Welcome to Timeline ‘84, a function that goals to map out all of the occasions that formed the fashionable wrestling world as we all know it. Two years in the past, I began Wrestling Playlists with the concept of doing a trek via all the identified wrestling footage that exists in chronological order, beginning with the oldest identified clip on the finish of the nineteenth century. Whereas the footage facilitates a extra full telling of wrestling historical past than some would possibly suppose throughout this period, what I’ve additionally found is that failed plans, trendy recollections, and the small print of behind-the-scenes maneuvering are maybe an much more necessary a part of understanding professional wrestling’s trendy panorama than something that has occurred within the ring.
The largest occasion of the month happens when Jim Crockett Promotions presents its second-annual Starrcade on Thanksgiving night time, all whereas the WWF stay undeterred by their declining attendance, persevering with to promote Madison Avenue on the concept they’ve the within observe on tough-to-reach demographics and have made professional wrestling mainstream.
November – Channel 12 in Tokyo publicizes plans to air a brand new present, World Professional Wrestling, which incorporates varied U.S. area exhibits.
November – Rumors begin that New Japan Professional Wrestling plans to make a big provide to Bruiser Brody. [WON 1984-11-12]
November – The WWF runs within the previous Stampede territory for the primary time, debuting with playing cards in Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and different cities.
November – The WWF’s World Championship Wrestling on WTBS is lower from two hours to 1 hour.
November – Following the departure of a lot key expertise, New Japan scores drop by 25 p.c for the Friday night time present that airs from 8:00pm-9:00pm, going from 20 score to a 13 score in lower than two months. [WON 1984-11-12]
November – As rumors fly that Shohei “Large” Baba will crew with Akira Maeda in All Japan Professional Wrestling’s upcoming Actual World Tag League sequence, Antonio Inoki holds a secret assembly with the UWF wrestlers. Maeda insists he would quite work in England or retire than wrestle on different non-UWF playing cards in Japan or the US. [WON 1984-12-03]
November – Naoki Otsuka publicizes that his new firm can be known as Japan Professional Wrestling. JPW owns the contracts of the 11 abilities signed away from New Japan Professional Wrestling, and makes them accessible to All Japan Professional Wrestling via a negotiated settlement firstly of every AJPW sequence.
November – Naoki Otsuka makes an attempt to satisfy with Tatsumi Fujinami to debate becoming a member of his personal group, Japan Professional Wrestling, which might additionally then make him accessible to All Japan Professional Wrestling. Fujinami denies the assembly request. [WON 1984-12-03]
November – All Japan Professional Wrestling makes overtures to Andre the Large to depart the WWF. Additionally they try and get Dusty Rhodes for his or her upcoming Actual World Tag League sequence, however Dusty declines due to commitments for Starrcade ‘84 with Jim Crockett Promotions on November 22. [WON 1984-12-03]
November – Brian Blair leaves the WWF and returns to Championship Wrestling Florida. On the primary episode of TV when he returns, an awaiting Bob Backlund says, “Your resolution to depart them was the neatest you ever made in your life.”
November – Michael Hayes “could have to sit down dwelling some time earlier than a promotion breaks down and books him. He’s burned a variety of bridges behind him (Carolinas, WWF, and Texas) in the previous couple of months. [Terry] Gordy isn’t being punished as a result of everybody is aware of Hayes did all of his negotiations and Gordy is regarded upon because the harmless bystander who simply adopted what his pal needed to do.” [WON 1984-12-03]
November – Mid South Wrestling abandons the push for Grasp G, who was supposed to switch the departed Junkyard Canine, after a string of no-shows. The main target then switches to the babyface flip of Butch Reed, who had been a heel teaming with Buddy Landell. “Individuals reacted effectively to him, but it surely nonetheless wasn’t the identical,” says Invoice Watts. [BILL WATTS-THE COWBOY AND THE CROSS]
November — The Mid South Wrestling and Energy Professional Wrestling tv exhibits are the primary syndicated sports activities applications in the US based on ADI scores within the Arbitron Syndicated Program Evaluation. Mid South averages a 26 share in 23 markets, in comparison with the WWF’s 8.6 common. [WON 1985-03-04]
November 1 – All Japan Professional Wrestling holds a Large Collection card in entrance of two,000 followers at Tokyo’s Korakuen Corridor. After Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu defeat Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy in the principle occasion, Riki Choshu makes his first look in AJPW, getting in a shouting match from ringside with Tsuruta and Tenryu.
November 1 – New Japan Professional Wrestling attracts a sellout 9,500 followers to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum. In the principle occasion, Antonio Inoki defeats the “spectacular” [WON 1984-12-03] Sturdy Machine #2.
November 2 – Satoru Sayama recordsdata a lawsuit in opposition to Shunji Koncha, who had energy of legal professional for Sayama, claiming that the UWF supplied a payoff of $8,000-$9,000 for his return matches, however Koncha solely paid Sayama $2,000 whereas claiming the UWF payoff was decrease than it was. He additionally claims that he needed to depart Tiger’s Gymnasium, however “Koncha threatened to kill me if I did so.” He acknowledges that UWF President Nobuo Urata did try and get Koncha to surrender curiosity in him, however “threatening phrases weren’t used.” [WON 1984-12-03]
November 2 – The WWF lastly makes inroads in Cleveland, Ohio, drawing 12,000 followers to the Conference Middle. In the principle occasion, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats Paul Orndorff.
November 3 – The AWA attracts a large 18,301 followers to the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago for a tag crew battle royal.
November 3 – The WWF enters Calgary for the primary time and attracts “under expectations.” [WON 1985-01-10] In the principle occasion, Andre the Large defeats Kamala. After the present, Bret Hart finds Rick McGraw, his roommate for the night time, “face down in a plate of meals. He’d overdone it with the Placidyl once more. I helped him to our room and saved an eye fixed on him in the course of the night time.” [HITMAN-MY REAL LIFE IN THE CARTOON WORLD OF WRESTLING]
November 4 – Larry Matysik returns to the WWF, internet hosting the St. Louis tv present.
November 4 – World Class Championship Wrestling continues to indicate declines in attendance, as a card in San Antonio headlined by NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defending in opposition to Kerry Von Erich in a metal cage match attracts solely 2,300 followers.
November 4 – Promoter Jerry Jarrett presents a nine-match card in Jackson, Tennessee, that pulls “very effectively.” The premise is that if the babyfaces win 5 of the night’s matches, which they do, then followers can throw eggs at Jimmy Hart. Lance Russell throws the primary egg. [WON 1984-12-03]
November 5 – The WWF runs its first card in Vancouver, British Columbia, drawing 4,000 followers, about the identical that Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling averaged available in the market. Dynamite Child and Davey Boy Smith give up the WWF in frustration over how they’re getting used. Quickly after, Shohei “Large Baba” publicizes that they may crew in his upcoming Actual World Tag League sequence. As a part of the deal, Baba informs Smith and Child that he’ll work to safe bookings for them in NWA territories in the US.
November 5 – The NWA runs a big present in Montreal, drawing 12,123 followers. Within the high matches, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats Raymond Rougeau, whereas AWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats the Masked Celebrity.
November 8 – Kamala wrestles his final present within the WWF earlier than strolling out, requiring Massive John Studd to switch him on quite a few playing cards for the remainder of the month.
November 9 – UWF President Nobuo Urata is prosecuted.
November 9 – The UWF is given $160,000 by a sponsor of New Japan Professional Wrestling on the situation that they comply with meet with NJPW to contemplate a joint present. When the NJPW-UWF assembly begins, reporters present up with cameras, which prompts the UWF personnel to storm out. The NJPW sponsor is upset and desires their a reimbursement. [WON 1985-01-10]
November 9 – The WWF attracts 12,000 followers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the principle occasion, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats Massive John Studd by disqualification.
November 10 – The WWF attracts an introduced 19,699 followers to the Philadelphia Spectrum. The spotlight of the present was a “unbelievable match” [WON 1984-12-03] the place the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff teamed in opposition to the Junkyard Canine and Nikolai Volkoff. The cardboard is broadcast on Philadelphia’s PRISM community.
November 10 – The WWF overtakes the AWA in Salt Lake Metropolis for the primary time, drawing 7,000 followers to the College of Utah. Compared, the AWA attracts solely 3,200 followers to Salt Palace 9 days later.
November 11 – The AWA runs a closely promoted particular battle royal on the Cow Palace in San Francisco, which attracts 6,800 followers. Nonetheless, the occasion is as soon as once more tormented by a half-dozen no-shows, leaving AWA attendance to return to regular low ranges the next month.
November 13 – Bob Orton (now not referencing the Jr.) makes his WWF debut on the Poughkeepsie, New York, tv taping because the bodyguard of high heel Roddy Piper, a task he would preserve for the following two years. On the identical taping, Mike Rotunda debuts, contemporary off of a run within the Florida territory, forming a tag crew with Barry Windham known as the U.S. Specific.
Mid-November – Shohei “Large” Baba locations calls to the highest stars of the UWF to allow them to know he desires them “badly” [WON 1984-12-03] if the UWF folds.
Mid-November – “In keeping with a World Class supply, the Dallas outfit has no plans to advertise in both Chicago or Minneapolis. On the identical there’s a rumor somebody has the Minneapolis Auditorium booked for wrestling in ‘85. I’m fairly certain the AWA has no plans to advertise in Dallas, both. Each side are bluffing to maintain the opposite from coming in, when the opposite has no plans of such, apparently.” [WON 1984-12-03]
Mid-November – Wrestlers Jim Wilson and Eddie Mansfield testify earlier than the Georgia state legislature in an try and get the state to ascertain a wrestling fee. “The world of wrestling is a world of fraud and exploitation, managed by a handful of promoters who partition markets like syndicated crime bosses,” stated Mansfield.
Mid-November – Buzz Sawyer is booked for the upcoming Actual World Tag League sequence in All Japan Professional Wrestling as a associate to the One Man Gang, however loses his passport and by no means makes it to Japan. [WON 1985-01-10]
November 14 – Dynamite Child and Davey Boy Smith maintain a press convention in Tokyo the place they handle their departure from the WWF and arrival in All Japan Professional Wrestling. “After the Calgary circuit was closed and we joined the WWF, we weren’t in a position to wrestle very onerous,” says Dynamite Child. “The schedule was too onerous. We had been touring too far. Additionally, New Japan misplaced a few of our greatest opponents, Choshu, Yatsu, Hamaguchi, Kobayashi, and Teranishi. We had been unhappy to listen to it. We requested Mr. Hito to get us booked with Mr. Baba. Baba stated we are able to wrestle in any NWA space now.”
November 14 – The WWF remains to be in a detailed struggle with Championship Wrestling From Georgia in Columbus, Ohio, drawing 3,500 followers, in comparison with CWG’s card ten days later, which drew 2,500 followers. The WWF major occasions with WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine in opposition to Tito Santana, whereas CWG headlines with NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude in opposition to Tommy Wealthy.
November 15 – The UWF debuts its 12 months-Finish Particular sequence to a sellout of three,300 followers at Korakuen Corridor. In the principle occasion, Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Osamu Kido defeat Akira Maeda and Tremendous Tiger. The tour is just attainable as a result of a New Japan Professional Wrestling sponsor offers the UWF $160,000 on the situation that they might focus on a future joint present with NJPW, and the sponsor had since requested the cash again after the November 9 incident. [WON 1985-01-10]
November 15 – Vince McMahon holds a press convention in Tokyo and easily says, “I do know the information about [Dynamite] Child and [Davey Boy] Smith. I’ll say proper now, they will now not wrestle within the WWF.” As well as, Jack Tunney publicizes that the WWF is stripping Dynamite Child of the WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title.
November 16 – New Japan Professional Wrestling President Seiji Sakaguchi holds conferences with Shohei “Large” Baba and Vince McMahon concerning the departure of Dynamite Child and Davey Boy Smith from the WWF and NJPW. It seems Child and Smith had been underneath contract to NJPW till January 1, 1986. Sakaguchi is looking for an out of courtroom settlement.
November 16 – New Japan Professional Wrestling begins its annual Madison Sq. Backyard Tag League sequence. Hulk Hogan is scheduled to crew with Curt Hennig [WON 1984-12-03], who doesn’t seem, so Hogan groups with Samu. In a post-match angle, Antonio Inoki assaults Hogan with two enzuigiris, then posts him and leaves him bloody. Vince McMahon and Seiji Sakaguchi scream for somebody to “name the hospital!”
November 16 – Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts return to World Class Championship Wrestling, which “ought to put to relaxation any rumors or solutions of future cooperation between Fritz Von Erich and Vince McMahon, as a result of Fritz will take again wrestlers who walked out on McMahon.” [WON 1984-10-22]
November 16 – The NWA attracts a disappointing 6,982 followers to the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. In the principle occasion, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude brawls Bruiser Brody to a no-contest. The unique deliberate lineup included Ted DiBiase going through Barry Windham in a match to find out the following number-one contender. [WON 1984-10-22]
November 16 – The WWF attracts 4,000 followers to the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, “the largest crowd there in a very long time.” [WON 1984-12-03]
November 17 – The WWF secures Superstars of Wrestling for WTTV-4 in Indianapolis, successfully kicking the AWA off of the station.
November 17 – Billy Jack Haynes returns to the Pacific Northwest, saying on tv that he wasn’t pleased within the WWF when he realized that he’d be letting the followers in Portland down.
November 18 – The WWF attracts 10,257 followers to the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. In the principle occasion, Roddy Piper brawls the Tonga Child to a double disqualification in a match with heavy exterior involvement from Paul Orndorff and Jimmy Snuka.
November 18 – Ole Anderson’s Championship Wrestling From Georgia attracts 7,000 followers to the Omni in Atlanta, for a one-night event to crown new NWA Nationwide Tag Group Champions. Within the last, the Lengthy Riders defeat Brad Armstrong and Jacques Rougeau. Additionally on the cardboard, NWA Nationwide Champion Ron Garvin and Wahoo McDaniel battle to a no-contest.
November 18 – Hulk Hogan leaves Japan after working just one card for the New Japan Professional Wrestling Madison Sq. Backyard Tag League because of his knee harm. The Japanese followers consider he’s skipping out on the tour to work extra WWF dates, which he isn’t, however the early departure leaves his popularity “tarnished badly.” [WON 1985-01-10]
November 19 – The AWA exhibits bother in Salt Lake Metropolis, usually a robust market, as they solely draw 3,002 followers, dropping under 5,500 followers for the primary time. Within the high match, the Street Warriors defeat the Fabulous Ones.
November 22 – Central States Wrestling holds a day present at Kemper Enviornment in Kansas Metropolis, which attracts only one,600 followers. The Street Warriors got $1,500 ensures to wrestle on the cardboard after issues with promoter Bob Geigel previously the place they no-showed a earlier card. [WON 1984-12-03]
November 22 – The AWA attracts 16,000 followers to the St. Paul Civic Middle for its annual Thanksgiving present. In the principle occasion, the Street Warriors defeat King Kong Bundy and Jerry Blackwell.
November 22 – The WWF attracts 4,800 followers to the Omni in Atlanta, a horrible quantity for a market with a robust Thanksgiving night time custom, barely a 3rd of what Georgia Championship Wrestling drew in the identical constructing a yr earlier. In the principle occasion, Paul Orndorff wins a $10,000 metal cage battle royal.
November 22 – Mid South Wrestling attracts solely 7,500 followers to New Orleans for his or her Superdome Extravaganza. Within the high matches, Magnum TA defeats Mid South North American Champion Ernie Ladd by disqualification whereas the Rock N Roll Specific defeat the Midnight Specific in a scaffold match.
November 22 – World Class Championship Wrestling attracts 15,325 followers to the Reunion Enviornment in Dallas for Thanksgiving Star Wars in a present that “ranged from good to terrible.” [WON 1985-01-10] The spotlight is a “brutal and wonderful” [WON 1985-01-10] Texas Dying match refereed by Kerry Von Erich that pits Terry Gordy in opposition to Killer Khan. After the match, Gordy and Kerry shook arms, symbolically putting the Von Erichs-Freebirds rivalry previously.
November 22 – Jim Crockett Promotions runs Starrcade ‘84: The $1,000,000 Problem from the Greensboro Coliseum. The occasion attracts over 18,000 followers, a dwell enhance over the earlier yr, and sells one other 24,000 tickets in closed circuit areas, making it second solely to the earlier yr’s Starrcade as essentially the most profitable occasion within the historical past of the territory. [WON 1984 YEARBOOK] In the principle occasion, NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defeats Dusty Rhodes in a match officiated by boxing legend Joe Frazier. Additionally on the cardboard, Tully Blanchard upsets Ricky Steamboat in a superb match.
November 23 – The WWF makes an attempt to run a present in Hartford, Connecticut with a 20-man metal cage battle royal. Nonetheless, the Connecticut State Athletic Commision won’t permit it, so the cardboard unusually consists of 19 very brief cage matches that includes the deliberate battle royal members.
November 23 — Mid South Wrestling attracts a sellout of greater than 11,000 followers to the Sam Houston Coliseum with an $89,000 gate. In the principle occasion, the Rock N Roll Specific defeat the Midnight Specific in a scaffold match.
November 25 – Vince McMahon touts the success of the WWF in an interview with the Los Angeles Instances. “Demographics, they’re merely unbelievable, though ours are past what an MTV may be. Ours are about 18 to 40, and 40 p.c of that’s girls. I’ve all the time maintained that our demographics are broad-based Americana. Actually what we’re making an attempt to do is put professional wrestling within the correct autos in order that skilled individuals will really feel it’s all proper to [enjoy]. I don’t suppose it’s a query of America all of the sudden awakening to a brand new phenomenon. They’re awakening to a brand new stage of it.”
November 25 – The WWF attracts 8,603 followers to Selland Enviornment in Fresno, California, greater than doubling the attendance of the final present available in the market. In the principle occasion, Sgt. Slaughter defeats the Iron Sheik.
November 25 – Houston Wrestling has extra success headlining with the scaffold match than Mid South Wrestling did in New Orleans, as the identical match between the Midnight Specific and Rock N Roll Specific attracts 12,000 followers to the Sam Houston Coliseum.
November 26 – The WWF attracts a sellout 22,090 followers to Madison Sq. Backyard. In the principle occasion, WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine and Tito Santana fought to a curfew draw; nonetheless, the massive draw of the night was Bruno Sammartino’s return to MSG after a four-year absence, accompanying son David to the ring for his match in opposition to Ken Patera. The cardboard airs on the MSG Community in New York.
November 26 – The WWF attracts a sellout 11,220 followers to the Oakland Coliseum. In the principle occasion, Blackjack Mulligan wins a $50,000 16-man battle royal.
November 27 – The WWF and NWA go face to face once more in Miami. The WWF attracts 2,000 followers to the Knight Middle for a card that includes Barry Windham, “an important man on the cardboard.” [WON 1984-12-03] The NWA leads with NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defending in opposition to Billy Jack Haynes on the Conference Corridor, “which is situated within the Overton part of Miami, which had been hit onerous by race riots thus many followers gained’t go close to that a part of city.” [WON 1984-12-03]
November 28-November 30 – Deliberate occasions for Jim Crockett Promotions in Bronx, Queens, and on Lengthy Island are canceled underneath “questionable circumstances,” [DEATH OF THE TERRITORIES, pp. 156] as “a mysterious occasion known as and canceled these dates and organized new ones, claiming that he was working for David Crockett.” All three dates are modified to WWF exhibits, which implies the one that known as was situated “someplace within the neighborhood of Greenwich, Connecticut.” JCP calls the world again to attempt to get the exhibits again on the schedule, however the venues inform them that is now not possible. [WON 1984-12-03]
November 28 – The WWF’s efforts in St. Louis proceed to fluctuate, as they draw 5,982 followers to The Enviornment. In the principle occasion, Jimmy Snuka wins a $50,000 20-man battle royal.
November 29 – The WWF and Central States go face to face in Kansas Metropolis, with the WWF card drawing 800 followers. In the principle occasion, Roddy Piper defeats Ivan Putski. Central States counters with NWA World Champion Ric Aptitude defending in opposition to Jerry Blackwell, which attracts 2,200 followers.
November 29 – The WWF and Mid South Wrestling go face to face, because the WWF runs its first present in Oklahoma Metropolis, drawing only one,500 followers. In the principle occasion, the Junkyard Canine defeats Paul Orndorff by disqualification. Mid South Wrestling, in the meantime, runs a “Fan Appreciation Night time”, a Jim Ross concept [BILL WATTS-THE COWBOY AND THE CROSS] with free tickets, which drew 10,000 followers and turned 1000’s extra away. [WON 1985-01-10] Along with having a full card, the followers had been in a position to have autograph periods with “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, the Rock and Roll Specific, and Kerry Von Erich. “We took a little bit little bit of a monetary hit on these, however when [Vince] McMahon noticed what his exhibits had been drawing he apparently determined it wasn’t value it to run Oklahoma, within the brief time period anyway.” [BILL WATTS-THE COWBOY AND THE CROSS] Later that night, Bret Hart has dinner with Sgt. Slaughter, who tells him, “One factor I do know is, watch your again. Vince [McMahon] is a ruthless man. He’ll let you know no matter you need to hear, so what he says doesn’t imply a lot if you happen to ask me, however good luck, child.” [HITMAN-MY REAL LIFE IN THE CARTOON WORLD OF WRESTLING]
November 30 — EMLL attracts 13,000 followers to Enviornment Mexico in Mexico Metropolis. [LUCHA DB] In the principle occasion, Atlantis defeats Mexican Middleweight Champion Jerry Estrada to win the title.
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