twiztor Posted March 3 Posted March 3 2 hours ago, supremebve said: This stream of 1st wrestling shows has shown that I have no idea how old any of you are. early 40s here. grew up dirt poor so never got to go to any live shows until i was a teenager with my own money. 3
supremebve Posted March 3 Posted March 3 I'm 44, I didn't go to any shows until I was able to buy the tickets myself. More because of, "I ain't buying that shit," than the lack of money. For what it's worth, I can't think of anyone I'd like to go to a wrestling show with less than my mom and sister. I honestly have no idea how many shows I've been to, but it's enough that I know I can't remember them all. 3
Eivion Posted March 3 Posted March 3 Only wrestling show I've ever been to was Wrestlemania 25. Was in the cheap seats but I enjoyed it for the atmosphere and the obvious in Taker/HBK. 2 hours ago, supremebve said: This stream of 1st wrestling shows has shown that I have no idea how old any of you are. 38. I turn 39 in September. 1
AxB Posted March 3 Posted March 3 I have never been to a WWE live event. Not a TV taping, not a PPV, not even a house show. I've been to indie shows where the wrestlers outnumbered the fans, those are always fun. 2 1
Gorman Posted March 3 Posted March 3 Here's my first show, when I was 15. I'm 55 now. Attending this show was a life-changing experience. WWF @ Richfield, OH – Coliseum – December 26, 1985 (15,000) Danny Spivey pinned Barry O at 15:02 with the bulldog Ivan Putski pinned Iron Mike Sharpe at 7:44 with the Polish Hammer Adrian Adonis pinned Scott McGhee at 10:48 with a bulldog Cousin Luke (sub. for Cousin Junior) pinned Moondog Spot at 10:31 with a splash WWF IC Champion Tito Santana pinned Bob Orton Jr. at 9:51 Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (w/ Johnny V) via disqualification at 11:59 when Johnny V interfered Candice Pardue pinned Judy Martin at 8:44 Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via count-out at 11:27 after Savage jumped from the top rope to the floor, hitting Hogan in the head with the world title belt and then waking the referee up so that he could make the count; after the bout, Savage put the title belt around his waist and left ringside with it until Hogan attacked Savage in the aisle, brought him back into the ring, reclaimed his title belt, and beat up Savage until the challenger was able to escape the ring and run backstage 5
Joel Martin Posted March 3 Posted March 3 (edited) My first wrestling event (First WWF show at Allstate Arena nee Rosemont Horizon.) August 31, 1985 Adrian Adonis defeated Tony Garea Moondog Spot defeated Steve Lombardi King Kong Bundy defeated Swede Hanson Ricky Steamboat defeated Don Muraco via disqualification The Iron Sheik defeated George Steele via count-out Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid defeated Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart WWF Women’s Champion Wendi Richter defeated the Spider Lady via disqualification WWF IC Champion Tito Santana pinned the Missing Link WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned Nikolai Volkoff Edited March 4 by Joel Martin 3
JLowe Posted March 3 Posted March 3 5 hours ago, supremebve said: This stream of 1st wrestling shows has shown that I have no idea how old any of you are. I was in my late 20s when I saw my first live show. It’s a little weird since I grew up in NYC in the ‘80s and watched wrestling from like ‘84-‘88. I suppose having MSG Network is why I didn’t go to any of the shows there, plus the fact that my parents wouldn’t have taken me. Once I was old enough and had some money to go places on my own, I was going to concerts/punk shows and the occasional Knicks game instead of even thinking about wrestling. 1
SovietShooter Posted March 3 Posted March 3 4 hours ago, supremebve said: I honestly have no idea how many shows I've been to, but it's enough that I know I can't remember them all. I'm surprised this is not the case with more of the folks here. We're most of us big time into tape trading or something, and not actually attending live events? Even before I was in the business, I probably attended a dozen WCW/ECW show just when I was in college.
odessasteps Posted March 3 Posted March 3 Yeah, I have no idea with all the Indy shows I went to in the 90s and Chikara and Chikara adjacent shows in the 2000s. I think I know all the NWA/JCP/WWF went to, since I think that’s less than a dozen all totaled. 2
Technico Support Posted March 3 Posted March 3 3 hours ago, Gorman said: Here's my first show, when I was 15. I'm 55 now. Attending this show was a life-changing experience. WWF @ Richfield, OH – Coliseum – December 26, 1985 (15,000) Danny Spivey pinned Barry O at 15:02 with the bulldog Ivan Putski pinned Iron Mike Sharpe at 7:44 with the Polish Hammer Adrian Adonis pinned Scott McGhee at 10:48 with a bulldog Cousin Luke (sub. for Cousin Junior) pinned Moondog Spot at 10:31 with a splash WWF IC Champion Tito Santana pinned Bob Orton Jr. at 9:51 Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake (w/ Johnny V) via disqualification at 11:59 when Johnny V interfered Candice Pardue pinned Judy Martin at 8:44 Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via count-out at 11:27 after Savage jumped from the top rope to the floor, hitting Hogan in the head with the world title belt and then waking the referee up so that he could make the count; after the bout, Savage put the title belt around his waist and left ringside with it until Hogan attacked Savage in the aisle, brought him back into the ring, reclaimed his title belt, and beat up Savage until the challenger was able to escape the ring and run backstage It's crazy that the Hogan/Savage match had that finish but didn't follow the 80s WWF standard of happening before intermission, with the stipulation rematch announced right away (tickets on sale RIGHT NOW in the arena box office, naturally!) I guess they were actually building Savage up for bigger things instead of jobbing him in your typical 2-3 month Hogan house show program. 1
bobholly138 Posted March 3 Author Posted March 3 7 hours ago, supremebve said: This stream of 1st wrestling shows has shown that I have no idea how old any of you are. I realized I am now one of the older guys here.
odessasteps Posted March 4 Posted March 4 The 1985 WWF show in Baltimore had a horrendous undercard, but did have a main of hogan/snuka v piper/orton. (7800 according to Cagematch) 2
Cobra Commander Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Hillbillies vs Moondogs feels like the sort of matchup where both sides are actually related to each other in kayfabe also, Lanny Kean worked as a hillbilly and a moondog at different times 2
Peck Posted March 4 Posted March 4 I THINK this was my first show. All I know for sure is that I'm forever indebted to my father for sitting through numerous Superstars tapings with 4.5 hours of Duane Gill and Barry Hardy squashes for me. That's true love. Quote WWF @ Wheeling, WV – Civic Center – December 27, 1988 (5,960) The Blue Blazer pinned Conquistador #1 at 9:50 Greg Valentine pinned Ron Garvin at 14:50 Danny Davis pinned Lanny Poffo with a sit-down splash off the top WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior pinned the Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) at 5:00 in a No DQ match The Red Rooster defeated Koko B. Ware via submission at 7:22 with the Scorpion Deathlock Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty at 14:37 when Anderson pinned Michaels Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin) pinned Jim Duggan at 7:14 with a knee to the back after Duggan was distracted by Martin Steve Lombardi pinned Jim Powers at 7:12 Hulk Hogan defeated the Big Bossman (w/ Slick) via count-out at 10:53 after handcuffing Bossman to the ropes and clotheslining him over the top 1
DreamBroken Posted March 4 Posted March 4 I've been to around 13 WWE shows over the years and thought that I was on the lesser side since there were numerous periods that I didn't attend for years in between, though I've been to over a hundred small local indy events and around 10 AEW. On 3/2/2026 at 6:58 PM, JLowe said: My first live show was the June 16, 1998 WWF Raw is War taping in Austin, Texas. Biggest thing is this was Edge’s debut match, and it was cut short when he hurt Jose Estrada on a flipping rope dive where he jammed Estrada’s neck (we thought he might be paralyzed at the time). The card: Ken Shamrock defeated Mark Henry in the King of the Ring 1998 First Round Match (4:37) X-Pac (w/Chyna) defeated Dustin Runnels (5:31) Jeff Jarrett (w/Tennessee Lee) defeated Marc Mero (w/Jackie) in the King of the Ring 1998 First Round Match (4:31) Kane defeated The Road Dogg (w/Billy Gunn) (4:02) Edge defeated Jose Estrada by Count Out (1:07) Dan Severn defeated Owen Hart in the King of the Ring 1998 First Round Match (2:56) The Rock defeated Triple H (w/Chyna) in the King of the Ring 1998 First Round Match(8:06) Mankind defeated Billy Gunn (w/Chyna) (5:40) Dark Match: Steve Austin (c) defeated Mankind to retain the WWF Championship Since then, I’ve been to two lucha shows in Mexico (including Arena Mexico), 3 AEW shows (2 in Austin, one in Philly but not at 2300), one Austin indie show (free Inspire Pro show), and the DEAN~! show in New Jersey. My first WWE was a house show 2 nights before this Papi Chulo & Taka Michinoku def. Too Much Faarooq def. Mark Henry via DQ 8-Ball & Skull def. The New Midnight Express Jeff Jarrett def. Steve Blackman Undertaker def. Kane via countout Bradshaw def. D'Lo Brown Ken Shamrock def. Owen Hart in submissions match DX def. Vader, Droz, & LOD 2000 Steve Austin def. Mankind to retain the WWF championship 2
supremebve Posted March 4 Posted March 4 15 hours ago, SovietShooter said: I'm surprised this is not the case with more of the folks here. We're most of us big time into tape trading or something, and not actually attending live events? Even before I was in the business, I probably attended a dozen WCW/ECW show just when I was in college. I would have guessed I would have been on the low end of attended shows around here, but it looks like I'm upper mid, just like I am in every other aspect of life. 2
HumanChessgame Posted March 4 Posted March 4 17 hours ago, SovietShooter said: I'm surprised this is not the case with more of the folks here. We're most of us big time into tape trading or something, and not actually attending live events? Even before I was in the business, I probably attended a dozen WCW/ECW show just when I was in college. I've been to maybe 10 wresting shows in my life and at least two of those were because I was working at the venue. Not much has come to my area aside from WWE shows I wasn't interested in going to, or I wasn't able to make it out to any indies due to my schedule. I really regret never making it to a DPW show in the area over the last year as they put on good stuff but I was always preoccupied. I'm 44 and my first show was this stinker of an Attitude Era Raw in 1999- Chyna (w/The Kat) defeats Crash Holly (w/Hardcore Holly) (1:15) The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley) defeat D-Lo Brown & The Godfather and Christian & Edge and The Acolytes (Bradshaw & Faarooq) (2:33) Kurt Angle defeats The Head Bangers (Mosh & Thrasher) (1:00) Al Snow defeats Chris Jericho (c) by DQ (1:15) The Rock defeats Mankind (6:11) Ivory & Prince Albert defeat Gangrel & Luna and Jacqueline & Viscera and The Kat & Val Venis (2:02) X-Pac defeats Jeff Hardy (w/Matt Hardy & Terri) (4:05) Test defeats Kane (w/Tori) by DQ (2:59) The New Age Outlaws (Mr. Ass & The Road Dogg) (w/X-Pac) (c) defeat Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay & Scotty 2 Hotty) (w/Rikishi Phatu) (2:45) The Big Show (c) defeats Triple H (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) (5:56) 2
ka-to Posted March 4 Posted March 4 I can't find the results of the first show that I went to. It was at the armory in Elizabeth, NJ. Pedro defended the title against Toru Tanaka. This was the third show (I think); WWWF @ Clark, NJ - Johnson Regional High School Gym - January 18, 1974 Pedro Morales vs. Stan Stasiak Also included a women's tag team match I've seen 3 to 400 shows in Japan since 1992. Probably 200+ in USA since the 70's. 1 in Mexico. 5
Super Ape Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Man, I feel so young... I'm 40, and this was my first live wrestling. WWF, Super Bowl Sunday, 1996. WWF @ Philadelphia, PA – CoreStates Spectrum – January 28, 1996 (5,312) Duke Drose & Bob Holly defeated Tatanka & Isaac Yankem DDS Steve Austin defeated Henry Godwinn Owen Hart defeated Hakushi The Undertaker pinned Yokozuna after Jeff Jarrett’s interference backfired; after the bout, Yoko chased Jarrett backstage WWF IC Champion Goldust pinned Savio Vega Ahmed Johnson defeated Jeff Jarrett via count-out WWF Tag Team Champions Smoking Gunns defeated Skip & Zip Shawn Michaels pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley with the superkick WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Diesel in a steel cage match That show gave me an obsession with cages matches. Thanks, Bret and Kevin. 2
Technico Support Posted March 5 Posted March 5 7 hours ago, ka-to said: I can't find the results of the first show that I went to. It was at the armory in Elizabeth, NJ. Pedro defended the title against Toru Tanaka. This was the third show (I think); WWWF @ Clark, NJ - Johnson Regional High School Gym - January 18, 1974 Pedro Morales vs. Stan Stasiak Also included a women's tag team match I've seen 3 to 400 shows in Japan since 1992. Probably 200+ in USA since the 70's. 1 in Mexico. I'm just happy there's someone here older than me. I was born 7 months after that show! 3
ka-to Posted March 5 Posted March 5 (edited) 46 minutes ago, Technico Support said: I'm just happy there's someone here older than me. I was born 7 months after that show! I went to those small shows in NJ because I was under 14 years old. At that time, I (and all kids under 14) was banned from MSG. Edited March 5 by ka-to . 2
StevieNippz Posted March 5 Posted March 5 39 years old now, first show was RAW in April 2000 in Raleigh, NC. Went to SummerSlam later that year and saw the first TLC match. The next few years saw an assortment of Raws, Smackdowns and house shows. Got to see Brock Lesnar submit Hulk Hogan and one of Steve Austin's last matches. Went to Survivor Series 2001 and Judgment Day 2003 so got to see a lot of big names wrestle there. Last WWE show I went to was the 2006 Royal Rumble, which was also the first time I went to a show by myself. I still remember being so bummed that Angle vs Mark Henry was the main event and the Undertaker lightning not being visible to the live crowd. Didn't go to another show until the AEW Dynamite after Revolution in 2022. I brought a friend who had never been to wrestling and he loved it. Got to see Hangman wrestle Dante Martin and Mox and Danielson in action. Also famous for Jeff Hardy's infamous AEW debut. Also went to AEW Dynamite 200 the next year which had some fun matches. Just waiting for them to come back to Southwest Florida sometime soon! 1
Nice Guy Eddie Posted March 5 Posted March 5 Thanks to Ring of Honor I've gotten to see pretty much everybody who's become anybody in the past 25 years. Plus, I've gotten to see legends like The Great Muta, Jushin "Thunder" Liger, Kenta Kobashi, Mitsiharu Misawa, etc. Going to ROH shows were some of the best times I've had as a fan. 8
bobholly138 Posted March 5 Author Posted March 5 5 hours ago, Technico Support said: I'm just happy there's someone here older than me. I was born 7 months after that show! Me too 1
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