# 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 Name | Abbreviation |
| American Wrestling Association | AWA |
| Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre | EMLL |
| Jim Crockett Promotions | JCP |
| World Wrestling Council | WWC |

## Calendar of notable shows

| Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
| April 22 | EMLL | 27. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | Super Halcón (c) defeated Pirata Morgan in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship |
| April 24 | AWA | AWA Super Sunday | St. Paul, Minnesota | Nick 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 referee |
| June 2 | NJPW | IWGP League | Tokyo, Japan | Hulk Hogan defeated Antonio Inoki |
| June 10 | MLW | Night of the Champions | Toronto, Ontario | Ric Flair defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race by disqualification in a singles match |
| July 4 | JCP | NWA/WWF World Title Unification | Atlanta, Georgia | NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair fought WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund to a double count-out |
| July 24 | MLW | Return of the Champions | Toronto, Ontario | NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race defeated Ric Flair by disqualification in a singles match with Johnny Weaver as special guest referee |
| September 17 | WWC | WWC 10th Aniversario | San Juan, Puerto Rico | André the Giant defeated Abdullah the Butcher via countout in a singles match |
| September 23 | EMLL | EMLL 50th Anniversary Show | Mexico City, Mexico | Sangre Chicana defeated MS-1 in a Lucha de Apuestas Hair vs. Hair match |
| October 23 | JCP | The Last Battle of Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia | Tommy Rich defeated Buzz Sawyer in a Steel Cage Match with Paul Ellering suspended above the cage |
| November 24 | JCP | Starrcade | Greensboro, North Carolina | Ric Flair defeated Harley Race (c) in a steel cage match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with Gene Kiniski as special guest referee |
| December 8 | NJPW | MSG Tag League | Tokyo, Japan | Antonio Inoki and Hulk Hogan defeated Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch |
| December 9 | EMLL | Juicio Final | Mexico City, Mexico | Rayo 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.
* September 4: WWF All-American Wrestling debut on the USA Network
* 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

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| Rookie of the Year Decision Tournament | Keiko Nakano | | |

### AJPW

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| Lou Thesz Cup 1983 | Shiro Koshinaka | April 22 | |

### NJPW

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| IWGP League | Hulk Hogan | June 4 | defeated Antonio Inoki in the finals |

## Awards and honors
### Pro Wrestling Illustrated

| Category | Winner |
| PWI Wrestler of the Year | Harley Race |
| PWI Tag Team of the Year | The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) |
| PWI Match of the Year | Ric Flair vs. Harley Race |
| PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year | Jimmy Snuka |
| PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year | Greg Valentine |
| PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year | Brett Wayne Sawyer |
| PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year | Hulk Hogan |
| PWI Rookie of the Year | Angelo Mosca Jr. |
| PWI Manager of the Year | J. J. Dillon |
| PWI Editor's Award | The Grand Wizard |

### Wrestling Observer Newsletter

| Category | Winner |
| Wrestler of the Year | Ric Flair |
| Feud of the Year | The Freebirds vs. The Von Erichs |
| Tag Team of the Year | Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood |
| Most Improved | Curt Hennig |
| Best on Interviews | Roddy 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
* March 17 - Timothy Thatcher
* March 18 – Ethan Carter III
* March 19 – Evan Bourne
* March 26 - Mike Mondo
* March 30 – Zach Gowen
* 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 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
* November 28 - Gota Ihashi
* November 29 - Rosemary
* 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