1996 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable events in 1996.

Calendar of notable shows

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Notable events

Mass Transit Incident

The " Mass Transit incident" was an infamous event in

that occurred at an

Extreme Championship Wrestling Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was an American professional wrestling promotion that was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and operated by its parent company HHG Corporation. The promotion was founded in 1992 by Tod Gordon as Nationa ...

(ECW)

house show A house show (also commonly called a live event) is a professional wrestling event produced by a major Professional wrestling promotion, promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in o ...

on November 23, 1996 at the Wonderland Ballroom in

Revere, Massachusetts Revere (, ) is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Located approximately northeast of Downtown Boston, Revere is the terminus of the Blue Line (MBTA), MBTA Blue Line, with three stations located within the city: Wonderland station, Wonderla ...

in the United States. It involved Eric Kulas (1979 – May 12, 2002), an aspiring professional wrestler using the ring name "Mass Transit", being bladed too deeply by

New Jack Jerome Young (January 3, 1963 – May 14, 2021) was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name New Jack. He was best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he became notorious for his willingn ...

The Gangstas The Gangstas was a professional wrestling tag team and stable, consisting of New Jack and Mustafa Saed in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The group originally started as a three-man group with D'Lo Brown in Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW), ...

during a tag-team match. Two of Kulas' arteries were severed; he bled profusely and passed out, and needed to be escorted out of the arena with medical attention. Further controversy arose when it came to light that Kulas had lied to ECW owner and booker

Paul Heyman Paul Heyman (born September 11, 1965) is an American professional wrestling manager, former executive, promoter, and commentator. He is signed to WWE as the on-screen manager of Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed, and is widely regard ...

about his age and professional wrestling training. The incident led to a future ECW pay-per-view being cancelled (until Heyman negotiated otherwise), a lawsuit from Kulas' family, and went down as one of the most notorious moments of lore in professional wrestling history.

IWRG created

On January 1 – Mexican promoter Adolfo Moreno created the

International Wrestling Revolution Group International Wrestling Revolution Group (Grupo Internacional Revolución in Spanish language, Spanish; the Spanish name is used for the promotion while the English initials are used for the title governing body) is a Lucha Libre professional wres ...

(IWRG) which held its debut show on this date in

Arena Naucalpan Arena Naucalpan is an indoor sports arena located in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico located on Calle Jardín 19, Naucalpan Centro. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or ''lucha libre'', mainly shows promoted by International Wre ...

Formation of the nWo

In the main event of

World Championship Wrestling World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of National W ...

(WCW)'s ''

Bash at the Beach Bash at the Beach was a yearly professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW). It was the company's PPV for the month of July, held from 1994–2000. As the title implied, the show centered on a b ...

'' pay-per-view on July 7,

Scott Hall Scott Oliver Hall (October 20, 1958 – March 14, 2022) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his tenures with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under his real name and with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE ...

and

Kevin Nash Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9, 1959) is an American actor, podcaster and retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE under a legends contract. He is also known for his tenures in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Total Nonstop Ac ...

(both of whom had recently defected to WCW from the

World Wrestling Federation World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

(WWF) and been presented on-screen as " outsiders") indicated that they would enlist a mystery partner against the team of

Randy Savage Randy Mario Poffo (November 15, 1952 – May 20, 2011), better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler and professional baseball player, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation ( ...

Sting Stimulator of interferon genes (STING), also known as transmembrane protein 173 (TMEM173) and MPYS/MITA/ERIS is a regulator protein that in humans is encoded by the STING1 gene. STING plays an important role in innate immunity. STING induces typ ...

, and

Lex Luger Lawrence Wendell Pfohl (born June 2, 1958), better known by the ring name Lex Luger, is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, bodybuilder, and gridiron football player. He is best known for his work with Jim Crocke ...

. Their partner ended up being

Hulk Hogan Terry Gene Bollea (; born August 11, 1953), better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as a brand ambassador. Known for his flamboyance and massive physiq ...

, who surprisingly attacked long-time Mega Powers partner Savage to conclude the match, thus turning heel for the first time in nearly two decades. In his post-match promo, Hogan indicated his decision to lead the villainous stable which he christened as the New World Order (nWo). The nWo would be the main focus of WCW programming for the better part of the next three years and led to ''

WCW Monday Nitro ''WCW Monday Nitro'', also known as ''WCW Nitro'' or simply ''Nitro'', is an American professional wrestling television program that was produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and broadcast weekly every Monday night on TNT (American TV ...

'' defeating ''

WWF Monday Night Raw ''WWE Raw'', also known as ''Monday Night Raw'' or simply ''Raw'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE. It currently airs live every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Netflix. The show features characters ...

'' in the

Monday Night War The Monday Night War or the Monday Night Wars, was an era of mainstream televised American professional wrestling, from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001, in which the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF; now WWE) '' Monday Night Raw'' (later ' ...

ratings battle for eighty-three consecutive weeks. These developments in WCW are often credited with ultimately pushing the WWF toward producing the "edgier" content which would become the hallmark of the

Attitude Era The Attitude Era was a major era of professional wrestling within the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). The term "WWF Attitude" was used to describe its programming from November 9, 1997 to May 6, 2002. It began during the Monday Ni ...

Accomplishments and tournaments

AJW

AJPW

Jd' Star

WCW

WWF

WWF Hall of Fame

Slammy Awards

Awards and honors

''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

Title changes

ECW

FMW

IWRG

NJPW

WCW

WWF

Debuts

* Uncertain debut date **

Mari Apache Mariella Balbuena Torres (born October 19, 1979) is a Mexican ''Lucha libre, Luchadora'', or female professional wrestling, professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Mari Apache (sometimes written as "Mary Apache"). She is the daugh ...

** Miyuki Okada (SPWF) ** Rumi Sekiguchi (All Japan Women's) **

Yoshikazu Taru is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known simply as Taru (stylised in all capital letters). He is signed to Makai, while also working for Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is the leader of the Voodo ...

* January 4 - Sayuri Okino (LLPW) * March 10 – The Rock * March 20 -

Masakazu Fukuda (May 17, 1972 – April 19, 2000) was a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known for his appearances in WAR and NJPW. He also joined a short-lived stable known as ''Fighting Club G-EGGS'', the stable included Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata ...

* April 14 - Aya Koyama (Jd' Star) * April 23 - K-Ness * April 29 - Rina Ishii (GAEA) * May 2 – Sachie Abe * May 16 -

Adam Pearce Adam John Pearce (born June 24, 1978) is an American retired professional wrestler and executive employed by WWE as Director of Live Events, producer, trainer, and on-screen general manager of the Raw brand. Pearce is a former five-time NW ...

* July 14 -

Momoe Nakanishi , better known by her maiden name , is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. She made her debut for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) in July 1996 at the age of sixteen and during the next seven years, won all of the promotion's top title ...

and

Nanae Takahashi (born December 23, 1978) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and the founder of Seadlinnng, as well as a co-founder of World Wonder Ring Stardom. She was signed to Dream Star Fighting Marigold, where she held her final match at Marigo ...

* July 28 –

Miho Wakizawa is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her time in the Japanese promotions World Wonder Ring Stardom and All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (1996-2014) Wakizawa made some freel ...

and Yachiyo Kawamoto (All Japan Women's) * July 30 - Yuko Kosugi (Jd' Star) * August 8 - H. C. Loc * August 12 –

Sakura Hirota is a Japanese politician and semi-retired professional wrestler. She last worked as a freelancer, and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Gaea, Pro Wrestling Wave and Oz Academy. Hirota's later career is characterized by b ...

* September 15 - Fugofugo Yumeji * September 16 - Miyuki Fujii (All Japan Women's) * September 20 -

Mark Henry Mark Jerrold Henry (born June 12, 1971) is an American former powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and retired professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract. Henry is a two-time Olympian (1992 and 19 ...

* October 5 - Nobuyuki Kurashima * October 17 - MIKAMI * October 20 - Keiichi Kawano * November 2 -

Tomohiro Ishii is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is currently a double champion: being the Strong Openweight Champion in his first reign, and one-half of the current IWGP Tag Team Champions with Ta ...

* November 24 - Miyuki Sogabe (Jd' Star) * September 15 –

Takashi Sasaki is a Japanese people, Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and the owner of Pro Wrestling Freedoms (Freedoms). A regular on the Japanese independent circuit for over 25 years, Sasaki began his career with International Wrestling ...

* December 28 - Sari Osumi (JWP)

Births

* February 22 – Rabbit Miu * March 2 – Kosuke Sato * March 15 –

Maxwell Jacob Friedman Maxwell Tyler Friedman (born March 15, 1996), better known by the ring name Maxwell Jacob Friedman and the shortened epithet MJF, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. , he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW ...

* March 20 –

Blair Davenport Beatrice St. Claire Terry (née Priestley, born 22 March 1996) is an English-New Zealander professional wrestler. She is a freelancer, performing for various promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). She previously performed in WWE und ...

* March 27 –

Pom Harajuku (born March 27, 1996) is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW). She is also known for her work in the Japanese independent scene. Early life Harajuku has a swimming background, although not achieving any m ...

* March 31 –

Sareee is a Japanese professional wrestler. She primarily performs in Japan as a freelancer under the ring name Sareee, and is signed to the American promotion Sukeban (professional wrestling), Sukeban under the ring name Sareee Bomb and is the reignin ...

* May 7 – Mike D Vecchio * May 11 – Laurance Roman * May 13 – Wakana Uehara * June 2 –

Jacy Jayne Taylor Grado (born June 2, 1996) is an American professional wrestler. , she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT (WWE brand), NXT WWE brand extension, brand under the ring name Jacy Jayne, and is the current NXT Women's Champion in he ...

* June 20 –

Rhio A Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO, pronounced ''rio''), also called a Health Information Exchange Organization, is a multistakeholder organization created to facilitate a health information exchange (HIE) – the transfer of heal ...

* July 30 –

Marko Stunt Noah Nelms (born July 30, 1996), better known under the ring name Marko Stunt, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Game Changer Wrestling, Black Label Pro, DEFY Wrestling and ...

* July 31 –

Nightshade Solanaceae (), commonly known as the nightshades, is a family of flowering plants in the order Solanales. It contains approximately 2,700 species, several of which are used as agricultural crops, medicinal plants, and ornamental plants. Many me ...

* August 17 –

Indi Hartwell Samantha De Martin (born 17 August 1996), better known by the ring name Indi Hartwell, is an Australian professional wrestler. She is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). She is best known for her tenure in WWE from 2019 to 2024, wh ...

* September 13 –

Aya Sakura is a Japanese professional wrestler. She works for World Wonder Ring Stardom where she is a member of Cosmic Angels. She is the current Sendai Girls Junior Champion. Professional wrestling career World Wonder Ring Stardom (2023–present) Sak ...

* October 11 –

Rhea Ripley Demi Bennett (born 11 October 1996) is an Australian professional wrestler. As of July 2017, she is signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand under the ring name Rhea Ripley. She is a List of Women ...

* October 23 –

Taishi Ozawa , better known by the ring name Ozawa (stylized in all caps), is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah where he is the current GHC Heavyweight Champion and a member of Team 2000X. Professional wrestling career ...

* December 12 –

Yoshiki Kato is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to Dragongate where he is one third of the current Open the Triangle Gate Champions in his second reign. He seldomly competes in promotions from the Japanese independent scene. Professional wrestling ...

Retirements

* Akio Sato (1970–1996) *

Billy Jack Haynes William Albert Haynes III (born July 10, 1953) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Billy Jack Haynes. Professional wrestling career Early career (1982–1984) Haynes started wrestling in 1982 at the a ...

(1982–1996) * Damian Kane (1980–1996) *

Tom Zenk Thomas Erwin Zenk (November 30, 1958 – December 9, 2017) was an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder. He was a babyface for his entire career and was best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1987 ...

(1986–October 1996) *

Tyler Mane Daryl Karolat (born December 8, 1966) is a Canadian actor and retired professional wrestler, better known by the name Tyler Mane. He is known for playing supervillain Sabretooth in ''X-Men'' (2000), and '' X-Men: The Official Game'' (2006), Ajax ...

(1986–1996) *

Dick Slater Richard Van Slater (May 19, 1951 – October 18, 2018) better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, was an American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid-1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Champ ...

(1972–October 1996) *

Dynamite Kid Thomas Wilton Billington (5 December 1958 – 5 December 2018), best known by the ring name the Dynamite Kid, was a British professional wrestler. Trained by former wrestler "Dr Death" Ted Betley, he competed in the World Wrestling Federatio ...

(December 24, 1975 – October 10, 1996) * Espanto Jr. (1971–January 1996) *

Jerry Stubbs Jerry Stubbs (born September 13, 1951) is an American retired professional wrestler. Stubbs wrestled as Mr. Olympia in Bill Watts's Mid-South wrestling area (Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas) and as the heel (professional wrestling), villainous Jer ...

(1970–1996, return to wrestle for a match in 2019) *

Mr. Fuji was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, actor and Manager (professional wrestling), manager, known professionally by his ring name Mr. Fuji (or Master Fuji to his protégés). He was famous for often throwing salt in the ...

(1965–1996) *

Steve Regal Steve Regal (born August 25, 1951) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association. Professional wrestling career Born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Regal started wrest ...

(1977–1996) *

Wahoo McDaniel Edward Hugh McDaniel (June 19, 1938 – April 18, 2002) was an American professional football player and professional wrestler better known by his ring name Wahoo McDaniel. He is notable for having held the NWA United States Heavyweight Champio ...

(1961–July 1996) *

Rocky Iaukea Rocky Iaukea is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Prince Iaukea, who competed in the Pacific Northwest and Southeastern United States with the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1980s, and in Japan during the ea ...

(1981–1996) *

Tom Lister, Jr. Tommy Debo "Tiny" Lister Jr. (born Thomas Duane Lister Jr.; June 24, 1958 – December 10, 2020) was an American character actor and occasional professional wrestler known for his roles as the neighborhood bully Deebo in the 1995 film ''Friday'' ...

(1989–March 1996) * Tiger Conway Jr. (1971–1996)

Deaths

* January 15 - Buddy Fuller, 70 * January 23 - Art White, 80 * May 3 –

Ray Stevens Harold Ray Ragsdale (born January 24, 1939), known professionally as Ray Stevens, is an American country music, country and pop singer-songwriter and comedian. He is best known for his Grammy-winning recordings "Everything Is Beautiful" and "M ...

, 60 * June 15 –

Dick Murdoch Hoyt Richard Murdoch (August 16, 1946 – June 15, 1996) was an American professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring names "Dirty" Dick Murdoch and "Captain Redneck". He was best known for his time in the NWA, WWE, Wo ...

, 49 * June 26 -

Octavio Gaona Octavio Gaona (1902–1996) was a Mexican ''Luchador'', or professional wrestler, known for his participation in the first ever high profile '' Lucha de Apuesta'', or wager fight, against Murciélago Velázquez. Gaona held both the Mexican Nationa ...

, 94 * July 20 -

The Missouri Mauler Larry Edward "Rocky" Hamilton (April 1, 1931 – July 20, 1996), better known by his ring name the Missouri Mauler, was an American professional wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance, becoming a mainstay of the latter promoti ...

, 65 * July 23 –

Herb Abrams Herbert Charles Abrams (July 9, 1955 – July 23, 1996), also known by the nickname Mr. Electricity, was an American professional wrestling promoter from Queens, New York, who founded the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) in 1990. Early life ...

, 41 * August 23 -

Neil Superior Neil Allen Caricofe (April 6, 1963 – August 23, 1996), better known by the ring name Neil Superior, was an American professional wrestler and trainer. A mainstay on the East Coast of the United States, East Coast and Mid-Atlantic United States, ...

, 33 * September 11 –

Sapphire Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. The name ''sapphire ...

, 61

References

{{Years in professional wrestling