1980 in professional wrestling

1980 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of years in professional wrestling
+...

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1980.

Promotion Name Abbreviation Notes
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre EMLL
World Wrestling Federation WWF Previously known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).

Calendar of notable shows
Date Promotion(s) Event Location Main Event
April 7 EMLL 24. Aniversario de Arena México Mexico City, Mexico El Faraón and Ringo Mendoza defeated Adorable Rubí and El Nazi in a Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match[1]
May 1 AJPW Champion Carnival Tokyo, Japan Jumbo Tsuruta defeated Dick Slater
June 5 NJPW MSG League Tokyo, Japan Antonio Inoki defeated Stan Hansen by disqualification
July 14 AWA SuperBowl VI Chicago, Illinois Verne Gagne defeated Nick Bockwinkel (c) for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
August 3 CWF The Last Tangle in Tampa Tampa, Florida Harley Race (c) fought Dusty Rhodes to a time-limit draw in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship with Fritz Von Erich as Special Guest Referee
August 9 WWF Showdown at Shea Flushing, New York Bruno Sammartino defeated Larry Zbyszko in a steel cage match[2]
September 26 EMLL EMLL 47th Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico Sangre Chicana (c) wrestled El Fantasma to a no contest for the NWA World Middleweight Championship[3]
December 5 Juicio Final Sangre Chicana and Alfonso Dantés defeated El Jalisco and El Cobarde in a Lucha de Apuestas, hairs vs hairs match[4][5]
December 10 NJPW MSG Tag League Tokyo, Japan Antonio Inoki and Bob Backlund defeated Stan Hansen and Hulk Hogan
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Notable Events

Accomplishments and tournaments

AJW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Rookie of the Year Decision Tournament Tomoko Kitamura

AJPW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
Champion Carnival Jumbo Tsuruta May 1

NJPW
Accomplishment Winner Date won Notes
G1 Climax Antonio Inoki June 5

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards
Category Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year Bob Backlund
PWI Tag Team of the Year Jimmy Snuka and Ray Stevens
PWI Match of the Year Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko (Showdown at Shea)
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year Mr. Wrestling II
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year Larry Zbyszko
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year Tony Atlas
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year Junkyard Dog
PWI Rookie of the Year Terry Taylor
PWI Manager of the Year Oliver Humperdink

Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Category Winner
Wrestler of the Year Harley Race
Feud of the Year Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko
Tag Team of the Year The Fabulous Freebirds
(Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts)
Most Improved Larry Zbyszko

Births
Randy Orton

Deaths

Debuts
  • Debut date:
  • Uncertain debut date:

Retirements

References
  1. Lucha 2000 Staff (April 2006). "Arena México: 50 anos de Lucha Libre". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). Especial 28.
  2. Cawthon, Graham (2013). The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWF 1963–1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. p. 309. ISBN 978-1-4928-2597-5.
  3. "Historia de Los Aniversarios del CMLL". The Gladiatores Magazine (in Spanish). September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  4. "EMLL Super Viernes". Wrestling Data. December 5, 1980. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  5. "1980 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico: Impresora y Encuaderanadora Glem S.A. de C.V. January 10, 1981. pp. 2–28. ISSN 2007-0896. 1448.
  6. "ザ・マシンガン"カール・アンダーソン. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
  7. "Conor O'Brian". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  8. "New Japan Pro Wrestling profile". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  9. "Puroresu Central profile". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
  10. "David Otunga". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  11. "Tyson Kidd Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  12. "Dolph Ziggler Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
  13. Milner, John M. (December 19, 2006). "Nick Nemeth". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  14. "Sara Del Rey's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved December 27, 2007.
  15. "Rick Victor". Florida Championship Wrestling. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  16. "Pro Wrestling Noah matches". Cagematch. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
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