Pro Wrestling Resource: 2020

World Wrestling Federation Magazine - The December Editions

The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Magazine was a mainstay for professional wrestling fans from 1984 to 2014. During the 30 years of publication, the WWF Magazine was the official source of all things coming from the WWF.

As a special tribute, below are the December covers (and some bonus content) of the WWF Magazine during the "peak" years of the publication, 1984-1997. Keep in mind, that in most cases the December edition was available for purchase during the prior month.

NOTE: CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

WCW History: Bret Hart Promos on Smokey the Cat, El Dandy, and Goldberg [Videos]

“I actually remember giving him [Eric Bischoff] an idea about the cat, putting the cat carrier and having the cat in my corner all the time. He said he loved it. It never went anywhere, like everything in WCW. Yeah. I actually had an idea where the cat, I’d have a real cat all the time in my corner, and then for one of the matches I would put a stuffed toy cat in my cat carrier and I would have a zipper on it. I would stick the insides of the cat with a brick and then when I was in peril in the match I would reach in, say, a Boston crab or something like that, or some kind of a hold where I’m in jeopardy. I would open my cage door, reach through, grab the cat by the tail, swing it and hit the wrestler over the head with the brick and win the match with a stuffed cat with a brick. But, I remember it was almost like a rib to see if they would just do it. Actually, to be honest, it would have been better than anything they did have me do at that time. Anyway, that never came to fruition. Sometimes you gotta just make up stuff on the go all the time.” - Bret Hart, speaking with Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Pro Wrestling, October 2020

Classic Vince McMahon Moments - Part 1 [Videos]

There are very few professional wrestling personalities that can rival the character known as Mr. McMahon. A deeper look at Mr. McMahon, shows the real man Vince McMahon, as a talented entertainer as well as a proven professional wrestling business genius. Vince is an exciting wrestling talent and THE MOST SIGNIFICANT wrestling promoters in modern history.

Vince's professional wrestling career began in 1969, and it continues well into the 2020s.

USWA Promo on Jerry Lawler

1993

Speaking on media, corruption, and federal acquittal.

1995

USWA Promo on "fake" Razor Ramon

1997

Announcing the new World Wrestling Federation

December 1997

Vince McMahon on TSN's Off The Record

February 1998

Vince and Stephanie McMahon Interview

April 1999

Billionaire Interview

March 2001

Vince McMahon falls 10 feet

March 2020

WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping on September 15, 1987 [Videos]

During the 1980s, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) would travel to a location and tape numerous matches for television to be aired on different dates for their numerous WWF television programs. The process was done on a regular basis and oftentimes included wrestlers participating in multiple matches during one night at one location. Audio commentary would later be recorded for the matches to fit the airing date rather than the taping date. This process was very successful for the WWF and would help to reduce costs associated with producing numerous weekly sports-entertainment television programs. In addition, the fans at the venues that hosted the WWF "television tapings" would get a large number of matches in one setting, which added value to attending live WWF events.

One such television taping occurred on Tuesday, September 15, 1987, at the Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois. On this particular night, 9,000 wrestling fans saw over 20 matches and superstar interviews.

Sika vs S.D. Jones
Ron Bass vs Lanny Poffo
George Steele vs Brian Costello
Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau vs Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart
Don Muraco vs Bob Orton Jr.
Honky Tonk Man vs Randy Savage
Hulk Hogan vs One Man Gang
Bam Bam Bigelow vs Barry Horowitz
Paul Roma and Jim Powers vs Shadow #1 and Shadow #2
Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart vs Sonny Rogers and S.D. Jones
Jim Duggan vs Terry Gibbs
The Islanders Haku and Tama vs Jim Evans and Brady Boone
Randy Savage vs Rick Renslow
Billy Graham, and the Rougeau Brothers vs Joe Mirto, Tom Stone and Rick Gantner
Ted DiBiase vs Scott Casey
Paul Orndorff vs Dave Wagner
Hercules, King Kong Bundy and Rick Rude vs Tony Leone, ML Williams and Chris Basset
Killer Khan vs Mike Richards
Junkyard Dog and Ivan Putski vs Mike Poland and Chris Curtis
Don Muraco vs Bob Orton Jr. REMATCH
Strike Force (Tito Santana and Rick Martel) vs Tiger Chung Lee and Barry Horowitz
Harley Race vs Arthur Washington
Demolition (Ax and Smash) vs Van Van Horne and Mario Mancini
Butch Reed, One Man Gang and Nikolai Volkoff vs Siva Afi, Jake Milliman and Lance Allen

Commercials from 1987 Television Broadcast

Mr. SummerSlam - Bret 'Hitman' Hart [Videos]

When considering the great matches that Bret Hart has participated in, some of his best matches came at the annual World Wrestling Federation summer event, SummerSlam.

While SummerSlam has seen many classic matches, when looking at professional wrestling between 1988 and 1997, Hart's matches stand out based on their physicality and mindful storytelling. Highlights: SummerSlam 1991, SummerSlam 1992, SummerSlam 1993, SummerSlam 1994, SummerSlam 1997.