Sports
 

1981

From Pro Wrestling

This is a list of various things that took place in 1981.

Contents

Significant events

April

May

September

  • 23 – André the Giant and Stan Hansen battle to a no-contest in Tokyo

December

  • 13 – Stan Hansen secretly defects from New Japan to All Japan Pro Wrestling, making a surprise appearance as the cornerman for Bruiser Brody and Jimmy Snuka as they defeat Dory Jr. and Terry Funk in the final of the World's Strongest Tag Team League tournament due to Hansen's interference; in the wake of that match, Brody and Hansen form a team that becomes notorious in All Japan for their violent matches.
  • 21 – André the Giant is featured in Sports Illustrated, in what would be the longest profile ever written of any featured athlete in that magazine at the time.

Births

December

  • December 14 - Jaden Jeter (San Diego, California, USA)

Deaths

Debuts

Events

Title changes

January

  • The San Francisco version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, held at this point by Dusty Rhodes, is retired when the NWA San Francisco promotion closes; that title was the last remaining version of the NWA United States title outside of Jim Crockett Promotions, whose version of the title becomes the undisputed NWA United States title after this point
  • January 27 – Roddy Piper wins the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship from Ric Flair in Greensboro, North Carolina

February

March

  • The NWA Pacific Coast title, last held by Jay Youngblood, is vacated and subsequently abandoned
  • 14 – The Destroyer (not the Dick Beyer version) wins the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship from Jay Youngblood in Portland, Oregon
  • 21 – Jay Youngblood regains the NWA Pacific Northwest title from The Destroyer in Portland
  • 22 – Paul Jones and Masked Superstar regain the NWA World Tag Team title from Ray Stevens and Ivan Koloff in Greensboro

April

  • 9 – Buddy Rose wins the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Jay Youngblood in Portland
  • 11 – Jay Youngblood regains the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Buddy Rose in Portland
  • 17 – The NWF World Heavyweight Championship is held up following a no-contest verdict between champion Antonio Inoki and Stan Hansen in Kagoshima, Japan
  • 21 – Buddy Rose regains the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Jay Youngblood
  • 23 – Antonio Inoki regains the NWF World title by beating Stan Hansen in a rematch in Tokyo, but surrenders the title immediately afterward; the title then becomes inactive until 2003
  • 27 – Tommy Rich wins the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Harley Race in Augusta, Georgia
  • 29 – Matt Borne wins the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Buddy Rose in Seattle, Washington
  • 30 – Dory Funk Jr. is awarded the NWA International Heavyweight Championship by forfeit in a tournament final in Matsudo, Japan when Bruiser Brody no-shows; he defeats his brother, Terry, in his first title defence immediately afterward; Buddy Rose regains the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Matt Borne in Salem, Oregon

May

  • 1 – Harley Race regains the NWA World Heavyweight title from Tommy Rich in Gainesville, Georgia; Gene and Ole Anderson win the NWA World Tag Team title from Paul Jones and Masked Superstar in Richmond, Virginia; Jay Youngblood wins the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Buddy Rose in Eugene, Oregon
  • 19 – Nick Bockwinkel is awarded the AWA World Heavyweight Championship following the retirement of previous champ Verne Gagne

June

August

  • 8 – Wahoo McDaniel wins the NWA United States title from Roddy Piper in Greensboro
  • 15 – Steve Regal wins the vacant NWA Pacific Northwest title in a tournament

September

  • The NWA United States title is vacated after Wahoo McDaniel is injured by Abdullah the Butcher
  • 17 – Ric Flair wins the NWA World Heavyweight title from Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City, Missouri

October

  • Buddy Rose wins the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Steve Regal
  • 4 – Sgt. Slaughter wins the NWA United States title in a tournament final over Rick Steamboat in Charlotte, North Carolina
  • 24 – Steve Regal regains the NWA Pacific Northwest title from Buddy Rose in Portland

November

  • 23 – Pedro Morales wins the WWF Intercontinental title from Magnificent Muraco in New York City.

December

  • Gene and Ole Anderson are stripped of the NWA World Tag Team title for not defending the belts due to Gene Anderson suffering an injury in October.
  • The NWA Pacific Northwest title is vacated when Steve Regal is injured


Years
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1980s
1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989
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2000s
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