# 1974 in professional wrestling

1974 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 1974.
| Promotion Name | Abbreviation |
| Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre | EMLL |

## Calendar of notable shows

| Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
| March 26 | BTW | Parade of Champions | Dallas, Texas | Jack Brisco (c) defeated Clay Spence in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship |
| March 27 | BTW | Parade of Champions | San Antonio, Texas | Jack Brisco (c) wrestled Dory Funk Jr. to a draw in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship |
| April 24 | EMLL | 18. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | Aníbal and Steve Wright defeated Rene Guajardo and Tigre Colombiano in a Lucha de Apuestas mask and hair vs. mask and hair match |
| May 8 | NJPW | World League | Tokyo, Japan | Antonio Inoki defeated Seiji Sakaguchi |
| May 26 | AJPW | International Junior Heavyweight Title League | Tokyo, Japan | Chavo Guerrero defeated Ultra Seven |
| December 8 | AJPW | Karl Gotch Cup | Tokyo, Japan | Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Masashi Ozawa |
| September 20 | EMLL | EMLL 41st Anniversary Show | Mexico City, Mexico | La Ola Blanco (Dr. Wagner and Ángel Blanco) defeated Super Star and Enrique Vera in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta mask and mask vs. mask and hair match |
| December 13 | EMLL | Juicio Final | Mexico City, Mexico | Dr. Wagner and Ringo Mendoza defeated Ángel Blanco and Coloso Colosetti in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match |

## Notable events

* May 8 - The Valiant Brothers defeat Tony Garea and Dean Ho to become the WWWF World Tag Team Champions.
* October 24 - Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens defeat The Crusher and Billy Robinson to become the AWA World Tag Team Champions.

## Awards and honors
### Pro Wrestling Illustrated

| Category | Winner |
| PWI Wrestler of the Year | Bruno Sammartino |
| PWI Tag Team of the Year | Jimmy and Johnny Valiant |
| PWI Match of the Year | Jack Brisco vs. Dory Funk Jr. |
| PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year | Billy Robinson |
| PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year | The Great Mephisto |
| PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year | Dick Murdoch |
| PWI Rookie of the Year | Larry Zbyszko |
| PWI Woman of the Year | Rachel Dubois |
| PWI Midget Wrestler of the Year | Darlin` Dagmar |
| PWI Manager of the Year | Lou Albano |

## Championship changes
### EMLL

NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship :
| incoming champion – Ray Mendoza |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| February | Vacant | N/A | |
| September 22 | Dr. Wagner | EMLL 41st Anniversary Show | |
NWA World Middleweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Rene Guajardo |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| Unknown | Vacant | EMLL show | |
| September 20 | Aníbal | EMLL show | |
NWA World Welterweight Championship :
* Incoming champion – Mano Negra ||||
* No title changes ||||
Mexican National Heavyweight Championship :
* Incoming champion – Enrique Vera ||||
* No title changes ||||
Mexican National Middleweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Adorable Rubí |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| June 28 | Aníbal | EMLL show | |
| November 29 | Ringo Mendoza | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Lightweight Championship :
* Incoming champion – Tauro ||||
* No title changes ||||
Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Dr. Wagner |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| September 22 | Vacant | N/A | |
| November 15 | Alfonso Dantes | EMLL show | |
Mexican National Welterweight Championship :
* Incoming champion – Fishman ||||
* No title changes ||||
Mexican National Women's Championship :
* Incoming champion – Uncertain ||||
* No title changes ||||

### NWA

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship :
| Incoming champion – Jack Brisco |||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) |
| December 2 | Giant Baba | House show | |
| December 9 | Jack Brisco | House show | |

## Births

* Date of birth uncertain:
** Hiroko Suzuki
* January 4 – Dark Cuervo
* January 5 - Yutaka Yoshie (died in 2024)
* February 19 – Danny Doring
* March 1 – Brandi Alexander
* March 4 – Crowbar
* March 11 - Jonny Fairplay
* March 14 - Santino Marella
* March 27 – Russ Haas (d. 2001)
* April 6 – Flash Flanagan
* April 9 – Jenna Jameson
* April 14 - Toshie Uematsu
* April 21 – Orlando Jordan
* April 24 – Octagoncito
* April 27 - Johnny Devine
* May 11 – Billy Kidman
* May 21 - Josef Samael
* June 6 – 2 Tuff Tony
* June 22 - Amber O'Neal
* June 26 – Matt Striker
* June 27:
** Ace Darling
** Rob Dyrdek
* July 6:
** Harashima
** Black Buffalo
* July 12 – Gregory Helms
* July 13 – Konan Big
* July 16 – Chris Chetti
* July 19 – Rey Bucanero
* July 19 – Jeremy Borash
* July 23 – Sonny Siaki
* July 25 :
** Kenzo Suzuki
** Mikael Judas
* August 5 – Rob Black
* August 8 – Scott D'Amore
* September 5 – Derick Neikirk
* September 8 - Rick Michaels
* September 9 – Jun Kasai
* September 18 – Reckless Youth
* September 20 - Robbie McAllister
* September 23 – Matt Hardy
* September 24:
** Carl Leduc
** Dru Onyx
* September 30 – Eli Cottonwood
* October 8 – H. C. Loc
* October 14 – Shaggy 2 Dope
* October 17 – Cincinnati Red (died in 2015)
* October 31 - Jungle Grrrl
* November 16:
** John Cone
** Starman (died in 2022)
* November 28 – Rob Conway
* November 30 – Juventud Guerrera
* December 6 - Kentaro Shiga
* December 11 – Rey Mysterio
* December 12 – Chad Collyer
* December 31 – Tzuki

## Debuts

* Uncertain debut date
   * Adrian Adonis
   * Jake Roberts
   * Jesse Ventura
   * Jerry Blackwell
   * Tommy Rich
   * Dave Finlay
   * Lanny Poffo
   * Mach Fumiake (All Japan Women)
   * Shinobu Aso (All Japan Women)
* April 8 - Antonio Peña
* April 22 - Masanobu Fuchi
* July 10 - Tony Atlas
* August 6 - Vivian St. John
* August 8 - Riki Choshu

## Retirements

* Fred Atkins (? – 1974)
* Dave Ruhl (1946 – 1974)
* Bearcat Wright (1959 – 1974)

## Deaths

* January 25 - Joe Savoldi, 65
* March 13 - Gene Dubuque, 46
* March 29 - Joe Stecher, 80
* April 2 - Lee Wykoff, 76
* May 31 - Sky Hi Lee, 53
* June 24 – Mangla Rai, 60
* July 26 – Freddie Sweetan, 36
* August 21 – Buford Pusser, 37
* September 3 – Mighty Jumbo (wrestler), 51
* September 13 - Jack Pfefer, 79
* September 18 - Ray Richards, 68
* October 29 - Axel Cadier, 68