80s Pro Wrestling

On March 29, 1987 Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat beat Randy "Macho Man" Savage at WrestleMania III to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship

Steamboat Described the Match as "The Moment in Time that Defined Me as a Wrestler”

Voted 1997 “Match of the Year” by Pro Wrestling Illustrated

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Kerry Von Erich

WWF Intercontinental Champions

1980 - Ken Patera

Defeated: Pat Patterson
Date: April 21

Location: New York, NY

1980 - Pedro Morales

Defeated: Ken Patera
Date: December 8

Location: New York, NY

1981 - Don Muraco

Defeated: Pedro Morales
Date: June 20

Location: Philadelphia, PA

1981 - Pedro Morales

Defeated: Don Muraco
Date: November 23

Location: New York, NY

1983 - Don Muraco

Defeated: Pedro Morales
Date: January 22

New York, NY

1984 - Tito Santana

Defeated: Don Muraco
Date: February 11

Location: Boston, MA

1984 - Greg Valentine

Defeated: Tito Santana
Date: September 24

Location: Ontario, Canada

1985 - Tito Santana

Defeated: Greg Valentine
Date: July 6

Location: Baltimore, MD

* Steel Cage Match

Steel Cage

On January 9, 1936 Jez Ludwig, Otto Ludwig, and Joe Dillman Wrestled Charles Sinkeythe in the First Steel Cage Match

* Caruthersville, Missouri

1986 - Randy Savage

Defeated: Tito Santana
Date: February 8

Location: Boston, MA

1987 - Ricky Steamboat

Defeated: Randy Savage
Date: March 29

Event: WrestleMania III

1987 - The Honky Tonk Man

Defeated: Ricky Steamboat
June 2, 1987

Location: Buffalo, NY

1988 - The Ultimate Warrior

Defeated: The Honky Tonk Man

Event: SummerSlam
Date: August 29

Location: New York, NY

1989 - Rick Rude

Defeated: The Ultimate Warrior
Date: April 2

Event: WrestleMania V

Location: Atlantic City, NJ

1989 - The Ultimate Warrior

Defeated: Rick Rude
Date: August 28

Event: SummerSlam

Location: East Rutherford, NJ

Fun Fact!

On September 1, 1979 Pat Patterson beat Ted DiBiase in Rio de Janeiro to Become the First Intercontinental Champion

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Ricky Steamboat

WWF Tag Team Champions

1980 - The Wild Samoans

Defeated: Ivan Putski and Tito Santana
Date: April 12

Location: Philadelphia, PA

1980 - Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales

Defeated: The Wild Samoans
Date: August 9

Event: Showdown at Shea

Location: New York, NY

1980 - The Wild Samoans

Defeated: Tony Garea & Rene Goulet

Type: Tournament
Date: September 9

Location: Allentown, PA

1980 - Tony Garea and Rick Martel

Defeated: The Wild Samoans
Date: November 8

Location: Philadelphia, PA

1981 - The Moondogs

Defeated: Tony Garea and Rick Martel
Date: March 17

Location: Allentown, PA

1981 - Tony Garea and Rick Martel

Defeated: The Moondogs
Date: July 21

Location: Allentown, PA

1981 - Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito

Defeated: Tony Garea and Rick Martel
Date: October 13

Location: Allentown, PA

1982 - Jules and Chief Jay Strongbow

Defeated: Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito
Date: June 28

Location: New York, NY

1982 - Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito

Defeated: Jules and Chief Jay Strongbow
Date: July 13

Location: Allentown, PA

1982 - Jules and Chief Jay Strongbow

Defeated: Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito
Date: October 26

Location: Allentown, PA

1983 - The Wild Samoans

Defeated: Jules and Chief Jay Strongbow
Date: March 8

Location: Allentown, PA

1983 - Soul Patrol (Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson)

Defeated: The Wild Samoans
Date: November 15

Location: Allentown, PA

1984 - The North-South Connection (Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch)

Defeated: Soul Patrol
Date: April 17

Location: Hamburg, PA

1985 - The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham)

Defeated: The North-South Connection
Date: January 21

Location: Hartford, CT

1985 - The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

Defeated: The U.S Express
Date: March 31

Location: New York, NY

Event: WrestleMania I

1985 - The U.S. Express

Defeated: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff
Date: June 17

Poughkeepsie, NY

1985 - The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine)

Defeated: The U.S Express
Date: August 24

Location: Philadelphia, PA

1986 - The British Bulldogs

Defeated: The Dream Team
Date: April 7

Location: Rosemont, IL

Event: WrestleMania 2

1987 - The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart)

Defeated: The British Bulldogs
Date: January 26

Location: Tampa, FL

1987 - Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana)

Defeated: The Hart Foundation
Date: October 27

Location: Syracuse, NY

1988 - Demolition (Ax & Smash)

Defeated: Strike Force
Date: March 27, 1988

Location: Atlantic City, NJ

Event: WrestleMania IV

1989 - The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard)

Defeated: Demolition
Date: July 18

Location: Worcester, MA

Event: Saturday Night's Main Event

1989 - Demolition

Defeated: The Brain Busters
Date: October 2

Location: Wheeling, WV

1989 - The Colossal Connection (André the Giant and Haku)

Defeated: Demolition
Date: December 13

Location: Huntsville, AL

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Hulkamania!

Hulk Hogan Won the Heavyweight Championship on January 23, 1984 and Hulkamania! was Born

On January 24, 1984 Hulk Hogan Escaped The Iron Sheik's Camel Clutch to Win the WWF Heavyweight Championship.

Hulkamania Began!

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WWE Authentic Wear Undisputed Championship Replica Title Belt (Version 2) Multi

WWF Heavyweight Champions

Bob Backlund Held the Title from 1979 to 1983

1983 - The Iron Sheik
Defeated: Bob Backlund
Date: December 16
Location: Madison Square Garden

1984 - Hulk Hogan
Defeated: The Iron Sheik
Date: January 23
Location: Madison Square Garden

1988 - Andre the Giant
Defeated: Hulk Hogan
Date: February 5
Saturday Night's Main Event
Location: Indianapolis, IN

1988 - Vacated
Date: February 13
* Ted DiBiase Bribed the Referee to Help Andre the Giant beat Hulk Hogan and after the Match Andre Gave the Belt to DiBiase and Claimed Himself the Champion

1988 - Randy Savage
* Won Tournament
Final Opponent: Ted Dibiase
Date: March 27
Event: WrestleMania IV
Location: Atlantic City, NJ

1989 - Hulk Hogan
Defeated: Randy Savage
Date: April 2
Event: WrestleMania V
Location: Atlantic City, NJ

Fun Fact!

On April 11, 1963 Buddy Rodgers Became the First Heavyweight Champion in WWE History

* Known as the WWWF at the Time

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NWA Heavyweight Champions

1980 - Giant Baba
Defeated: Harley Race
Date: September 4
Location: Saga, Japan

1980 - Harley Race
Defeated: Giant Baba
Date: September 9
Location: Otsu, Japan

1981 - Tommy Rich
Defeated: Harley Race
Date: April 27
Location: Augusta, GA

1981 - Harley Race
Defeated: Tommy Rich
Date: May 1
Location: Gainesville, GA

1981 - Dusty Rhodes
Defeated: Harley Race
Date: June 21
Location: Atlanta, GA

1981 - Ric Flair

Defeated: Dusty Rhodes
Date: September 17

Location: Kansas City, MO

1982 - Jack Veneno
Defeated: Ric Flair
Date: August 29
Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
* Title was returned to Flair

1983 - Harley Race
Defeated: Ric Flair
Date: June 10
St. Louis, MO

1983 - Ric Flair

Defeated: Harley Race (steel cage match)

Event: Starrcade

Date: November 24
Location: Greensboro, NC

1984 - Harley Race

Defeated: Ric Flair

Date: March 20
Location: Wellington, New Zealand

1984 - Ric Flair
Defeated: Harley Race

Date: March 23
Location: Kallang, Singapore

1984 - Kerry Von Erich
Defeated: Ric Flair
Event: 1st Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
Date: May 6
Location: Irving, TX

1984 - Ric Flair
Defeated: Kerry Von Erich
Date: May 24
Location: Yokosuka, Japan

1986 - Dusty Rhodes
Defeated: Ric Flair
Event: The Great American Bash
Date: July 26
Location: Greensboro, NC

1986 - Ric Flair
Defeated: Dusty Rhodes
Date: August 9
Location: St. Louis, MO

1987 - Ron Garvin
Defeated: Ric Flair
Date: September 25
Location: Detroit, MI

1987 - Ric Flair
Defeated: Ron Garvin
Event: Starrcade
Date: November 26
Location: Chicago, IL

Now Recognized as WCW

1989 - Ricky Steamboat
Defeated: Ric Flair
Event: Chi-Town Rumble
Date: February 20
Location: Chicago, IL

1989 - Ric Flair

Defeated: Ricky Steamboat
Event: WrestleWar
Date: May 7
Location: Nashville, TN

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NWA Tag Team Champions

1980 - Ray Stevens and Greg Valentine
Defeated: Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Date: March 29
Location: Charlotte, NC

1980 - Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Defeated: Ray Stevens and Greg Valentine
Date: May 10
Location: Greensboro, NC

1980 - Ray Stevens and Jimmy Snuka
Defeated: Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Date: June 22
Location: Greensboro, NC

1980 - Paul Jones and The Masked Superstar
Defeated: Ray Stevens and Jimmy Snuka
Date: November 27
Location: Greensboro, NC

1981 - Ivan Koloff and Ray Stevens
Defeated: Paul Jones and The Masked Superstar
Date: February 22
Location: Greensboro, NC

1981 - Paul Jones and The Masked Superstar
Defeated: Ivan Koloff and Ray Stevens
Date: March 22

Location: Greensboro, NC

1981 - The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene and Ole Anderson)
Defeated: Paul Jones and The Masked Superstar
Date: May 1
Location: Richmond, VA

1981 - Vacated
Date: December
* NWA forced the Minnesota Wrecking Crew to relinquish the titles due to an injury

1982 - Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen
* Won Tournament
Final Opponent:
Date: February 28
Location: Atlanta, GA

1982 - Vacated
Date: September
* The NWA forced Ole Anderson and Stan Hansen to relinquish the championship

1982 - Don Kernodle and Sgt. Slaughter
Defeated: Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba

* Fictional Match
Date: September 12
Location: Tokyo, Japan

1983 - Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Defeated: Don Kernodle and Sgt. Slaughter
Date: March 12
Location: Greensboro, NC

1983 - Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco
Defeated: Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
June 18
Location: Greenville, SC

1983 - Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Defeated: Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco
Date: October 3
Location: Greenville, SC

1983 - Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco
Defeated: Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Date: October 21, 1983
Location: Richmond, VA

1983 - Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Defeated: Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco
Event: Starrcade
Date: November 24
Location: Greensboro, NC

1983 - Vacated
Date: December 25
* NWA vacated the title after Ricky Steamboat announced his retirement

1984 - Don Kernodle and Bob Orton Jr.
* Won Tournament
Final Opponent: Jimmy Valiant and Dory Funk, Jr
Date: January 8
Location: Charlotte, NC

1984 - Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood
Defeated: Don Kernodle and Bob Orton Jr.
Date: March 4
Location: Charlotte, NC

1984 - Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco
Defeated: Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood
Date: April 4
Location: Spartanburg, SC

1984 - Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood
Defeated: Jack Brisco and Jerry Brisco
Date: May 5
Location: Greensboro, NC

1984 - Don Kernodle and Ivan Koloff
Defeated: Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood
Date: May 8
Location: Raleigh, NC

1984 - Manny Fernandez and Dusty Rhodes
Defeated: Don Kernodle and Ivan Koloff
Date: October 20
Location: Raleigh, NC

1985 - Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff
Defeated: Manny Fernandez and Dusty Rhodes
Date: March 18
Location: Fayetteville, NC

1985 - The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton)
Defeated: Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khrushchev.
Date: July 9
Location: Shelby, NC

1985 - Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff
Defeated: The Rock 'n' Roll Express
Date: October 13
Location: Charlotte, NC

1985 - The Rock 'n' Roll Express
Defeated: Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff
Event: Starrcade
Date: November 28
Location: Greensboro, NC

1986 - The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton)
Defeated: The Rock 'n' Roll Express
Event: Superstars on the Superstation
Date: February 2
Location: Atlanta, GA

1986 - The Rock 'n' Roll Express
Defeated: The Midnight Express
Date: August 16
Location: Philadelphia, PA

1986 - Manny Fernandez and Rick Rude
Defeated: The Rock 'n' Roll Express
Event: World Championship Wrestling
Date: December 6
Location: Atlanta, GA

1987 - The Rock 'n' Roll Express
Defeated: Manny Fernandez and Rick Rude
Date: May 26
Location: Spokane, WA

1987 - Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard
Defeated: The Rock 'n' Roll Express
Date: September 29
Location: Misenheimer, NC

1988 - Lex Luger and Barry Windham
Defeated: Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard
Event: Clash of the Champions
Date: March 27
Location: Greensboro, NC

1988 - Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard
Defeated: Lex Luger and Barry Windham
Date: April 20
Location: Jacksonville, FL

1988 - The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane)
Defeated: Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard
Date: September 10
Location: Philadelphia, PA

1988 - The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk)
Defeated: The Midnight Express
Date: October 29, 1988
Location: New Orleans, LA

1989 - The Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams)
Defeated: The Road Warriors
Event: Clash of the Champions VI:
Date: April 2
Location: New Orleans, LA

1989 - Vacated
Date: May 7
* Mike Rotunda and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams were forced to relinquish the title because other Varsity Club members Kevin Sullivan and Dan Spivey attacked special referee Nikita Koloff during the match

1989 - The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes)
* Won Tournament
Event: Clash of the Champions VII
Final Opponent: The Midnight Express
Date: June 14

1989 - The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner)
Defeated: The Fabulous Freebirds
Event: World Championship Wrestling
Date: November 1

Location: Atlanta, GA

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