1977 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions Only one promotion held notable shows in 1977. Promotion NameAbbreviationEMLLNJPW
Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 27 EMLL21. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoAlfonso Dantés defeated Chavo Guerrero (c) in a singles match for the NWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipMay 11NJPWWorld LeagueTokyo, JapanSeiji Sakaguchi defeated The Masked SuperstarSeptember 23EMLLEMLL 44th Anniversary Show (1)Mexico City, MexicoFishman defeated Sangre Chicana in a Lucha de Apuesta mask vs. mask vs. mask match; also in the match: El CobardeSeptember 30EMLL 44th Anniversary Show (2)Fishman defeated El Cobarde in a Lucha de Apuesta mask vs. mask matchDecember 9Juicio FinalEl Faraón and Ringo Mendoza defeated Joe Palardy and Perro Aguayo in a Lucha de Apuestas, hair Vs. hair match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Notable events April 30 – At the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Superstar Billy Graham used both feet on the ropes to pin Bruno Sammartino to become the World Wide Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion. September 27 – Mr. Fuji and Professor Tanaka defeated Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko to win the vacant World Wide Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions in an elimination tournament.
Accomplishments and tournaments AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRookie of the Year Decision TournamentYukie Urushibara (Lucy Kayama)World LeagueYumi Ikeshita
Awards and honors
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearDusty RhodesPWI Tag Team of the YearGene and Ole AndersonPWI Match of the YearBruno Sammartino vs. Superstar Billy GrahamPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearAndré the GiantPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearKen PateraPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearBob BacklundPWI Rookie of the YearRicky SteamboatPWI Manager of the YearThe Grand WizardPWI Announcer of the YearGordon Solie
Championship changes EMLL DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 11Chavo GuerreroWWA showMarch 13Roddy PiperWWA showMarch 15Chavo GuerreroWWA showApril 21Alfonso DantésEMLL show
Incoming champion – El FaraónDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 11Perro AguayoEMLL showJuly 3Ringo MendozaEMLL showOctober 12Joe PlardyEMLL showNovember 25El FaraonEMLL show
Incoming champion – Mano Negra No title changes
Incoming champion – El HalconDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 13Gran MarkusEMLL showJune 24El HalconEMLL showDecember 18Raul MataEMLL show
Incoming champion – Ringo MendozaDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 28Perro AguayoEMLL showMarch 11VacantEMLL showApril 14José Luis MendietaEMLL showNovember 19Sangre ChicanaEMLL show
Incoming champion – Flama AzulDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 10Americo RoccaEMLL showJuly 1Flama AzulEMLL showSeptember 21Mario ValenzuelaEMLL show
Incoming champion – Dr. Wagner No title changes
Incoming champion – Blue DemonDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 27FishmanEMLL showSeptember 26Kung FuEMLL showNovember 23FishmanEMLL show
Incoming champion – Uncertain No title changes
NWA Incoming champion – Terry FunkDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 6Harley RaceHouse show
Tournaments IWE AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesIWA World SeriesRusher KimuraMarch 26
Births
January 7 - Dustin Diamond (died in 2021) January 16 – Máscara Año 2000 Jr. January 17 – Kevin Fertig February 15 - Gran Naniwa (died in 2010) February 20 – Gail Kim February 24 - Floyd Mayweather Jr. February 28 - Lance Archer Aaron Aguilera March 8 - Michael Tarver March 20: Caprice Coleman Homicide March 24 – Inquisidor March 26 – Sylvain Grenier March 31 - Allison Danger April 4 - Stephan Bonnar (died in 2022) April 13 – Christian York April 19 - Jonny Storm April 20 - Jon Hugger April 23 – John Cena April 29 – Titus O'Neil May 9 – Averno May 11 – Bobby Roode May 21 - Micah Taylor (died in 2024) May 23 – Alan Stone May 25 – Alberto Del Rio June 1 - James Storm June 2 – A.J. Styles June 25 – Layla El June 26 – Mark Jindrak July 1 – Jocephus (died in 2021) July 5: Kei Sato Shu Sato July 12 – Brock Lesnar July 19 - Tony Mamaluke August 1: Yoshi Tatsu Prince Nana August 4 – Frankie Kazarian August 31 – Jeff Hardy September 4 – Awesome Kong September 5: Sin Cara Minoru Fujita September 7 – Molly Holly September 8 - X-Fly September 10 - Mike DiBiase (born 1977) September 11 - Josette Bynum September 25 - Atsushi Aoki (died in 2019) October 3 - Danny Basham October 20 - Steve Anthony November 15 -Cima November 20 – Dan Engler December 10 - Essa Rios December 12 - The Butcher (died in 2026) December 14 - Brain Damage (died in 2012) December 18 - The Messiah December 28 - Xavier (died in 2020)
Debuts Uncertain debut date Michael Hayes Moondog Spot One Man Gang Nightmare Danny Davis Joe Malenko Brutus Beefcake B. Brian Blair The Grappler Tito Santana Gary Young Mami Kumano (All Japan Women) Lucy Kayama (All Japan Women) February 10 - George Takano June 11 - David Von Erich August 10 - Hulk Hogan September 5 - Tomi Aoyama (All Japan Women) October 23 - Bad News Brown November 8 - Takashi Ishikawa
Retirements Penny Banner (1954–1977) Octavio Gaona (1934–1977)
Deaths January 28 - George Bollas, 53 March 15 - Antonino Rocca, 55 July 1 - Karl Davis (wrestler), 69 July 28 - Bull Ortega, 55 August 27 - Billy Riley, 81 September 27 - Roy Welch, 75 October 8 - Joe Greenstein, 84
References