Welcome to Timeline ‘84, a characteristic that goals to map out all of the occasions that formed the trendy wrestling world as we all know it. Two years in the past, I began Wrestling Playlists with the thought of doing a trek by way of all the identified wrestling footage that exists in chronological order, beginning with the oldest identified clip on the finish of the nineteenth century.
Whereas the footage facilitates a extra full telling of wrestling historical past than some would possibly suppose throughout this period, what I’ve additionally found is that failed plans, trendy recollections, and the small print of behind-the-scenes maneuvering are maybe an much more vital a part of understanding professional wrestling’s trendy panorama than something that has occurred within the ring.
In February, the WWF had engaged in a direct battle with Georgia Championship Wrestling and the St. Louis Wrestling Membership, and whereas different promoters had been definitely on excessive alert, the “Conflict of ‘84” was largely confined to the airwaves.
February – The WWF loses native tv in San Jose, California, as KICU-36 cancels Superstars of Wrestling.
February – A Japanese newspaper studies that Riki Choshu will depart New Japan Professional Wrestling to hitch Hisashi Shinma’s new group. Choshu not solely denies the story, however sues the newspaper. [WON APRIL 1984] One other newspaper printed an identical story about Antonio Inoki, which it’s broadly believed was planted by Inoki himself to leverage a greater take care of TV-Asahi, as their deal expires quickly. [WON APRIL 1984]
February – Ryuma Go and Kazuo Yamazaki depart New Japan Professional Wrestling. Go is anticipated to hitch Hisashi Shinma’s new promotion. Yamazaki informs the NJPW workplace that he broke his leg on a tour of the Philippines, however accepts a place because the lead teacher at Satoru Sayama’s martial arts fitness center with “his leg good as new.” [WON APRIL 1984] Yamazaki and Nobuhiko Takada are believed by NJPW to be the highest stars in wrestling in 5 years. [WON APRIL 1984]
February – Vince McMahon receives a telephone name from Jack Brisco to verify on the well being of a WWF worker who has been sick. In the course of the dialog, McMahon asks Brisco if he and Jerry Brisco would contemplate promoting their inventory to him. Brisco signifies that he would if the worth is correct. McMahon meets with Jack and Jerry Brisco the next day at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, who inform him they will ship 90 % of GCW inventory. [SEX, LIES AND HEADLOCKS pp. 40]
February 1-February 2 – Southwest Championship Wrestling flirts with east coast growth, operating two exhibits in Fall River, Massachusetts, and Windfall, Rhode Island. The exhibits fail to make an affect, drawing 800 and 200 followers, respectively. Boston promoter Abe Ford was focused on bringing Southwest to town, however reversed course after low attendance. The Fall River present on February 1 had further issues, because the Sheepherders versus Bobby Jaggers and Manny Fernandez match was so chaotic with tables and chairs thrown at followers that police stepped in and arrested all 4 males. [WON MARCH 1984]
February 3 — World Class Championship Wrestling attracts 5,000 followers, its second-largest Dallas Sportatorium crowd in historical past, even going 1,000 followers over capability to promote extra tickets. Within the high matches, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats Chris Adams in “most likely the very best bout on this circuit up to now in ‘84” [WON APRIL 1984] whereas David Von Erich wrestles his final match in Dallas, defeating Michael Hayes to win the NWA United Nationwide Title earlier than desiring to tour All Japan Professional Wrestling as a defending champion. The highest matches from the cardboard are broadcast on the syndicated World Class Championship Wrestling present.
February 3 – The NWA attracts a robust 9,372 followers to the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, ramping up the promotional battle with the WWF. In the primary occasion, Barry Windham wins a battle royal to earn a title shot towards NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude on the subsequent present.
February 3 – New Japan Professional Wrestling holds a present in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, on the Nakajima Sports activities Middle earlier than 7,000 followers. In the course of the present, preliminary Yoshiaki Fujiwara assaults Riki Choshu with a lead pipe in an angle that many in Japan imagine is corporate retribution to Choshu for contemplating a NJPW departure. [WON APRIL 1984] Nonetheless, this was merely an angle designed to raise Fujiwara into the highest combine. Tatsumi Fujinami, usually the babyface in his feud with Choshu, capitalizes on Choshu’s situation and assaults him, which is booed loudly by followers in attendance. As a result of the scheduled Choshu-Fujinami match doesn’t happen, a loud “Give Cash Again!” chant erupts within the constructing. After the present, Fujinami tells reporters that he hates New Japan Professional Wrestling and plans to stop the corporate. He pulls himself out of all scheduled tags with Inoki. Additionally on the cardboard, Dynamite Child defeats Davey Boy Smith in a match “one correspondent known as the very best bout he had ever seen”. [WON APRIL 1984]
February 4 – Regardless of Southwest Championship Wrestling gaining floor, World Class Championship Wrestling attracts one other sellout crowd [WON MAY 1984] in San Antonio. In the primary occasion, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats David Von Erich.
February 5 – Atlanta crowds proceed to say no severely, as Georgia Championship Wrestling attracts lower than 1,000 followers to the Omni in Atlanta. In the primary occasion, Jack Brisco defeats Ted DiBiase.
February 6 – The Fabulous Ones, essentially the most profitable tag crew within the historical past of Memphis wrestling, wrestle their final match within the territory for 4 months. The duo stop over a payoff dispute with promoter Jerry Jarrett. It’s also reported that “the issue has apparently been constructing for just a few months, as a result of Stan & Steve, in actual life, really began to imagine they had been The Fabulous Ones, if what I imply.” [WON APRIL 1984]
February 7 – After a four-day absence, Riki Choshu returns to New Japan Professional Wrestling, earlier than 12,000 followers at Tokyo’s Sumo Corridor. The present attracts a $287,000 gate. [WON APRIL 1984] Choshu exacts his revenge on Yoshiaki Fujiwara in an early match Fujiwara has towards Higo “Animal” Hamaguchi, as Choshu and Hamaguchi double-team Fujiwara by delivering a spike piledriver and leaving him laying. Later within the present, Choshu groups with Yoshiaki Yatsu, and the duo lose to IWGP and WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan and Mike Sharpe. Additionally on the cardboard, Dynamite Child, Davey Boy Smith, and Cobra take part in a one-night spherical robin event to crown a brand new WWF Junior Heavyweight Champion in “three unimaginable matches” with the “most death-defying strikes wherever”, Kuniaki Kobayashi and Isamu Teranishi defeat Bret Hart and Black Tiger in an “wonderful tag bout” and Akira Maeda goes to a double countout with Kengo Kimura in a “speedy, scientific draw”. [WON APRIL 1984]
February 8 – Championship Wrestling From Florida wraps up its notorious “Yellow Canine” angle, the place Barry Windham wrestled below a masks, defeating Ron Bass in a masks vs saddle match. The cardboard attracts a close to sellout 4,652 followers. In the primary occasion, Dusty Rhodes defeats Kevin Sullivan in a Lights Out Texas Demise match.
February 9 – New Japan Professional Wrestling concludes the New 12 months Golden Sequence, a 33-show tour in 31 cities, earlier than 9,000 followers within the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. In the primary occasion, Antonio Inoki groups with Yoshiaki Fujiwara, who substitutes for Tatsumi Fujinami, and Akira Maeda to face Riki Choshu’s Ishin Gundan group. Fujiwara is crushed to a bloody pulp, which leads to a ref stoppage. Additionally on the cardboard, Cobra retains the NWA Junior Heavyweight Title towards Kuniaki Kobayashi in “one other excellent match”. [WON APRIL 1984]
February 10 – Georgia Championship Wrestling attracts a powerful close to 6,000 followers in Wheeling, West Virginia.
February 10 – The WWF makes its enviornment debut on the St. Louis Kiel Auditorium, drawing a full home and promoting an extra 2,500 closed circuit tickets. In the primary occasion, Massive John Studd wins a $30,000 18-man battle royal that additionally options Hulk Hogan and Andre the Large. NWA promoter Bob Geigel tried to sabotage the present by closely promoting the subsequent NWA card at Kiel all day on tv. [DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES, pp. 129] The highest matches are broadcast on Superstars of Wrestling and All American Wrestling.
February 10 – The 25-year outdated David Von Erich arrives in All Japan Professional Wrestling to start a three-week tour, solely to be discovered lifeless in his Tokyo resort room, which devastates the wrestling world. In accordance with studies, Von Erich suffered from acute enteritis, which brought about a coronary heart assault. The Von Erichs had been publicly adamant that the demise was not drug-related, with Kevin telling a reporter that his brother was “by no means, form, or kind concerned in medicine.” [DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES, pp. 117-118]
February 11 – World Class Championship Wrestling airs a one-hour tribute to David Von Erich which is considered by over 600,000 households within the Dallas-Fort Value space. [WON APRIL 1984]
February 11 – The WWF attracts 15,000 followers to the Boston Backyard. Within the high matches, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats the Iron Sheik, whereas Tito Santana defeats WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco to win the title.
February 12 – Maple Leaf Wrestling attracts 17,087 followers to the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. In the primary occasion, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats Harley Race in a metal cage match described as “higher than their Starrcade match.” [WON APRIL 1984] Additionally on the cardboard, Dusty Rhodes makes his first look within the metropolis in over two years, teaming with Jimmy Valiant towards The Assassins. Due to latest expertise departures from his territory, Jim Crockett Promotions pulls expertise again from Toronto bookings after this present. [WON APRIL 1984]
February 12 – Promoter Takeshi Oiso brings New Japan Professional Wrestling expertise to the Philippines for a two-day tour that pulls 25,000 followers. Within the first night time predominant occasion on the Alaneta Coliseum in Manila, Antonio Inoki defeats Dangerous Information Allen. The next night time in Quezon Metropolis, Inoki and Akira Maeda defeat Riki Choshu and Animal Hamaguchi.
February 13 – Championship Wrestling From Florida sells out once more, this time on the West Palm Seaside Auditorium. Within the high matches, Dusty Rhodes defeats Kharma in a Lights Out match whereas NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude holds Mike Rotunda to a 60-minute draw.
February 15 – David Von Erich’s funeral takes place at First Baptist Church of Denton, Texas. His funeral is attended by over 3,500 individuals, together with names in professional wrestling corresponding to Gene Kiniski, Dory and Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Pat O’Connor, Bob Geigel, and Eddie Graham, together with virtually all native wrestlers. The territory did its finest to keep up kayfabe, as rival Michael Hayes tells a neighborhood reporter that he want to attend the funeral however feels below the circumstances that he shouldn’t. “The truth that we had been enemies within the ring didn’t have something to do with the great quantity of respect I had for him,” NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude informed the Related Press. “He had limitless guts.” Aptitude, who wrestled 60 minutes the earlier night time in Tampa, seems on the funeral, then flies to his subsequent match in Miami Seaside, the place he wrestles 45 minutes. Fritz Von Erich bans all cameras from the funeral. David’s physique is laid to relaxation at Grove Hill Memorial Park in East Dallas. About 1,500 followers arrive and refuse to disperse after the service. “Fritz stated the gang is what made them, and he wished the gang to be a part of this,” Sondra Adkisson, David’s cousin, informed the Related Press. “It’s quite a bit tougher on the household, however the crowd beloved the boys.” [WON APRIL 1984]
February 15 – Championship Wrestling From Florida attracts a sellout 4,937 to the Miami Seaside Conference Middle. In the primary occasion, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats Barry Windham in a 45-minute match. [WON APRIL 1984] Additionally on the present, Dusty Rhodes and Billy Jack Haynes crew towards Kevin Sullivan and Kharma in a Texas Twister match.
February 16 – Georgia Championship Wrestling invades the WWF territory, operating a card on the Baltimore Civic Middle that pulls 7,500 followers their first time out there. In the primary occasion, Mr. R, a masked Tommy Wealthy, defeats Ted DiBiase. The success of the cardboard leads some to imagine that “…regardless of the massive crowds the WWF is drawing in Baltimore, a competitor may also earn money.” [WON APRIL 1984]
February 17 – The NWA runs the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, which attracts 5,000 followers, lower than half of the WWF’s first present within the venue per week earlier. Within the high matches, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats Barry Windham, whereas Missouri Champion Harley Race is disqualified in a title protection towards Wahoo McDaniel.
February 18 – In an try at harm management from promoter Jerry Jarrett, and to assuage followers upset by their departure, Jackie Fargo publicizes on Memphis tv that he fired the Fabulous Ones as a result of they refused to remain within the metropolis.
February 18 – Georgia Championship Wrestling continues to win the wrestling battle with the WWF in Ohio, as they draw 5,000 followers in Cleveland.
February 18 – The WWF attracts a monstrous 16,000 followers to the Philadelphia Spectrum. In the primary occasion, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats the Masked Famous person. The cardboard is broadcast on Philadelphia’s PRISM community.
February 19 – Championship Wrestling From Florida continues its latest string of momentum credited to “the Aptitude matches […] mixed with the heel antics of Kevin Sullivan” [WON APRIL 1984] with one other sellout on the Eddie Graham Sports activities Stadium in Orlando. Within the high matches, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude wrestles Mike Rotunda to a double-pin in a 47-minute match whereas Dusty Rhodes defeats Kharma in a Lights Out match.
February 20 – Southeastern Championship Wrestling begins going through ongoing struggles with no-shows, as a card in Birmingham, Alabama is with out 4 wrestlers who had been marketed to seem, simply because the WWF eyes the market.
February 20 – The WWF attracts one other sellout crowd at Madison Sq. Backyard in York, as 26,092 followers fill MSG and neighboring Felt Discussion board. In the primary occasion, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats Paul Orndorff. The cardboard is broadcast in New York on the MSG Community and in a while the USA Community.
February 20 – World Class Championship Wrestling reopens 10 days after the passing of David Von Erich with a present in Fort Value on the Will Rogers Coliseum.
February 21 – Southwest Championship Wrestling continues its makes an attempt to ramp up blood to promote tickets and differentiate themselves from different teams. Butch Miller of the Sheepherders is hospitalized for the second time in a month for blood loss, and this time loses a lot blood that he develops pneumonia. [WON APRIL 1984]
February 21 – Buzz Sawyer, a significant star for 3 years on WTBS, debuts as a shock on a Championship Wrestling From Florida present in Tampa, Florida, aligning with Kevin Sullivan’s group. Sawyer was lately fired from Georgia Championship Wrestling as a result of he was given the power to guide his personal finishes and repeatedly booked himself and brother Brett to defeat the Street Warriors clear in title matches, creating repeated title adjustments that had been by no means acknowledged on tv. [WON APRIL 1984]
February 23 – On an All Japan Professional Wrestling card in Tokyo’s Sumo Corridor earlier than 12,500 followers, Jumbo Tsuruta defeats AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel to win the title. Six-time NWA World Champion Lou Thesz referees the match. Additionally on the present, Ricky Steamboat is flown in for “emergency obligation” [WON APRIL 1984] following the demise of David Von Erich to wrestle Genichiro Tenryu in a match the place Tenryu wins the vacant NWA United Nationwide Title beforehand held by Von Erich, and NWA Worldwide Junior Heavyweight Champion Chavo Guerrero defeats Mighty Inoue in two “scientific and entertaining” [WON MAY 1984] matches.
February 24 – Displaying indicators of momentum, Southwest Championship Wrestling attracts a sellout 1,200 followers to Wichita Falls, Texas. In the primary occasion, Manny Fernandez and Bobby Jaggers face the Sheepherders in a barbed wire cage match that ought to “get a robust ‘R’ score due to the blood content material.” [WON APRIL 1984]
February 24 – The WWF attracts a sellout 18,000 followers to the Civic Middle in Pittsburgh, PA, which is sort of triple the variety of the earlier two exhibits out there. In the primary occasion, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats the Iron Sheik.
February 25 – The WWF attracts its second consecutive sellout on the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium. In the primary occasion, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats the Masked Famous person. Additionally on the cardboard, WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana defeats Don Muraco in an 8-fall, 25-minute Texas Demise match.
February 26 – World Class Championship Wrestling attracts one more sellout crowd in San Antonio. In the primary occasion, Kerry, Kevin and Mike Von Erich appear to defeat the Fabulous Freebirds to win the WCCW 6-man titles, however the resolution is later reversed.
February 26 – The AWA continues to carry regular in its core market, drawing 14,000 followers to the St. Paul Civic Middle. Within the high matches, Jerry Blackwell defeats the Crusher in an “Something Goes” match, whereas Jesse Ventura and Mr. Saito lose to Baron Von Raschke and Jim Brunzell.
February 26 – All Japan Professional Wrestling attracts 7,800 followers to the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium as a part of its Excite Sequence. In the primary occasion, Terry Funk is the particular referee for a match the place Jumbo Tsuruta defends his newly received AWA World Title towards Nick Bockwinkel. Additionally on the cardboard, Mighty Inoue defeats NWA Worldwide Junior Heavyweight Champion Chavo Guerrero to win the title.
Late February – Memphis star Invoice Dundee is employed by promoter Invoice Watts to guide Mid South Wrestling. Dundee is “thrilled to no finish” [WON APRIL 1984] that Steve Williams has briefly left the territory to play soccer with the USFL and sends Nikolai Volkoff to Georgia Championship Wrestling whereas bringing within the Rock N Roll Specific, Masao Ito, and Jerry Gray. Dundee is not going to be wrestling, however will lead the territory to its most profitable field workplace 12 months ever. “Dundee’s finishes and concepts for gimmicks made me a fortune,” stated Invoice Watts. [BILL WATTS-THE COWBOY AND THE CROSS]
Late February – AWA promoter Verne Gagne holds talks with Bruno Sammartino about coming in as an announcer [WON APRIL 1984] and whilst a wrestler [WON MAY 1984], which might probably open the door to compete with the WWF in New York, however nothing outcomes from the talks.
Late February – Georgia Championship Wrestling loses tv in Cincinnati after a dispute between promoter Ole Anderson and station administration. Anderson insists on operating head-to-head with the WWF tv present, a request that the station declines. As a result of he forces the problem, the community lastly simply cancels the present completely. [WON APRIL 1984]
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