobu Kandori in a Chain match
July 16 ECW Heat Wave Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated Terry Funk and Dory Funk, Jr. in a barbed wire match
July 17 WCW Bash at the Beach Orlando, Florida, United States Hulk Hogan (with Mr. T and Jimmy Hart) defeated Ric Flair (c) (with Sensuous Sherri) in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship[10]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

August
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
August 6 WWC WWC 21st Aniversario Bayamón, Puerto Rico Eddie Gilbert defeated Huracán Castillo, Jr. in a "Fire" match
August 13 ECW Hardcore Heaven Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Cactus Jack fought Terry Funk to a no-contest in a Singles match
August 27 ECW NWA World Title Tournament Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Shane Douglas defeated 2 Cold Scorpio by pinfall in a tournament final for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
August 28 FMW Summer Spectacular Osaka, Japan Atsushi Onita defeated Masashi Aoyagi via knockout in a No Ropes Electrified Explosive Barbed Wire Barricade Double Hell match
August 29 WWF SummerSlam Chicago, Illinois, United States The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated The Undertaker (with Ted DiBiase) in a Singles match[11]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

September
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
September 18 WCW Fall Brawl Roanoke, Virginia, United States Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes and The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) defeated The Stud Stable (Terry Funk, Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck and Col. Robert Parker) (with Meng) in a WarGames match
September 23 UWF Blackjack Brawl Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Steve Williams (c) defeated Sid Vicious by disqualification in a Singles match for the UWF World Heavyweight Championship
September 30 CMLL CMLL 61st Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Ricky Santana defeated El Texano in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match[12]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

October
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
October 22 AJPW 22nd Anniversary Show Tokyo, Japan Toshiaki Kawada defeated "Dr. Death" Steve Williams (c) to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
October 23 WCW Halloween Havoc Detroit, Michigan, United States Hulk Hogan (c) (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Ric Flair (with Sensuous Sherri) in a Steel Cage Retirement match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with Mr. T as special guest referee
CMLL Copa de Oro Mexico City, Mexico Apolo Dantes and El Dandy defeated Pierroth, Jr. and El Satanico in a tournament final[13]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

November
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
November 5 ECW November to Remember Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Chris Benoit (with The Public Enemy) vs. 2 Cold Scorpio went to a double count-out in a Singles match
November 6 AAA
WCW
IWC		 When Worlds Collide Los Angeles, California, United States Perro Aguayo defeated Konnan in a Steel Cage match
November 20 AJW Big Egg Wrestling Universe Tokyo, Japan Akira Hokuto defeated Aja Kong in a V*TOP Five Star Tournament final round match
November 23 WWF Survivor Series San Antonio, Texas, United States The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated Yokozuna (with Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji) in a Casket match with Chuck Norris as special guest referee
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

December
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
December 17 ECW Holiday Hell Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) (c) defeated Sabu and the Tazmaniac (with Paul E. Dangerously) by pinfall in a tag team match for the ECW World Tag Team Championship
CWA Euro Catch Festival in Bremen Bremen, Germany Rambo (c) defeated Big Titan in Round 5 in a Singles match for the CWA World Heavyweight Championship
December 27 WCW Starrcade Nashville, Tennessee, United States Hulk Hogan (c) (with Jimmy Hart) defeated The Butcher in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
December 30 CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa Mexico City, Mexico Hector Garza and Negro Casas defeated Arkangel de la Muerte and El Satanico in a tournament final
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Notable events

Accomplishments and tournaments
WCW Hall of Fame 1994 inductee, Harley Race

AJW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Japan Grand Prix 1994 Yumiko Hotta August 28
Rookie of the Year Decision Tournament Yoshiko Tamura
Tag League The Best 1994 Kyoko Inoue and Manami Toyota December 10

AJPW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Asunaro Cup 1994 Jun Akiyama January 29
Champion Carnival 1994 Toshiaki Kawada April 16
World's Strongest Determination League 1994 Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa December 10

ECW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
NWA World Title Tournament Shane Douglas August 27

WCW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
European Cup Tournament Sting March 20

WCW Hall of Fame
Main article: WCW Hall of Fame
Inductee
Harley Race
Ernie Ladd
The Crusher
Dick the Bruiser
Ole Anderson
Masked Assassin

WWF
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Royal Rumble Bret Hart
Lex Luger		 January 22
King of the Ring Owen Hart June 19

WWF Hall of Fame
Main article: WWF Hall of Fame
Category Inductee Inducted by
Individual Arnold Skaaland Shane McMahon
Bobo Brazil Ernie Ladd
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers Bret Hart
Chief Jay Strongbow Gorilla Monsoon
"Classy" Freddie Blassie Shane McMahon
Gorilla Monsoon Jim Ross
James Dudley Vince McMahon

Slammy Awards
Main article: Slammy Award
Poll Winner
Most Intimidating The Undertaker
Best Entertainer Oscar
Worst Idea Abe Knuckleball Schwartz on strike
Sweatiest Irwin R. Shyster
Biggest Rat Owen Hart
Greediest Tatanka
Most Spectacular Match Ladder match: Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania X
Best Coliseum Home Video WWF Raw: Video Strategies & Secrets
Best Tag Team Diesel & Shawn Michaels
Worst Tag Team Diesel & Shawn Michaels
Mouthiest Jerry The King Lawler
Most Eccentric Bob Backlund
Smelliest (TIE) Henry Godwinn / Duke The Dumpster Droese
Most Likely To See Jenny Craig Bastion Booger
Best PPV WrestleMania X
Best Manager The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase
Best New Generation Spot Bret The Hitman Hart "Go get 'em, champ!" commercial
Best Etiquette The Headshrinkers
Most Devastating Bull Nakano
Funniest Dink The Clown
MVP Diesel
Best Show WWF Mania
Most Evolutionary (TIE) Gorilla Monsoon / King Kong Bundy
Most Patriotic Lex Luger
Best Dressed James E. Cornette
Biggest Heart The 123 Kid

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 Nasty Boys
(Brian Knobs and Jerry Sags)
PWI Match of the Year Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania X)
PWI Feud of the Year Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year Sting
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Bob Backlund
PWI Comeback of the Year Hulk Hogan
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Diesel
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Bret Hart
PWI Rookie of the Year 911
PWI Lifetime Achievement Captain Lou Albano
PWI Editor's Award Jimmy Hart

Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Toshiaki Kawada
Most Outstanding Kenta Kobashi
Feud of the Year Los Gringos Locos vs. Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Tag Team of the Year Los Gringos Locos
(Eddy Guerrero and Art Barr)
Most Improved Diesel
Best on Interviews Ric Flair

Title changes

ECW
ECW World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Terry Funk
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 26 Shane Douglas Ultimate Jeopardy (1994)
ECW World Television Championship
Incoming champion – Sabu
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 6 The Tazmaniac Hardcore TV #48
March 6 J.T. Smith Hardcore TV #49
April 16 Gary Wolfe Live event
May 13 Mikey Whipwreck Hardcore TV #57
August 13 Jason Hardcore Heaven
November 4 2 Cold Scorpio Hardcore TV #83
November 4 Dean Malenko Hardcore TV #84
ECW World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Kevin Sullivan and The Tazzmaniac
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 5 Vacant N/A
March 5 Kevin Sullivan and The Tazzmaniac N/A
March 6 The Public Enemy
(Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock)		 Hardcore TV #47
August 27 Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck Hardcore TV #73
November 5 The Public Enemy
(Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock)		 November to Remember
ECW Maryland Championship
Incoming champion – J.T. Smith
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 6 Deactivated N/A Title abandoned when J.T. Smith won the ECW World Television Championship.

FMW
FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Atsushi Onita
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 6 Mr. Pogo FMW
September 7 Atsushi Onita FMW
FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
(Title reactivated)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 18 Big Titan and The Gladiator FMW
April 21 Mr. Pogo and Hisakatsu Oya FMW
July 31 Atsushi Onita and Mitsuhiro Matsunaga FMW
October Vacant FMW
October 28 W*ING Alliance
(Mr. Pogo and The Gladiator)		 FMW
FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – The Great Sasuke
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
December 20 Ricky Fuji House show
FMW Women's Championship
Incoming champion – Crusher Maedomari
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
February 11 Vacant FMW
February 25 Megumi Kudo FMW
June 19 Combat Toyoda FMW
August 28 Yukie Nabeno Summer Spectacular
December 12 Vacant N/A

NJPW
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Shinya Hashimoto
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 4 Tatsumi Fujinami Battle Line Kyushi
May 1 Shinya Hashimoto Wrestling Dontaku 1994
IWGP Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Jurassic Powers (Hercules Hernandez and Scott Norton)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 4 The Hell Raisers
(Hawk Warrior and Power Warrior)		 Battlefield
November 25 Hiroshi Hase and Keiji Mutoh Battle Final 1994
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Jushin Thunder Liger
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
September 24 Vacant N/A
September 27 Norio Honaga G1 Climax Special 1994

WCW
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Ric Flair
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 17 Vacant Spring Stampede A title match between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat ended in a double pin, which resulted in the title being vacated
April 21 Ric Flair Saturday Night Aired on tape delay on May 14.
July 17 Hulk Hogan Bash at the Beach
WCW International World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Rick Rude
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 16 Hiroshi Hase House show
March 24 Rick Rude House show
April 17 Sting Spring Stampede
May 1 Rick Rude Wrestling Dontaku
May 1 Vacant N/A Rude's victory is reversed due to use of the belt as a weapon. Sting refuses the title, leaving it vacant
May 22 Sting Slamboree Defeated Vader to win the vacant title.
June 23 Ric Flair Clash of the Champions XXVII Title ceases to exist after winning
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Steve Austin
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
August 24 Ricky Steamboat Clash of the Champions XXVIII
September 18 Steve Austin Fall Brawl
September 18 Jim Duggan Fall Brawl
December 27 Vader Starrcade
WCW World Television Championship
Incoming champion – Lord Steven Regal
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 2 Larry Zbyszko Saturday Night Aired on tape delay on May 28.
June 23 Lord Steven Regal Clash of the Champions XXVII
September 18 Johnny B. Badd Fall Brawl
WCW World Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
May 22 Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan Slamboree
July 17 Pretty Wonderful
(Paul Roma and Paul Orndorff)		 Bash at the Beach
September 25 Stars and Stripes
(Marcus Alexander Bagwell and The Patriot)		 Main Event
October 23 Pretty Wonderful
(Paul Roma and Paul Orndorff)		 Halloween Havoc
November 16 Stars and Stripes
(Marcus Alexander Bagwell and The Patriot)		 Clash of the Champions XXIX
December 8 Harlem Heat
(Booker T and Stevie Ray)		 Saturday Night Aired on tape delay on January 14.

WWF
WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Yokozuna
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
March 20 Bret Hart WrestleMania X Roddy Piper was the guest referee
November 23 Bob Backlund Survivor Series It was a submission match.
November 26 Diesel House show this title change occurred in New York City's Madison Square Garden. The time of the fall: 8 seconds
WWF Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – Razor Ramon
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
April 13 Diesel Superstars This was aired on tape delay on April 30.
August 29 Razor Ramon SummerSlam
WWF Women's Championship
Incoming champion – Alundra Blayze
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
November 20 Bull Nakano Big Egg Wrestling Universe
WWF Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The Quebecers (Pierre and Jacques)
Date Winner Event/Show Note(s)
January 10 The 1-2-3 Kid and Marty Jannetty Raw
January 17 The Quebecers
(Pierre and Jacques)		 Raw
March 29 Men on a Mission
(Mabel and Mo)		 House show
March 31 The Quebecers
(Pierre and Jacques)		 House show
April 26 The Headshrinkers
(Fatu and Samu)		 Raw
August 28 Two Dudes with Attitudes
(Diesel and Shawn Michaels)		 House show
November 23 Vacant Survivor Series Vacated when Diesel and Michaels could not function as a tag team

Births

Debuts

Retirements

Deaths

See also

References
  1. "Royal Rumble 1994". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  2. "WrestleMania X". Pro Wrestling History. Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  3. "WrestleMania PPV Cards". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on December 31, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  4. "Gran Prix Tournament 1994". ProWrestlingHistory.com. April 15, 1994. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  5. Lucha 2000 Staff (April 2006). "Arena México: 50 anos de Lucha Libre". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). Especial 28.
  6. "Asistencia Asesoría y Administración TripleManía". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  7. "Asistencia Asesoría y Administración TripleManía". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  8. "Asistencia Asesoría y Administración TripleManía". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  9. "King of the Ring 1994". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  10. "Bash at the Beach 1994". Pro Wrestling History. July 17, 1994. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  11. "SummerSlam 1994". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  12. "61st Anniversary Show". ProWrestlingHistory. September 30, 1994. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  13. Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: Copa de Oro 1994". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 398. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  14. "JoJo profile". The Internet Wrestling Database.
  15. "Tian Bing: Profile & Match Listing – Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)". www.profightdb.com. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  16. "Liv Morgan". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  17. "Lio Rush". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  18. "Jasmin Areebi". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
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