1985 in professional wrestling

1985 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of years in professional wrestling
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List of notable promotions

These promotions held notable shows in 1985.

Promotion Name	Abbreviation
All Japan Pro Wrestling	AJPW
American Wrestling Association	AWA
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre	EMLL
Florida Championship Wrestling	FCW
Lutte Internationale	Lutte
National Wrestling Alliance	NWA
New Japan Pro-Wrestling	NJPW
Pacific Northwest Wrestling	PNW
World Class Championship Wrestling	WCCW
World Wrestling Council	WWC
World Wrestling Federation	WWF

Calendar of notable show

Date	Promotion(s)	Event	Location	Main Event
February 18	WWF	The War to Settle the Score	New York City, New York	Hulk Hogan (c) (with Cyndi Lauper, David Wolff, and Lou Albano) defeated Roddy Piper (with Bob Orton) by disqualification in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship[1]
February 24	AWA / NWA	Star Wars	East Rutherford, New Jersey
March 1 – April 18	NJPW	Young Lion Cup	Tokyo, Japan	Shunji Kosugi defeated Keiichi Yamada in the tournament final[2]
March 31	WWF	WrestleMania	New York City, New York	Hulk Hogan and Mr. T (with Jimmy Snuka) defeated Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper (with Bob Orton) in a Tag team match with Muhammad Ali and Pat Patterson as special guest referees[3]
April 5	EMLL	29. Aniversario de Arena México	Mexico City, Mexico	Pirata Morgan defeats El Egipcio by disqualification in a Lucha de Apuestas hair vs. hair match[4]
May 5	WCCW	2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions	Irving, Texas	Kerry Von Erich (with Fritz Von Erich) defeated One Man Gang (with Gary Hart) in a Hair vs. One Man Gang facing Fritz Von Erich match[5]
May 10 – June 15	NJPW	IWGP League	Matsumoto, Japan	André the Giant defeated Tatsumi Fujinami in a tournament final[6]
May 21	PNW	Wrestling Extravaganza	Portland, Oregon	Roddy Piper defeated Buddy Rose in a singles match
July 6	NWA	The Great American Bash	Charlotte, North Carolina	Dusty Rhodes defeated Tully Blanchard (c) (with Baby Doll) in a Steel cage match for the NWA World Television Championship[7][8]
July 8	WWF	King of the Ring	Foxboro, Massachusetts	Hulk Hogan (c) defeated Nikolai Volkoff in a singles match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship[9]
August 16	AWA / NWA	Star Wars	East Rutherford, New Jersey
August 26	Lutte WWF	Lutte vs. WWF	Montreal, Quebec, Canada	Dino Bravo and King Tonga defeated Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik in a tag team match
September 2	FCW	Battle of the Belts	Tampa, Florida
September 20	EMLL	EMLL 52nd Anniversary Show	Mexico City, Mexico	Event was cancelled due to the 1985 Mexico City earthquake[10]
September 21	CSP	CSP 12th Anniversary Show	San Juan, Puerto Rico
September 28	AWA	SuperClash	Chicago, Illinois	Rick Martel (c) fought Stan Hansen to a double countout in a singles match for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship[11]
October 6	WCCW	Cotton Bowl Extravaganza	Dallas, Texas	Kerry and Kevin Von Erich defeated The Dynamic Duo (Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez) in a Hair vs. Hair match[12]
November 7	WWF	The Wrestling Classic	Rosemont, Illinois	Junkyard Dog defeated Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) by count-out in a tournament finals match[13]
November 15 – December 12	NJPW	IWGP Tag Title League	Sendai, Japan	Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura defeated Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi in a tournament final
November 23 – December 12	AJPW	AJPW Real World Tag League	Tokyo, Japan	Ted DiBiase and Stan Hansen won the tournament
November 28	NWA	Starcade	Greensboro, North Carolina Atlanta, Georgia	Dusty Rhodes defeated Ric Flair (c) in a singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship[14]
December 6	EMLL	Juicio Final	Mexico City, Mexico	El Solar II vs. Belcebu in a Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. mask match[15][16]
December 29	AWA / NWA	Star Wars	East Rutherford, New Jersey
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Tournaments and accomplishments

JCP

Accomplishment	Winner	Date won	Notes
Bunkhouse Stampede	Dusty Rhodes[17][7]	December 28

WWF

Accomplishment	Winner	Date won	Notes
King of the Ring	Don Muraco	July 8
The Wrestling Classic	Junkyard Dog	November 7

Awards and honors

• All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
  • AJW Rookie of the Year: Akira Hokuto

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Main article: List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards

Category	Winner
PWI Wrestler of the Year	Ric Flair
PWI Tag Team of the Year	The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)
PWI Match of the Year	Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff (WrestleMania)
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year	Hulk Hogan
PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year	Roddy Piper
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year	Steve Williams
PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year	Mike Von Erich
PWI Rookie of the Year	Nord the Barbarian
PWI Manager of the Year	Jim Cornette
PWI Editor's Award	Dan Shocket

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Main article: List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

Category	Winner
Wrestler of the Year	Ric Flair
Feud of the Year	Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan
Tag Team of the Year	The British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith)
Most Improved	Steve Williams
Best on Interviews	Jim Cornette

Title changes

WWF

WWF World Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Hulk Hogan
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
No title changes

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Incoming champion – Greg Valentine
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
July 6	Tito Santana	House show

WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Antonio Inoki
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
No title changes

WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – The Cobra
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
May 20	Hiro Saito	House show
July 28	The Cobra	House show
October 31	Abandoned	N/A

WWF International Heavyweight Championship
Incoming champion – Tatsumi Fujinami
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
July 19	Vacant	N/A
October 31	Vacant	N/A

WWF International Tag Team Championship
(Title reactivated)
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
May 24	Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura	House show
October 31	Deactivated	N/A

WWF Canadian Championship
(Title created)
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
August 18	Dino Bravo	House show

WWF Women's Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – Velvet McIntyre and Desiree Petersen
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
August 1	The Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai and Judy Martin)	Live event

WWF Women's Championship
Incoming champion – Wendi Richter
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
February 18	Leilani Kai	The War to Settle the Score
March 31	Wendi Richter	WrestleMania I
November 25	The Masked Spider Lady (Fabulous Moolah)	Live event

WWF Tag Team Championship
Incoming champions – The North-South Connection (Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch)
Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
January 21	The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham)	House show
March 31	The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff	WrestleMania I
June 17	The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham)	Championship Wrestling	It aired on tape delay on July 13.
August 24	The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine)	House show

Spinoff media

• Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling premiered on CBS.
• Mutharamkunnu P.O., directed by Sibi Malayil and starring Mukesh and Lizy, is released. The film is noted for the special appearance of Indian actor-wrestler Dara Singh as himself.
• British wrestler "Mr. TV" Jackie Pallo's autobiography "You Grunt, I'll Groan" is published.
• Welsh wrestler-promoter Orig Williams's autobiography "Cario'r Ddraig: Stori El Bandito" is published.
• The Wrestling Album is released by the World Wrestling Federation. It is the first album released by the WWF and featuring mostly theme music of wrestlers on the roster at the time.

Births

• January 13 – Luke Robinson
• January 17 – Sage Beckett
• January 27 – Yuji Hino, Japanese professional wrestler
• February 3 – Angela Fong
• February 20 – Killian Dain, British professional wrestler
• February 26 – Pentagón Jr., Mexican luchador enmascarado
• March 5 – Martin Casaus, American professional wrestler
• March 24 – Lana
• April 10 – Yūki Ōno, Japanese professional wrestler
• April 20 – Curt Hawkins[18]
• April 22 – Jay Lethal
• May 8 – Tommaso Ciampa[19]
• May 14 – Zack Ryder
• May 16 – Mike Kanellis[20]
• May 19 – Aleister Black[21]
• May 24 – The Great Naga, British professional wrestler
• May 25 – Roman Reigns, American professional wrestler[22]
• June 6 – Drew McIntyre
• June 30 – Cody Rhodes, American professional wrestler
• July 22 – Akira Tozawa[23][24]
• August 2 – Davey Boy Smith Jr.
• August 6 – Tony Nese[25]
• August 20 – Mikey Nicholls[26]
• August 22 – Jimmy Uso[27]
• August 22 – Jey Uso[27]
• September 19 – Renee Young
• September 24 – Shane Haste[28]
• November 25 – Yuki Sato, Japanese professional wrestler
• December 7 – Dean Ambrose, American professional wrestler
• December 16 – Psycho Clown
• December 21 – Oney Lorcan[29]
• December 28 – Taryn Terrell

Debuts

• Uncertain debut date

• Savio Vega

• April 29 - Miguel Pérez Jr.
• July 30 - Miss Elizabeth
• October 31 - Lex Luger
• November 28 – Sting
  • Jeanne Basone
  • Lisa Moretti

Retirements

• Cora Combs (1945–1985)
• George Scott (1948–1985)
• Gil Hayes (1966–1985)
• Chief Jay Strongbow (1955–1985)
• Larry Hennig (1956–1985)
• Wally Karbo (1935–1985)
• Buzz Tyler (1977–1985)

Deaths

• January 21 – Eddie Graham, American wrestler and Championship Wrestling from Florida promoter (b. 1930)
• March 6 – Wild Bull Curry, American wrestler (b. 1913)
• September 3 – Jay Youngblood, American wrestler (b. 1955)
• September 18 – Ed Don George, American wrestler and promoter (b. 1905)
• November 1 – Rick McGraw, American WWF wrestler (b. 1955)
• December 24 – Pierre "Mad Dog" Lefebvre, Canadian wrestler (b. 1955)
• December 24 – Tarzan Tyler, Canadian wrestler and manager (b. 1927)

References

1. Hoops, Brian (February 18, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (February 18): WWF War to settle the score". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
2. "NJPW "Super Powers Clash", 4/24/89 (WPW)". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
3. Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, p.150.
4. Flores, Manuel (February 16, 2009). "Pirata Morgan: 30 Años de Lucha Libre". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Mexico City, D.F. pp. 26–28. 302.
5. "2nd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Pro Wrestling History. May 5, 1985. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
6. "IWGP League1985". ProWrestlingHistory.com. May 10 – June 11, 1985. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
7. Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 3:Jim Crockett and the NWA World Title 1983-1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 149480347X.
8. "2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts: Great American Bash 1985". Wrestling's Historical Cards. Kappa Publishing. 2007. p. 129.
9. WWF King Of The Ring 1985
10. "52nd Anniversary Show". ProWrestlingHistory. September 19, 1986. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
11. "SuperClash I". Pro Wrestling History. September 28, 1985. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
12. "2nd Cotton Bowl Extravaganza". Pro Wrestling History. October 6, 1985. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
13. "The Wrestling Classic results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
14. Adamson, Matt (January 28, 2008). "Going Old School: Starrcade '85". 411mania. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
15. "EMLL Super Viernes – Juicio Final 1985". Wrestling Data. December 6, 1985. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
16. "1985 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico: Impresora y Encuaderanadora Glem S.A. de C.V. January 7, 1986. pp. 2–28. ISSN 2007-0896. 17080.
17. "Bunkhouse Stampedes". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
18. "Brian Myers". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
19. "Tommaso Ciampa – Online World of Wrestling ("Birthday: May 8, 1985")". www.onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
20. Wolcott, David (September 10, 2010). "Carver native signs with Ring of Honor wrestling; Mike Bennett gets his big break". Wicked Local Kingston. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
21. "Kader". wXw – more than Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016.
22. "Joe Anoai". Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
23. "戸澤陽". Dragon Gate (in Japanese). Gaora. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
24. "Mikey Nicholls". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
25. "Anthony Nese". Gerweck.net. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
26. "Mikey Nicholls". Cagematch. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
27. "The Uso Brothers – Online World of Wrestling". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
28. "Shane Haste". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
29. "Oney Lorcan | WWE.com". wwe.com. 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.