1978 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 1978. Promotion NameAbbreviationAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWChampionship Wrestling from FloridaCWFEMLLNational Wrestling AllianceNWANew Japan Pro WrestlingNJPWWorld Wide Wrestling FederationWWWFUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWA
Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 25 UWA3rd Anniversary ShowNaucalpanMil Máscaras (c) defeated Temojin el Mongol during a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the UWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 25 NWAWWWFCWFSuperbowl of WrestlingMiami, Florida"Superstar" Billy Graham (c - WWWF World Championship) vs. Harley Race (c - NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship) ended in a 60-minute time limit draw during a three fall matchFebruary 23 NWAWWWFCWFNWA/WWWF World Title UnificationJacksonville, FloridaBob Backlund (c - WWWF World Championship) vs. Harley Race (c - NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship) ended in a 60-minute time limit drawApril 7AJPWChampion CarnivalSendai, Miyagi, JapanGiant Baba defeated Abdullah the Butcher by count-outApril 21EMLL22. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoEl Faraón and Ringo Mendoza defeated Alfonso Dantés and Sangre Chicana in a Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair matchMay 30NJPWMSG LeagueTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki defeated André the Giant by count-outSeptember 22EMLLEMLL 45th Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoSangre Chicana and Rubí Rubalcava defeated El Cobarde and Dragón Rojo in a Lucha de Apuestas hair and mask vs. hair and hair matchOctober 29 NWAWWWFCWFNWA/WWWF World Title UnificationOrlando, FloridaBob Backlund (c - WWWF World Championship) vs. Harley Race (c - NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship) ended in a drawDecember 8EMLLJuicio FinalMexico City, MexicoKung Fu defeated El Idolo in a Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. mask match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Notable events February 20 - Bob Backlund pinned Superstar Billy Graham at New York's Madison Square Garden to become the new World Wide Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion. March 14 - on WWWF Championship Wrestling, Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo beat Mr. Fuji and Professor Tanaka to become the new World Wide Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions. June 26 - At New York's Madison Square Garden, The Yukon Lumberjacks beat Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo to become the new World Wide Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions. November 21 - Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko beat the Yukon Lumberjacks to become the new World Wide Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions.
Accomplishments and tournaments AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRookie of the Year Decision TournamentHiroko Komine
Awards and honors
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearDusty RhodesPWI Tag Team of the YearRicky Steamboat and Paul JonesPWI Match of the YearSuperstar Billy Graham vs. Bob BacklundPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearDusty RhodesPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearRic FlairPWI Most Improved Wrestler of the YearDino BravoPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearBlackjack MulliganPWI Rookie of the YearTommy RichPWI Manager of the YearArnold Skaaland
Championship changes EMLL DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)June 2El FaraónEMLL showDecember 8Pak ChooEMLL show
Incoming champion – El FaraónDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 17Ringo MendozaEMLL showApril 9Perro AguayoEMLL showJune 23Ringo MendozaEMLL showAugust 13Tony SalazarEMLL show
Incoming champion – Mano Negra No title changes
Incoming champion – Raul MataDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)July 1El NaziEMLL showOctober 27TNTEMLL show
Incoming champion – Sangre ChicanaDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s) No title changes
Incoming champion – Mario ValenzuelaDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)August 30TalismanEMLL show
Incoming champion – Dr. WagnerDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 15El CanekEMLL showJune 20Dos CarasEMLL show
Incoming champion – Kung FuDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 2FishmanEMLL showDecember 10Kung FuEMLL show
Incoming champion – Uncertain No title changes
NWA Incoming champion – Harley Race No title changes
Births
January 10 – Tamina January 20 - Joy Giovanni January 25 - B. J. Whitmer January 28 – Sheamus February 2 - Abraham Washington February 17 - Shiori Asahi March 1 - D. J. Hyde March 6 - Chad Wicks March 14 - Kaori Nakayama March 30 – Crazy Boy April 7 - Mana the Polynesian Warrior April 13 – SeXXXy Eddy April 16 – Austin Aries April 22 – Ezekiel Jackson May 15 - Keith Walker May 16 - Justice Pain (died in 2020) May 18 - Toru Yano May 22 - Daniel Rodimer May 24 – Elijah Burke June 2 – Joe Líder June 6 – ODB June 8 – Maria Menounos June 19 - Tyson Dux June 20 - Quinton Jackson June 24 – Adam Pearce July 17: Akira Raijin Mike Knox July 21 - Beer City Bruiser August 15 - Ruckus August 21 - Ricky Reyes August 27 - Kafu August 28 – Linda Miles September 8 - Rebel September 19 - Vinnie Massaro September 24 – Christopher Nowinski September 30 – Candice Michelle October 9 - Brian Hebner October 15 – Takeshi Morishima October 18 - Jaime Koeppe October 26 – CM Punk November 1 - Tyler Reks November 6 - Johnny Kashmere November 12 - Lena Yada November 21: Mini Abismo Negro Choun Shiryu November 28 - Brent Albright December 13 - Antonio Thomas December 20 - Armando Estrada December 23 – Nanae Takahashi
Debuts Debut Date
Date Unknown
Retirements Arnold Skaaland (1946–1978) Joe Turco (1956–1978)
Deaths March 27 - John Pesek, 84 June 30 – Michel Martel, 33 August 13 – Lonnie Mayne, 33 November 15 - Willie Gilzenberg, 77 November 16 – Eric the Red, 44 December 12 - Mike Thomas Farhat, 27 December 20 - Robin Reed, 79
References