# 1973 in professional wrestling

1973 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

## List of notable promotions

Only one promotion held notable shows in 1973.
| Promotion Name | Abbreviation |
| Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre | EMLL |

## Calendar of notable shows

| Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
| April 21 | AJPW | Champion's Carnival Finals | Tokyo, Japan | Giant Baba defeated Mark Lewin |
| April | EMLL | 17. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| September 21 | EMLL | EMLL 40th Anniversary Show | Mexico City, Mexico | Ray and Ringo Mendoza defeated Ángel Blanco and Kim Chul Won in a Lucha de Apuesta hair vs. hair match |

## Notable events

* April 14 - – Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance closed.
* September 6 - Carlos Colon, Victor Jovica and Gorilla Monsoon launched Capitol Sports Promotions in Puerto Rico.
* December 1 - Stan Stastak wins the WWWF Heavyweight title from Pedro Morales in Philadelphia, PA
* December 10 - Bruno Sammartino becomes the first two time WWWF Heavyweight Champion when he defeated Stan Stastak in New York, NY.

## Awards and honors
### Pro Wrestling Illustrated

| Category | Winner |
| PWI Wrestler of the Year | Jack Brisco |
| PWI Tag Team of the Year | Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens |
| PWI Match of the Year | Dory Funk Jr. vs. Harley Race |
| PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year | Chief Jay Strongbow |
| PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year | Superstar Billy Graham |
| PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year | Johnny Valentine |
| PWI Rookie of the Year | Bob Orton Jr. / Tony Garea |
| PWI Woman of the Year | Joyce Grable |
| PWI Midget Wrestler of the Year | Little Beaver |
| PWI Manager of the Year | The Grand Wizard |

## Championship changes
### EMLL

NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship :
| incoming champion – Alfonso Dantés |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| June 29 | Kim Sung Ho | EMLL show | |
| December 21 | Ray Mendoza | EMLL show | |
NWA World Middleweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Aníbal |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| March 30 | Rene Guajardo | EMLL show | |
NWA World Welterweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Alberto Munoz |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| June 25 | Vacant | EMLL show | |
| December 14 | Mano Negra | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Heavyweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Angel Blanco |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| October 26 | Enrique Vera | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Middleweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Ciclon Veloz, Jr. |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| December 14 | Adorable Rubi | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Lightweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Estrella Blanca |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| April 11 | Tauro | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Enrique Vera |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| March 16 | Dr. Wagner | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Welterweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Karloff Lagarde |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| August 11 | El Marquez | EMLL show | |
| October 3 | Fishman | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Women's Championship :
* Incoming champion – Uncertain ||||
* No title changes ||||

### NWA

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Dory Funk, Jr. |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| May 24 | Harley Race | House show | |
| July 20 | Jack Brisco | House show | |

## Tournaments
### IWE

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| IWA World Series | Great Kusatsu | October 10 | |
| IWA World Tag Tournament | Big John Quinn and Kurt Von Hess | March 25 | |

## Births

* Date of birth uncertain:
** Dudley Dudley
* January 9 - Magnum Tokyo
* January 25 - Ace Steel
* January 26 - The Maestro
* February 8 - Raziel (died in 2022)
* February 11 – Hernandez
* February 21 - Brodus Clay
* February 22 - Mr. Niebla (died in 2019)
* February 28 – Masato Tanaka
* March 7 - Brazo de Platino
* March 8 - Aya Koyama (died in 2018)
* March 11 - Wataru Sakata
* March 20 - Scott Vick
* March 23 - Kevin Northcutt
* March 28 – Umaga (died in 2009)
* April 2 - Skulu (died in 2020)
* April 24 - StarBuck
* April 27 - E. Z. Money
* May 8 - Giant Ochiai (died in 2003)
* May 18 – Kaz Hayashi
* May 18 - The Blue Meanie
* May 29 – Steve Corino
* June 4:
** Mikey Whipwreck
** Pablo Marquez
* June 19 - Lou Marconi
* June 21 - Tsubasa
* July 2 – Scotty 2 Hotty
* July 13:
** Necro Butcher
** Wifebeater
* July 26 - Yukio Sakaguchi
* August 12 – Jonathan Coachman
* August 25 - José Estrada Jr.
* August 29 - Sinn Bodhi
* August 31 - Tank Toland
* September 22 - Bob Sapp
* September 24 - Bison Smith (died in 2011)
* September 29 - Wavell Starr
* September 30 - Cerebro Negro
* October 4 – Abyss
* October 16 – Justin Credible
* October 19 - Corporal Punishment
* October 26 – Taka Michinoku
* October 28 – Montel Vontavious Porter
* October 30 – Edge
* November 3 - Chase Tatum (died in 2008)
* November 20 - Becca Swanson
* November 27 – Evan Karagias
* November 30 – Christian
* December 3 – Super Crazy
* December 7 – Hack Meyers (died in 2015)
* December 7 - Wolfie D
* December 20 – Toscano
* December 25 – Chris Harris

## Retirements

* Dory Funk, Sr. (1940-April 26, 1973)
* Fritz Von Goering (1949-1973)

## Debuts

* Uncertain debut date
   * Randy Savage
   * Sika Anoa'i
   * Bob Backlund
   * Ray Candy
   * Hector Guerrero
   * Smith Hart
   * Dean Hart
   * Bruiser Brody
   * Don Kernodle
   * Dennis Condrey
   * Gene Petit
   * Pez Whatley
   * Ron Mikolajczyk
* January 1 - Stan Hansen
* July - Sangre Chicana
* September 29 - KY Wakamatsu

## Deaths

* February 10 - Everett Marshall, 67
* March 8 - Bill Malone (broadcaster), 48
* April 1 – Jim Crockett, 63
* May 1 - Haystacks Muldoon, 43
* June 3 – Dory Funk, 54
* July 21 - Wild Red Berry, 66
* July 31 - Azumafuji Kin'ichi, 51
* December 1 – Black Guzmán, 57
* December 17 - Kazuo Okamura, 62