1996 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable events in 1996. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesCatch Wrestling AssociationCWACMLLECWFrontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFMWLucha Libre AAA WorldwideAAAThe "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.New Japan Pro-WrestlingNJPWWorld Championship WrestlingWCWWorld Wrestling CouncilWWCWWF
Calendar of notable shows January DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 4 NJPWWrestling World 1996Tokyo, JapanNobuhiko Takada defeated Keiji Mutoh (c) in a Singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 5 ECWHouse PartyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesThe Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated The Gangstas (Mustafa Saed and New Jack) in a tag team street fightJanuary 21 WWFRoyal RumbleFresno, California, United StatesThe Undertaker defeated Bret Hart (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the WWF ChampionshipJanuary 23WCWClash of the Champions XXXIIParadise, Nevada, United StatesRic Flair and The Giant defeated Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
February DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventFebruary 3 ECWBig Apple Blizzard BlastQueens, New York, United States2 Cold Scorpio and the Sandman defeated the Gangstas (Mustafa and New Jack) by pinfall in a tag team matchFebruary 3 N/A First Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial ShowCherry Hill, New Jersey, United StatesDan Severn (c) defeated Al Snow in a Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipFebruary 11 WCWSuperBrawl VISt. Petersburg, Florida, United StatesHulk Hogan defeated The Giant in a Steel Cage matchFebruary 17 ECWCyberSlamPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesRaven (c) defeated The Sandman in a Singles match for the ECW World Heavyweight ChampionshipFebruary 18 WWFIn Your House 6Louisville, Kentucky, United StatesBret Hart (c) defeated Diesel by escaping the cage in a Steel Cage match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship- CMLLLa Copa Junior TournamentMexico City, MexicoLa Fiera defeated Scorpió Jr. in a 1996 La Copa Junior first round matchFebruary 23 ECWJust Another NightGlenolden, Pennsylvania, United StatesRaven (c) defeated Shane Douglas by pinfall in a Singles match for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
March DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMarch 8 ECWBig Ass Extreme BashQueens, New York, United StatesNight 1: Raven (c) defeated The Sandman by pinfall in a Singles match for the ECW World Heavyweight ChampionshipNight 2: The Gangstas (Mustafa and New Jack) defeated The Headhunters (Headhunter A and Headhunter B) and 2 Cold Scorpio and the Sandman by pinfall in a three-way tag team elimination matchCMLLHomenaje a Salvador LutterothMexico City, MexicoRambo defeated El Brazo in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, Hair vs. Hair matchMarch 24 WCWUncensoredTupelo, Mississippi, United StatesHulk Hogan and Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Meng, The Barbarian, Lex Luger, The Taskmaster, Z-Gangsta and The Ultimate Solution via Pinfall in a Doomsday Cage matchMarch 31 WWFWrestleMania XIIAnaheim, California, United StatesShawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart (c) 1–0 in sudden death overtime in a 60-minute Iron Man match for the WWF Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
April DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 4 FMWYamato Nadeshiko IIIOsaka, JapanChigusa Nagayo and Combat Toyoda defeated KAORU and Megumi Kudo in a tag team matchApril 13 ECWMassacre On Queens BoulevardQueens, New York, United StatesThe Gangstas (Mustafa and New Jack) defeated the Headhunters (Headhunter A and Headhunter B) and 2 Cold Scorpio and The Sandman by pinfall in a Three-way tag team elimination match for the number one contendership to the ECW World Tag Team Championship CMLL40. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoRayo de Jalisco Jr., Mil Máscaras and Tinieblas defeated Dr. Wagner Jr., Canek and Emilio Charles Jr. in a Six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team matchApril 20 ECWHostile City ShowdownPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesRaven (c) defeated Shane Douglas in a Singles match for the ECW World Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 28 WWFIn Your House 7: Good Friends, Better EnemiesOmaha, Nebraska, United StatesShawn Michaels (c) defeated Diesel in a No Holds Barred match for the WWF Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
May DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventMay 5 FMWFMW 7th Anniversary ShowKawasaki, Kanagawa, JapanMr. Pogo and Terry Funk defeated Hayabusa and Masato Tanaka in a One Million Yen No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Double Hell Exploding DeathmatchMay 11 AAATriplemanía IV-AChicago, Illinois, United StatesKonnan and Perro Aguayo defeated Pierroth Jr. and Cien Caras in a Lumberjack matchMay 11 ECWA Matter of RespectPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesTommy Dreamer and the Gangstas (Mustafa and New Jack) defeated Brian Lee and The Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) by pinfall in a Six-man tag team matchMay 19 WCWSlamboreeBaton Rouge, Louisiana, United StatesThe Giant (c) defeated Sting in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipMay 26May 28 WWFIn Your House 8: Beware of DogFlorence, South Carolina, United StatesNorth Charleston, South Carolina, United StatesMay 26: Shawn Michaels (c) vs. The British Bulldog ended in a no contest in a Singles match for the WWF ChampionshipMay 28: Goldust (c) defeated The Undertaker in a Casket match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
June DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain Event June 1 NJPW CMLL NWA WCW Michinoku Pro AAA AJWWWorld Wrestling Peace FestivalLos Angeles, California, United StatesAntonio Inoki (NJPW) and Dan Severn (NWA) defeated Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Oleg Taktarov in a tag team match ECWFight the PowerPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesThe Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) (c) defeated the Gangstas (Mustafa and New Jack) by pinfall in a tag team match for the ECW World Tag Team ChampionshipJune 7 N/A First Annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial ShowBuffalo, New York, United StatesThe Giant (c) defeated Sting by disqualification in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipCMLLTorneo Gran AlternativaMexico City, MexicoChicago Express and Bestia Salvaje defeated Atlantico and Atlantis in a tournament final matchJune 15 AAATriplemanía IV-BOrizaba, Veracruz, MexicoLa Parka, Octagón, and Máscara Sagrada defeated Killer, Cien Caras, and Heavy Metal in a Lumberjack matchJune 16 WCWThe Great American BashBaltimore, Maryland, United StatesThe Giant (c) defeated Lex Luger in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJune 22 ECWHardcore HeavenPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSabu defeated Rob Van Dam in a Singles matchNote that this was an internet pay-per-view event (iPPV)June 23 WWFKing of the RingMilwaukee, Wisconsin, United StatesShawn Michaels (c) defeated The British Bulldog in a Singles match for the WWF Championship with Mr. Perfect as special outside enforcerJune 30 N/A First Annual Rikidozan Memorial ShowYokohama, JapanGenichiro Tenryu and Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Koki Kitihara and Riki Choshu when Tenryu pinned Kitihara in a tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
July DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventCMLLInternational Gran PrixMexico City, MexicoEl Hijo del Santo defeated The Great Sasuke in a 1996 International Gran Prix final matchJuly 6CWAEuro Catch Festival in GrazGraz, AustriaLudvig Borga (c) defeated August Smisl in Round 6 in a Singles match for the CWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 7 WCWBash at the BeachDaytona Beach, Florida, United StatesThe Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) and Hulk Hogan fought Randy Savage, Sting and Lex Luger to a no contest in a Six-man tag team matchJuly 13 ECWHeat WavePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesThe Sandman, Terry Gordy and Tommy Dreamer defeated Raven (c), Brian Lee and Stevie Richards in a Steel cage match for the ECW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 14 WWCWWC 23rd AniversarioCaguas, Puerto RicoInvader #2 and #3 defeated The Southern Posse (Rick Thames and Sonny Trout) by disqualification in a reverse decision in a tag team matchJuly 15 AAATriplemanía IV-CMadero, Tamaulipas, MexicoHalcón Dorado Jr. lost to Karis la MomiaAlso in the match: Los Payasos (Coco Rojo, Coco Verde and Coco Amarillo) and Los Junior Atómicos (Máscara Sagrada Jr., Tinieblas Jr. and Blue Demon Jr.)July 21 WWFIn Your House 9: International IncidentVancouver, British Columbia, CanadaCamp Cornette (The British Bulldog, Owen Hart and Vader) defeated The People's Posse (Ahmed Johnson, Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid) in a Six-man tag team match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
August DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventAugust 1 FMWSummer SpectacularTokyo, JapanTerry Funk defeated Mr. Pogo via knockout in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Glass Crush Spider Net Double Hell DeathmatchAugust 3 ECWThe Doctor Is InPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesSabu defeated Rob Van Dam in a Stretcher matchAugust 6 NJPWG1 ClimaxTokyo, JapanRiki Choshu defeated Masahiro Chono in the finalsAugust 10 WCWWCW Hog WildSturgis, South Dakota, United StatesHollywood Hogan defeated The Giant (c) in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 15WCWClash of the Champions XXXIIIDenver, Colorado, United StatesRic Flair defeated Hollywood Hogan (c) by disqualification in a Singles match for the WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 18 WWFSummerSlamCleveland, Ohio, United StatesShawn Michaels (c) defeated Vader in a Singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 23 ECWRequiem for a PitbullReading, Pennsylvania, United StatesRob Van Dam defeated Tommy Dreamer by pinfall in a Singles matchAugust 24 ECWNatural Born KillazPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesThe Gangstas (Mustafa and New Jack) (c) defeated the Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) by pinfall in a Steel cage weapons match for the ECW World Tag Team ChampionshipAugust 24WWFXperienceToronto, Ontario, CanadaShawn Michaels (c) defeated Goldust in a Ladder match for the WWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipCanoe – Slam! Wrestling – the Big Event 21 years later(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
September DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventSeptember 13 ECWUnlucky LotteryJim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, United StatesSabu defeated Rob Van Dam by pinfall in a Singles matchSeptember 14 ECWWhen Worlds CollidePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesBrian Lee and the Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) defeated the Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams and Terry Gordy) and Tommy Dreamer by pinfall in a Six-man tag team matchSeptember 15 WCWFall BrawlWinston-Salem, North Carolina, United StatesnWo (Hollywood Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and nWo Sting) defeated Team WCW (Lex Luger, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Sting) in a WarGames matchCMLLCMLL 63rd Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoSeptember 20: Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (c) defeated Gran Markus Jr. in a Best two-out-of-three falls match for the CMLL World Heavyweight ChampionshipSeptember 27: Emilio Charles Jr. defeated Silver King in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair matchSeptember 22 WWFIn Your House 10: Mind GamesPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesShawn Michaels (c) defeated Mankind by disqualification in a Singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
October