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1961 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.
Only two promotions held notable shows in 1961.
| Promotion Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Southwest Sports | Southwest Sports |
| Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre | EMLL |
| Date | Promotion(s) | Event | Location | Main Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 31 | Southwest Sports | Parade of Champions | Irving, Texas | Pat O'Connor (c) wrestled Dory Dixon to a draw in a two out of three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship |
| April | EMLL | 5. Aniversario de Arena México | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| September 22 | EMLL 28th Anniversary Show | Gory Guerrero (c) defeated Ray Mendoza in a best two-out-of-three falls match for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship[1] | ||
| (c) – denotes defending champion(s) | ||||
EMLL
incoming champion - Gory Guerrero[2] | ||||
| No title changes[2] |
incoming champion – René Guajardo[3] | ||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2 | Antonio Posa | EMLL show | [3] | |
incoming champion – Karloff Lagarde[4] | ||||
| No title changes[4] |
incoming champion - Vacant[5] |
No title changes[5] |
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 24 | Karloff Lagarde | EMLL show | [6] | |
incoming champion – Juan Diaz[7] | ||||
| No title changes[7] |
incoming champion – Rubén Juárez[8] | ||||
| No title changes[8] |
incoming champion – Karloff Lagarde[9] | ||||
| No title changes[9] |
incoming champion – possibly Tarzán López and Henry Pilusso[10] | ||||
| No title changes[10] |
incoming champion – Uncertain[11] | ||||
| No title changes[11] |
NWA
Incoming Champion – Pat O'Connor[12] | ||||
| Date | Winner | Event/Show | Note(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 14 | Buddy Rogers | NWA show | [12] | |
- Debut date uncertain:
- April – Umanosuke Ueda[13]
- July 4 – Les Thatcher[13]
- July 16 – Dr. Wagner[13]
- October 11 - Masio Koma (JWA)
- Date of birth uncertain:
- January 24:
- January 24 – Vince Russo[14]
- February 1 – Sean Royal
- February 9 – Chris Walker
- February 17 – Chris Champion[15](died in 2018)
- February 21 – Rhonda Singh[14](died in 2001)
- March 9 – Rick Steiner[14]
- March 17 – La Fiera[15](died in 2010)
- March 27 – Octagón[14]
- April 11 – Nobuaki Kakuda
- April 15 – Volk Han
- April 18 – Brooklyn Brawler[15]
- April 23 – Terry Gordy[14](died in 2001)
- April 25:
- Giant Gustav (died in 2019)
- Wendell Cooley
- April 28 – Billy Joe Travis[15](died in 2002)
- May 4 – Scott Armstrong
- May 5 – Hiroshi Hase[15]
- May 8 – Akira Taue[15]
- May 11 – Paul Diamond[14]
- May 13 – Dennis Rodman
- May 14 – Tommy Rogers[14](died in 2015)
- May 16 – The Godfather[15]
- May 25 – Hiro Saito[15]
- June 9:
- June 15 – Scott Norton[14]
- June 21 – Count Grog
- July 9 – Damián 666[15]
- July 13 – Chris Michaels[15]
- July 25 – Jaguar Yokota
- July 28 – Ciclón Ramírez[15]
- July 30 – El Brazo[15] (died in 2013)
- August 13 – Tony Falk[14]
- August 14 – Eddie Gilbert[15](died in 1995)
- August 17 – Buddy Landel[15](died in 2015)
- August 25 – Nick Kiniski[14]
- September 1 – Bam Bam Bigelow[15](died in 2006)
- September 2 – Mongolian Mauler[14](died in 2024)
- September 6 – Wendi Richter[14]
- September 8 – Rex King[14](died in 2017)
- September 16 – Phil LaFon[15]
- September 17 Jim Cornette[15]
- October 1:
- Súper Astro[14]
- Rico Constantino[14]
- October 3 – Maxx Payne[15]
- October 4 – Bobby Fulton[15]
- October 11 – Tony Chimel
- October 14 – Tom Burton (died in 2010)
- October 23:
- November 8 – Isao Takagi
- November 19 – Rick Bassman
- November 26 – Ivory (wrestler)[15]
- December 19 – Reggie White[14](died in 2004)
- December 21 – The Patriot (died in 2021)
- December 24 – Peter Smit (died in 2005)
- December 30 –Armand Rougeau[15]
- January 9 – Oyama Kato, 42
- February 18 – Chick Garibaldi, 46/47
- October 7 – Al Mills[16] 50/51
- November 8 – Blimp Levy, 56
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