1994 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 1994. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesAll Japan Women's Pro-WrestlingAJWAAACatch Wrestling AssociationCWACMLLECWIn August, Eastern Championship Wrestling seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and became Extreme Championship Wrestling.Frontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFMWInternational Wrestling CouncilIWCNew Japan Pro-WrestlingNJPWUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWAUniversal Wrestling FederationUWFWorld Championship WrestlingWCWWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWF
Calendar of notable shows January DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 4NJPWBattlefieldTokyo, JapanGenichiro Tenryu defeated Antonio Inoki in a Singles matchJanuary 22 WWFRoyal RumbleProvidence, Rhode Island, United StatesBret Hart and Lex Luger co-won the Royal Rumble by last eliminating each other in a 30-man Royal Rumble match for a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XJanuary 27WCWClash of the Champions XXVIBaton Rouge, Louisiana, United StatesSting and Ric Flair defeated Vader and Rick Rude in a tag team matchJanuary 30 UWAUWA 19th Anniversary ShowNaucalpan, MexicoYamato and Los Villanos (Villano III and Villano V) defeated El Canek, Gran Hamada and Transformer in a Best two out of three falls Six-man tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventFebruary 5 ECWThe Night the Line Was CrossedPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSabu, Shane Douglas, and Terry Funk (c) wrestled to a time limit draw in a Three way dance for the ECW Heavyweight ChampionshipFebruary 20 WCWSuperBrawl IVAlbany, Georgia, United StatesRic Flair (c) defeated Vader by submission in a Thundercage match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMarch 20 WWFWrestleMania XNew York City, New York, United StatesBret Hart defeated Yokozuna (c) in a Singles match for the WWF Championship with Roddy Piper as special guest refereeMarch 26 ECWUltimate JeopardyDevon, Pennsylvania, United StatesShane Douglas, Mr. Hughes and the Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated Terry Funk (c), Road Warrior Hawk, Kevin Sullivan and the Tazmaniac by pinfall in an Ultimate Jeopardy Steel Cage match for the ECW Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventCMLLInternational Gran PrixMexico City, MexicoEmilio Charles Jr. defeated La Fiera in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match CMLL38. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoApril 17 WCWSpring StampedeChicago, Illinois, United StatesRic Flair (c) fought Ricky Steamboat to a double pin in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipAAATriplemanía II-AAguascalientes, Aguascalientes, MexicoHeavy Metal defeated Jerry Estrada in a Lucha de Apuestas "Hair vs. Hair" match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMay 1 NJPWWrestling DontakuFukuoka, JapanAntonio Inoki defeated The Great Muta in a Singles matchMay 5 FMWFMW 5th Anniversary ShowKawasaki, Kanagawa, JapanGenichiro Tenryu defeated Atsushi Onita in a No Rope Exploding Barbed Wire DeathmatchMay 14 ECWWhen Worlds CollidePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesBobby Eaton and Sabu defeated Arn Anderson and Terry Funk by submission in a tag team matchAAATriplemanía II-BZapopan, Jalisco, MexicoKonnan, Perro Aguayo, and Cien Caras defeated Jake Roberts, Love Machine, and Miguel Pérez Jr. in a Best two-out-of-three falls six-man "lucha libre rules" tag team matchMay 22 WCWSlamboreePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSting defeated Vader by pinfall in a Singles match for the vacant WCW International World Heavyweight ChampionshipAAATriplemanía II-CTijuana, Baja California, MexicoKonnan defeated Jake Roberts in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta, "Hair vs. Hair" match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJune 19 WWFKing of the RingBaltimore, Maryland, United StatesRoddy Piper defeated Jerry Lawler in a Singles matchJune 23WCWClash of the Champions XXVIICharleston, South Carolina, United StatesRic Flair (c-WCW) defeated Sting (c-WCW International) in a Unification match for both the WCW and the WCW International World Heavyweight ChampionshipsJune 24 ECWHostile City ShowdownPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSabu defeated Cactus Jack in a Singles match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJuly 9CWAEuro Catch Festival in GrazGraz, AustriaRambo (c) defeated Papa Shango in Round 6 in a Singles match for the CWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 14 FMWFMW/LLPW/AJWTokyo, JapanBull Nakano defeated Shinobu Kandori in a Chain matchJuly 16 ECWHeat WavePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesThe Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated Terry Funk and Dory Funk, Jr. in a barbed wire matchJuly 17 WCWBash at the BeachOrlando, Florida, United StatesHulk Hogan defeated Ric Flair (c) in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventAugust 6 WWCWWC 21st AniversarioBayamón, Puerto RicoEddie Gilbert defeated Huracán Castillo, Jr. in a "Fire" matchAugust 7 NJPWG1 ClimaxTokyo, JapanMasahiro Chono defeated Power WarriorAugust 13 ECWHardcore HeavenPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesCactus Jack fought Terry Funk to a no-contest in a Singles matchAugust 24WCWClash of the Champions XXVIIICedar Rapids, Iowa, United StatesRic Flair defeated Hulk Hogan (c) by countout in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 27 ECWNWA World Title TournamentPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesShane Douglas defeated 2 Cold Scorpio by pinfall in a tournament final for the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 28 FMWSummer SpectacularOsaka, Japan Atsushi Onita defeated Masashi Aoyagi via knockout in a No Ropes Electrified Explosive Barbed Wire Barricade Double Hell matchAugust 29 WWFSummerSlamChicago, Illinois, United StatesThe Undertaker defeated The Undertaker in a Singles match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventSeptember 18 WCWFall BrawlRoanoke, Virginia, United StatesDusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes and The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) defeated The Stud Stable (Terry Funk, Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck and Col. Robert Parker) in a WarGames matchUWFBlackjack BrawlLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesSteve Williams (c) defeated Sid Vicious by disqualification in a Singles match for the UWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipCMLLCMLL 61st Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoRicky Santana defeated El Texano in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventOctober 22 AJPW22nd Anniversary ShowTokyo, JapanToshiaki Kawada defeated "Dr. Death" Steve Williams (c) to win the Triple Crown Heavyweight ChampionshipOctober 23 WCWHalloween HavocDetroit, Michigan, United StatesHulk Hogan (c) defeated Ric Flair in a Steel Cage Retirement match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with Mr. T as special guest refereeCMLLCopa de OroMexico City, MexicoApolo Dantes and El Dandy defeated Pierroth, Jr. and El Satanico in a tournament final(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
November DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventNovember 5 ECWNovember to RememberPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesChris Benoit vs. 2 Cold Scorpio went to a double count-out in a Singles matchNovember 6 AAA WCW IWCWhen Worlds CollideLos Angeles, California, United StatesPerro Aguayo defeated Konnan in a Steel Cage matchNovember 16WCWClash of the Champions XXIXJacksonville, Florida, United StatesHulk Hogan, Sting and Dave Sullivan defeated The Three Faces of Fear (The Butcher, Avalanche and Kevin Sullivan) in a Six-man tag team match with Mr. T as special guest refereeNovember 20 AJWBig Egg Wrestling UniverseTokyo, JapanAkira Hokuto defeated Aja Kong in a V*TOP Five Star Tournament final round matchNovember 23 WWFSurvivor SeriesSan Antonio, Texas, United StatesThe Undertaker defeated Yokozuna in a Casket match with Chuck Norris as special guest referee(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
December DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventDecember 17 ECWHoliday HellPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesThe Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) (c) defeated Sabu and the Tazmaniac by pinfall in a tag team match for the ECW World Tag Team ChampionshipCWAEuro Catch Festival in BremenBremen, GermanyRambo (c) defeated Big Titan in Round 5 in a Singles match for the CWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipDecember 27 WCWStarrcadeNashville, Tennessee, United StatesHulk Hogan (c) defeated The Butcher in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipDecember 30CMLLTorneo Gran AlternativaMexico City, MexicoHector Garza and Negro Casas defeated Arkangel de la Muerte and El Satanico in a tournament final(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Notable events January 27 – Bobby Heenan made his WCW debut at the Clash of the Champions XXVI. March 12 – WCW Power Hour aired its last episode on TBS and it was replaced by WCW Pro the following week. May 1 – Rick Rude suffers a career-ending injury during a match vs Sting for the WCW International World Heavyweight title in Fukuoka, Japan when he injured his back landing on a raised platform surrounding the ring. June 10 – Hulk Hogan made his WCW debut on WCW Saturday Night. July 17 – Hulk Hogan vs Ric Flair finally headlined a Pay-Per-View event at WCW Bash at the Beach (1994). July 22 – The jury acquitted WWF Owner Vince McMahon of the charges of distributing steroids to his wrestlers. August 4 – Eric Bischoff fires Jesse Ventura for allegedly falling asleep during a WCW Worldwide TV taping at Disney MGM Studios although it has been speculated that the move may have had more to do with Hogan's arrival shortly before. August 27 – Moments after winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship Shane Douglas throws down the NWA title and christens the ECW Heavyweight Championship as a world title. August 28 – NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling officially secedes from the National Wrestling Alliance folding NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling and relaunching as Extreme Championship Wrestling. September 18 – Ricky Steamboat suffering from a back injury forfeited the WCW United States Heavyweight title to Steve Austin at WCW Fall Brawl (1994) which lost it to Hacksaw Jim Duggan in 35 seconds. September 23 The GWF based in Dallas, Texas closes its doors after three years in operation. October 16 – WWF All-American Wrestling aired its last episode on the USA Network. it was replaced by WWF Action Zone the following week. October 31 – Randy Savage made his final appearance on WWF TV on WWF Monday Night Raw saving Lex Luger from an attack from Bob Backlund. December 3 – After his WWF contract ended Randy Savage made his WCW TV debut on a live edition of WCW Saturday Night.
Accomplishments and tournaments
AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotes Japan Grand Prix 1994Yumiko HottaAugust 28Rookie of the Year Decision TournamentYoshiko Tamura Tag League The Best 1994Kyoko Inoue and Manami ToyotaDecember 10
AJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesAsunaro Cup 1994Jun AkiyamaJanuary 29Champion Carnival 1994Toshiaki KawadaApril 16World's Strongest Determination League 1994Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu MisawaDecember 10
ECW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesNWA World Title TournamentShane DouglasAugust 27
WCW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesEuropean Cup TournamentStingMarch 20
WCW Hall of Fame
Inductee
WWF AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRoyal RumbleBret Hart Lex LugerJanuary 22King of the RingOwen HartJune 19