1972 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 1972. Promotion NameAbbreviationBig Time WrestlingBTWEMLLNational Wrestling AllianceNWANational Wrestling FederationNWFWorld Wide Wrestling FederationWWWF
Calendar of notable shows DatePromotion(s)EventLocationMain EventApril 21 EMLL16. Aniversario de Arena MéxicoMexico City, MexicoRay Mendoza defeated David Morgan (c) in a singles match for the NWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipJune 24 BTWParade of ChampionsIrving, TexasDory Funk Jr. (c) wrestled Fritz Von Erich to a time-limit draw in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 12NWA/NWFSuperbowl of WrestlingCleveland, OhioJohnny Powers (c) defeated Johnny Valentine in a singles match for the NWF North American ChampionshipSeptember 29 EMLLEMLL 39th Anniversary Show (1)Mexico City, MexicoEl Solitario and Ray Mendoza defeated Rene Guajardo and Alfonso Dantés in the finals of a tag team tournamentSeptember 30 WWWFShowdown at SheaFlushing, New York Pedro Morales (c) fought Bruno Sammartino to a curfew draw in a singles match for the WWWF World Heavyweight ChampionshipOctober 20 EMLLEMLL 39th Anniversary Show (2)Mexico City, MexicoAlfonso Dantés (c) defeated El Solitario in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipDecember 8 EMLLJuicio FinalMexico City, MexicoEl Solitario defeated Ángel Blanco in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, mask Vs. mask match(c) – denotes defending champion(s)
Notable events January 12 Antonio Inoki created New Japan Pro-Wrestling July 1 – The Fabulous Moolah and Vicky Williams became the first female wrestlers to wrestle at Madison Square Garden, which had previously banned women from wrestling in the hallowed venue. October 21 Giant Baba created All Japan Pro Wrestling Sports Review Wrestling hit the newsstands with its first issue.
Awards and honors
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
CategoryWinnerPWI Wrestler of the YearPedro MoralesPWI Tag Team of the YearDick the Bruiser and The CrusherPWI Match of the YearBruno Sammartino wins Battle Royal in Los AngelesPWI Most Popular Wrestler of the YearJack Brisco / Fred CurryPWI Most Hated Wrestler of the YearThe SheikPWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the YearLord Alfred HayesPWI Rookie of the YearMike GrahamPWI Woman of the YearMarie LaVernePWI Midget Wrestler of the YearLittle BruiserPWI Manager of the YearBobby Heenan
Championship changes EMLL DateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)March 17David MorganEMLL showApril 21Ray MendozaEMLL showJune 13Alfonso DantésEMLL show
Incoming champion – Aníbal No title changes
Incoming champion – Alberto Munoz No title changes
Incoming champion – Raul ReyesDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)April 7Angel BlancoEMLL show
Incoming champion – Ciclon Veloz, Jr. No title changes
Incoming champion – Estrella Blanca No title changes
Incoming champion – Raul MataDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)June 18Enrique VeraEMLL show
Incoming champion – Huracan RamirezDateWinnerEvent/ShowNote(s)October 20Karloff LagardeEMLL show
Incoming champion – Uncertain No title changes
NWA Incoming champion – Dory Funk, Jr. No title changes
Tournaments
IWE AccomplishmentWinnerDate wonNotesIWA World SeriesStrong KobayashiMay 6
Births
January 8 - Jon Andersen January 10 – Brian Christopher (died in 2018) January 19 – Ron Killings January 20 - Tony DeVito January 24 - Fabián el Gitano (died in 2011) February 1 - Sean Casey February 8 – Big Show February 19 – Francine February 23 - Tomoko Watanabe February 28 - Angel Medina March 1 - Último Guerrero March 6 - Shaquille O'Neal March 7 - Major Gunns March 12 – Nunzio March 21 – Chris Candido (died in 2005) March 23 - Octagoncito (AAA) March 27 – Charlie Haas April 1 - Darren McCarty April 11: Balls Mahoney (died in 2016) Kevin Quinn Fyre April 14 - Julio Dinero April 21 - Dr. Cerebro April 28 - Violent J April 29 - Masahito Kakihara May 2 – Dwayne Johnson May 4 - Ray González May 17 - Masakazu Fukuda (died in 2000) May 25 – Shigeo Okumura June 2 - Gary Williams June 5 - Mike Bucci June 12 - Jack Doan June 14 - Jimmy Jannetty June 28: - Daniel Gracie June 29 – Canyon Ceman June 30 - Wolf (died in 2011) July 5 - Tatsuhito Takaiwa July 13 – X-Pac July 21 - Shinjiro Otani August 1 – D-Von DudleyIntelius search August 5 - Ikuto Hidaka August 19 - Sign Guy Dudley August 25 - David Young August 27: The Great Khali Jazz September 1 - Doug Williams September 3 - Bob Evans September 5 - Shane Sewell September 15 - Lady Victoria Chad Austin September 17 – Phantasio September 26 - Gabe Sapolsky October 1 - Rob Feinstein October 4 - Otto Schwanz October 12 - Karen Jarrett October 16 - Lizmark Jr. October 23 - Jasmin St. Claire November 7 - Chip Fairway (died in 2011) November 14 – Albert November 29 - Minoru Tanaka November 30 - Ruffy Silverstein (Canadian wrestler) December 6 – El Oriental December 7 – Tammy Lynn Sytch December 20 - Takeshi Rikio December 31 - Ryan Sakoda (d. 2021)
Debuts February 1, 1972 – El Texano March 13, 1972 – Rick Martel March 16, 1972 – Gran Hamada March 20, 1972 – Mr. Pogo May 22, 1972 – Moondog King August 2, 1972 – Kengo Kimura August 23, 1972 - Bob Orton Jr. September – Jaque Mate September 1, 1972 – Larry Zbyszko September 19, 1972 - Don Arakawa September 26, 1972 -Masanobu Kurisu November 12, 1972 – Yoshiaki Fujiwara December 1, 1972 – Bruce Hart December 3, 1972 – Kuniaki Kobayashi December 10, 1972 – Ric Flair December 28, 1972 – Jim Brunzell Debut date uncertain Al Madril Austin Idol Ax Big John Studd Bobby Jaggers Buck Zumhofe El Canek Clem Turner Dutch Mantell Colonel DeBeers George Wells The Iron Sheik Ken Patera Mike Graham Pez Whatley Pierre Lefebvre Scott Casey Sgt. Slaughter Smith Hart Steve Keirn Máquina Salvaje (Mexico)
Retirements Johnny Barend (1949 – 1972) Angelo Savoldi (1937 – 1972)
Deaths January 2 - Jatindra Charan Guho, 79 February 21 – Luther Lindsay 47 April 9 - Firpo Zbyszko, 55 August 1 – Ray Gunkel 48 September 15 - Billy Sandow, 88 October 7 - Whitey Caldwell 37
References