10 Biggest Wrestling Scandals Of The 1980s

10. Survivor Series Vs. Starrcade

It might be the premier wrestling event in the world today, but WrestleMania was not a WWE invention. The first proper wrestling supercard was actually Starrcade, which was hosted by Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) in 1983. 

Four years later, Vince McMahon decided he’d had enough of the idea he’d ripped off. Starrcade 1987 was set to take place on November 26th 1987, but it was about to get a neighbour.  McMahon created Survivor Series, a brand new pay-per-view event designed to run head-to-head with Starrcade. Not only was the show packed with famous names, it also came with an ultimatum. 

Cable companies who were scheduled to broadcast Starrcade were told by McMahon that, if they showed  JCP's event, they wouldn’t be allowed to show WrestleMania IV the following year. Most cable providers gave in to McMahon’s threat. Survivor Series received a 7.0 buyrate, while Starrcade’s was less than half that number. 

This is just one of the many shady business practices that McMahon and the WWE used to establish themselves as a global juggernaut. As for WrestleMania IV, well, let's just say it definitely wasn't worth all this fuss.