1963 in professional wrestling

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1963 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

List of notable promotions

Only two promotions held notable shows in 1963.

Promotion Name	Abbreviation
Southwest Sports	Southwest Sports
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre	EMLL

Calendar of notable shows

Date	Promotion(s)	Event	Location	Main Event
January 29	Southwest Sports	Parade of Champions	Dallas, Texas	Lou Thesz (c) wrestled Ray Gunkel to a double count-out in a two out of three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
April	EMLL	7. Aniversario de Arena México	Mexico City, Mexico
June 4	Southwest Sports	Parade of Champions	Dallas, Texas	Lou Thesz (c) defeated Dory Dixon in a two out of three falls match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
September 6	EMLL	EMLL 30th Anniversary Show (1)	Mexico City, Mexico	Ruben Jaurez defeated Espanto II in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta mask vs. hair match^[1]
September 27	EMLL	EMLL 30th Anniversary Show (2)	Mexico City, Mexico	Espanto I defeated Ruben Jaurez in a best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuesta mask vs. hair match ^[1]
(c) – denotes defending champion(s)

Notable events

January 24 – Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) breaks away from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) to form the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).
April 11 - Buddy Rogers was presented the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship at a WWWF TV taping in Washington, D.C., after being billed as the World Champion since late January.
May 18 - Bruno Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in 48 seconds to win the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in New York, NY.

Championship changes

EMLL

Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
incoming champion – Gory Guerrero^[2]
August 6	Ali Bey	EMLL show	^[2]
September 24	Gory Guerrero	EMLL show	^[2]

NWA World Middleweight Championship
incoming champion – Rayo de Jalisco^[3]
No title changes^[3]

NWA World Welterweight Championship
incoming champion – Karloff Lagarde^[4]
No title changes^[4]

Mexican National Heavyweight Championship
incoming champion - Pepe Mendieta^[5]
No title changes^[5]

Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
Mexican National Middleweight Championship
incoming champion – Karloff Lagarde^[6]
June 28	El Santo	EMLL show	^[6]

Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
Mexican National Lightweight Championship
incoming champion – Juan Diaz^[7]
October 17	Chanoc	EMLL show	^[7]

Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
incoming champion – Rubén Juárez^[8]
September 14	Espanto I	EMLL 27th Anniversary Show	^[8]
November 30	Ray Mendoza	EMLL show	^[8]

Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
Mexican National Welterweight Championship
incoming champion – Karloff Lagarde^[9]
Unknown	Vacated	N/A	Championship vacated, as Lagarde already held the NWA World Welterweight Championship
November 15	Javier Escobedo	EMLL show	^[9]

Mexican National Tag Team Championship
incoming champion – Los Rebeldes (Rene Guajardo and Karloff Lagarde) or Los Espantos (Espanto I and Espanto II)^[10]
No title changes^[10]

Mexican National Women's Championship
incoming champion – Uncertain^[11]
No title changes^[11]

NWA

Date	Winner	Event/Show	Note(s)
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship
Incoming Champion – Buddy Rogers^[12]
January 24	Lou Thesz	NWA show	^[12]

Debuts

Births

Date of birth uncertain:
- Marie Lograsso (died in 2006)
January 2 – Mickie Henson (died in 2022)
January 3:
- Vic Grimes^[14]
- New Jack^[15] (died in 2021)
January 6 – Tony Halme^[15](died in 2010) [1]
January 10 – Firebreaker Chip^[16]
January 29 – Hardcore Holly^[16]
February 22 – Maxx Muscle^[15](died in 2019) [2]
February 25 – Doug Stahl
February 28 – Joey Marella^[16](died in 1994) [3]
March 7 – Bruce Prichard^[16]
March 19 – Brazo de Plata^[16] (died in 2021)
March 20 – Terry Simms^[15]
April 6 – Neil Superior (died in 1996)
April 18 – Universo 2000^[15] (died in 2018) [4]
April 22 – Miguel Pérez Jr.
May 2 – Big Boss Man^[16](died in 2004) [5]
May 18 – Gary Albright^[16](died in 2000) [6]
May 19 – Hollywood
May 29 – Samu^[17]
June 1 – George Hines^[18]
June 4 – Shigeo Miyato
June 6 – Ahmed Johnson
June 10:
- Jeff Bearden
- Scott Peterson (died in 1994)
June 12:
- Jerry Lynn^[16]
- Johnny Hotbody^[15]
June 16 – The Sandman^[15]
June 20 – Don West^[16] (died in 2022)
June 22 – John Tenta^[15](died in 2006) [7]
June 24 – Ángel Azteca^[16](died in 2007) [8]
June 25 – Bobby Blaze^[16]
July 11 – Mike Enos^[15]
July 18 – Al Snow^[16]
July 21:
- Giant Silva^[16]
- Mark Youngblood
July 22 – Steve Gillespie (died in 2020)
July 24 – Karl Malone
July 28 – Lioness Asuka^[15]
July 31 – Chad Brock
August 2 – El Hijo del Santo^[16]
August 5 – Pat Tanaka^[15]
August 12 – Koji Kitao^[15](died in 2019) [9]
August 15 – Tamon Honda^[15]
August 16 – Tarzan Goto^[15](died in 2022)
August 20 – Bob Cook
August 27 – Sambo Asako (died in 2004)
August 28 – Lester Speight
September 17 – Masahiro Chono^[15]
September 24 – Sunny Beach^[15]
September 26 – Knuckles Nelson
September 28 – Steve Blackman^[15]
September 30 – Mustafa Saed
October 8 – Diana Hart^[16]
October 9 – Tadao Yasuda^[15]
October 11 – Sam Houston
October 12 – Dave Legeno (died in 2014)
October 16 – Missy Hyatt^[15]
October 20 – Brian Costello
October 23 – Lou Fabiano
November 11 – Billy Gunn^[16]
December 1 – Dave Sullivan
December 3 – Steve Simpson^[15]
December 7 – Bruiser Bedlam^[19](died in 2017) [10]
December 8 – Toshiaki Kawada^[15]
December 12 – Jason Knight

Deaths

January 19 – Gus Pappas^[20] 80
March 7 – Billy Wolfe 66
May 10 – Gene Lipscomb 31
June 2 - Century Milstead, 62
December 15 – Rikidozan,^[20] 39
December 26 – Gorgeous George,^[20] 48
December 27 - Wildcat Wilson, 63

References

^ ^a ^b Ruiz Glez, Alex (September 7, 2010). "CMLL: 79 historias, 79 Aniversario, las 79 luchas estelares" [CMLL: 79 stories, 79 anniversaries, the 70 main events]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved February 2, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 389. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Middleweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 389–390. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Welterweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 390. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Heavyweight Title". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 390–391. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Middleweight Championship". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 392. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Lightweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 393. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Lightweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 393. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Welterweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 392. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: Mexican National Tag Team Title". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 396. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Women's Title[Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 394. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). ""United States: 19th century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW, NWA: NWA World Heavyweight Title"". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 15. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "Wrestlers debuted in 1963: 1 - 24 of 24". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ "Wrestlers born in 1963: 101 - 104 of 104". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u "Wrestlers born in 1963: 51 - 100 of 104". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p "Wrestlers born in 1963: 1 - 50 of 104". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ "Wrestlers born in 1966: 101 - 141 of 141". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ "Wrestlers born in 1968: 1 - 50 of 125". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ "Wrestlers born in 1965: 1 - 50 of 131". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Wrestlers deceased in 1963: 1 - 25 of 25". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[79Anniversaries-1] Ruiz Glez, Alex (September 7, 2010). "CMLL: 79 historias, 79 Aniversario, las 79 luchas estelares" [CMLL: 79 stories, 79 anniversaries, the 70 main events]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved February 2, 2020.

[NWALHeavy-2] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 389. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[NWALMiddle-3] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Middleweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 389–390. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[NWALWelter-4] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Welterweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 390. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[MexHeavy-5] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Heavyweight Title". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 390–391. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[MexMiddle-6] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Middleweight Championship". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 392. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[MexLight-7] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Lightweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 393. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[MexLHeavy-8] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Lightweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 393. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[MexWelter-9] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Welterweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 392. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[MexTag-10] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: Mexican National Tag Team Title". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 396. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[MexWomenBook-11] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Women's Title[Lutteroth]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 394. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[NWAWorlds-12] Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). ""United States: 19th century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW, NWA: NWA World Heavyweight Title"". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 15. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

[WD1963Debuts-13] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "Wrestlers debuted in 1963: 1 - 24 of 24". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[WD1963BirthsPage3-14] "Wrestlers born in 1963: 101 - 104 of 104". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[WD1963BirthsPage2-15] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u "Wrestlers born in 1963: 51 - 100 of 104". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[WD1963Births-16] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p "Wrestlers born in 1963: 1 - 50 of 104". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[WD1966BirthsPage3-17] "Wrestlers born in 1966: 101 - 141 of 141". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[WD1968Births-18] "Wrestlers born in 1968: 1 - 50 of 125". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[WD1965Births-19] "Wrestlers born in 1965: 1 - 50 of 131". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[WD1963Deaths-20] "Wrestlers deceased in 1963: 1 - 25 of 25". Wrestling Data. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

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v t e Years in professional wrestling
1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025