1975 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of

professional wrestling Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...

List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1975.

Calendar of notable shows

Notable events

* promoter Francisco Flores and wrestler

Ray Mendoza José Díaz Velázquez (July 6, 1929 – April 16, 2003) was a Mexican ''Luchador'', or professional wrestler, better known under his ring name Ray Mendoza. Diaz had great success in the National Wrestling Alliance, where he was a five time Wor ...

break away from

Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd. (CMLL; , "World Wrestling Council") is a ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as ''Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre'' (''EMLL'') (''Mexi ...

and, along with investor Benjamin Mora Jr., create the

Universal Wrestling Association The Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) was a Mexican ''Lucha Libre'' or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995. The name of the actual promotion was Lucha Libre Internacional (LLI) ...

(UWA). *October 8 -

WCW Worldwide ''WCW WorldWide'' was an American syndicated television show that was produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) that aired from October 8, 1975, to March 31, 2001. At the time of its cancellation, ''WorldWide'' was the longest-running, uni ...

premiered on television.

Accomplishments and tournaments

AJW

JCP

Awards and honors

''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''

Championship changes

EMLL

NWA

Births

*Date of birth uncertain: **

Damian Steele Damien Dothard (1975 – July 22, 2009) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Damian Steele. Steele competed mainly in North American independent promotions, including Georgia Championship Wrestling. He later sig ...

(died in 2009) * January 1 -

Kid Romeo Samuel Roman (born 1975) is a Puerto Rican-American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling in 2001 under the ring name Kid Romeo, where he was one half of the first ever Cruiserweight Tag Te ...

* January 23 -

Tito Ortiz Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz (; born January 23, 1975) is an American mixed martial artist and politician. He is currently signed to the Combate Americas promotion. Ortiz is best known for his stints with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UF ...

* January 28 -

Shark Boy Dean Matthew Roll (born January 28, 1975) is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Shark Boy. Prior to his appearances in TNA, Roll competed on the independen ...

* January 30 –

Dark Ozz Marcos Tinajero (born January 30, 1975) is a Mexican Luchador (wrestler) who is known under the names Ozz / Dark Ozz, a Face character (referred to as a "Tecnico" in Lucha Libre) that works for Lucha Libre Elite. Best known for his work in Lucha L ...

* February 8 –

Shane Shamrock Brian Stephen Howser (February 8, 1975 – August 18, 1998), known by his ring name Shane Shamrock, was an American professional wrestler best known for his time Maryland Championship Wrestling. He is the only wrestler to win the Light Heavywei ...

(d. 1998) * February 18 -

Charly Manson Jesús Luna Pozos (born February 18, 1975) is a Mexican luchador (professional wrestler) who primarily works on the Mexican independent circuit as Sharlie Rockstar, where he competes as a member of ''The Kl4n''. Pozos is best known under the rin ...

* March 15 - Lobo * March 17 –

Test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...

(d. 2009) * April 12 –

Cibernético Octavio López Arreola (born April 12, 1975) is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known under the ring name Cibernético and for working for the Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) promotion in Mexico. During AAA's short partnership with t ...

* April 14 – Lita * April 15 -

Paul E. Normous Paul Fuchs (April 15, 1975 to January 16, 2009) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Paul E. Normous. He wrestled primarily in the eastern United States for independent promotions such as the East Coast Wrestling ...

(d. 2009) * April 25 -

BLK Jeez Darnell Kittrell (born April 25, 1975) is an American professional wrestler. He currently performs for the National Wrestling Alliance under the ring name BLK Jeez (pronounced "Black Jeez"). Professional wrestling career Debut (2000–2003) Af ...

* May 6 -

Germán Figueroa Germán Figueroa Sullivan (born May 6, 1975) is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler, actor and mixed martial artist better known as "El León" Apollo (alternatively spelled "Apolo") and El León. Figueroa began performing in Puerto Rico's inde ...

* May 8 –

Truth Martini Martin Krcaj (born May 8, 1975) is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, Manager (professional wrestling), manager, and trainer better known by the ring name Truth Martini. He is perhaps best known as the manager of Th ...

* May 12 -

Ricky Ortiz Richard Young (born May 12, 1975) is an American retired professional wrestler and former football player. He is best known for his work with WWE performing under the ring name Ricky Ortiz. Young spent time in the XFL, the Canadian Football Le ...

* May 15: **

La Parkita Alberto Pérez Jiménez (May 15, 1975 – June 29, 2009) was a Mexican ''Luchador'' '' enmascarado'' who worked in the ''Mini-Estrella'' division from 1990 until his death in 2009. He was best known under the ring name La Parkita, having used t ...

(d. 2009) **

Espectrito II Alejandro Pérez Jiménez (May 15, 1975 – June 29, 2009) was a Mexican ''Mini-Estrella Luchador'', or midget professional wrestler who worked mainly under the name Espectro II. Alejandro's twin brother, Alberto, was also a midget professional wre ...

(d. 2009) * May 17 –

Alex Wright Alexander Wright (born May 17, 1975) is a German former professional wrestler and professional wrestling promoter. He wrestled professionally in Germany and Japan before signing with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994. He remained a pro ...

* May 22 –

Traci Brooks Tracy Brookshaw (born May 22, 1975) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet and professional wrestling referee, better known by her ring name Traci Brooks. She is best known for her work in Total Nonstop Action Wr ...

* June 2 – Chessman * June 18 -

Darren Wyse Darren Wise (born June 18, 1975) is a retired American professional wrestler, manager, trainer and promoter, known by his ring name "Dirty Deeds" Darren Wyse, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including International World Class C ...

* June 18 -

Bam Neely Justin Bruce Rocheleau (born June 18, 1975) is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its ECW brand under the ring name Bam Neely. Professional wrestling career Indepe ...

* July 3 -

Johnny Swinger Joseph Dorgan (born July 3, 1975) is an American professional wrestler currently under contract to Impact Wrestling, using the ring name Johnny Swinger. Dorgan is also known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Champ ...

* July 9 –

Shelton Benjamin Shelton James Benjamin (born July 9, 1975) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under his real name. He is also known for his work in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Pro Wres ...

* July 15 –

Cherry A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus ''Prunus'', and is a fleshy drupe (stone fruit). Commercial cherries are obtained from cultivars of several species, such as the sweet ''Prunus avium'' and the sour ''Prunus cerasus''. The nam ...

* July 17 : **

Daffney Shannon Claire Spruill (July 17, 1975 – September 1, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, wrestling manager and actress better known by her ring name Daffney. Daffney began her professional wrestling career in World Championship Wres ...

(died in 2021) **

UltraMantis Black UltraMantis Black (born July 17, 1975) is a professional wrestler and musician, who performs primarily in the Chikara professional wrestling promotion. He is a former one-time Chikara Grand Champion and winner of the 2012 King of Trios tournamen ...

Yuki Kondo is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. He has officially 111 professional fights, making him one of the most experienced mixed martial artists ever. He has also competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Sengoku ...

* July 23 – Drago * July 24 –

Torrie Wilson Torrie Anne Wilson (born July 24, 1975) is an American former professional wrestler and model. She is best known for her time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE, previously the World Wrestling Federation). As a fitness competitor, Wilson won ...

* July 25 – El Zorro * August 2 -

Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg ( , ; from 'lightning' + 'war') is a word used to describe a surprise attack using a rapid, overwhelming force concentration that may consist of armored and motorized or mechanized infantry formations, together with close air su ...

* August 17 - Palmer Canon * August 31 -

Takahiro Suwa , better known simply as Suwa (stylized in all capital letters), is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. He originally retired from professional wrestling in 2007, but later returned for a short period of time in 2013 as Maybach Taniguchi Jr ...

* September 20 -

Joel Gertner Joel Gertner (born September 20, 1975) is an American professional wrestling announcer, color commentator, and manager. He is best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1995 to 2001. Professional wrestling career ...

* October 7 –

Rhyno Terrance Guido Gerin (born October 7, 1975) is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name Rhyno or Rhino. He is currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where he is one-half of the Impact World Tag Team Champions in his second ...

* October 19 - Mrs. Yamaguchi-San * November 17 –

Ranjin Singh David "Dave" Kapoor (born November 17, 1975) is an Indian-American writer and former professional wrestling manager, better known by his ring name, Ranjin Singh. He is best known for his time in WWE, where he worked on the writing team as the sen ...

* November 18 - Taiyo Kea * December 9 -

Juggernaut A juggernaut (), in current English usage, is a literal or metaphorical force regarded as merciless, destructive, and unstoppable. This English usage originated in the mid-nineteenth century and was adapted from the Sanskrit word Jagannath. ...

* December 10 : **

Steve Bradley Steven James Bisson (December 10, 1975 – December 4, 2008) was an American professional wrestler who wrestled under the ring name Steve Bradley. He competed in various North American independent promotions as well as spending over three years ...

(died in 2008) **

Tomohiro Ishii is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes additional appearances for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is also known for his work with the independent Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling ( ...

* December 17 –

Nick Dinsmore Nicholas David Dinsmore (born December 17, 1975), better known by his ring name Eugene, is an American professional wrestler. Dinsmore's career began in 1996 in Ohio Valley Wrestling, where he would become the OVW Heavyweight Champion a record ...

* December 18 –

Trish Stratus Patricia Anne Stratigeas (; born December 18, 1975) better known by the ring name Trish Stratus is a Canadian professional wrestler, actress and yoga instructor. She is currently signed to WWE. Often regarded as one of the greatest Women's Per ...

* December 31 -

Vance Nevada Vern May (born December 31, 1975) better known by his ringname Fat Pasty Mark is a Canadian professional wrestler, author, professional wrestling promoter and wrestling historian. Professional wrestling career Since his earliest matches in 1993, ...

Debuts

* Uncertain debut date :*

Leilani Kai Patty Seymour (born January 23, 1960) is a semi-retired professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Leilani Kai. She began training with The Fabulous Moolah right after finishing high school. In the 1980s, as part of the World Wrestling F ...

Debbie Combs Debbie Szostecki (born April 18, 1959) is a retired professional wrestler better known as Debbie Combs. Early life Her mother, Cora Combs, was also a professional wrestler. Debbie Combs made her wrestling debut at Louisville Gardens for Angelo Po ...

Rick McGraw Richard McGraw (March 19, 1955 – November 1, 1985) was an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name "Quickdraw" Rick McGraw from 1980 until his death in 1985. ...

:* Yumi Ikeshita (All Japan Women's) * January 15 -

Américo Rocca Javier Hernández Padilla (born September 22, 1952) is a semi-retired Mexican ''Luchador'', or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Américo Rocca. Hernández also worked as the '' enmascarado'' (masked) ''Ponzoña'' from 1990 un ...

and

Kazuharu Sonoda also known under the ring names and , was a Japanese professional wrestler. He was a former NWA Western States Tag Team Champion, NWA/WWC North American Tag Team Champion with Mitsu Ishikawa and the WCCW All Asia Tag Team Championship with th ...

* March 19 - Maki Ueda (All Japan Women's) * April 27 -

Jackie Sato , better known as was a professional wrestler from Yokohama, Japan. In the 1970s, while wrestling for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), she formed the tag team, the Beauty Pair, with Maki Ueda. Following in the steps of Mach Fumiake, the Bea ...

* May 2 -

Hubert Gallant Hubert Gallant (born November 12, 1955) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler and trainer who competed in North American regional promotions during the 1970s and early 1980s including Stampede Wrestling and Emile Dupree's Grand Prix Wrestling ...

* May 13 -

Jake Roberts Aurelian Smith Jr. (born May 30, 1955), better known by the ring name Jake "The Snake" Roberts, is an American professional wrestler and actor currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he performs as manager to Lance Archer. He is be ...

* July 17 -

Lola Gonzales Lola may refer to: Places * Lolá, a or subdistrict of Panama * Lola Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, United States * Lola Prefecture, Guinea * Lola, Guinea, a town in Lola Prefecture * Lola Island, in the Solomon Islands People * Lola (fo ...

* November 11 -

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (Spanish for "Lightning Bolt from Jalisco Jr."; born January 1, 1960) is the ring name of a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado (masked professional wrestler) whose real name has not been revealed, per Lucha Libre traditions. Ray ...

* December 24 -

Dynamite Kid Thomas Billington (5 December 1958 – 5 December 2018), best known by the ring name the Dynamite Kid, was a British professional wrestler. Trained by former wrestler "Dr Death" Ted Betley, he competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), ...

Retirements

Argentina Apollo Vincent Denigris (1938 – August 1984) was an Argentine professional wrestler better known by his ring name Vicente Denigris or Argentina Apollo (often Vittorio Argentina Apollo). He was part of the Chicago Comiskey Park shows in 1961, teaming with ...

(1960 – 1975) *

Harold Sakata , better known as Harold Sakata, was an American Olympic weightlifter, professional wrestler, and film actor of Japanese descent. He won a silver medal for the United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London in weightlifting, and later b ...

(1949 – 1975)

Deaths

* January 5 -

Ray Morgan (announcer) Raymond Storrs Morgan (May 5, 1914 – January 5, 1975) was an American radio and television announcer. Early life Morgan was born on May 5, 1914 in Trenton, New Jersey to Dr. and Mrs. Walter Morgan. He grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and graduated ...

, 60 * February 20 –

Bobby Shane Robert Lee Schoenberger (August 25, 1945 – February 20, 1975), better known as Bobby Shane, who also wrestled as Bobby Schoen and as The Challenger, was an American professional wrestler known for his time in NWA Florida in the late 1960s and e ...

, 29 * May 28 -

Ezzard Charles Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 – May 28, 1975), known as the Cincinnati Cobra, was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion. Known for his slick defense and precision, he is often considered the greatest light heavywei ...

, 53 * July 7 -

Henri Deglane Henri Deglane (22 June 1902 – 7 July 1975) was a French wrestler. He was an Olympic Champion in Greco-Roman wrestling and AWA World Champion. In May 1931, Deglane faced Ed "Strangler" Lewis for the AWA World Heavyweight Champion ...

, 73 * August 19 -

Jim Londos Christos Theofilou ( el, Χρήστος Θεοφίλου; January 2, 1894 – August 19, 1975), better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos (Greek: Τζίμ Λόντος), was a Greek American professional wrestler. Londos was one of the most p ...

, 81

References

{{Years in professional wrestling