1975 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 1975. Promotion NameAbbreviationAJPWEMLLIWENJPWUniversal Wrestling AssociationUWA
Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventJanuary 26 UWAUWA Debut ShowMexico City, MexicoAníbal (c) defeated René Guajardo in a singles match for the NWA World Middleweight ChampionshipMay 16NJPWWorld LeagueTokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki defeated Killer Karl KruppMay 24EMLL19. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoPerro Aguayo defeated Ray Mendoza in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair matchSeptember 19EMLL 42nd Anniversary Show (1)Los Gemelo Diablos (I and II) defeated Coloso Colosetti and Rubi Rubalcava in a best two out-of-three-falls Lucha de Apuesta hair vs. hair matchSeptember 26 EMLL 42nd Anniversary Show (2)Perro Aguayo (c) defeated El Santo in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Middleweight ChampionshipOctober 3EMLL 42nd Anniversary Show (3)El Santo defeated Perro Aguayo in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta Mask vs. Hair matchDecember 5Juicio FinalEnrique Vera defeated Alfonso Dantés in a Lucha de Apuestas, hair Vs. mask Vs. hair match; also in the match: El HalcónDecember 11AJPW / IWE / JWARikidozan Memorial ShowTokyoGiant Baba & The Destroyer defeated Dory Funk, Jr. & Jumbo Tsuruta(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Notable events promoter Francisco Flores and wrestler Ray Mendoza break away from Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre and, along with investor Benjamin Mora Jr., create the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA). October 8 - Wide World Wrestling premiered on television as a companion program to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling November 18 - Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi defeat The Blackjacks to become the new WWWF Tag Team Champions.
Accomplishments and tournaments AJW AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesRookie of the Year Decision TournamentYukari WrenchWorld LeagueJumbo Miyamoto
JCP AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesNWA United States Championship TournamentTerry FunkNovember 9
Awards and honors Pro Wrestling Illustrated
CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearMr. Wrestling IIPWI Tag Team of the YearGene and Ole AndersonPWI Match of the YearBruno Sammartino vs. Spiros ArionPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearMil MáscarasPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearGreg ValentinePWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearMike McCordPWI Rookie of the YearRic FlairPWI Woman of the YearAnn CaseyPWI Midget Wrestler of the YearSky Low LowPWI Manager of the YearGeorge Cannon
Championship changes EMLL DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)No title changes
Incoming champion – AníbalDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)MayVacantEMLL showJuly 4Perro AguayoEMLL show
Incoming champion – Mano NegraDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)UncertainVacantN/AMay 1FishmanEMLL showMay 25Blue DemonEMLL show
Incoming champion - Enrique VeraDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 12Raul ReyesEMLL showSeptember 27El HalconEMLL show
Incoming champion - Ringo Mendoza No title changes
Incoming champion – TauroDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)January 18Dardo AguilarEMLL showJune 1TauroEMLL show Incoming champion – Alfonso Dantes No title changes
Incoming champion – FishmanDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)May 3VacantEMLL showOctober 12FishmanEMLL show
Incoming champion – Uncertain No title changes
NWA Incoming champion – Jack BriscoDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)December 10Terry FunkHouse show
Births Date of birth uncertain: Damian Steele (died in 2009) January 1 - Kid Romeo January 23 - Tito Ortiz January 28 - Shark Boy January 30 – Dark Ozz February 8 – Shane Shamrock (d. 1998) February 14 - Hiroko Suzuki February 18 - Charly Manson February 22 - Andy Anderson March 15 - Lobo March 17 – Test (d. 2009) April 12 – Cibernético April 14 – Lita April 15 - Paul E. Normous (d. 2009) April 25 - BLK Jeez May 6 - Germán Figueroa May 8 – Truth Martini May 12 - Ricky Ortiz May 15: La Parkita (d. 2009) Espectrito II (d. 2009) May 17 – Alex Wright May 22 – Traci Brooks June 2 – Chessman June 12 - Bryan Alvarez June 18 Darren Wyse Bam Neely July 3 - Johnny Swinger July 9 – Shelton Benjamin July 15 – Cherry July 17 : Daffney (died in 2021) UltraMantis Black Yuki Kondo July 23 – Drago July 24 – Torrie Wilson July 25 – El Zorro August 2 - Blitzkrieg August 17 - Palmer Canon August 31 - Takahiro Suwa September 16 - Matt Stryker September 20 - Joel Gertner September 25 - Shuji Ishikawa October 7 – Rhyno October 8 - Michael Nakazawa October 19 - Mrs. Yamaguchi-San November 17 – Ranjin Singh November 18 - Taiyo Kea December 9 - Juggernaut December 10 : Steve Bradley (died in 2008) Tomohiro Ishii December 17 – Nick Dinsmore December 18 – Trish Stratus December 31 - Vance Nevada
Debuts Uncertain debut date Leilani Kai Debbie Combs Rick McGraw Hillbilly Jim Yumi Ikeshita (All Japan Women's) January 15 - Américo Rocca and Kazuharu Sonoda March 19 - Maki Ueda (All Japan Women's) April 27 - Jackie Sato May 2 - Hubert Gallant May 13 - Jake Roberts July 17 - Lola Gonzales November 11 - Rayo de Jalisco Jr. December 24 - Dynamite Kid
Retirements Argentina Apollo (1960 – 1975) Harold Sakata (1949 – 1975)
Deaths January 5 - Ray Morgan (announcer), 60 February 20 – Bobby Shane, 29 February 23 - Dustin McDonald, 66 May 13 - John Bilbo (wrestler), 69 May 28 - Ezzard Charles, 53 July 7 - Henri Deglane, 73 August 19 - Jim Londos, 81 October 17 - Ron Dupree (wrestler), 40
References