1988 in professional wrestling

1988 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable events in 1988.

Calendar of notable shows

Notable events

• January 24 - WWE Royal Rumble was aired on USA Network against the NWA Bunkhouse Stampede that aired live on Pay Per View.
• March 27 - Clash of the Champions I was aired on free TV via TBS against the WWE pay-per view event WrestleMania IV.
• April 3 - WCW Main Event Premiered on TBS.
• July 16 - Bruiser Brody was stabbed by Jose Huertas Gonzalez before a WWC live event in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Brody died hours later in a local hospital.
• November 1 - Turner Broadcasting Systems purchased Jim Crockett Promotions the biggest National Wrestling Alliance territory.
• November - Jerry Jarrett buys 50 percent of WCWA from Ken Mantell
• December 13 - AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler defeated WCWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich in Chicago, Illinois at AWA Superclash III to unify both the AWA and WCWA World titles.

Tournaments and accomplishments

AJW

JCP

WWF

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Title changes

WWF

Births

• January 15 – Eddie Hall
• January 16 – Bull Dempsey
• January 19 – Tyler Breeze
• February 26 – Reid Flair (d. 2013)
• March 11 – Katsuhiko Nakajima
• March 16 – Brett DiBiase
• March 18 – Vanessa Borne
• March 22 – Yoshikazu Yokoyama
• March 20 – Jonathan Gresham
• April 17 – Dasha Fuentes
• May 5 – Brooke Hogan
• May 6 – Dakota Kai
• May 20 – Lacey Lane
• May 22 – Santana Garrett
• May 26 – Babatunde Aiyegbusi
• May 30 – No Way Jose
• June 1 – Ross Von Erich
• June 2 – Grado
• June 19 – Daga
• June 25 – Mark Haskins
• July 6 – Lars Sullivan
• July 12 – Paul Robinson
• July 26 – Marty Scurll
• August 5 – Shane Mercer
• August 7 – Marti Belle
• August 8 – Veer Mahaan
• August 12 – Tyson Fury
• August 29 – Kevin Ku
• August 31 – Ember Moon
• September 13 – Markus Crane (died in 2021)
• September 21 – Tom MacDonald
• September 23 – Kairi Hojo
• September 26 – Buddy Murphy
• September 27 – Cathy Kelley
• September 28 – Jason Jordan
• October 11 – Ricochet
• October 26 – Ayumu Honda
• November 2 – Dezmond Xavier
• November 3 – Gran Metalik
• November 24 – Anthony Ogogo
• November 29 – Dana Brooke

Debuts

Debut date

Uncertain debut date

Retirements

• Alexis Smirnoff (1970 - 1988)
• Rufus R. Jones (1969 - 1988)
• The Crusher (1949 - 1988)
• Emile Dupree (1955 - 1988)
• Mr. Hito (June 8, 1967 - March 25, 1988)
• Shunji Kosugi (1981-April 10, 1988, returned for one last match in 2010)
• Winona Littleheart (1977 - 1988)
• Jody Hamilton (1955 - 1988)
• John Quinn (1961 - 1988)
• Outback Jack (1986 - 1988)
• Scott McGhee (1978 - January 1988)
• Buddy Roberts (1965 - 1988)

Deaths

• March 14 - Saul Weingeroff, 72
• March 30 - Stu Gibson, 62
• April 30 - Man Mountain Mike, 47
• April 30 - Tiger Joe Tomasso, 65/66
• May 15 - Fred Atkins, 77/78
• June 15 - Mike Clancy, 63
• July 4:
• Adrian Adonis, 33
• Dave McKigney, 56
• Mike Kelly, 40
• July 17 - Bruiser Brody, 42
• September 6 - Leroy Brown, 37
• September 9 - Leroy McGuirk, 77
• November 26 - Baron Michele Leone, 79
• November 30 - Ricky Lawless, 28
• December 12 - Larry Moquin, 65
• December 21 - Dave Ruhl, 68

See also

• List of WCW pay-per-view events
• List of WWF pay-per-view events

References