1983 in professional wrestling

1983 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions
These promotions held notable shows in 1983.

Notable events

 * January 22: The Don Muraco-Pedro Morales rivalry reached its peak at Madison Square Garden in New York City when Muraco pinned Morales to become the new WWF Intercontinental champion.
 * March 8: The Wild Samoans defeated Jules Strongbow and Chief Jay Strongbow to win their 3rd WWF Tag Team Championship on WWF Championship Wrestling.
 * March 10–11: The WWF holds its first ever live events outside the Northeast in San Diego and Los Angeles, California
 * The WWF now fully owned by Vince McMahon seceded from the National Wrestling Alliance at the annual NWA Convention.
 * September 4: WWF All-American Wrestling debut on the USA Network
 * November 15: Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson made WWF history as they became the first African-Americans to win the WWF Tag Team Championship in a no-disqualification match against The Wild Samoans on WWE Championship Wrestling.
 * December 26: Iron Sheik managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie defeated WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund ending Backlund's nearly 5 year run when his manager Arnold Skaaland threw in his towel in New York, NY

Births

 * Date of birth uncertain:
 * Quicksilver
 * January 8 – Chris Masters
 * January 18 - Adam Thornstowe
 * January 21 – Maryse Ouellet
 * January 30 – Rockstar Spud
 * February 10:
 * Taiji Ishimori
 * Kevin Matthews
 * February 21 – Wes Brisco
 * February 25 - Steven Lewington
 * March 1 - Davey Richards
 * March 17 - Timothy Thatcher
 * March 18 – Ethan Carter III
 * March 19 – Evan Bourne
 * March 26 - Mike Mondo
 * March 30 – Zach Gowen
 * April 2 - Scorpio Sky
 * April 5:
 * Bushi
 * Chie Ishii
 * April 9 - Hade Vansen
 * April 25 - DeAngelo Williams
 * April 27 - Lacey
 * May 1 - Human Tornado
 * May 7 - Tanga Loa
 * May 11 - Daizee Haze
 * May 15 - Tom Lawlor
 * May 18 - Matt Riviera
 * May 19 - Chris Van Vliet
 * May 21 – Leva Bates
 * May 23 – Alex Shelley
 * June 23 - Brandi Rhodes
 * July 11 - Marcus Louis
 * July 15 – Heath Slater
 * July 24 - Joey Kovar (died in 2012)
 * July 26 – Roderick Strong
 * August 3 - Ladybeard
 * August 8 - Rampage Brown
 * August 23 – J.C. Bailey (died in 2010)
 * August 24 – Tino Sabbatelli
 * September 6:
 * Sam Roberts
 * Braun Strowman
 * September 16 – Jennifer Blake
 * September 22 - Absolute Andy (died in 2023)
 * September 30 - Pacman Jones
 * October 1 – Robbie E
 * October 8 – Hiro Tonai
 * October 16 – Kenny Omega
 * October 19 – Robert Evans
 * October 22 – Taya Valkyrie
 * November 2 – Darren Young
 * November 8 - Lucky Cannon
 * November 11 – Kristal Marshall
 * November 21:
 * Nikki Bella
 * Brie Bella
 * November 25 - Kirby Mack
 * November 28 – Summer Rae
 * November 28 - Gota Ihashi
 * November 29 - Rosemary
 * December 15 – Rene Dupree
 * December 16 :
 * Kris Travis (died in 2016)
 * Jigsaw
 * December 22 – Luke Gallows
 * December 29 - El Desperado (wrestler)
 * December 30 - Eddie Edwards

Debuts

 * Uncertain debut date
 * Scott Armstrong
 * Desiree Petersen
 * William Regal
 * Rick Steiner
 * Ben Bassarab
 * Ramón Álvarez (wrestler)
 * Bull Nakano
 * Dan Spivey
 * Yumi Ogura (All Japan Women)


 * March 5 - Cueball Carmichael
 * June 6 - Road Warrior Hawk
 * June 12 - Bestia Salvaje
 * June 24 - Mick Foley and Kanako Nagatomo (All Japan Women's)
 * September 23 - Tommy Ran (All Japan Women's) and Mika Komatsu (All Japan Women's)

Retirements

 * Dean Ho (1962 - 1983)
 * Mikel Scicluna (1953 - 1983)

Deaths

 * February 7 - Miguel Ángel Delgado, 35
 * March 6 - Mayes McLain, 77
 * May 10 - Frank Tunney, 70
 * May 25 - Johnny Rougeau, 53
 * May 31 - Jack Dempsey, 87
 * October 12 - The Grand Wizard, 57
 * December 9 - Earl McCready, 78