1987 in professional wrestling explained

1987 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable events in 1987.

Promotion NameAbbreviation
All Japan Women's Pro-WrestlingAJW
American Wrestling AssociationAWA
Championship Wrestling from FloridaCWF
EMLL
Jim Crockett PromotionsJCP
WCCW
World Wrestling CouncilWWC
WWF

Calendar of notable shows

DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain Event
Notes
February 21WWFSaturday Night's Main EventDetroit, MichiganRandy Savage (c) defeated George Steele by count-out in a singles match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship and the managerial services of Miss Elizabeth
March 29WWFWrestleMania IIIPontiac, MichiganHulk Hogan (c) defeated André the Giant in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship[1]
April 12EMLL31. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoCien Caras defeated Siglo XX in a Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match[2]
April 10–11JCP2nd Annual Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team TournamentBaltimore, MarylandApril 11: The Super Powers (Nikita Koloff and Dusty Rhodes) defeated Tully Blanchard and Lex Luger in a tournament final[3]
April 16AWARage in a Cage IILas Vegas, NevadaWahoo McDaniel defeated Curt Hennig in a Steel Cage Match
April 28WWFSaturday Night's Main EventNotre Dame, IndianaHulk Hogan and Ken Patera vs. Andre the Giant and Hercules
May 2AWASuperClash IIDaly City, CaliforniaCurt Hennig defeated Nick Bockwinkel (c) in a singles match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship[4]
May 3WCCW4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of ChampionsIrving, TexasKevin Von Erich (c) wrestled Nord the Barbarian to a double count out in a singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship[5]
May 9CWFFirst Annual Eddie Graham Memorial ShowSt. Petersburg, FloridaDusty Rhodes (c) defeated Ric Flair by disqualification in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[6]
June 12NJPWG1 ClimaxTokyo, JapanChigusa Nagayo defeated Dump Matsumoto in the finals
June 28AJWJapan Grand PrixTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki defeated Masa Saito in the finals
July 4
JCPThe Great American BashAtlantaThe Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk), Nikita Koloff, Dusty Rhodes and Paul Ellering defeated The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard and J. J. Dillon) in a WarGames match[7]
July 18Charlotte, North CarolinaDusty Rhodes (with Barry Windham) defeated Tully Blanchard in a "lights-out" Barbed Wire Ladder match for $100,000.
July 31MiamiThe Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk), Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff and Paul Ellering defeated The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger and Tully Blanchard) and The War Machine in a WarGames match
September 1CWFBattle of the Belts IIIDaytona Beach, FloridaRic Flair (c) fought Lex Luger to a draw in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
September 4WWFKing of the RingProvidence, Rhode IslandRandy Savage defeated King Kong Bundy in a King of the Ring tournament final match[8]
September 18EMLLEMLL 54th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoMogur defeated As Charro in a Lucha de Apuestas mask vs. mask match[9]
September 20WWCWWC 14th AniversarioBayamón, Puerto RicoInvader #1 defeated Chicky Starr in a "Retirement vs. hair" match
September 23WWFSaturday Night's Main EventHershey, PennsylvaniaHulk Hogan (c) vs. Sika for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
October 10AJWTag League the BestTokyo, JapanChigusa Nagayo & Yumiko Hotta defeated Hisako Uno & Yukari Omori in the finals
October 17WCCW4th Cotton Bowl ExtravaganzaDallas, TexasKevin Von Erich defeated Al Perez (c) in a singles match for the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship[10] [11]
November 11WWFSaturday Night's Main EventSeattle, WashingtonHulk Hogan (c) vs. King Kong Bundy for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
November 26WWFSurvivor SeriesRichfield Township, OhioAndré the Giant, Butch Reed, King Kong Bundy, One Man Gang and Rick Rude defeated Bam Bam Bigelow, Don Muraco, Hulk Hogan, Ken Patera and Paul Orndorff in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series match[12]
JCPStarrcadeChicago, IllinoisRic Flair defeated Ron Garvin (c) in a steel cage match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[13]
December 7NJPWJapan Cup Tag LeagueTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki & Dick Murdoch defeated Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami in the finals
WWFSaturday Night's Main EventLandover, MarylandHulk Hogan (c) vs. King Kong Bundy for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship
December 26AJWAll Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling at Korauken HallTokyo, Japan
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Tournaments and accomplishments

AJW

AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotes
Japan Grand Prix 1987Chigusa NagayoJune 28
Rookie of the Year Decision TournamentToshiyo Yamada
Tag League the Best 1987Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness AsukaOctober 11

JCP

AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotes
Bunkhouse StampedeDusty Rhodes[14] [15]
Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team TournamentThe Super Powers (Nikita Koloff and Dusty Rhodes)April 11

WWF

AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotes
Frank Tunney Sr. Memorial Tag Team TournamentThe Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell)March 15
King of the RingRandy SavageSeptember 4

Slammy Awards

See main article: Slammy Award.

PollWinner
Best Performance by an AnimalGeorge "The Animal" Steele[16] [17] [18]
Woman of the YearMiss Elizabeth
Best Ring ApparelHarley Race
Hulk Hogan Real American AwardSuperstar Billy Graham
Jesse "The Body" Award"Ravishing" Rick Rude
Greatest HitJim Duggan
Manager of the YearNone
Best Personal HygieneNikolai Volkoff, Boris Zhukov, and Slick
Best Vocal PerformanceJim Duggan
Song of the YearNo winner (envelope eaten by Sika)[19]
Best GroupOne Man Gang
Humanitarian of the YearTed DiBiase
Best HeadGene Okerlund and Bam Bam Bigelow
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Scholarship AwardThe Islanders (Haku & Tama), André the Giant, Hercules, King Kong Bundy, and Harley Race

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

See main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards.

CategoryWinner
PWI Wrestler of the YearHulk Hogan
PWI Tag Team of the YearThe Midnight Express
(Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane)
PWI Match of the YearRandy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat (WrestleMania III)
PWI Feud of the YearThe Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard and Lex Luger) vs. The Super Powers (Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff) and The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearDusty Rhodes
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearRic Flair
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearCurt Hennig
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearNikita Koloff
PWI Rookie of the YearOwen Hart
PWI Lifetime AchievementPaul Boesch
PWI Editor's AwardJimmy Hart

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

See main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.

CategoryWinner
Wrestler of the YearRiki Choshu
Most OutstandingRic Flair
Feud of the YearAustin Idol and Tommy Rich vs. Jerry Lawler
Tag Team of the YearThe Midnight Express
(Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane)
Most ImprovedRick Steiner
Best on InterviewsJim Cornette

Title changes

WWF

DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)
No title changes
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)
March 29Ricky SteamboatWrestleMania III
June 2The Honky Tonk ManSuperstars of WrestlingAired on tape delay on June 13
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)
No title changes
DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)
No title changes
width=14%Datewidth=14%Winnerwidth=14%Event/Showwidth=58%Note(s)
July 24Sensational SherriLive event
Incoming champions – The British Bulldogs
width=14%Datewidth=14%Winnerwidth=14%Event/Showwidth=58%Note(s)
January 26The Hart Foundation
Superstarsaired on tape delay on February 7
August 10The Rougeau Brothers
House show
October 27Strike Force
SuperstarsAired on tape delay on November 7

Births

Debuts

Debut date


Uncertain debut date

Retirements

Deaths

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WrestleMania III Breaks Attendance Record: Wake-Up Video. Anderson. Kyle. 2010-03-29. MTV. 2010-09-08. 2010-04-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20100404010718/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/03/29/wrestlemania-attendance. dead.
  2. News: Lucha 2000 Staff . Arena México: 50 anos de Lucha Libre . Lucha 2000 . Especial 28 . April 2006 . Spanish.
  3. Web site: 2nd Annual Crockett Cup . Wrestling Supercards & Tournaments . August 23, 2009.
  4. Web site: SuperClash II. May 2, 1987. Pro Wrestling History. April 4, 2015.
  5. Web site: 4th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions . May 3, 1987 . April 10, 2015 . Pro Wrestling History.
  6. Web site: Eddie Graham Memorial Show . ProWrestlingHistory.com.
  7. Meltzer . Dave . Dave Meltzer . July 13, 1987 . . Top Story . 7.13.87.
  8. Web site: WWF King of the Ring '87 at Providence Civic Center wrestling results – Internet Wrestling Database. www.profightdb.com. 2019-10-08.
  9. Web site: 54th Anniversary Show. September 18, 1987. November 1, 2012. Pro Wrestling History.
  10. Web site: 4th Cotton Bowl Extravaganza . October 17, 1987 . April 10, 2015 . Pro Wrestling History.
  11. News: Historical Cards: 4th Cotton Bowl Extravaganza (October 17, 1987. Dallas, Texas) . PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts . Kappa Publications. 2007 Edition. 172.
  12. Web site: Survivor Series 1987 results. Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. 2008-05-27.
  13. Web site: SPECIALIST – 20 Years Ago: Detailed look back at Starrcade '87 with Flair vs. Garvin. Brian. Hoops. 2007-12-18. PWTorch. 2008-05-24.
  14. Web site: Bunkhouse Stampedes. Pro Wrestling History. June 17, 2015.
  15. Book: The History of Professional Wrestling: Jim Crockett Promotions & the NWA World Title 1983–1988. Cawthon. Graham. Cornette. Jim. 2013-12-25. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 9781494803476. Sawyer. Grant. 1. English.
  16. Web site: Slammy Awards History. Wrestling Information Archive. 2008-02-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20110908073222/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/slammy.htm. 2011-09-08. dead.
  17. Web site: WWF Slammy Awards (1987). TWNP News. 2008-02-22.
  18. Web site: WWF Slammy Awards (1987). Pro Wrestling History. 2008-02-22.
  19. Web site: Bringing back Slammy Awards – a good, bad idea. https://archive.today/20130101004606/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/MatMatters/2008/12/07/7661906.html. dead. January 1, 2013. Bishop, Matt and Matt Mackinder. December 7, 2008. SLAM! Wrestling. 2008-12-09.
  20. Web site: Kelly Kelly. https://archive.today/20120629175827/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/kellykelly.html. dead. June 29, 2012. Kamchen. Richard. July 4, 2009. Slam Sports. Canadian Online Explorer.
  21. Web site: The Pain of Graduation Day. https://archive.today/20120721064456/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/06/17/1638253.html. dead. July 21, 2012. June 17, 2006. Johns. Fred. November 28, 2010. Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer.
  22. Web site: Donovan Dijak. May 18, 2015. The Internet Wrestling Database.
  23. Web site: Drew Gulak . www.wrestlingdata.com.
  24. Web site: Drew Gulak . 3 October 2016 . Gerweck.net . 2016-12-22.
  25. Web site: Lince Dorado . https://web.archive.org/web/20130125005748/http://tnagutcheck.com/contestants/gut-check-participants/2011-2/april-2011-baton-rouge-la/jose-cordero/ . 2013-01-25 . 2013-01-22 . . dead .
  26. Web site: Dash Wilder Profile . August 23, 2015 . Online World of Wrestling . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150831035610/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/s/steven-walters/ . August 31, 2015 .
  27. Web site: Windham Rotunda – 2007 Football. August 3, 2007. May 18, 2013. Troy Trojans.
  28. Web site: Bray Wyatt profile. June 17, 2013. Online World of Wrestling. June 28, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130628121120/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/b/bray-wyatt/. dead.
  29. Web site: Online World of Wrestling profile. Online World of Wrestling. 2010-07-26. 2012-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20120827075855/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/johnny-gargano.html. dead.
  30. Web site: Apollo Crews reflects on his NXT debut: WWE.com Exclusive, August 22, 2015 (0:58) . August 22, 2015 . August 23, 2015 . . Apollo Crews comments on what it was like debuting in NXT, before more than 15,000 NXT fans, on his 28th birthday..
  31. Web site: Aiden English. wrestling data. July 24, 2015.
  32. Web site: Carmella. Online World of Wrestling. 2017-12-26. 2017-06-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20170628160846/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/c/carmella. dead.