2013 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 2013.

Calendar of notable shows

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Accomplishments and tournaments

AAA

JWP

Ring of Honor

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

WWE

Title changes

AAA

NJPW

ROH

The Crash Lucha Libre

TNA

WWE

NXT

Awards and honors

AAA Hall of Fame

''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''

TNA Hall of Fame

''Wrestling Observer Newsletter''

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

WWE

WWE Hall of Fame

Slammy Awards

Debuts

* January 8 – Dan Moloney * January 20 –

Aliyah Aliyah (, ; he, עֲלִיָּה ''ʿălīyyā'', ) is the immigration of Jews from Jewish diaspora, the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel, which is in the modern era chiefly represented by the Israel, State of Israel ...

* February 19 –

Jay White Jamie White (born 9 October 1992), better known by the ring name Jay White (ジェイ・ホワイト ''Jei Howaito''), is a New Zealand professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is current IWGP World Heavyweight Ch ...

* March 24 – The Rotation * March 29 –

Renee Young Renee Jane Paquette is a Canadian-American television personality currently working as a backstage interviewer for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She was previously known for her time in WWE between 2012 and 2020, where she served as a commentator, ...

* May 17 – No Way Jose * May 25 **

Akane Fujita is a Japanese voice actress from Shizuoka Prefecture. She is affiliated with Ken Production. After passing an audition in 2011, she made her debut as a voice actress in 2012, and she played her first main role in 2016. She is known for her roles ...

** Big Boss Shimizu * May 29 –

Mojo Rawley Dean Muhtadi ( ar, دين موهتادي; born July 17, 1986) is an American professional wrestler, actor, and former American professional football player. He is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Mojo Rawley ...

* June 20 – Alexa Bliss * June 26 –

JoJo Jojo, JoJo or Jo Jo is a given name, surname, nickname or stage name used by several people and fictional characters, including: People with the given name, nickname or stage name Musicians *JoJo (singer) (born 1990), American R&B singer, songwri ...

* July 1 –

Eva Marie Natalie Eva Marie Nelson (born September 19, 1984) is an American actress, fashion designer, model, and professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenures in WWE, from 2013–2017 and 2020–2021, where she performed under the ring name ...

* August 17 - KANNA (TJPW) * August 18 **

Saki Akai is a Japanese people, Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, Japanese idol, idol, model, and Television personalities in Japan, tarento, currently working for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT) ...

Yako Fujigasaki is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese professional wrestling promotion, promotions JWP Joshi Puroresu and Pure-J. Professional wrestling c ...

* August 25 - Kyuri * September –

Carmella Carmella is a female given name. Notable people with the name include: People * Carmella DeCesare Carmella Danielle DeCesare Garcia (born July 1, 1982) is an American model who was ''Playboy'' magazine's Miss April 2003 and Playmate of t ...

* September 6 - Ace Romero * October 23 –

Lana Lana may refer to: *Lana (given name) *Francesco Lana de Terzi (1631–1687), Italian Jesuit priest and scientist *Lana (wrestler), professional wrestler and pro wrestling manager *''Wild Energy. Lana'', a 2006 Ukrainian fantasy novel Sciences *L ...

* November 3 -

Keisuke Okuda is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Dragon Gate. Career He had a strong background in Greco-Roman wrestling and debuted on November 3, 2013 for IGF. He went to a time limit draw against Akira Jo. He stopped wrestling ...

* November 4 **

Koguma is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom where she is a former two-time Goddess of Stardom Champion with Hazuki and a former High Speed Champion. Professional wrestling career In ...

Rina Yamashita is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her time in Pro Wrestling Wave. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2013-present) Yamashita began working for other promotions such as Pr ...

* December 1 - Ayumi Takada (TJPW) * December 6 – Deonna Purrazzo * December 14 -

Kona Reeves Noah Gregory Kekoa Haaheo Pang-Potjes (born June 5, 1991) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed on their NXT brand under the ring name Kona Reeves. Professional wrestling career Independ ...

* December 15 –

Takayuki Ueki is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for his time in the Japanese promotions Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) and Pro Wrestling Freedoms (Freedoms). Professional wrestling career Independent circu ...

* December 31 - Bin Wang (IGF and NXT)

Retirements

Butch Reed Bruce Franklin Reed (July 11, 1954 – February 5, 2021) was an American professional wrestler and football player, better known by the ring name Butch Reed. He played college football at the University of Central Missouri, was a star in Mid-So ...

(1978-2013) *

Diane Von Hoffman Phyllis Burch (April 13, 1962 – July 6, 2017) was an American professional wrestler active from 1979 to 2013. Burch wrestled under the names Diane Von Hoffman, The Teutonic Terror, and Lady Beast. She wrestled in Memphis's United States Wr ...

(1981–2013) *

Viscera In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. In the hierarchy of life, an organ lies between tissue and an organ system. Tissues are formed from same type cells to act together in a ...

(1991–2013) *

Eve Torres Eve Torres Gracie (born Eve Marie Torres on August 21, 1984) is an American actress, dancer, model, martial arts instructor, and former professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with WWE, where she was the first ever three-time WWE ...

(October 29, 2007 – January 14, 2013) *

Robbie Ellis Rob Elowitch (born April 8, 1943), better known by his ring name, Robbie Ellis, is an American professional wrestler who has competed in New England and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit as well as international promotions in Europe. The co-owne ...

(1966-March 22, 2013) *

Jerry Lynn Jeremy Lynn (born June 12, 1963), better known by the ring name Jerry Lynn, is an American retired professional wrestler currently signed with All Elite Wrestling as a producer and coach. He has worked for promotions such as World Championship ...

(March 23, 1988 – March 23, 2013) * Frank Durso (1961-March 23, 2013) * Big Bully Busick (1977-April 19, 2013) *

Kenta Kobashi is a Japanese former professional wrestler. He started his career in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in 1988, where he became one of the promotion's top stars, holding the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship three times, and winning the Champ ...

(February 26, 1988 – May 11, 2013) *

Epiphany Epiphany may refer to: * Epiphany (feeling), an experience of sudden and striking insight Religion * Epiphany (holiday), a Christian holiday celebrating the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ ** Epiphany season, or Epiph ...

(October 2008 – July 4, 2013) * Ayumi Kurihara (April 24, 2005 – August 4, 2013) *

Ted DiBiase Jr. Theodore Marvin DiBiase Jr. (born November 8, 1982) is an American former professional wrestler, best known for his time with WWE as an original member of the stable The Legacy, and for his repackaged gimmick of "The DiBiase Posse", where he th ...

(2006 – September 1, 2013) *

Yoshihito Sasaki is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his time with the Japanese professional wrestling promotions Big Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Zero1. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2001-2013) Sasaki made ...

(September 7, 2000 – September 25, 2013) *

Ivan Koloff Oreal Donald Perras (August 25, 1942 – February 18, 2017) was a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by the ring name "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff. He was the third wrestler to hold the WWWF Championship. Early life Perras was b ...

(1961-November 16, 2013) *

William Regal Darren Kenneth Matthews (born 10 May 1968), better known by the ring name William Regal, is an English retired professional wrestler. He is known for his over 20 years spent in WWE, as both a performer and an on-screen authority, and for his ti ...

(1983-November 21, 2013) * Manny Fernandez (1977-November 30, 2013) (returned to wrestling in 2017) *

Roxxi Laveaux Nicole Raczynski (born April 19, 1979) is an American former professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring names Roxxi Laveaux, The Voodoo Queen, and Roxxi. She is also known for her time ...

(2002 - December 6, 2013)

Deaths

*January 11 - Billy Varga, 94 *February 20 -

Cyclone Negro In meteorology, a cyclone () is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to an ant ...

, 80 * March 5 –

Paul Bearer William Alvin Moody (April 10, 1954 – March 5, 2013) was an American professional wrestling manager and licensed funeral director. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) where he performed under t ...

, 58. * March 21 –

Moondog Spike William Smithson (May 31, 1950 – March 21, 2013) was a professional wrestler who wrestled as Moondog Spike during the early 1990s with Moondog Spot from 1991 to 1992 and Moondog Cujo from 1992 to 1993 as part of The Moondogs. Professional wres ...

, 62. * March 21 –

Reid Flair Richard Reid Fliehr (February 26, 1988 March 29, 2013), better known by his ring name Reid Flair, was an American professional wrestler. He was the younger son of retired professional wrestler Ric Flair, the younger half-brother of wrestler Dav ...

, 25. * April 18 -

Jerry Balisok Jerry Bibb Balisok (September 8, 1955 – April 18, 2013) was an American professional wrestler known as Mr. X, and an FBI fugitive. He is best known for skipping bail, faking his own death, and convincing law enforcement officials he died in t ...

, 57 * May 22 – Mick McManus, 93. * May 26 –

Héctor Garza Héctor Solano Segura (June 12, 1969 – May 26, 2013) was a Mexican professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Héctor Garza. During his career he worked for various major Mexican professional wrestling promotions such as Consejo ...

, 43. * May 28 - Buck Robley, 68 * June 7 –

Mark Starr Mark Ashford-Smith (December 26, 1962 – June 7, 2013) was an English professional wrestler best known by his ring name Mark Starr. He competed as a member of several tag teams. Wrestling career Continental Wrestling Association (1986–198 ...

, 50. * June 14 –

Al Green Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), better known as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including " Take Me to the River", ...

, 57. * June 24 –

Jackie Fargo Henry Faggart (June 26, 1930 – June 24, 2013) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jackie Fargo. He competed in Southeastern regional promotions and the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1950s, 1960s an ...

, 82. * June 28 –

Matt Borne Matthew Wade Osborne (July 27, 1957 – June 28, 2013), known professionally as Matt Borne, was an American professional wrestler. Osborne was a second generation wrestler, the son of Tony Borne, and is best known as being the first wrestler to ...

, 55. * July 19 -

Geeto Mongol Newton Tattrie (July 12, 1931 – July 19, 2013) was a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Geeto Mongol (also spelled Geto Mongol). Tattrie started his career in the 1960s working for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling pro ...

, 82 * July 31 - Corey Maclin, 43 * August 3 – Dutch Savage, 78. * August 14 -

Gia Allemand Gia Marie Allemand (December 20, 1983 – August 14, 2013) was an American actress, model, and reality television contestant. She was known for appearing in ''Maxim'' and competing on two ABC reality shows '' The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love'' ...

, 29 * September 20 – Angelo Savoldi, 99. * September 29 –

Gene Petit Gene Petit (c. May 19, 1949 – September 29, 2013) was an American professional wrestler best known for his portrayal of Cousin Luke in the World Wrestling Federation. He also competed under several other gimmicks and competed for several promo ...

, c.64. * October 15 –

El Brazo Juan Alvarado Nieves (July 30, 1961 – October 15, 2013) was a Mexican Luchador (professional wrestler). He was best known under the ring name El Brazo (Spanish for "the Arm"), which he used since his debut in 1980. Alvarado was part of the Al ...

, 52. * October 21 -

Randhawa (wrestler) Sardar Singh Randhawa, popularly known as Randhawa, was an Indian Professional wrestler and actor. He was the younger brother of wrestler and actor Dara Singh. Early life Randhawa was born in 1933 at Dharmuchakk, a village in Amritsar distri ...

, 79/80 * November 4 - Gashouse Gilbert, 76 * November 21 –

Mad Dog Vachon Joseph Maurice Régis Vachon (September 14, 1929 − November 21, 2013) was a Canadian professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Mad Dog Vachon. He was the older brother of wrestlers Paul and Vivian Vachon, and the uncle of wrestle ...

, 84. * December 1 –

Garry Robbins Garry Robbins (September 9, 1957 – December 11, 2013) was a Canadian actor and professional wrestler. Early life Robbins was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 1957. Acting career Robbins was discovered working as a bouncer in a lo ...

, 56 * December 18 -

Onno Boelee Onno Boelee (1945–2013) was a Dutch-New Zealand actor, stuntman and professional wrestler. Although he never won a championship title, he was a popular star in Steve Rickard's All Star-Pro Wrestling, frequently appearing on Rickard's wrestli ...

, 68 * December 19 -

Pedro Septién Pedro Septién Orozco (March 21, 1916 – December 19, 2013) was a Mexican sports broadcaster. He was nicknamed ''El Mago'' (Spanish for "The Wizard"). Septien was famous in Mexico due to his vast knowledge about Major League Baseball. He worked ...

, 97 * December 29 –

Ari Romero Jose Luis Arias Romero (December 20, 1951 – December 29, 2013), was a Mexican professional wrestler who wrestled in Mexico, the United States and Japan, under the ring name Ari Romero. Romero earned the nickname "El Rey del Tenedor" ("The King ...

, 62.

References

{{Years in professional wrestling