# 1982 in professional wrestling

1982 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

## List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1982.
| Promotion Name | Abbreviation | Notes |
| Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre | EMLL | |
| Universal Wrestling Association | UWA | |
| World Class Championship Wrestling | WCCW | Previously known as Big Time Wrestling (BTW). |

## Calendar of notable shows

| Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
| February 14 | UWA | UWA 7th Anniversary Show | Naucalpan, Mexico | Abdullah the Butcher and Perro Aguayo defeated Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami in a Tag team match |
| March 15 | WCCW | Wrestling Star Wars | Ft. Worth, Texas | Kevin and Kerry Von Erich fought to a double disqualification against Gary Hart and King Kong Bundy in a "Texas Death" steel cage match |
| April 1 | NJPW | MSG League | Tokyo, Japan | André the Giant defeated Killer Khan |
| April 2 | EMLL | 26. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | Máscara Año 2000 defeated David Morgan (c) in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship |
| June 4 | WCCW | Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show | Irving, Texas | Fritz Von Erich defeated King Kong Bundy (c) in a Falls count anywhere match for the NWA American Heavyweight Championship |
| August 15 | WCCW | Wrestling Star Wars | Ft. Worth, Texas | Ric Flair (c) and Kerry Von Erich wrestled to a draw at one win a piece before being double disqualified in the third fall in a Best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship |
| September 17 | EMLL | EMLL 49th Anniversary Show | Mexico City, Mexico | Perro Aguayo defeated Tony Salazar in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match |
| December 10 | EMLL | Juicio Final | Mexico City, Mexico | El Satánico defeated Sangre Chicana in a Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair match |
| December 10 | NJPW | MSG Tag League | Tokyo, Japan | Hulk Hogan and Antonio Inoki defeated Killer Khan and Tiger Toguchi |
| December 22 | UWA | Arena Naucalpan 5th Anniversary Show | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Los Misioneros de la Muerte (El Signo, Negro Navarro and El Texano) defeated Los Villanos (Villano I, Villano II and Villano III) in a Best two-out-of-three-falls six-man tag team match |
| December 25 | WCCW | Christmas Star Wars | Dallas, Texas | Ric Flair (c) defeated Kerry Von Erich in a no disqualification Steel Cage match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship |
| (c) – denotes defending champion(s) |||||

## Notable events

* Wrestling's MAIN EVENT magazine hit the newsstands with its first issue
* June 28 - At New York's Madison Square Garden with Ivan Putski as a guest referee, Jules Strongbow and Chief Jay Strongbow bested Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito to become the New WWF Tag Team Champions. Later the title would be vacant due to a controversial pinfall in which Mr. Fuji's foot was on the ropes.
* July 13 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito beat the Strongbow Brothers (Jules and Chief Jay) to win the vacant WWF Tag Team Championship.
* October 9 - Nick Bockwinkel pinned Otto Wanz in Chicago, Illinois to become the new AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
* October 26 - The Strongbow Brothers regained the WWF Tag Team Championship by defeating Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito.

## Accomplishments and tournaments
### AJPW

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| Champion's Carnival | Giant Baba | April 18 | |

### NJPW

| Accomplishment | Winner | Date won | Notes |
| G1 Climax | Andre the Giant | June 4 | defeated Killer Khan in the finals |

## Awards and honors
### Pro Wrestling Illustrated

| Category | Winner |
| PWI Wrestler of the Year | Bob Backlund |
| PWI Tag Team of the Year | Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell |
| PWI Match of the Year | Bob Backlund vs. Jimmy Snuka |
| PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year | André the Giant |
| PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year | Ted DiBiase |
| PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year | Barry Windham |
| PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year | Roddy Piper |
| PWI Rookie of the Year | Brad Armstrong |
| PWI Editor's Award | Lou Thesz |
| PWI Manager of the Year | J. J. Dillon |

### Wrestling Observer Newsletter

| Category | Winner |
| Wrestler of the Year | Ric Flair |
| Feud of the Year | Ted DiBiase vs. Junkyard Dog |
| Tag Team of the Year | Stan Hansen and Ole Anderson |
| Most Improved | Jim Duggan |
| Best on Interviews | Roddy Piper |

## Births

* Date of birth uncertain:
** Vordell Walker
* January 8 - Bad Luck Fale
* January 13
** Jason Ayers
** Mason Ryan
* January 25 - Z-Barr (d. 2020)
* January 27 - Zeus
* February 4 - Chris Sabin
* February 9 - Parrow
* February 10 - Vanessa Kraven
* February 14 - Ray (d.2018)
* February 19 - Mascarita Dorada
* February 25 – Maria Kanellis
* March 7 - Cody Deaner
* March 20 - Kasey James
* March 24
** Epico Colón
** Jack Swagger
* March 27 - Captain New Japan
* April 2 – Jack Evans
* April 7 – Sonjay Dutt
* April 16 - Joe Doering
* April 26 – Amazing Red
* April 29 – Aksana
* May 21 - Kota Ibushi
* May 27 – Natalya Neidhart
* June 4 - Alpha Female
* June 6 – Gunner
* June 11 - Egotistico Fantastico
* June 22 - Tetsuya Naito
* July 1 - Carmella DeCesare
* July 8 - Ariel Helwani
* July 11 - Jeff Cobb
* July 13 - Chris Ca$h (d. 2005)
* July 15 - Towel Boy
* July 19 - Daniel Quirk (d. 2005)
* July 28 - Cain Velasquez
* August 3:
** Damien Sandow
** Nyla Rose
* August 17 – Cheerleader Melissa
* August 25 – Mictlan
* September 12 - Sal Rinauro
* September 20 – Sexy Star
* September 26 - Damian Priest
* October 1 - Sakamoto
* October 10 - Tony Khan
* October 12 - Tama Tonga
* October 16 - Devon Nicholson
* October 18 - Simon Gotch
* October 28 - Rocky Romero
* November 1 - L. A. Knight
* November 8 – Ted DiBiase Jr.
* November 9 - Nick Mitchell
* November 17 - Mirai (d. 2005)
* December 8 - Jimmy Rave (d. 2021)
* December 17 - Lionheart (d. 2019)
* December 21 – Primo
* December 22 – Místico

## Debuts

* Uncertain debut date
   * Bob Bradley
   * Brickhouse Brown
   * Phil Lafon
   * Frankie Lancaster
   * Sherri Martel
   * Mean Mike
   * Angelo Mosca Jr.
   * Nailz
   * Ricky Santana
   * Johnny Smith
   * Tracey Smothers
   * Al Snow
   * Steve Williams
   * Kazuo Yamazaki
   * La Parka
   * Shane Douglas
* January 2 - Arn Anderson
* August 10 - Billy Jack Haynes
* October 18 - El Hijo Del Santo
* November - Road Warrior Animal
* December 11 - George South

## Retirements

* Buddy Rogers (1939–1982)
* Santo (1934–1982)
* Fritz Von Erich (1953–1982)
* George Gulas (1974–1982)
* Killer Karl Kox (1956–1982)
* Johnny Powers (1960–1982)
* Karl Gotch (1950s – January 1, 1982)
* Mick McManus (1947–1982)
* Mighty Joe Thunder (1957–1982)
* Rip Hawk (1949–1982)

## Deaths

* March 6- Bob Konovsky, 47
* June 12 - Peter Maivia, 45
* June 19 - Lionel Baillargeon, 60
* July 25 - Shag Thomas, 56
* July 27 - Kasavubu, 26
* July 29 - Harold Sakata, 62
* August 28 - Bearcat Wright, 50
* September 5 - Dick Lane, 83
* September 24 - Jack O'Brien, 72
* October 24 - Pak Song, 39
* December 2 - Joe Pazandak, 68
* December 12 - Bill Longson, 76
* December 13 - George Gadaski, 52
* December 15 - Chatti Yokouchi, 45