1983 in professional wrestling

1983 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 1983. Promotion NameAbbreviationAmerican Wrestling AssociationAWAEMLLJim Crockett PromotionsJCPMaple Leaf WrestlingMLWNew Japan Pro WrestlingNJPWWorld Wrestling CouncilWWC

Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 22EMLL27. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoSuper Halcón (c) defeated Pirata Morgan in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the Mexican National Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 24AWAAWA Super SundaySt. Paul, MinnesotaNick Bockwinkel (c) defeated Hulk Hogan by reverse decision disqualification in a singles match for the AWA World Heavyweight Title with Lord James Blears as special guest refereeJune 2NJPWIWGP LeagueTokyo, JapanHulk Hogan defeated Antonio InokiJune 10MLWNight of the ChampionsToronto, OntarioRic Flair defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race by disqualification in a singles matchJuly 24MLWReturn of the ChampionsToronto, OntarioNWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race defeated Ric Flair by disqualification in a singles match with Johnny Weaver as special guest refereeSeptember 17WWCWWC 10th AniversarioSan Juan, Puerto RicoAndré the Giant defeated Abdullah the Butcher via countout in a singles matchSeptember 23EMLLEMLL 50th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoSangre Chicana defeated MS-1 in a Lucha de Apuestas Hair vs. Hair matchOctober 23JCP The Last Battle of AtlantaAtlanta, GeorgiaTommy Rich defeated Buzz Sawyer in a Steel Cage Match with Paul Ellering suspended above the cageNovember 24JCP StarrcadeGreensboro, North CarolinaRic Flair defeated Harley Race (c) in a steel cage match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with Gene Kiniski as special guest refereeDecember 8NJPWMSG Tag LeagueTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki and Hulk Hogan defeated Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch December 9EMLLJuicio FinalMexico City, MexicoRayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated El Egipico in a Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. mask match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Notable events January 22: The Don Muraco-Pedro Morales rivalry reached its peak at Madison Square Garden in New York City when Muraco pinned Morales to become the new WWF Intercontinental champion. March 8: The Wild Samoans defeated Jules Strongbow and Chief Jay Strongbow to win their 3rd WWF Tag Team Championship on WWF Championship Wrestling. March 10–11: The WWF holds its first ever live events outside the Northeast in San Diego and Los Angeles, California The WWF now fully owned by Vince McMahon seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance at the annual NWA Convention. Wrestling All Stars magazine published its first issue. September 4: WWF All-American Wrestling debut on the USA Network September 10: Wrestling at the Chase ended its 24 year run on St. Louis television station KPLR-TV November 15: Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson made WWF history as they became the first African-Americans to win the WWF Tag Team Championship in a no-disqualification match against The Wild Samoans on WWE Championship Wrestling. December 26: Iron Sheik managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie defeated WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund ending Backlund's nearly 6 year run when his manager Arnold Skaaland threw in his towel in New York, NY

Accomplishments and tournaments

AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRookie of the Year Decision TournamentKeiko Nakano

AJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesLou Thesz Cup 1983Shiro KoshinakaApril 22

NJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesIWGP LeagueHulk HoganJune 4defeated Antonio Inoki in the finals

Awards and honors Pro Wrestling Illustrated

CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearHarley RacePWI Tag Team of the YearThe Road Warriors(Hawk and Animal)PWI Match of the YearRic Flair vs. Harley RacePWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearJimmy SnukaPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearGreg ValentinePWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearBrett Wayne SawyerPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearHulk HoganPWI Rookie of the YearAngelo Mosca Jr.PWI Manager of the YearJ. J. DillonPWI Editor's AwardThe Grand Wizard

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearRic Flair Feud of the YearThe Freebirds vs. The Von ErichsTag Team of the YearRicky Steamboat and Jay YoungbloodMost ImprovedCurt HennigBest on InterviewsRoddy Piper

Births Date of birth uncertain: Quicksilver January 8 – Chris Masters January 18 - Adam Thornstowe January 21 – Maryse Ouellet January 30 – Rockstar Spud February 10: Taiji Ishimori Kevin Matthews February 21 – Wes Brisco February 25 - Steven Lewington March 1 Davey Richards Mark Sterling March 17 - Timothy Thatcher March 18 – Ethan Carter III March 19 – Evan Bourne March 26 - Mike Mondo March 30 – Zach Gowen March 31 – Iestyn Rees April 2 - Scorpio Sky April 5: Bushi Chie Ishii April 9 - Hade Vansen April 25 - DeAngelo Williams April 27 - Lacey May 1 - Human Tornado May 7 - Tanga Loa May 11 - Daizee Haze May 15 - Tom Lawlor May 18 - Matt Riviera May 19 - Chris Van Vliet May 21 – Leva Bates May 23 – Alex Shelley June 23 - Brandi Rhodes July 11 - Marcus Louis July 15 – Heath Slater July 22 - Fandango (wrestler) July 24 - Joey Kovar (died in 2012) July 26 – Roderick Strong August 3 - Ladybeard August 8 - Rampage Brown August 23 – J.C. Bailey (died in 2010) August 24 – Tino Sabbatelli September 6: Sam Roberts Braun Strowman September 16 – Jennifer Blake September 22 - Absolute Andy (died in 2023) September 30 - Pacman Jones October 1 – Robbie E October 3 - Mikey Batts October 8 – Hiro Tonai October 10 – Daisuke Masaoka October 16 – Kenny Omega October 19 – Robert Evans October 22 – Taya Valkyrie November 2 – Darren Young November 8 - Lucky Cannon November 11 – Kristal Marshall November 21: Nikki Bella Brie Bella November 25 - Kirby Mack November 28 – Summer Rae Gota Ihashi November 29 - Rosemary December 7 - Matt Menard December 15 – Rene Dupree December 16 : Kris Travis (died in 2016) Jigsaw December 22 – Luke Gallows December 29 - El Desperado (wrestler) December 30 - Eddie Edwards

Debuts Uncertain debut date Scott Armstrong Desiree Petersen William Regal Rick Steiner Ben Bassarab Ramón Álvarez (wrestler) Bull Nakano Dan Spivey Ken Resnick Yumi Ogura (All Japan Women) March 5 - Cueball Carmichael June 6 - Road Warrior Hawk June 12 - Bestia Salvaje June 24 - Mick Foley and Kanako Nagatomo (All Japan Women's) September 23 - Tommy Ran (All Japan Women's) and Mika Komatsu (All Japan Women's)

Retirements Dean Ho (1962 - 1983) Mikel Scicluna (1953 - 1983)

Deaths February 7 - Miguel Ángel Delgado, 35 March 6 - Mayes McLain, 77 March 12 - Fred Meyer (wrestler), 82 May 10 - Frank Tunney, 70 May 25 - Johnny Rougeau, 53 May 31 - Jack Dempsey, 87 October 1 - Johan Richthoff, 85 October 12 - The Grand Wizard, 57 December 9 - Earl McCready, 78 December 19 - Dizzy Davis, 69

See also List of WCW pay-per-view events

References

External links