1982 in professional wrestling

1982 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions
These promotions held notable shows in 1982.

Notable events

 * Wrestling's MAIN EVENT magazine hit the newsstands with its first issue
 * June 28 - At New York's Madison Square Garden with Ivan Putski as a guest referee, Jules Strongbow and Chief Jay Strongbow bested Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito to become the New WWF Tag Team Champions. Later the title would be vacant due to a controversial pinfall in which Mr. Fuji's foot was on the ropes.
 * July 13 - On WWF Championship Wrestling, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito beat the Strongbow Brothers (Jules and Chief Jay) to win the vacant WWF Tag Team Championship.
 * October 9 - Nick Bockwinkel pinned Otto Wanz in Chicago, Illinois to become the new AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
 * October 26 - The Strongbow Brothers regained the WWF Tag Team Championship by defeating Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito.

Births

 * Date of birth uncertain:
 * Vordell Walker
 * January 8 - Bad Luck Fale
 * January 13
 * Jason Ayers
 * Mason Ryan
 * January 25 - Z-Barr (d. 2020)
 * January 27 - Zeus
 * February 4 - Chris Sabin
 * February 9 - Parrow
 * February 10 - Vanessa Kraven
 * February 14 - Ray (d.2018)
 * February 19 - Mascarita Dorada
 * February 25 – Maria Kanellis
 * March 7 - Cody Deaner
 * March 20 - Kasey James
 * March 24
 * Epico Colón
 * Jack Swagger
 * March 27 - Captain New Japan
 * April 2 – Jack Evans
 * April 7 – Sonjay Dutt
 * April 16 - Joe Doering
 * April 26 – Amazing Red
 * April 29 – Aksana
 * May 21 - Kota Ibushi
 * May 27 – Natalya Neidhart
 * June 4 - Alpha Female
 * June 6 – Gunner
 * June 11 - Egotistico Fantastico
 * June 22 - Tetsuya Naito
 * July 1 - Carmella DeCesare
 * July 8 - Ariel Helwani
 * July 11 - Jeff Cobb
 * July 13 - Chris Ca$h (d. 2005)
 * July 15 - Towel Boy
 * July 19 - Daniel Quirk (d. 2005)
 * July 28 - Cain Velasquez
 * August 3:
 * Damien Sandow
 * Nyla Rose
 * August 17 – Cheerleader Melissa
 * August 25 – Mictlan
 * September 12 - Sal Rinauro
 * September 20 – Sexy Star
 * September 26 - Damian Priest
 * October 1 - Sakamoto
 * October 10 - Tony Khan
 * October 12 - Tama Tonga
 * October 16 - Devon Nicholson
 * October 18 - Simon Gotch
 * October 28 - Rocky Romero
 * November 1 - L. A. Knight
 * November 8 – Ted DiBiase Jr.
 * November 9 - Nick Mitchell
 * November 17 - Mirai (d. 2005)
 * December 8 - Jimmy Rave (d. 2021)
 * December 17 - Lionheart (d. 2019)
 * December 21 – Primo
 * December 22 – Místico

Debuts

 * Uncertain debut date
 * Bob Bradley
 * Brickhouse Brown
 * Phil Lafon
 * Frankie Lancaster
 * Sherri Martel
 * Mean Mike
 * Nailz
 * Ricky Santana
 * Johnny Smith
 * Tracey Smothers
 * Al Snow
 * Steve Williams
 * Kazuo Yamazaki
 * La Parka
 * Shane Douglas


 * January 2 - Arn Anderson
 * August 10 - Billy Jack Haynes
 * October 18 - El Hijo Del Santo
 * November - Road Warrior Animal
 * December 11 - George South

Retirements

 * Buddy Rogers (1939–1982)
 * Santo (1934–1982)
 * Fritz Von Erich (1953–1982)
 * George Gulas (1974–1982)
 * Killer Karl Kox (1956–1982)
 * Johnny Powers (1960–1982)
 * Karl Gotch (1950s – January 1, 1982)
 * Mick McManus (1947–1982)
 * Mighty Joe Thunder (1957–1982)
 * Rip Hawk (1949–1982)

Deaths

 * March 6- Bob Konovsky, 47
 * June 12 - Peter Maivia, 45
 * June 19 - Lionel Baillargeon, 60
 * July 25 - Shag Thomas, 56
 * July 27 - Kasavubu, 26
 * July 29 - Harold Sakata, 62
 * August 28 - Bearcat Wright, 50
 * September 5 - Dick Lane, 83
 * September 24 - Jack O'Brien, 72
 * October 24 - Pak Song, 39
 * December 2 - Joe Pazandak, 68
 * December 12 - Bill Longson, 76
 * December 13 - George Gadaski, 52
 * December 15 - Chatti Yokouchi, 45