# 1981 in professional wrestling

1981 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

## List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1981.
| Promotion Name | Abbreviation | Notes |
| Big Time Wrestling | BTW | Renamed to World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) the following year. |
| Joint Promotions | — | |
| Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre | EMLL | |
| Universal Wrestling Association | UWA | |

## Calendar of notable shows

| Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
| February 8 | UWA | UWA 6th Anniversary Show | Naucalpan, Mexico | El Solitario (c) wrestled Villano III to a timelimit draw In a match for the UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship |
| April 3 | EMLL | 25. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | Tony Salazar defeated Alfonso Dantés (c) in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship |
| June 4 | NJPW | MSG League | Tokyo, Japan | Antonio Inoki defeated Stan Hansen by count-out |
| June 4 | BTW | Wrestling Star Wars (June) | Dallas, Texas | Fritz Von Erich defeated Gary Hart in a steel cage match |
| September 18 | EMLL | EMLL 48th Anniversary Show | Mexico City, Mexico | Espectro Jr. defeated El Vengador in a Lucha de Apuesta mask vs. mask vs. mask match; El Supremo was also in the match |
| September 29 | Dale Martin Promotions | Mike Marino Memorial Shield | Croydon, England | Mal Sanders defeated Syd Cooper in the tournament final |
| October 24 | BTW | Wrestling Star Wars (October) | Dallas, Texas | Al Madril (c) defeated Bill Irwin via disqualification in a singles match for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship |
| October 4 | Joint | Dale Martin Extravaganza | London, England | Big Daddy defeated Giant Haystacks in a "Knockout Only, No Rounds" match |
| December 4 | EMLL | Juicio Final | Mexico City, Mexico | Ringo Mendoza defeated El Faraón in a Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match |
| December 10 | NJPW | MSG Tag League | Tokyo, Japan | André the Giant and Rene Goulet defeated Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami |
| December 25 | BTW | Christmas Star Wars | Dallas, Texas | Big Daddy Bundy defeated Al Madril, Armand Hussein, Bill Irwin, Blue Demon, Carlos Zapata, David Von Erich, Frank Dusek, José Lothario, Kerry Von Erich, Killer Tim Brooks, El Negro Assassino, Richard Blood and Ten Gu in a Two-ring battle royal |
| (c) – denotes defending champion(s) |||||

## Notable events

* June 20 - At the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Don Muraco pinned Pedro Morales to become the new WWF Intercontinental Champion.
* July 21 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Rick Martel and Tony Garea regain the WWF Tag Team Championship by defeating The Moondogs.
* October 13 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea and Rick Martel to become the new WWF Tag Team Champions, Garea would never again wear any WWF Title in his career.
* November 23 - At New York's Madison Square Garden in a Texas Death Match, Pedro Morales regained the WWF Intercontinental Championship by pinning Don Muraco.

## Accomplishments and tournaments
### AJW

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| Rookie of the Year Decision Tournament | Chigusa Nagayo | | |

### AJPW

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| Champion's Carnival | Giant Baba | April 23 | |

### JCP

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| NWA United States Championship Tournament | Sgt. Slaughter | October 4 | |

### NJPW

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| G1 Climax | Antonio Inoki | June 4 | defeated Stan Hansen in the finals |

## Awards and honors
### Pro Wrestling Illustrated

| Category | Winner |
| PWI Wrestler of the Year | Ric Flair |
| PWI Tag Team of the Year | The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy) |
| PWI Match of the Year | André the Giant vs. Killer Khan |
| PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year | Tommy Rich |
| PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year | Ken Patera |
| PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year | Kevin Sullivan |
| PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year | Bob Backlund |
| PWI Rookie of the Year | David Sammartino |
| PWI Editor's Award | Bruno Sammartino |
| PWI Manager of the Year | Lou Albano |

### Wrestling Observer Newsletter

| Category | Winner |
| Wrestler of the Year | Harley Race |
| Feud of the Year | André the Giant vs. Killer Khan |
| Tag Team of the Year | Jimmy Snuka and Terry Gordy |
| Most Improved | Adrian Adonis |
| Best on Interviews | Lou Albano / Roddy Piper |

## Tournaments
### IWE

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| Lou Thesz Cup | No winner | | The league was scheduled to go three rounds but never finished due to the closure of IWE |

## Births

* January 11 - King Mo
* January 12:
** Jeet Rama
** Krissy Vaine
* January 13 – Shad Gaspard (died in 2020)
* January 17 - Adam Windsor (died in 2022)
* January 26 – Volador Jr.
* February 9 - Daisuke Sekimoto
* February 14 - Ayako Hamada
* February 15 - Jenna Morasca
* February 18 - Larry Sweeney (died in 2011)
* February 19 – Tye Dillinger
* February 26 - Kaori Yoneyama
* March 2 – Lance Cade (died in 2010)
* March 3 – Justin Gabriel
* March 12 – Hideo Itami
* April 4 – Tigre Uno
* April 28 - Alex Riley
* April 29 - Neil Faith
* May 8 – Stephen Amell
* May 13 – Jimmy Yang
* May 22 – Daniel Bryan
* June 2 – Velvet Sky
* July 8 - Luke Hawx
* July 22
** Fandango
** Kenny King
* July 25 – Finn Bálor
* August 14 – Kofi Kingston
* August 19 – Percy Watson
* August 20 – Byron Saxton
* August 21 – Trent Seven
* August 26 - Petey Williams
* September 6 - Chris the Bambi Killer
* September 10 - Rain
* September 13 – Angelina Love
* September 26 – Asuka
* October 7 - Thunder (died in 2016)
* October 9 - Daniel Puder
* October 11 - Arturo Ruas
* November 1 - Hallowicked
* November 3 – Jackie Gayda
* November 10 – Ryback
* November 28 – Erick Rowan
* December 7 - Luster the Legend
* December 11 - Fuego
* December 14 - Johnny Jeter
* December 17 - Tim Wiese
* December 18 - Eddie Kingston
* December 23 - Arik Cannon
* December 25 - Rhaka Khan
* December 31 – Martin Stone

## Debuts

* Uncertain debut date
   * King Kong Bundy
   * El Dandy
   * Jake Milliman
   * Wendell Cooley
   * Itzuki Yamazaki
   * Mike Rotunda
* January 10-Fumihiro Niikura
* February 19 - Tarzan Goto
* April 25 - Nobukazu Hirai
* July 12 - Noriyo Tateno
* December 8 - Shunji Takano

## Retirements

* Black Shadow (1942–1981)
* Tony Borne (1952–1981)
* Verne Gagne (1949–1981)
* Dutch Savage (1962–1981)
* The Missouri Mauler (1950–1981)

## Deaths

* January 24 - Orville Brown, 72
* February 6 - Goga Pehlwan, 43
* April 9 - Wee Willie Davis, 74
* April 12 - Joe Louis, 66
* August 12 – Buddy Austin, 52
* August 24 - Mike Marino, 59
* November 16 - Ali Baba (wrestler), 80