1989 in professional wrestling

1989 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable events in 1989.

Calendar of notable shows

Notable events

• January the alliance between The American Wrestling Association and The Continental Wrestling Association ended due to AWA Owner Verne Gagne refusing to pay then-World Champion Jerry Lawler for participating on the company's first-ever Pay-Per-View AWA SuperClash III.
• February 7 - In a live event at St. Paul, Minnesota, Larry Zbyszko won the battle royal to capture the vacant AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
• The World Wrestling Association professional wrestling promotion based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, closed.
• August 4 WCCW becomes the USWA when Eric Embry pinned Phil Hickerson in a steel cage match in Dallas, Texas.

Tournaments and accomplishments

AJW

AJPW

NJPW

WCW

WWF

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Title changes

WWF

Births

• January 11 – Natalia Markova
• January 25 – Stu Grayson
• February 8 – Syuri
• February 25 – Natsumi Sumikawa
• March 1 – Tenille Dashwood
• March 23 – Riara
• March 31 – Debbie Keitel
• April 9 – Bianca Belair
• April 11 – Ariya Daivari
• April 16 – Mia Yim
• April 21 – Nikki Cross
• April 22 –Andre Chase
• May 14 – Rob Gronkowski
• May 19 – Tom Phillips
• June 14 - Peter Avalon
• June 15 – Bayley
• June 23 – Billie Kay
• July 5 – Adam Cole
• July 28 – Nick Jackson
• August 2 – Yuna Mizumori
• August 8 – Gianni Valletta
• August 16 – Cedric Alexander
• August 25 – Gene Munny
• August 28 – Christina Von Eerie
• September 2 – Kengo
• September 20 – Ethan Page
• October 3 – T. K. O'Ryan
• October 11 – Riddick Moss
• October 24 – Heidi Howitzer
• November 3 – Andrade "Cien" Almas
• December 4 – Hiromu Takahashi

Debuts

Debut date

Uncertain debut date

Retirements

• Al Tomko (July 9, 1954 – 1989)
• Alfonso Dantés (1960–1989)
• Blue Demon (March 31, 1948 – August 27, 1989)
• Jonathan Boyd (1966–1989)
• Nelson Royal (1955–1989)
• Rayo de Jalisco (February 1950 – 1989)
• Steve Rickard (1943–1989)
• Victor Rivera (1964–1989)
• Big John Studd (1972–1989)

Deaths

• January 6 - Mario Galento, 73
• January 7 - Aslam Pahalwan, 61
• February 18 - Mildred Burke, 73
• March 7 - Paul Boesch, 76
• March 14 – Happy Humphrey, 62
• April 17 – Villano II, 39
• July 25 - Sweet Georgia Brown (wrestler), 50
• September 7 - Eduardo Perez (wrestler), 60 or 61
• December 7 – Haystacks Calhoun, 55
• December 28 – Earl Patrick Freeman, 57

See also

• List of WCW pay-per-view events
• List of WWF pay-per-view events
• List of FMW supercards and pay-per-view events

References