1981 in professional wrestling

none 1981 professional wrestling 1981 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling. List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 1981. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesBig Time WrestlingBTWRenamed to World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) the following year.Joint Promotions—Empresa Mexicana de Lucha LibreEMLLNew Japan Pro WrestlingNJPWUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWA Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventFebruary 8 UWAUWA 6th Anniversary ShowNaucalpan, MexicoEl Solitario (c) wrestled Villano III to a timelimit draw In a match for the UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship https://superluchas.com//en-un-dia-como-hoy-1981-aniversario-independiente-solitario-vs-villano-iii-por-el-campeonato-mundial-de-peso-semicompleto-uwa/ En un día como hoy… 1981: Aniversario independiente, Solitario vs. Villano III por el Campeonato Mundial de Peso Semicompleto UWA February 7, 2015 July 6, 2015 Teddy Centinela Súper Luchas esApril 3EMLL25. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoTony Salazar defeated Alfonso Dantés (c) in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipRoyal Duncan and Gary Will Wrestling Title Histories Mexico: EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title 389 Archeus Communications 2006 4th 0-9698161-5-4June 4NJPWMSG LeagueTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki defeated Stan Hansen by count-outBTWWrestling Star Wars (June)Dallas, TexasFritz Von Erich defeated Gary Hart in a steel cage matchhttps://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/miscsw.html#0681 Wrestling Star Wars June 1981 Pro Wrestling HistorySeptember 18EMLLEMLL 48th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoEspectro Jr. defeated El Vengador in a Lucha de Apuesta mask vs. mask vs. mask match; El Supremo was also in the matchhttp://www.thegladiatores.com/?p=3072 Historia de Los Aniversarios del CMLL September 2, 2010 September 28, 2012 The Gladiatores Magazine esSeptember 29Dale Martin PromotionsMike Marino Memorial ShieldCroydon, EnglandMal Sanders defeated Syd Cooper in the tournament finalhttp://www.johnlisterwriting.com/itvwrestling/81.html 1981 Lister, John ITV Wrestling Listings JohnListerWriting.com October 18, 2012October 24BTWWrestling Star Wars (October)Dallas, TexasAl Madril (c) defeated Bill Irwin via disqualification in a singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championshiphttps://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/miscsw.html#1081 Wrestling Star Wars October 25, 1981 Pro Wrestling HistoryOctober 4JointDale Martin ExtravaganzaLondon, EnglandBig Daddy defeated Giant Haystacks in a "Knockout Only, No Rounds" matchDecember 4EMLLJuicio FinalMexico City, MexicoRingo Mendoza defeated El Faraón in a Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=shows&show=29782 EMLL Super Viernes December 4, 1981 March 21, 2019 Wrestling DataDecember 10NJPWMSG Tag LeagueTokyo, JapanAndré the Giant and Rene Goulet defeated Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi FujinamiDecember 25BTWChristmas Star WarsDallas, TexasBig Daddy Bundy defeated Al Madril, Armand Hussein, Bill Irwin, Blue Demon, Carlos Zapata, David Von Erich, Frank Dusek, José Lothario, Kerry Von Erich, Killer Tim Brooks, El Negro Assassino, Richard Blood and Ten Gu in a Two-ring battle royalhttps://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/wccw/starwars.html#xmas81 Christmas Star Wars December 25, 1981 Pro Wrestling History(c) – denotes defending champion(s) Notable events June 20 - At the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Don Muraco pinned Pedro Morales to become the new WWF Intercontinental Champion. July 21 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Rick Martel and Tony Garea regain the WWF Tag Team Championship by defeating The Moondogs. October 13 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea and Rick Martel to become the new WWF Tag Team Champions, Garea would never again wear any WWF Title in his career. November 23 - At New York's Madison Square Garden in a Texas Death Match, Pedro Morales regained the WWF Intercontinental Championship by pinning Don Muraco. Accomplishments and tournaments AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRookie of the Year Decision TournamentChigusa Nagayo AJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesChampion's CarnivalGiant BabaApril 23 JCP AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesNWA United States Championship TournamentSgt. SlaughterOctober 4 NJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesG1 ClimaxAntonio InokiJune 4defeated Stan Hansen in the finals Awards and honors Pro Wrestling Illustrated List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearRic FlairPWI Tag Team of the YearThe Fabulous Freebirds(Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy)PWI Match of the YearAndré the Giant vs. Killer KhanPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearTommy RichPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearKen PateraPWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearKevin SullivanPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearBob BacklundPWI Rookie of the YearDavid SammartinoPWI Editor's AwardBruno SammartinoPWI Manager of the YearLou Albano Wrestling Observer Newsletter List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearHarley RaceFeud of the YearAndré the Giant vs. Killer KhanTag Team of the YearJimmy Snuka and Terry GordyMost ImprovedAdrian AdonisBest on InterviewsLou Albano / Roddy Piper Tournaments IWE AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesLou Thesz CupNo winner The league was scheduled to go three rounds but never finished due to the closure of IWE Births thumb|upright|right|120px|Daniel Bryan January 11 - King Mo January 12: Jeet Rama Krissy Vaine January 13 – Shad Gaspard (died in 2020) January 17 - Adam Windsor (died in 2022) January 26 – Volador Jr. February 9 - Daisuke Sekimoto February 14 - Ayako Hamada February 15 - Jenna Morasca February 18 - Larry Sweeney (died in 2011) February 19 – Tye Dillingerhttp://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/shawn-spears.html OWOW profile 2009-04-29 Online World of Wrestling February 26 - Kaori Yoneyama March 2 – Lance Cade (died in 2010) March 3 – Justin Gabriel March 12 – Hideo Itamihttp://www.noah.co.jp/profile007.php https://web.archive.org/web/20140223000854/http://www.noah.co.jp/profile007.php Kenta 2014-02-23 2014-08-07 Pro Wrestling Noah jahttp://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kenta.html Kenta Online World of Wrestling 2009-07-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090724064038/http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kenta.html 2009-07-24 April 4 – Tigre Uno April 28 - Alex Riley April 29 - Neil Faith May 8 – Stephen Amell May 13 – Jimmy Yang May 22 – Daniel Bryanhttp://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/danielson_bryan.html https://archive.today/20160224070329/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/danielson_bryan.html dead February 24, 2016 Bryan Danielson Milner John M. Clevett Jason February 20, 2010 Slam! Sports Canadian Online Explorer June 2 – Velvet Sky July 8 - Luke Hawx July 22 Fandangohttp://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/johnny-curtis/ Johnny Curtis - Online World of Wrestling 2014-04-09 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140406074117/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/johnny-curtis/ April 6, 2014 mdy-all Kenny King July 25 – Finn Bálorhttp://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/f/fergal-devitt.html Fergal Devitt profile 8 July 2009 Online World of Wrestling 27 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111027042956/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/f/fergal-devitt.html dead August 14 – Kofi Kingston August 19 – Percy Watsonhttps://www.nfl.com/players/nickmcneil/profile?id=MCN580628 NFL Player Profile 2010-06-08 NFL August 20 – Byron Saxtonhttp://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/byron-saxton.html Byron Kelly Profile 2008-03-04 Online World of Wrestling August 21 – Trent Seven August 26 - Petey Williams September 6 - Chris the Bambi Killer September 10 - Rain September 13 – Angelina Love September 26 – Asukahttps://web.archive.org/web/20051222080559/http://www.atoz-dream.com/profile/kana/index.htm http://www.atoz-dream.com/profile/kana/index.htm ja:浦井 December 22, 2005 February 3, 2012 AtoZ usurped jahttp://kana-kana.jp/prof.html https://web.archive.org/web/20110110060634/http://kana-kana.jp/prof.html ja:プロフィール January 10, 2011 August 4, 2011 Kana Net ja Kana-kana.jp October 7 - Thunder (died in 2016) October 9 - Daniel Puder October 11 - Arturo Ruas November 1 - Hallowicked November 3 – Jackie Gayda November 10 – Ryback November 28 – Erick RowanErick Rowan Profile http://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=19675 WrestlingData December 7 - Luster the Legend December 11 - Fuegohttps://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bsuche&aufgabe=suche&geburtsj=1968 Wrestlers born in 1968: 1 - 50 of 125 February 1, 2020 Wrestling Data December 14 - Johnny Jeter December 17 - Tim Wiese December 18 - Eddie Kingston December 23 - Arik Cannon December 25 - Rhaka Khan December 31 – Martin Stone Debuts Uncertain debut date King Kong Bundy El Dandy Jake Milliman Wendell Cooley Itzuki Yamazaki Mike Rotunda January 10-Fumihiro Niikura February 19 - Tarzan Goto April 25 - Nobukazu Hirai July 12 - Noriyo Tateno December 8 - Shunji Takano Retirements Black Shadow (1942–1981) Tony Borne (1952–1981) Verne Gagne (1949–1981) Dutch Savage (1962–1981) The Missouri Mauler (1950–1981) Deaths January 24 - Orville Brown, 72 February 6 - Goga Pehlwan, 43 April 9 - Wee Willie Davis, 74 April 12 - Joe Louis, 66 August 12 – Buddy Austin, 52 August 24 - Mike Marino, 59 November 16 - Ali Baba (wrestler), 80 References professional wrestling