1980 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 1980. Promotion NameAbbreviationNotesAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWAmerican Wrestling AssociationAWAChampionship Wrestling from FloridaCWFEMLLNew Japan Pro WrestlingNJPWWorld Wrestling FederationWWFPreviously known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).
Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 7EMLL24. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoEl Faraón and Ringo Mendoza defeated Adorable Rubí and El Nazi in a Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair matchMay 1AJPWChampion CarnivalTokyo, JapanJumbo Tsuruta defeated Dick SlaterJune 5NJPWMSG LeagueTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki defeated Stan Hansen by disqualificationJuly 14AWASuperBowl VIChicago, IllinoisVerne Gagne defeated Nick Bockwinkel (c) for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship August 3CWFThe Last Tangle in TampaTampa, FloridaHarley Race (c) fought Dusty Rhodes to a time-limit draw in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with Fritz Von Erich as Special Guest RefereeAugust 9WWFShowdown at SheaFlushing, New YorkBruno Sammartino defeated Larry Zbyszko in a steel cage matchSeptember 26EMLLEMLL 47th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoSangre Chicana (c) wrestled El Fantasma to a no contest for the NWA World Middleweight ChampionshipDecember 5Juicio FinalSangre Chicana and Alfonso Dantés defeated El Jalisco and El Cobarde in a Lucha de Apuestas, hairs vs hairs matchDecember 10NJPWMSG Tag LeagueTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki and Bob Backlund defeated Stan Hansen and Hulk Hogan(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Notable events April 12 - At the Philadelphia Spectrum, The Wild Samoans became the new WWF Tag Team Champions after defeating Ivan Putski and Tito Santana. April 21 - At New York's Madison Square Garden, Ken Patera pinned Pat Patterson to become the new WWF Intercontinental champion. May 2 - Bret Hart captured his first Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship by beating Leo Burke in Bret's hometown of Calgary, Alberta. July 18 - Nick Bockwinkel's 5-year reign as AWA World Heavyweight Champion ended as Verne Gagne pinned him in Chicago, Illinois, to become the new champion. He retired after this bout. November 8 - At the Philadelphia Spectrum, Tony Garea and Rick Martel pinned the Wild Samoans to become the new WWF Tag Team Champions. December 8 - At New York's Madison Square Garden, Pedro Morales pinned Ken Patera to become the new WWF Intercontinental champion. However this bout originally was going to be aired on the MSG Network but was never shown due to news coverage of the assassination of John Lennon.
Accomplishments and tournaments AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRookie of the Year Decision Tournament Tomoko Kitamura
AJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesChampion CarnivalJumbo TsurutaMay 1
NJPW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesG1 ClimaxAntonio InokiJune 5
Awards and honors Pro Wrestling Illustrated
CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearBob BacklundPWI Tag Team of the YearJimmy Snuka and Ray StevensPWI Match of the YearBruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko (Showdown at Shea)PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearMr. Wrestling IIPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearLarry ZbyszkoPWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearTony AtlasPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearJunkyard DogPWI Rookie of the YearTerry TaylorPWI Manager of the YearOliver Humperdink
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
CategoryWinnerWrestler of the YearHarley RaceFeud of the YearBruno Sammartino vs. Larry ZbyszkoTag Team of the YearThe Fabulous Freebirds(Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)Most ImprovedLarry Zbyszko
Births
January 1 – Sosay January 8 – Ricky Marvin January 12 – Ares January 20 – Karl Anderson January 25 – Michelle McCool February 2 – Teddy Hart February 5 – Kazuhiro Tamura February 6 – Konnor February 9 – Shelly Martinez February 13 – Carlos Cotto February 15 – LuFisto February 18 – Hideki Suzuki February 24 – Shinsuke Nakamura February 26 – Yappy March 9 – Genba Hirayanagi March 19 – Taichi Ishikari March 20 – Rohit Raju March 28 – Nick Mondo April 1 – Randy Orton April 2 – Jody Fleisch April 7 – David Otunga April 10 – Jesse Neal April 12 – Masayuki Kono April 16 - Paul London April 17 – Hartley Jackson April 30 – Rob Terry May 2 – Caylen Croft May 6 – Colt Cabana June 1 – Ángel Azteca Jr. June 3: Pepper Parks Ryoji Sai June 8: Scott Lost Super Dragon June 27 - Big Dick Johnson July 8 : Brian Danovich (died in 2018) Hikaru Sato July 11 – Tyson Kidd July 15 – BxB Hulk July 16 – Excalibur July 17 – Masato Yoshino July 27 – Dolph Ziggler August 8 – Shayna Baszler August 10 – Wade Barrett August 19 – Chet Jablonski August 28 – Demus 3:16 August 30 – Alicia Taylor September 6 – Jillian Hall September 10 – Trevor Murdoch September 14 – Dom Travis (died in 2012) September 22 – Nick Gage September 23 – Romeo Roselli October 4: Naruki Doi Sebastian Hackl October 8 – The Miz October 28 – Christy Hemme November 10 – Katarina Waters November 12 – Trent Acid (died in 2010) November 13: Sara Del Rey Tomomitsu Matsunaga November 17 Mercedes Martinez Jay Bradley November 24 – Beth Phoenix November 25 – Josh Mathews December 2 – Mario Bokara December 4 – Viktor December 9 – Escoria December 12 – Shockercito December 19 – Delirious December 26 – Faby Apache December 27 – Cesaro December 31 – Matt Cross
Deaths February 27 - Kola Kwariani, 77 March unknown date - Otto Kuss, 68/69 April 5 - Ruffy Silverstein (American wrestler), 66 June 11 - Wolfgang Ehrl, 68 September 17 - Big Bad John, 37
Debuts Debut date: February - Emilio Charles Jr. March 1 - Shiniichi Takano May 4 - Hiromichi Fuyuki May 10 - Lioness Asuka August 8 - Dump Matsumoto (All Japan Women's), Chigusa Nagayo (All Japan Women's) and Yuriko Takagi (All Japan Women's) August - Bruiser Costa October - Tony Anthony December 29 - Yoshiaki Yatsu
Uncertain debut date: The Barbarian (wrestler) Brad Armstrong (wrestler) Psycho Sam Cody Wildman Firpo Brad Rheingans Jimmy Jack Funk Gary Royal Mike Shaw Yukari Omori (All Japan Women's) Tarantula (All Japan Women's) Crane Yu (All Japan Women's)
Retirements Eddie Graham (1947–1980) Haystacks Calhoun (1956–1980)
References
External links