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 concept of doing a trek via the entire recognized wrestling footage that exists in chronological order, beginning with the oldest recognized clip on the finish of the nineteenth century. Whereas the footage facilitates a extra full telling of wrestling historical past than some may assume throughout this period, what I’ve additionally found is that failed plans, fashionable recollections, and the main points of behind-the-scenes maneuvering are maybe an much more necessary a part of understanding professional wrestling’s fashionable panorama than something that has occurred within the ring.
I begin with 1984 as a result of that is the yr that Vince McMahon’s WWF got down to obtain world domination in professional wrestling.
The trail to paradise was to not observe one set of slim steps, however quite to wage dozens of wars on dozens of fronts. 1984 was the yr that almost each main media market and its arenas and tv stations turned a battleground. We begin simply over a month after Starrcade ‘83: A Flare For The Gold expanded its attain far past the Carolinas to trace on the future, and solely days after the Iron Sheik defeated Bob Backlund to win the WWF World Title, signaling a altering of the guard and a shift to a brand new period in professional wrestling, one that will absolutely leverage the facility of cable tv.
January 1984
January-March – The WWF’s Superstars of Wrestling debuts on WDRB-32 in Louisville, WCAY-30 in Nashville, and WMKW-30 in Memphis, establishing presence within the Memphis territory; and KLRT-16 in Little Rock and WNOL-15 in New Orleans, establishing presence within the Mid South territory. The WWF additionally establishes a robust relationship with TVX Broadcast Group in jap North Carolina, which permits them to debut Superstars on WTVZ-33 in Norfolk and WRLH-35 in Richmond, giving them a footprint in Crockett nation. [DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES, pp. 109]
January — The NWA makes an settlement with KDNL-30 to air the NWA St. Louis weekly TV present. KDNL had been airing Larry Matysik’s program.
January – Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Ole Anderson performs a determined tactic that attracts some ire, as he begins to air older clips of present WWF expertise in squash matches, reducing the tape earlier than the end and relaying to the viewers that the wrestler being squashed really gained when most viewers knew that was not the case.
January – World Class Championship Wrestling devises a curiously failsafe state of affairs on tv, the place they demand that the NWA strip Ric Aptitude of the World Title, or they may go away the NWA. This seems to be an idle menace.
January – After departing New Japan Professional Wrestling months earlier due to Hisashi Shinma’s “tyranny” [WON MARCH 1984], Satoru Sayama finds widespread floor with Shinma and takes him on as a supervisor. Shinma beforehand tried to dam Sayama from getting married, solely to step in and plan the marriage solely with out Sayama’s involvement. Sayama had been supporting himself on revenue earned as a paid supply of Japanese media, whereas additionally incomes aspect revenue via his martial arts faculty. NJPW wrestlers have been livid that Sayama was revealing a lot about NJPW’s inside workings to the media, stopping his return to the corporate. Rumors abound that Sayama has contacted Vince McMahon about making a Japanese firm to get “revenge [on] the corporate that expelled him” [WON MARCH 1984] and run in opposition to New Japan Professional Wrestling. [WON MARCH 1984]
January – Upon listening to that shareholders Jack and Jerry Brisco wish to money out of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Ole Anderson meets with the Brisco brothers at a Ramada Inn in Atlanta. The dialog begins harshly, with Anderson confronting Jack Brisco by saying, “What the hell do you assume you’re doing, Jack? You possibly can’t run a fucking factor.” [SEX, LIES AND HEADLOCKS, pp. 47] The Briscos are sad about their wage and dividends as shareholders of GCW and desire a pay improve, a request that Anderson rejects. The three speak via their variations and take a literal “blood oath” on the assembly to cease preventing one another, though “how they accomplish that is the topic of some dispute.” [SEX, LIES AND HEADLOCKS, pp. 47] Ultimately, the Briscos comply with let Ole proceed to run the corporate in the event that they obtain larger profit-sharing checks every week. [SEX, LIES AND HEADLOCKS, pp. 47]
January – In a 15-minute assembly, Vince McMahon makes a pitch to Ted Turner to permit the WWF to take over manufacturing duties of World Championship Wrestling on WTBS. Turner doesn’t settle for the supply. [SEX, LIES AND HEADLOCKS, pp. 40]
January 1 – At a card taped 4 days earlier, the WWF formally makes its intentions clear, debuting their model of Wrestling on the Chase on the St. Louis KPLR-11 community, broadcasting from the Chase Lodge. If it’s not sufficient to declare struggle in opposition to the NWA in essentially the most symbolic metropolis attainable, the taping additionally contains the WWF debut of Hulk Hogan, McMahon’s new prime star who will lead his nationwide enlargement effort. Hogan and different WWF stars are interviewed by legendary announcer “Imply” Gene Okerlund, who departed the AWA alongside Hogan, after the match. Different debuts on the present included Hogan’s AWA rival David Schultz and the Adrian Adonis-Dick Murdoch tag staff, who impressed the WWF on a current New Japan Professional Wrestling tour. The WWF breaks from metropolis custom by charging $5.00 admission [WON FEBRUARY 1984] when Wrestling on the Chase tapings had at all times been free. The taping attracts 1,100 followers and turns away a whole bunch extra. [WON FEBRUARY 1984]
January 1 – After principally weak crowds for a number of weeks, promoter Jerry Jarrett rebounds with a robust displaying at Mid South Coliseum, drawing 7,829 followers. In the primary occasion, Jerry Lawler defeats AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel by disqualification. Additionally on the cardboard, the Fabulous Ones and the Moondogs brawl to a double disqualification.
January 2 – All Japan Professional Wrestling promoter Shohei “Big” Baba and New Japan Professional Wrestling President Seiji Sakaguchi have a 30-minute personal assembly in Tokyo to debate a attainable AJPW-NJPW present in August. [WON MARCH 1984]
January 2 – Whilst promotional wars trace at heating up, all appears nice on the WWF-WCCW entrance, as World Class Championship Wrestling promotes a card at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Price, Texas. In the primary occasion, Andre the Big defeats Kamala. The Andre-Kamala match is broadcast on Championship Sports activities, the WCCW program that airs on Saturday evenings on KTVT-19 in Fort Price.
January 3 – Simply over a month after wrestling in one of many prime matches at Jim Crockett’s Starrcade ‘83: A Flare For The Gold, Roddy Piper debuts within the WWF on the Allentown, Pennsylvania, TV taping. The preliminary plan is to solely characteristic him as a supervisor due to his dimension, however he’s such a warmth magnet that the WWF pivots to creating him an in-ring competitor shortly. Over the following a number of years, Piper achieves a stage of crossover movie star stardom because of his interactions with pop star Cyndi Lauper and cult movie appearances, whereas additionally changing into a significant participant for the WWF within the decade forward; first as Hulk Hogan’s chief rival and later as a beloved babyface, changing into WWF Intercontinental Champion close to the top of his run.
January 3–January 5 —The Street Warriors tour promoter Jerry Jarrett’s territory, dealing with the Fabulous Ones in Louisville, Kentucky; Evansville, Indiana; and Lexington, Kentucky. The Street Warriors-Fabulous Ones match on January 3 attracts the biggest crowd in Louisville Gardens historical past.
January 4 – The AWA attracts 6,000 followers to the Showboat Sports activities Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. The AWA advertises Hulk Hogan to look all the way in which to showtime, however Jesse Ventura replaces Hogan in the primary occasion in opposition to Billy Robinson.
January 6 – The NWA rolls out the heavy artillery to guard St. Louis, because the NWA attracts a sellout crowd on the Kiel Auditorium. In the primary occasion, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude holds off a problem from Bruiser Brody in a match that was later broadcast on tv in spotlight kind. Additionally on the cardboard, Harley Race defeats David Von Erich to win the NWA Missouri Title at Fritz Von Erich’s request, as Fritz most popular to remain impartial within the NWA-WWF wars and David wouldn’t be accessible for future reveals. [DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES, pp. 129-130] Additionally on the cardboard, Jerry Blackwell and Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie defend the AWA World Tag Crew Titles in opposition to Dick the Bruiser and Gene Kiniski, whereas Mid-Atlantic stars Dory Funk Jr. and Bob Orton Jr. wrestle to a 20-minute draw. The cardboard attracts 10,752 followers.
January 7 – On the WWF’s Championship Wrestling, Bob Backlund is scheduled to face Samula of the Wild Samoans, and brings the newly arrived Hulk Hogan to observe his again. The cardboard was taped 4 days earlier in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
January 8-January 9 – The WWF continues to battle in Cincinnati and Akron, Ohio, drawing 1,000 to 1,500 followers, roughly the identical as rival Georgia Championship Wrestling.
January 8 – On the Charlotte Coliseum, Jim Crockett Promotions holds a one-night event to crown new NWA World Tag Crew Champions after Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood forfeited the titles on Christmas night time when Steamboat publicizes his upcoming retirement from professional wrestling, a significant blow to Crockett. Within the event closing, Bob Orton Jr. and Don Kernodle defeat Dory Funk Jr. and Jimmy Valiant to win the titles. The cardboard attracts 5,017 followers.
January 8 – Roddy Piper fulfills his final non-WWF date, showing on the NWA card at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, the place he defeats Kurt Von Hess in a canine collar match. Piper debuted on the WWF TV tapings simply 5 days earlier. Additionally on the cardboard, Sgt. Slaughter defends the NWA Canadian Title in opposition to Angelo Mosca. The cardboard attracts 9,448 followers.
January 14 – The WWF’s Superstars of Wrestling debuts in Chicago, Illinois, on WFLD-32 at 8:30am each Saturday morning. [DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES, pp. 109] Chicago is slower to adapt to cable tv than different main cities, so the WWF’s makes an attempt at success in Chicago will show to be gradual going.
January 14 – Of their first main angle within the territory, the Midnight Categorical and Jim Cornette assault Magnum TA on an episode of Mid South Wrestling, actually tarring and feathering him. This units up a Midnight Categorical vs Magnum TA-Mr. Wrestling II feud. The angle was taped 10 days earlier in Shreveport, Louisiana.
January 14 – The WWF attracts 14,000 followers to the Boston Backyard. Within the prime matches, Bob Backlund defeats WWF World Champion the Iron Sheik by disqualification and Sgt. Slaughter wins an 18-man battle royal.
January 14 – Hisashi Shinma formally publicizes that he’s forming a brand new wrestling promotion in Japan that may open in April.
January 15 – Bringing the 57-year outdated Crusher again to exchange the departing Hulk Hogan, the AWA attracts a disappointing 11,000 followers to the St. Paul Civic Middle, significantly down from ordinary, indicating that the Crusher is just not the reply to the AWA’s issues.
January 15 – Georgia Championship Wrestling makes an surprising rebound on the Omni in Atlanta, drawing 4,500 followers, surprisingly, for a card that didn’t characteristic Tommy Wealthy.
January 17 – Promoter Jerry Jarrett’s Louisville Gardens reveals proceed to attract nicely above the traditional vary, because the Street Warriors face the Fabulous Ones in a return match, this time in a lumberjack match earlier than 4,200 followers.
January 20 – New Japan Professional Wrestling’s New 12 months Golden Sequence attracts 3,500 followers to the Yanagawa Civic Gymnasium. In the primary occasion, which is “one of many wildest bouts this group has ever seen” [WON APRIL 1984], Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami battle to a no-contest in opposition to Unhealthy Information Allen, who Abdullah the Butcher attacked earlier than the match, and Rusher Kimura, who used a pipe to bloody Inoki. When Inoki is blinded by the blood in his eyes, he begins punching accomplice Fujinami. Sensing a gap, Riki Choshu’s Ishin Gundan group hits the ring to assault each Inoki and Fujinami.
January 21 – The WWF attracts 15,700 followers to the Philadelphia Spectrum on the power of renewed WWF curiosity following the signing of Hulk Hogan and final month’s title change. The complete card airs on Philadelphia’s PRISM community.
January 22 —All Japan Professional Wrestling concludes its first collection of the yr, the New 12 months Big Sequence, holding 19 playing cards in 17 cities. Regardless of promoting out six of the reveals, they have been unable to fill Korakuen Corridor on January 20 and are thought of to be in “form of a lull”. [WON MARCH 1984] Outdoors expertise featured on the tour contains Steve Olsonoski, Kelly Kiniski, Gypsy Joe, Lizmark, Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, Kabuki, Magic Dragon, Mach Hayato, Umanoseke Ueda, and Goro Tsurumi. Opinions are “fairly good for the Freebirds, who made their debut as a staff.” [WON MARCH 1984] On the finish of the tour, it’s introduced that Jumbo Tsuruta will obtain a match with AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel in February.
January 23 – In entrance of a sellout 22,692 followers at New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard, with one other 4,000 watching in neighboring Felt Discussion board, Hulk Hogan defeats WWF World Champion the Iron Sheik to win the title, which he’ll maintain for the following 4 years, successfully positioning him because the face of the WWF’s nationwide enlargement. In line with Hogan’s 2009 biography, AWA promoter Verne Gagne wished his revenge for Hogan’s departure and provided the Iron Sheik a money cost to interrupt Hogan’s legs, which Sheik declined. When it was introduced that Backlund’s neck and shoulder damage would imply that Hogan would get his rematch as a substitute, ticket gross sales skyrocketed and “scalpers had a discipline day”. [WON MARCH 1984] The cardboard is broadcast on the MSG Community.
January 23 – Hulk Hogan does an interview with Individuals At present after his WWF World Title victory to supply his aspect of the story relating to his AWA departure. “Since Christmas night time, I’ve been going via hell,” Hogan defined. “Wally Karbo and Verne Gagne knew 4 weeks forward of time that I had terminated my providers within the [AWA], but they continued to promote that I’d be there on Christmas night time. […] Earlier than Thanksgiving, I instructed Karbo I may be accessible on Christmas night time, however as of November 22, I stop the AWA. Karbo knew that, but he mentioned I’d be there as a accomplice to Rick Martel, Greg Gagne, and Jim Brunzell for an eight-man tag match. […] I wish to set the file straight, inform it like it’s, due to what these folks did to me. They used my title to fill the Civic Middle. It was Christmas night time, man, and so they took folks away from their households. Since I wasn’t there, some folks assume it’s my fault. How can or not it’s my fault when Karbo and Gagne knew a month prematurely I had no intention of being there? All over the place I’m going, folks cease me and ask what occurred. Now, I’m prepared to inform the entire story.” Ever a employee, Hogan then takes the chance so as to add, “I beat [AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel] 3 times, however each time [AWA President] Stanley Blackburn and the promoters discovered a method to strip me of the belt. […] I knew I used to be in hassle the third time I wrestled the person in St. Paul. Bockwinkel turned to Stanley Blackburn, who was at ringside, and winked.” [WON MARCH 1984]
January 24 – Greg Valentine returns to the WWF after three years on the Allentown, Pennsylvania, tv taping. Valentine was a significant star for Jim Crockett Promotions and was being pushed as a fundamental occasion babyface after an prolonged run as a heel. Valentine would show to be a beneficial commodity for the WWF for a few years, holding the WWF Intercontinental and WWF World Tag Crew Titles whereas additionally serving as an occasional early foil to Hulk Hogan. Valentine would stay within the firm till 1991; nonetheless, he wouldn’t be accessible full-time till March, as he wrapped up his Mid-Atlantic commitments. The taping additionally options the debut of Brian Blair. Blair was beforehand a mid-level star within the Florida territory. His deal was organized by Vince McMahon Sr.; nonetheless, Vince McMahon was not considering utilizing him after he misplaced on the undercard of the November 5 and November 6 California reveals, which implies he flounders in his run. [WON JANUARY 1984]
January 24 – The AWA runs its first present with out Hogan even marketed in Salt Lake Metropolis, and attracts 8,900 followers, solely barely under the typical.
January 26 – IWGP and WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan wrestles his first match within the New Japan Professional Wrestling New 12 months Golden Sequence tour, earlier than 15,000 followers in Nagoya. In the primary occasion, Hogan groups with Mike Sharpe in opposition to Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami in a match that goes to a double disqualification.
January 27 – Georgia Championship Wrestling attracts a exceptional 14,000 followers in Cleveland, Ohio, for what’s billed as their first annual Cleveland tag staff event.
January 28 – The WWF publicizes on an episode of Championship Wrestling that the previous Victory Journal will now be referred to as WWF Journal. The phrase “Victory” had been a supply of authorized competition between London Publishing, which had printed Victory Sports activities Wrestling since 1971, together with different fashionable magazines equivalent to Professional Wrestling Illustrated, The Wrestler, and Inside Wrestling.
January 28 – The WWF attracts its first sellout in southern California ten months into its enlargement there, drawing 11,104 followers to the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium. The present is headlined by a $50,000 20-man battle royal gained by Andre the Big.
January 28 – Southwest Championship Wrestling continues to rebound in its promotional struggle with World Class Championship Wrestling, drawing 4,700 followers in San Antonio. In the primary occasion, Bruiser Brody defeats Voodoo Malumba. Additionally on the cardboard, Dick Murdoch and Manny Fernandez face the Sheepherders in a match that was so bloody that Butch Miller was hospitalized, with hospital employees considering he had been in a automotive accident. [WON MARCH 1984]
January 29 – Mid South Wrestling attracts the biggest crowd for professional wrestling in Oklahoma historical past [WON MARCH 1984], as 12,244 followers flock to The Myriad in Oklahoma Metropolis. In the primary occasion, the Junkyard Canine and Terry Taylor defeat Butch Reed and Nikolai Volkoff. The cardboard additionally options World Class Championship Wrestling expertise, as Chris Adams defeats Jimmy Garvin.
January 30 – World Class Championship Wrestling presents Wrestling Star Wars on the Tarrant County Conference Middle in Fort Price, Texas, which attracts a sellout 13,000 followers. Within the prime matches, the Fabulous Freebirds defeat Kerry, Kevin and David Von Erich to regain the WCCW 6-man titles and permit them to return to Texas, whereas Chris Adams defeats American Champion Jimmy Garvin in a metal cage match to win the title. Additionally on the present, rookie Mike Von Erich controversially holds NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude to a 10-minute draw, and Mid South Wrestling sends the Junkyard Canine, who faces Kamala, for card help. Matches from the cardboard are broadcast on Championship Sports activities, which airs domestically in Ft. Price on KTVT-19.
January 31 – The AWA reveals indicators of weak point on the west coast, drawing just one,000 followers to San Francisco’s Cow Palace after the departure of Hulk Hogan. [DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES, pp. 123] In the primary occasion, AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel defeats Brad Rheingans.
January 31 – Memphis promoter Jerry Jarrett attracts one other sturdy crowd to Mid South Coliseum, as 7,734 followers come to see Jerry Lawler and Austin Idol face the Street Warriors for the primary time. Additionally on the cardboard, the Zambuie Categorical win a one-night event to crown new Southern Tag Crew Champions.
Late January-Early February – WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan reveals his intent to proceed his AWA program with David Schultz within the WWF when he tells a Twin Cities reporter, “I gave Schultz a beating in St. Paul, and put 28 stitches in his head. Now he’s working his mouth in New York, saying he can beat me. I’ll say this; he’s a troublesome man.” [WON MARCH 1984]
Late January-Early February – WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan tells a Twin Cities reporter that intends to carry the WWF World Title to the Twin Cities. “The rationale I’m coming again, brother, is that I like the folks of the Twin Cities,” Hogan explains. “These persons are like household to me. I wish to be a preventing champion and wrestle all around the world. The Madison Sq. Backyard operation can put me in a significant area each night time.” After stating the entire losses AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel has confronted, Hogan provides, “What I cherish most is my love affair with the nice followers within the Twin Cities. That is my house.” [WON MARCH 1984]
When you loved this, please subscribe to Wrestling Playlists E-newsletter, a each day e-newsletter that goals to trace the chronological footage historical past {of professional} wrestling, one four-hour block at a time. You possibly can subscribe to Wrestling Playlists at wrestlingplaylists.substack.com.
