📚Then, Now, Forever,

Wrestling’s Milestones : 1980 – Now

1980s (Golden Age)

•  1980: 
  • 🏆 Harley Race defeated Giant Baba to reclaim the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

•  1981: 
  • 🌟 Ric Flair captured his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

•  1982: 
  • 🏢 WWF was acquired by Vince McMahon, changing the future of professional wrestling.

•  1983:
  • 🥇 Harley Race regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ric Flair.
  • ⚔️ Incident: WWF began absorbing multiple regional promotions, creating tension among competing promotions.

•  1984: 
  • Features : Hulk Hogan became the face of the WWF, elevating professional wrestling into mainstream entertainment. During this era, WrestleMania was born, action figures became a hit, and wrestlers appeared on talk shows, bringing pro wrestling to a broader audience.
  • 🏆 Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik, kicking off the “Hulkamania” era.

•  1985: 
  • 🎉 The first WrestleMania was held at Madison Square Garden, revolutionizing pro wrestling as a form of entertainment.

•  1986: 
  • 🤼‍♂️ The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express and Midnight Express waged a legendary tag team rivalry.

•  1987: 
  • 🦍 At WrestleMania III, Hulk Hogan body-slammed André the Giant in a historic moment.

•  1988:
  • 🎈 The inaugural Royal Rumble took place, becoming a staple PPV event.
  •  ⚔️ Incident: Internal conflicts arose as the NWA severed ties with certain partners.

•  1989:
  • 🌟 Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat engaged in their iconic trilogy of matches.

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1990s (Monday Night Wars)

• 1990: 
  • ⚰️ The Undertaker debuted at Survivor Series.
• 1991: 
  • 🕴️ Ric Flair debuted in the WWF, setting his sights on the top title.
• 1992:
  • 👑 Ric Flair won the WWF Championship by winning the Royal Rumble.
  • ⚖️ Incident: The WWF faced a federal investigation over alleged steroid abuse, impacting the company’s operations.
• 1993: 
  • 📺 Monday Night Raw debuted, changing the landscape of weekly wrestling television.
• 1994: 
  • 🤼‍♂️ Bret Hart and Owen Hart’s feud reached its peak at WrestleMania X.
• 1995: 
  • 🔥 WCW launched Monday Nitro, igniting the Monday Night Wars.
• 1996: 
  • 🚫 Hulk Hogan turned heel and formed the New World Order (NWO).
• 1997:
  • 🛑 The Montreal Screwjob shocked the wrestling world, blurring the lines between storyline and reality.
  • 🔒 Incident: Bret Hart controversially lost the WWF Championship.
• 1998: 
  • 🐍 “Stone Cold” Steve Austin captured the WWF Championship, symbolizing the Attitude Era.
• 1999:
  • 🎤 Mankind and The Rock’s “This Is Your Life” segment broke TV ratings records.
  • 🚑 Incident: Owen Hart’s tragic in-ring accident raised questions about safety standards.

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2000s (Ruthless Aggression Era)

• 2000: 
  • 🔧 The first-ever TLC match took place at SummerSlam.
• 2001:
  • 🏢 WWF acquired WCW, marking the end of the Monday Night Wars and initiating a period of industry consolidation.
  • 🔄 Incident: Numerous WCW employees were released, disrupting the industry landscape.
• 2002: 
  • Features : The WWF was rebranded as WWE, ushering in a new era after the chaos of the Attitude Era. This time focused on building new stars like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and Randy Orton. Matches became more technically refined, and a balance between athleticism and entertainment was emphasized.
  • 💪 Brock Lesnar debuted and became the youngest WWE Champion in history.
• 2003: 
  • 🤼‍♂️ Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar delivered a classic match at WrestleMania XIX.
• 2004: 
  • 🎉 Eddie Guerrero captured the WWE Championship, creating an emotional moment for fans.
• 2005:
  • 🤼‍♂️ Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle had a legendary match at WrestleMania 21.
  • ⚖️ Incident: WWE faced legal issues related to Steve Austin’s contract disputes.
• 2007: 
  • 💔 Incident: The Benoit tragedy sent shockwaves through the industry.
• 2008:
  • Features : WWE shifted towards family-friendly programming, adopting a “PG (Parental Guidance)” approach. Violent and edgy storylines were toned down, making the content more accessible to a wider audience. John Cena remained the top star for much of this period, while plans for the WWE Network were set in motion.
• 2009: 
  • ⚔️ Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker stole the show at WrestleMania 25.

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2010s and Beyond (Modern Era)

• 2010:
  • 🎤 The Nexus debuted on Raw, shocking the wrestling world with their invasion angle.
  • 💸 Incident: TNA Wrestling (now Impact Wrestling) faced financial difficulties.
• 2011: 
  • 🎤 CM Punk’s “Pipe Bomb” promo set a new standard for reality-based storytelling.
• 2012:
  • 🎉 The Rock and John Cena faced off in a “Once in a Lifetime” match, creating a major WrestleMania moment.
  • ⚖️ Incident: WWE dealt with lawsuits regarding wrestler health and safety.
• 2013: 
  • 🎯 Daniel Bryan’s “YES! Movement” reached its peak, elevating him to main-event status.
• 2014: 
  • Features: This era saw the launch of the WWE Network, international expansion, and a groundbreaking rise in women’s wrestling. Technological advancements reshaped how fans consumed pro wrestling, with streaming platforms becoming the primary way to watch events.
  • 🌐 The WWE Network launched, marking a shift from traditional PPV to streaming platforms.
• 2015:
  • 💰 Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at WrestleMania, winning the WWE Championship.
  • ⚖️ Incident: WWE faced legal challenges over medical compensation for wrestlers.
• 2016: 
  • 🚩 AJ Styles made his WWE debut, quickly becoming a top-tier star.
• 2017: 
  • ⚔️ The Hardy Boyz returned at WrestleMania 33 to a massive ovation.
• 2018: 
  • 🦸‍♀️ The first all-women’s PPV, Evolution, showcased the evolution of women’s wrestling.
• 2019: 
  • 🏅 Kofi Kingston captured the WWE Championship, achieving a historic milestone.

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2020s – Present (Network)

• 2020:
  • 😷 WrestleMania 36 was held without an audience due to COVID-19, challenging the industry’s traditional model.
  • 🚫 Incident: The pandemic caused widespread event cancellations and significant financial losses for many promotions.
• 2021: 
  • 🎤 CM Punk returned on AEW Rampage, reigniting fan excitement.
• 2022: 
  • 🏅 Roman Reigns unified the WWE and Universal Championships, solidifying his status as the company’s top star.
• 2023: 🔗 Rewind Chronicles – first half /
  • 🎤 CM Punk made his much-anticipated return to WWE, sparking renewed interest among fans and creating buzz in the wrestling world.
• 2024:
  • 🎉 At WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns, ending his record-breaking title reign.

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