Long before Michael Jordan redefined basketball history within its walls, Chicago’s iconic United Center witnessed a unique inaugural performance—not from a star athlete, but from a masked professional wrestler known as Kwang the Ninja Warrior. This surprising historical footnote unfolded during a dark match at SummerSlam 1994, a moment largely forgotten yet pivotal in the arena’s storied beginning.
The year was 1994, and the grand opening of the United Center, built to replace the venerable Chicago Stadium, was a monumental event for sports enthusiasts in the Windy City. While the building was destined to become synonymous with the Chicago Bulls’ unparalleled success, it was a WWE event that truly broke it in, showcasing professional wrestling’s unique spectacle to an eager crowd.
Kwang, a mysterious martial arts-inspired character known for his spinning heel kicks and green mist, faced off against Adam Bomb in a preliminary bout that never made it to the televised pay-per-view. This untelevised clash, witnessed by approximately 23,000 fans, marked the very first professional wrestling contest held in the brand-new United Center, setting an unusual precedent.
The obscurity of this match adds to its intrigue; footage has never been officially released, nor has it been included in any WWE compilation. Its existence relies solely on the recollection of dedicated fans and scattered reports, making Kwang and Adam Bomb the answer to a peculiar sports trivia question regarding the arena’s true debut performers.
Significantly, this event occurred months before Michael Jordan, who was on his baseball sabbatical at the time, would make his triumphant return to the Chicago Bulls and step onto the United Center court. Kwang’s performance thus predated the legendary “I’m back” moment, placing professional wrestling at the forefront of the arena’s operational history.
Kwang, portrayed by Leon White, was a quintessential early ’90s wrestling gimmick—an exotic heel whose persona was rooted in cartoonish villainy. Though his time as Kwang was brief, he would later be repackaged as Savio Vega, becoming a notable mid-card figure during WWE’s New Generation era, engaging in memorable feuds and earning a loyal following.
The United Center itself has since evolved into one of North America’s most iconic sports and entertainment venues. It has hosted the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat, the farewell tours of NBA legends, and banner-raising ceremonies for the Chicago Blackhawks, alongside sold-out concerts by global music icons. Its legacy is immense, underscoring the curious nature of its inaugural sporting contest.
As SummerSlam approaches this year, reflecting on the 1994 event brings to light not only the Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart classic or the Undertaker vs. Undertaker main event but also the unsung role of Kwang. His unexpected performance ensured that professional wrestling had the distinct honor of being the first sport to truly ignite the energy within Chicago’s grand new coliseum.
This often-overlooked moment in wrestling history serves as a fascinating precursor to the countless historic moments that would unfold within the United Center’s walls, solidifying its place in both sports lore and the annals of professional wrestling.
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