1976 in professional wrestling

1976 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 1976. Promotion NameAbbreviationBTWEMLLNJPWWorld Wide Wrestling FederationWWWF

Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 23 EMLL20. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoFishman defeated El Faraón in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas mask vs. mask matchMay 11NJPWWorld LeagueTokyo, JapanSeiji Sakaguchi defeated Pedro MoralesJune 5BTWSuperbowl of WrestlingIrving, TexasTerry Funk (c) wrestled Fritz Von Erich to a double count-out in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship June 25/26 WWWFShowdown at SheaQueens, New YorkBruno Sammartino (c) defeated Stan Hansen by countout in a singles match for the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship NJPW / various The War of the WorldsTokyo, JapanMuhammad Ali fought Antonio Inoki to a draw in a "Wrestler vs Boxer" Match for the Real World Martial Arts Championship (match broadcast via CCTV to other locations)Atlanta, GeorgiaJack Brisco fought Dory Funk Jr. to a drawChicago, IllinoisNick Bockwinkel (c) fought Verne Gagne to a draw for the AWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipDetroit, MichiganThe Sheik fought Pampero Firpo to a no contestHouston, TexasTerry Funk (c) defeated Rocky Johnson to retain the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipLos Angeles, CaliforniaGory Guerrero defeated Roddy Piper San Francisco, CaliforniaPat Patterson defeated Mr. Fuji in a 2-out-of-3 Falls MatchSeptember 24EMLLEMLL 43rd Anniversary ShowMexico City, MexicoEl Faraón defeated Perro Aguayo in a best two-out-of-three falls match Lucha de Apuesta mask vs. hair matchDecember 19Juicio FinalMano Negra defeated Demonio Blanco in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, mask Vs. mask match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Awards and honors

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearTerry FunkPWI Tag Team of the YearThe Executioners(#1 and #2)PWI Match of the YearBruno Sammartino vs. Stan HansenPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearWahoo McDanielPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearStan HansenPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearBruno SammartinoPWI Rookie of the YearBob BacklundPWI Woman of the YearSue GreenPWI Midget Wrestler of the YearLord LittlebrookPWI Manager of the YearBobby Heenan

Notable events and incidents May 11- The Executioners bested Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi to become the new WWWF Tag Team Champions. June 26 – Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki October 26 – The Executioners were stripped of their WWWF Tag Team Championship when a third executioner was used in their title defense. That third executioner turns out to be Nikolai Volkoff. December 7 – Billy White Foot and Chief Jay Strongbow defeated The Executioners and Nikolai Volkoff and Tor Kamata in a three-team tournament to become the new WWWF Tag Team Champions.

Accomplishments and tournaments AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRookie of the Year Decision TournamentVictoria FujimiWorld LeagueJackie Sato

Championship changes EMLL DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)February 27Adorable RubíEMLL showJuly 16Carlos PlataEMLL showOctober 24Alfonso DantésEMLL show

Incoming champion – Perro AguayoDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)October 22El FaraonEMLL show

Incoming champion – Blue DemonDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 9FishmanEMLL showNovember 19Mano NegraEMLL show

Incoming champion – El Halcon No title changes

Incoming champion – Ringo Mendoza No title changes

Incoming champion – TauroDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)October 30Flama AzulEMLL show

Incoming champion – Alfonso DantesDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 11Dr. WagnerEMLL show

Incoming champion – FishmanDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 9VacantEMLL showJuly 30Blue DemonEMLL show

Incoming champion – Uncertain No title changes

NWA Incoming champion – Terry Funk No title changes

Births

January 9: Pasión Kristal (d. 2021) Todd Grisham January 10 – Donovan Morgan January 23 – Nigel McGuinness January 24 – Chikayo Nagashima January 25 – Gorgeous George January 28 – Emiko Kado (d. 1999) February 2 – Dragon Kid February 15 – Yinling February 23 – Muhammad Yone February 24 – Monster Clown March 6 – Ken Anderson/Mr. Kennedy March 10 – Jax Dane (d. 2024) March 16 – Carlos Amano March 18 – Mike Quackenbush March 21 – El Hijo de Cien Caras (d. 2010) March 23 – Tyson Tomko March 28 – Rory McAllister April 8 – Ryuji Ito April 16 – Phil Baroni May 9 – Shawn Osborne (died in 2011) May 22 – Yumi Fukawa May 25 – Ricky Banderas June 11 – MsChif June 11 – Sonoko Kato June 13 – Sicodelico Jr. June 30 – Gilbert Yvel July 16 – Bobby Lashley July 22 – Abdullah Kobayashi August 10 – Amish Roadkill August 15 – The Bruiser (died in 2020) September 10 – Matt Morgan September 23 – Yoshinobu Kanemaru September 24 - Stephanie McMahon September 25 – Dr. Heresy October 4 – Emi Sakura October 14 – G. Q. Money October 18 – Maybach Taniguchi November 13 – Hiroshi Tanahashi November 17 – Kikutaro November 21 – Cassidy O'Reilly November 22 – Lash LeRoux November 23 – Kristina Laum November 25 – Adam Firestorm (d. 2009) November 26 – Maven December 17 – Nosawa Rongai December 23 – Jamie Noble December 27 – Tim Arson (d. 2015)

Debuts Uncertain debut date Bret Hart Kevin Von Erich Barry Orton Ricky Steamboat Paul Orndorff Ken Wayne Brett Sawyer March 5 – Mach Hayato (UWF) March 13 – Scott Irwin May – Bobby Eaton and Nancy Kumi (All Japan Women's) May 24 – Super Parka May 30 – Victoria Fujimi (All Japan Women's) November 13 – Genichiro Tenryu

Retirements Mitsu Arakawa (1953–1976) Bob Geigel (1950–1976) George Gordienko (1946–1976) Danny Hodge (1959–1976, wrestled one match in 1983) Stan Kowalski (1948–1976) Betty Niccoli (1963–1976) Antonino Rocca (1942–1976) Hans Schmidt (1949–1976) Kinji Shibuya (1952–1976)

Deaths April 21 – Sir Dudley Clements, 28 May 20 – Bobby Pearce (rower), 70 June 11 – Toots Mondt, 82 July 26: Sam Bass (wrestler), 41 Frank Hester (wrestler), 39 Pepe Lopez, 39 September 26 – Sheik Ali, 49 November 10 – Al Haft, 89

References