On This Day in Pro Wrestling History – April 24 | Jushin Liger Debuts, Flair vs. Steamboat Ends & More

April 24

On This Day in Pro Wrestling History

Some dates in wrestling history are built on one giant moment.

April 24 has several.

This is a day with Madison Square Garden steel cage drama, Hulk Hogan’s disputed AWA title controversy, New Japan making Tokyo Dome history, the debut of one of the greatest junior heavyweights ever, Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat closing the book on their legendary rivalry, and a sad goodbye to Johnny Valentine.

So yes, April 24 came to work.

Madison Square Garden Gets a Cage Match Main Event

In 1978, the WWWF ran Madison Square Garden with a card that feels like pure classic wrestling atmosphere.

The show included Mil Mascaras, Peter Maivia, Dusty Rhodes, Ken Patera, Larry Zbyszko, and a main event where WWWF Champion Bob Backlund defeated Superstar Billy Graham in a steel cage match.

That one feels important.

Backlund was still early in his run as champion, while Graham had just finished one of the most influential title reigns of the era. Putting them in a cage at Madison Square Garden gave the match a big-fight feeling, the kind of setting where a championship reign either proves itself or starts to wobble.

Backlund walked out still champion, and the Garden crowd got a major chapter in WWWF history.

Hulk Hogan’s AWA Title Win Gets Erased

In 1982, AWA President Stanley Blackburn officially announced that Hulk Hogan’s April 18 victory over Nick Bockwinkel would be stricken from the record books.

That match had seen foreign object use from both sides. Hogan had been declared the winner, but the decision was overturned, and Bockwinkel remained champion.

So Hogan won… but he did not.

That is the strange little wrestling-history knot.

It also adds an interesting layer to Hogan’s pre-WWF rise. Fans wanted to believe in him as the top guy, but the official title history did not give him the crown. Looking back, that makes the moment feel like a preview of the explosion that was coming just a couple years later.

Ken Patera Returns After Prison

In 1987, Ken Patera wrestled his first match after serving prison time connected to the infamous “McDonald’s incident.”

At a WWF television taping in New Haven, Patera defeated Hercules Hernandez by disqualification after Harley Race and Bobby Heenan interfered.

That is one of those real-life stories that became wrestling storyline fuel. Patera’s return carried a built-in edge because fans knew there was more behind it than just another match result. Wrestling has always blurred reality and performance, and this was a clear example of that.

New Japan Enters the Tokyo Dome Era

One of the biggest moments of April 24 came in 1989, when New Japan Pro Wrestling held its first-ever Tokyo Dome event, Super Powers Clash, drawing 44,000 fans.

That is not just a big show. That is a statement.

The event featured an IWGP Title tournament, Russian wrestlers, martial artists, Lou Thesz as special referee for several matches, and a card that showed New Japan thinking on a massive scale.

The tournament ended with Big Van Vader defeating Shinya Hashimoto to win the IWGP Title tournament.

But the night had another moment that would echo even louder through wrestling history.

Jushin Thunder Liger Arrives

At that same Tokyo Dome event, Jushin Thunder Liger debuted the Liger gimmick and defeated Kuniaki Kobayashi.

That sentence deserves its own spotlight.

Because Jushin Thunder Liger would become one of the most influential junior heavyweights in wrestling history. His look, his speed, his innovation, and his longevity helped define junior heavyweight wrestling for generations.

Sometimes a debut is just a debut.

This one was the start of a legend.

Madison Square Garden Also Had a Big WWF Night

Also in 1989, the WWF ran Madison Square Garden with a strong card of its own.

The show included:

Greg Valentine defeating The Blue Blazer

Jake Roberts defeating Ted DiBiase

Mr. Perfect and Bret Hart wrestling to a 20-minute draw

The Bushwhackers defeating Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard

Randy Savage defeating WWF Champion Hulk Hogan by countout

That Mr. Perfect vs. Bret Hart draw is especially fun to see in hindsight. Two wrestlers who would later create magic together were already crossing paths in the Garden.

And Savage beating Hogan by countout, with Sensational Sherri involved, gives the night that classic post-Mega Powers tension.

Wrestling Logic Gets Weird Again

In 1990, Roddy Piper and Rick Martel wrestled to a double disqualification in an Intercontinental Title tournament match.

Here is the funny part:

The tournament final, where Curt Hennig defeated Tito Santana to win the title, had already been taped the night before.

That is the kind of TV-taping weirdness wrestling fans either laugh at or lose sleep over. Maybe both.

UK Rampage Brings WWF Across the Atlantic

In 1991, WWF held UK Rampage at the London Arena.

The card included:

The Rockers defeating The Orient Express

Davey Boy Smith defeating The Berzerker

Earthquake defeating Jake Roberts by countout

Hulk Hogan defeating Sgt. Slaughter to retain the WWF World Heavyweight Title

This was a strong example of WWF’s growing international reach. The UK audience was passionate, loud, and ready for big stars. Events like this helped show that the WWF machine was not just national anymore. It was becoming global.

Flair and Steamboat Close the Book

In 1994, Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat at a WCW television taping to regain the WCW World Title, which had been held up after their double-pin finish at Spring Stampede.

Even more importantly, this match would be the final bout between Flair and Steamboat.

That gives it real weight.

Flair and Steamboat are one of wrestling’s great rivalries. Their chemistry was elegant violence, a chess match with chops. Every time they shared a ring, it felt like wrestling had put on a tailored suit and then started throwing punches.

This final chapter airing on WCW Saturday Night gave fans one last entry in one of the sport’s most respected rivalries.

ECW and WWF Run New York on the Same Night

In 1999, ECW and WWF both ran shows in New York City on the same night.

WWF packed Madison Square Garden with around 16,000 fans. ECW sold out the Elks Lodge in Queens with over 1,000 fans.

Two very different worlds. Same city. Same night.

WWF had Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Big Show, Undertaker, Kane, X-Pac, and more.

ECW had Jerry Lynn, TAKA Michinoku, Tajiri, Super Crazy, Tommy Dreamer, Lance Storm, Balls Mahoney, New Jack, and Rob Van Dam.

That contrast is fascinating. WWF was the bright-lights empire. ECW was the underground storm cellar. Both had loyal fans. Both had energy. Both mattered to the wrestling landscape of the time.

Remembering Johnny Valentine

In 2001, Johnny Valentine passed away.

Valentine was one of wrestling’s true tough men, remembered for his physical style, presence, and influence. He was also the father of Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, continuing one of wrestling’s notable family lines.

Some wrestlers become famous because they were flashy. Johnny Valentine became remembered because he felt real, rugged, and dangerous.

Steve Corino Wins the NWA Title

Also in 2001, Steve Corino defeated Mike Rapada to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title.

For Corino, this was a major career achievement. After making his name in ECW, winning the NWA Title connected him to one of wrestling’s oldest championship lineages. It was a bridge between old-school prestige and the changing wrestling world of the early 2000s.

Why April 24 Matters

April 24 is a sneaky big day in wrestling history.

It gives us:

Bob Backlund defending the WWWF Title in a Madison Square Garden cage match

Hulk Hogan’s disputed AWA title win being erased

Ken Patera returning after prison

New Japan’s first Tokyo Dome event

Jushin Thunder Liger’s debut

Flair vs. Steamboat’s final match

ECW and WWF both selling out New York venues

the passing of Johnny Valentine

Steve Corino winning the NWA Title

That is not just a list. That is a full wrestling buffet, and somebody put extra gravy on the Tokyo Dome section.

Support Wrestling History

At WFIA, we believe pro wrestling history deserves to be preserved, remembered, and shared with care.

The legends matter. The title changes matter. The strange little footnotes matter too.

Together, they tell the story of professional wrestling.

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