1978 in professional wrestling

1978 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions
These promotions held notable shows in 1978.

Notable events

 * February 20 - Bob Backlund pinned Superstar Billy Graham at New York's Madison Square Garden to become the new World Wide Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion.
 * March 14 - on WWF Championship Wrestling, Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo beat Mr. Fuji and Professor Tanaka to become the new World Wide Federation Tag Team Champions.
 * June 26 - At New York's Madison Square Garden, The Yukon Lumberjacks beat Dominic DeNucci and Dino Bravo to become the new World Wide Federation Tag Team Champions.
 * November 21 - Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko beat the Yukon Lumberjacks to become the new World Wide Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions.

Births

 * January 10 – Tamina
 * January 20 - Joy Giovanni
 * January 25 - B. J. Whitmer
 * January 28 – Sheamus
 * February 2 - Abraham Washington
 * February 17 - Shiori Asahi
 * March 1 - D. J. Hyde
 * March 6 - Chad Wicks
 * March 14 - Kaori Nakayama
 * March 30 – Crazy Boy
 * April 7 - Mana the Polynesian Warrior
 * April 13 – SeXXXy Eddy
 * April 16 – Austin Aries
 * April 22 – Ezekiel Jackson
 * May 15 - Keith Walker
 * May 16 - Justice Pain (died in 2020)
 * May 18 - Toru Yano
 * May 22 - Daniel Rodimer
 * May 24 – Elijah Burke
 * June 2 – Joe Líder
 * June 6 – ODB
 * June 8 – Maria Menounos
 * June 19 - Tyson Dux
 * June 20 - Quinton Jackson
 * June 24 – Adam Pearce
 * July 17:
 * Akira Raijin
 * Mike Knox
 * July 21 - Beer City Bruiser
 * August 15 - Ruckus
 * August 21 - Ricky Reyes
 * August 27 - Kafu
 * August 28 – Linda Miles
 * September 8 - Rebel
 * September 24 – Christopher Nowinski
 * September 30 – Candice Michelle
 * October 9 - Brian Hebner
 * October 15 – Takeshi Morishima
 * October 18 - Jaime Koeppe
 * October 26 – CM Punk
 * November 1 - Tyler Reks
 * November 6 - Johnny Kashmere
 * November 12 - Lena Yada
 * November 21:
 * Mini Abismo Negro
 * Choun Shiryu
 * November 28 - Brent Albright
 * December 13 - Antonio Thomas
 * December 20 - Armando Estrada
 * December 23 – Nanae Takahashi

Debut Date
• June 2 - Chino Sato (All Japan Women's)*

• June 23 - Ashura Hara

• August 21 - Devil Masami

• August 26 - Hiro Saito

• August 31 - Terry Daniels

• December 2 - Jumbo Hori (All Japan Women's)

• December 6 - Matt Borne

Date Unknown
• Chicky Starr

• Kamala

• Koko B. Ware

• Jim Neidhart

• Buzz Sawyer

• Hugo Savinovich

• Rocco Rock

• Johnny Grunge

• Stan Lane

• Mimi Hagiwara (All Japan Women's)

Retirements

 * Arnold Skaaland (1946–1978)

Deaths

 * March 27 - John Pesek, 84
 * June 30 – Michel Martel, 33
 * August 13 – Lonnie Mayne, 33
 * November 15 - Willie Gilzenberg, 77
 * November 16 – Eric the Red, 44
 * December 12 - Mike Thomas Farhat, 27