1998 In Professional Wrestling
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1998 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of
professional wrestling Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
.


List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1998.


Calendar of notable shows


January


February


March


April


May


June


July


August


September


October


November


December


Accomplishments and tournaments


AAA


AJW


AJPW


JWP


NJPW


WCW


WWF


Awards and honors


''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''


Wrestling Observer Newsletter


Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame


Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards


Title changes


ECW


FMW


NJPW


WCW


WWF


Births

*June 18 -
Masha Slamovich Ann Khozine (russian: Анна Хозина, ''Anna Khozina''; born 18 June 1998), known by her ring name Masha Slamovich, is a Russian-American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling. Early life Ann Khozine was born in M ...
*September 17 - Towa Iwasaki *November 23 -
Rina Shingaki is a retired Japanese professional wrestler best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotion Ice Ribbon where she is a former Triangle Ribbon Champion. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2018-2021) Shingaki made her profess ...


Debuts

*
A.J. Styles Allen Neal Jones (born June 2, 1977), better known by his ring name AJ Styles (also stylized as A.J. Styles), is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. Regarded as one of the best ...
*
Amazing Red Jonathan Figueroa (born April 26, 1982), better known by his ring name Amazing Red, is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler and promoter. He is best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is a former three-time ...
*
Vince McMahon Vincent Kennedy McMahon (; born August 24, 1945) is an American media proprietor and retired professional wrestling promoter, executive, and performer. From 1982 to 2022, he served as the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of WWE, the w ...
*
Chuck Palumbo Charles Palumbo (born June 15, 1971) is an Italian-American television personality, motorcycle and automotive designer/fabricator, home designer/builder, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with professional w ...
*
Rodney Mack Rodney Begnaud (born October 12, 1970) is an American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, better known by the ring name Rodney Mack. He is signed to National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He is best known for his time with WWE . Profess ...
* Sal E. Graziano *
Cliff Compton Clifford Treiber (born November 2, 1979) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring names Domino and Cliff Compton. He is known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Before being promoted to the main WWE roster ...
*
Tony Mamaluke Charles John Spencer (born July 19, 1977) is a retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Tony Marinara and with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrest ...
*
Kazunari Murakami (born November 29, 1973) is a Japanese professional wrestler and retired mixed martial artist currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Murakami is best known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) during the late 1990s and early 2000s, ...
* Tomoka Isozaki (All Japan Women's) * January 23 - Tomiko Sai and
Kayoko Haruyama is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. Having made her debut in January 1998, Haruyama worked for the JWP Joshi Puroresu promotion her entire career, becoming not only one of the promotion's most accomplished singles wrestlers, with one JWP ...
* January 31 –
Thanomsak Toba is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Dramatic Dream Team (DDT). His ring name is an hommage to Thai professional boxer Thanomsak Sithbaobay. Professional wrestling career Indepe ...
* February 5 - MAX Miyazawa * February 7 -
Ryuji Hijikata (born May 17, 1978) is a Japanese professional wrestler also known under the ring name . Hijikata is best known for his tenure in Battlarts and All Japan Pro Wrestling since 2002 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Professi ...
* April 30 -
Místico Luis Ignacio Urive Alvirde (born December 22, 1982), better known by his ring name Místico (Spanish for "Mystic"), is a Mexican ''luchador enmascarado'' (or masked professional wrestler), who currently works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Li ...
* May 15 -
Frankie Kazarian Frank Benedict Gerdelman (born August 4, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and musician currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), performing under the ring name Frankie Kazarian. In addition, Kazarian also pe ...
* June 19 -
Bobby Roode Robert Francis Roode Jr. (born May 11, 1976) is a Canadian professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. He is currently inactive due to undergoing neck surgery. Roode is known for his 12-year tenure for Total Nonstop ...
* August 9 -
Ayako Hamada is a Mexican professional wrestler. During her 20-year career, Hamada wrestled for various promotions, including All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, Gaea Japan and Pro Wrestling Wave in Japan, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and Lucha Libre ...
* August 16 - Junko Yagi * August 21 –
Kurt Angle Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American retired professional wrestler, Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 100 kg, Olympic gold medalist in American freestyle wrestling, and former Collegiate wrestling, ...
* September 6 –
Quiet Storm Quiet storm is a radio format and genre of R&B, performed in a smooth, romantic, jazz-influenced style. It was named after the title song on Smokey Robinson's 1975 album ''A Quiet Storm''. The radio format was pioneered in 1976 by Melvin Lin ...
* September 13 -
Tigre Uno Tigre Uno (born April 4, 1981) is a Mexican professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a one-time X Division Champion. Outside of the United States he is best known for his work in Luch ...
* September 15 - Mika Harigai (All Japan Women's) * September 25 -
Low Ki Brandon Silvestry (born September 6, 1979) is an American professional wrestler of Italian and Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring name Low Ki. He is known for his time with Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and Major League Wrestlin ...
* October -
Kongo Kong Steven Wilson (born August 10, 1979) is an American professional wrestler best known under the ring name Kongo Kong. He is best known for his time with Global Force Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. Early career Wilson went to Saginaw Valley Stat ...
* October 25 - Genkai * November 29 -
Takashi Uwano is a retired Japanese professional wrestler most famous for competing with NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling) and Pro Wrestling Zero1. Uwano has a background in the martial art, Judo. Professional wrestling career Various Japanese promotions ( ...
* December 14 –
Faby Apache Fabiola Balbuena Torres (born 26 December 1980) is a Mexican ''Luchadora'', or female professional wrestler known for her time with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) where she performed as Faby Apache (sometimes written as "Fabi Apache"). Between 2 ...
* December 16 - Daisaku Shimada


Retirements

*
Austin Idol Michael McCord (born October 26, 1949) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Austin Idol. He is best known for his appearances in the Mid-South with the Continental Wrestling Association, in particular his rec ...
(1972–1998) *
Antonio Inoki Muhammad Hussain Inoki (born ; February 20, 1943 – October 1, 2022) was a Japanese professional wrestler, martial artist, politician, and promoter of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. He was best known by the ring name , a homag ...
(September 30, 1960–April 4, 1998) (returned to wrestling in 2000 and retired on December 30, 2001) *
Marcus Laurinaitis Marcus Laurinaitis is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The Wrecking Crew (Fury) & Terminator. He wrestled primarily in Florida (FCW), Japan (All-Japan Pro Wrestling & New Japan Pro Wrestling), and Europe ...
(1987–1998) *
Joey Maggs Joseph Magliano (1968/1969 – October 2006), better known by the ring name "Jumping" Joey Maggs, was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1991 to 1998. Profession ...
(1987–1998) *
Rick Martel Richard Vigneault (born March 18, 1956) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, trainer, and television presenter, better known by his ring name, Rick Martel. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association, the ...
(1973–1998) *
Shawn Michaels Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative. Widely regarded as one of ...
(1984-March 28, 1998) (returned to wrestling in 2002 and retired in 2010) *
John Nord John Eric Nord (born October 18, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association and World Class Championship Wrestling in the 1980s as Nord the Barbarian and Yukon ...
(1984-1998) *
The Patriot (wrestler) Delbert Alexander "Del" Wilkes, Jr. (December 21, 1961 – June 30, 2021) was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and college football player, better known by his ring names, The Trooper and The Patriot. Over the course of ...
(1988-1998) *
Sgt. Craig Pittman Craig Pittman (born March 7, 1959) is a former United States Marine and professional wrestler. He served in the Marine Corps until the early 1990s. He then wrestled professionally as Sgt. Craig "Pitbull" Pittman in World Championship Wrestling (W ...
(1993-1998) (returned to wrestling for two matches in 2011) *
Paul Roma Paul Centopani (born April 29, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Paul Roma. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling between 1984 an ...
(1984–1998) (returned to wrestling in 2006) *
The Sheik (wrestler) Edward George Farhat (June 7, 1926 – January 18, 2003) was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring name The Sheik (often called The Original Sheik to distinguish him from The Iron Sheik, who debuted ...
(1947-1998) *
Mark Starr Mark Ashford-Smith (December 26, 1962 – June 7, 2013) was an English professional wrestler best known by his ring name Mark Starr. He competed as a member of several tag teams. Wrestling career Continental Wrestling Association (1986–198 ...
(1986–1998) *
Pez Whatley Pezavan Whatley (January 10, 1951 – January 18, 2005) was an American professional wrestler best known for his time with NWA Mid-America. Professional wrestling career Whatley played football and wrestled for Notre Dame High School in Chatta ...
(1973-1998)


Deaths

* January 20 –
Bobo Brazil Houston Harris (July 10, 1924 – January 20, 1998) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Bobo Brazil. Credited with breaking down barriers of racial segregation in professional wrestling, Harris is considered one o ...
, 73 * February 15 –
Louie Spicolli Louis Mucciolo Jr. (February 10, 1971 – February 15, 1998) was an American professional wrestler. He performed in Mexico under the ring name Madonna's Boyfriend, for the World Wrestling Federation as Rad Radford, and in Extreme Championship Wres ...
, 27 * April 6 - Stanley Radwan, 89 * June 2 –
Junkyard Dog Sylvester Ritter (December 13, 1952 – June 1, 1998) was an American professional wrestler and college football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as the Junkyard Dog (or JYD), a nickname h ...
, 45 * July 1 -
Toyonobori , known in sumo and professional wrestling as or simply , was a sumo wrestler from Japan. After retiring as a rikishi from sumo, he became a professional wrestler. Career In professional wrestling On December 12, 1954, Toyonobori became a profe ...
, 67 * July 20 -
June Byers DeAlva Eyvonnie Sibley (May 25, 1922 – July 20, 1998), better known by her ring name June Byers, was an American women's professional wrestler famous in the 1950s and early 1960s. She held the Women's World Championship for ten years and is ...
, 76 * August 17 –
Terry Garvin Terry Joyal (March 1, 1937 - August 17, 1998), better known by his ring name Terry Garvin, was a Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work with kayfabe brother Ron Garvin, with whom he won several tag team championships in the ...
, 61 * August 18 – Shane Shamrock, 23 * November 6 –
Sky Low Low Marcel Gauthier (July 21, 1928 to November 6, 1998) was a Canadian professional midget wrestler who wrestler under the ring name Sky Low Low (a reference to Sky Hi Lee). Professional wrestling career Known by his midget wrestler persona "Sky Lo ...
, 70 * November 29 –
Giant Haystacks Martin Austin Ruane (10 October 1946 – 29 November 1998) was an English professional wrestler of Irish parentage, best known by the ring name Giant Haystacks. He was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s ...
, 51 * December 15 –
Brady Boone Dean R. Peters (August 22, 1958 – December 15, 1998) was an American professional wrestler and referee. He performed with the World Wrestling Federation under the ring names Brady Boone and Battle Kat. Professional wrestling career Early caree ...
, 40 * December 30 -
Sam Muchnick Samuel Muchnick (born Jeshua Muchnick, August 22, 1905 – December 30, 1998) was an American professional wrestling promoter from St. Louis, Missouri. He is often regarded as wrestling's equivalent of Pete Rozelle (the forward-thinking commission ...
, 93


See also

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List of WCW pay-per-view events This is a list of all closed-circuit television and pay-per-view events held by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and its predecessor Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP). From 1983–1987, these events aired live on closed-circuit television under th ...
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List of WWF pay-per-view events This is a list of WWE pay-per-view and WWE Network events, detailing all professional wrestling cards promoted on pay-per-view (PPV) and the WWE Network by WWE. Due to the American version of the WWE Network merging under Peacock, and with the ...
*
List of FMW supercards and pay-per-view events Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling was a Japanese hardcore wrestling promotion founded by Atsushi Onita in 1989. The event held its first card on October 6, 1989 and the first supercard was titled ''Battle Creation'' which took place on December 10, ...
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List of ECW supercards and pay-per-view events Eastern Championship Wrestling/Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) is a defunct professional wrestling promotion based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that operated from 1992 to 2001. Over the course of its existence, ECW staged regular supercards ...


References

{{Years in professional wrestling
professional wrestling Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...