1988 in professional wrestling

1988 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions
These promotions held notable events in 1988.

Notable events

 * January 24 - WWE Royal Rumble was aired on USA Network against the NWA Bunkhouse Stampede that aired live on Pay Per View.
 * March 27 - Clash of the Champions I was aired on free TV via TBS against the WWE pay-per view event WrestleMania IV.
 * April 3 - WCW Main Event Premiered on TBS.
 * July 16 - Bruiser Brody was stabbed by Jose Huertas Gonzalez before a WWC live event in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Brody died hours later in a local hospital.
 * November 1 - Turner Broadcasting Systems purchased Jim Crockett Promotions the biggest National Wrestling Alliance territory.
 * November - Jerry Jarrett buys 50 percent of WCWA from Ken Mantell
 * December 13 - AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler defeated WCWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich in Chicago, Illinois at AWA Superclash III to unify both the AWA and WCWA World titles.

Births

 * January 15 - Eddie Hall
 * January 16 - Bull Dempsey
 * January 19 - Tyler Breeze
 * February 26 - Reid Flair (d. 2013)
 * March 11 - Katsuhiko Nakajima
 * March 16 - Brett DiBiase
 * March 20 - Jonathan Gresham
 * April 17 - Dasha Fuentes
 * May 5 - Brooke Hogan
 * May 6 - Dakota Kai
 * May 22 - Santana Garrett
 * May 26 - Babatunde Aiyegbusi
 * May 30 - No Way Jose
 * June 1 - Ross Von Erich
 * June 2 - Grado
 * June 19 - Daga
 * June 25 - Mark Haskins
 * July 6 - Lars Sullivan
 * July 26 - Marty Scurll
 * August 7 - Marti Belle
 * August 8 - Veer Mahaan
 * August 12 - Tyson Fury
 * August 29 - Kevin Ku
 * August 31 - Ember Moon
 * September 13 - Markus Crane (died in 2021)
 * September 21 - Tom MacDonald
 * September 23 - Kairi Hojo
 * September 26 - Buddy Murphy
 * September 27 - Cathy Kelley
 * September 28 – Jason Jordan
 * October 11 - Ricochet
 * November 2 - Dezmond Xavier
 * November 3 - Gran Metalik
 * November 24 - Anthony Ogogo
 * November 29 - Dana Brooke

Debut date
• January 2 - Akira Taue and Gary Wolfe

• January 10 - Yukari Osawa (JWP)

• February 4 - Super Crazy

• February 14 - Heavy Metal

• February 20 - Raven

• February 26 - Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

• March 10 - Misterioso

• March 23 - Jerry Lynn

• April 8 - Koki Kitahara

• April 22 - Bart Sawyer

• June 23 - Minoru Suzuki

• June 28 - Ricky Fuji

• August 16 - Gangrel

• September 11 - Bobby Blaze

• September 13 - Dustin Runnels

• October 10 - Takako Inoue, Kyoko Inoue and Mariko Yoshida

• December 4 - Apolo Dantés

Uncertain debut date
• Perry Saturn

• Brad Anderson

• Brian Christopher

• Brian Lee

• Mr. Hughes

• The Patriot

• J. C. Ice

• KeMonito

• Killer Kyle

• El Alebrije

• Lou Perez

• Louie Spicolli

• Magnificent Mimi

• Mephisto

• Mike Enos

• Tiffany Mellon

• Tori

• Roxy Astor

• Wayne Bloom

• Luther Biggs

• Rick Bognar

• "California Stud" Rod Price (wrestler)

Retirements

 * Alexis Smirnoff (1970 - 1988)
 * Rufus R. Jones (1969 - 1988)
 * The Crusher (1949 - 1988)
 * Emile Dupree (1955 - 1988)
 * Mr. Hito (June 8, 1967 - March 25, 1988)
 * Shunji Kosugi (1981-April 10, 1988, returned for one last match in 2010)
 * Winona Littleheart (1977 - 1988)
 * Jody Hamilton (1955 - 1988)
 * John Quinn (1961 - 1988)
 * Outback Jack (1986 - 1988)
 * Scott McGhee (1978 - January 1988)
 * Buddy Roberts (1965 - 1988)

Deaths

 * March 14 - Saul Weingeroff, 72
 * March 30 - Stu Gibson, 62
 * April 30 - Man Mountain Mike, 47
 * April 30 - Tiger Joe Tomasso, 65/66
 * May 15 - Fred Atkins, 77/78
 * June 15 - Mike Clancy, 63
 * July 4 - Adrian Adonis, 33
 * July 4 - Dave McKigney, 56
 * July 17 - Bruiser Brody, 42
 * September 6 - Leroy Brown, 37
 * September 9 - Leroy McGuirk, 77
 * November 26 - Baron Michele Leone, 79
 * November 30 - Ricky Lawless, 28
 * December 12 - Larry Moquin, 65
 * December 21 - Dave Ruhl, 68