1972 in professional wrestling

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.

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.

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 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 28:
 * Jon Heidenreich
 * 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 Dudley
 * 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 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
 * August 1 – Ray Gunkel 48
 * September 15 - Billy Sandow, 88
 * October 7 - Whitey Caldwell 37