1985 in professional wrestling

1985 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions
These promotions held notable events in 1985.

Awards and honors

 * All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
 * AJW Rookie of the Year: Akira Hokuto

Spinoff media

 * Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling premiered on CBS.
 * Mutharamkunnu P.O., directed by Sibi Malayil and starring Mukesh and Lizy, is released. The film is noted for the special appearance of Indian actor-wrestler Dara Singh as himself.
 * British wrestler "Mr. TV" Jackie Pallo's autobiography "You Grunt, I'll Groan" is published.
 * Welsh wrestler-promoter Orig Williams's autobiography "Cario'r Ddraig: Stori El Bandito" is published.
 * The Wrestling Album is released by the World Wrestling Federation. It is the first album released by the WWF and featuring mostly theme music of wrestlers on the roster at the time.

Births

 * January 13 – Luke Robinson
 * January 17 – Sage Beckett
 * January 18 – Mark Briscoe
 * January 27 – Yuji Hino
 * February 3 – Angela Fong
 * February 20 – Killian Dain
 * February 26 – Pentagón Jr.
 * March 5 – Martin Casaus
 * March 13 – Matt Jackson
 * March 20 - Matt Taven
 * March 24 – Lana
 * April 10 – Yūki Ōno
 * April 20 – Curt Hawkins
 * April 29 – Jay Lethal
 * May 8 – Tommaso Ciampa
 * May 14 – Zack Ryder
 * May 16 – Mike Kanellis
 * May 19 – Aleister Black
 * May 24 – The Great Naga
 * May 25 – Roman Reigns
 * June 6 – Drew McIntyre
 * June 30 – Cody Rhodes
 * July 2 – Jessie Belle Smothers
 * July 16 – Q. T. Marshall
 * July 22 – Akira Tozawa
 * August 2 – Davey Boy Smith Jr.
 * August 6 – Tony Nese
 * August 7 – Jamin Olivencia
 * August 12 – Fallah Bahh
 * August 14 – Jaysin Strife (died in 2022)
 * August 20 – Mikey Nicholls
 * August 22 – Jimmy Uso
 * August 22 – Jey Uso
 * September 7 – Tristan Archer
 * September 19 – Renee Young
 * September 24 – Shane Haste
 * September 24 – Sanga
 * September 29 – Candice LeRae
 * October 12 – Amy Zidian
 * October 18 - Atsushi Kotoge
 * November 25 – Yuki Sato
 * December 7 – Dean Ambrose/Jon Moxley
 * December 14 – Katsuya Kitamura (died in 2022)
 * December 16 – Psycho Clown
 * December 21 – Oney Lorcan
 * December 28 – Taryn Terrell

Debuts

 * Uncertain debut date
 * Big Van Vader
 * Brittany Brown
 * Jimmy Del Ray
 * Lou Fabiano
 * Paul Diamond
 * Savio Vega
 * Virgil
 * Histeria


 * January 22 - Nick Kiniski
 * March 3 - Masakatsu Funaki
 * April 29 - Miguel Pérez Jr.
 * May 16 - Drill Nakamae (All Japan Women's)
 * May 27 - Mitsuko Nishiwaki (All Japan Women's)
 * June 5 - Yumiko Hotta and Kyoko Aso (All Japan Women's)
 * June 6 - Grizzly Iwamoto (All Japan Women's)
 * June 12 - Akira Hokuto and Suzuka Minami (All Japan Women's)
 * June 14 - Fumie Kanzaki (All Japan Women's) and Sayuri Nakajima (All Japan Women's)
 * July 8 - Yoji Anjo
 * July 23 - Yasuko Ishiguro (All Japan Women's)
 * July 25 - Rie Okabyashi (All Japan Women's) and Akemi Sakamoto (All Japan Women's)
 * July 30 - Miss Elizabeth
 * August 28 - Kahoru Kage (All Japan Women's)
 * August 30 - Scorpio Jr.
 * October 31 - Lex Luger
 * November 22 Chris Benoit
 * November 28
 * Sting
 * The Ultimate Warrior
 * Hollywood
 * Lisa Moretti

Retirements

 * Jack Brisco (1965-1985)
 * Gerald Brisco (1967-1985) (Returned to wrestling in 1998 and retired 2000)
 * Cora Combs (1945–1985)
 * George Scott (1948–1985)
 * Gil Hayes (1966–1985)
 * Chief Jay Strongbow (1955–1985)
 * Larry Hennig (1956–1985)
 * Wally Karbo (1935–1985)
 * Buzz Tyler (1977–1985)
 * Pat Patterson (1959-1985) (Returned to wrestling in 1998 and retired 2000)

Deaths

 * January 12 - Paul Luty, British wrestler (b. 1932)
 * January 21 – Eddie Graham, American wrestler and Championship Wrestling from Florida promoter (b. 1930)
 * March 6:
 * Wild Bull Curry, American wrestler (b. 1913)
 * Bholu Pahalwan, Indian wrestler (b. 1930)
 * April 19 - Chabela Romero (b. 1946)
 * September 3 – Jay Youngblood, American wrestler (b. 1955)
 * September 18 – Ed Don George, American wrestler and promoter (b. 1905)
 * November 1 – Rick McGraw, American WWF wrestler (b. 1955)
 * December 24:
 * Pierre "Mad Dog" Lefebvre, Canadian wrestler (b. 1955)
 * Tarzan Tyler, Canadian wrestler and manager (b. 1927)
 * Adrien Debois, Canadian wrestling referee (b. 1950)