1981 in professional wrestling

1981 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions
These promotions held notable shows in 1981.

Notable events

 * June 20 - At the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Don Muraco pinned Pedro Morales to become the new WWF Intercontinental Champion.
 * July 21 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Rick Martel and Tony Garea regain the WWF Tag Team Championship by defeating The Moondogs.
 * October 13 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito defeated Tony Garea and Rick Martel to become the new WWF Tag Team Champions, Garea would never again wear any WWF Title in his career.
 * November 23 - At New York's Madison Square Garden in a Texas Death Match, Pedro Morales regained the WWF Intercontinental Championship by pinning Don Muraco.

Births

 * January 11 - King Mo
 * January 12:
 * Jeet Rama
 * Krissy Vaine
 * January 13 – Shad Gaspard (died in 2020)
 * January 17 - Adam Windsor (died in 2022)
 * January 26 – Volador Jr.
 * February 9 - Daisuke Sekimoto
 * February 14 - Ayako Hamada
 * February 18 - Larry Sweeney (died in 2011)
 * February 19 – Tye Dillinger
 * February 26 - Kaori Yoneyama
 * March 2 – Lance Cade (died in 2010)
 * March 3 – Justin Gabriel
 * March 12 – Hideo Itami
 * April 4 – Tigre Uno
 * April 10 - Jax Dane
 * April 28 - Alex Riley
 * April 29 - Neil Faith
 * May 13 – Jimmy Yang
 * May 22 – Daniel Bryan
 * June 2 – Velvet Sky
 * July 8 - Luke Hawx
 * July 22
 * Fandango
 * Kenny King
 * July 25 – Finn Bálor
 * August 14 – Kofi Kingston
 * August 19 – Percy Watson
 * August 20 – Byron Saxton
 * August 21 – Trent Seven
 * August 26 - Petey Williams
 * September 6 - Chris the Bambi Killer
 * September 10 - Rain
 * September 13 – Angelina Love
 * September 26 – Asuka
 * October 7 - Thunder (died in 2016)
 * October 9 - Daniel Puder
 * October 11 - Arturo Ruas
 * November 1 - Hallowicked
 * November 3 – Jackie Gayda
 * November 10 – Ryback
 * November 28 – Erick Rowan
 * December 7 - Luster the Legend
 * December 11 - Fuego
 * December 14 - Johnny Jeter
 * December 17 - Tim Wiese
 * December 18 - Eddie Kingston
 * December 23 - Arik Cannon
 * December 25 - Rhaka Khan
 * December 31 – Martin Stone

Debuts

 * Uncertain debut date
 * King Kong Bundy
 * El Dandy
 * Jake Milliman
 * Wendell Cooley
 * Itzuki Yamazaki
 * Mike Rotunda


 * January 10-Fumihiro Niikura
 * February 19 - Tarzan Goto
 * April 25 - Nobukazu Hirai
 * July 12 - Noriyo Tateno
 * December 8 - Shunji Takano

Retirements

 * Black Shadow (1942–1981)
 * Tony Borne (1952–1981)
 * Verne Gagne (1949–1981)
 * Dutch Savage (1962–1981)
 * The Missouri Mauler (1950–1981)

Deaths

 * January 24 - Orville Brown, 72
 * February 6 - Goga Pehlwan, 43
 * April 9 - Wee Willie Davis, 74
 * April 12 - Joe Louis, 66
 * August 12 – Buddy Austin, 52
 * August 24 - Mike Marino, 59
 * November 16 - Ali Baba (wrestler), 80