1956 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

List of notable promotions

Only one promotion held notable shows in 1956.

Calendar of notable shows

Notable events

*January 6 - Heavyweight Wrestling debuts in the Northeast as the main television program of the

Capitol Wrestling Corporation Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was an American sports promotion company. Run by Vincent J. McMahon from the 1950s until the 1980s, the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing promotion and later became the holding company ...

based from Turner's Arena in Washington, DC. *April

Arena México Arena México is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico, located in the Colonia Doctores neighborhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or ''lucha libre'', shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lu ...

opens, built by

Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd. (CMLL; , "World Wrestling Council") is a ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as (EMLL) (''Mexican Wrestling Enterprise''). Founded in 1933, it is the oldest profe ...

(EMLL; "Mexican Wrestling Enterprise") owner

Salvador Lutteroth Salvador Lutteroth González (21 March 1897 – 5 September 1987) was a Mexican professional wrestling promoter of the mid-twentieth century. Lutteroth's organization, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), was the dominant Mexican wrestling ...

. Arena México became EMLL's main venue from that point forward and is referred to as the ''Cathedral of Lucha Libre''.

Championship changes

EMLL

NWA

Debuts

*Debut date uncertain: **

Sandy Barr Ferrin Charles Barr (January 21, 1938 – June 2, 2007) was an American professional wrestler, referee, promoter and trainer who spent his career mostly in the Western United States and Canada. Under the name as Sandy Barr, he was best known for ...

Jody Hamilton Joseph Hamilton (August 28, 1938 – August 3, 2021) was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, promoter, and trainer. He was best known as one half of the tag team The Assassins (professional wrestling), The Assassins where ...

Smasher Sloan Eldon "Eddie" "Don" Lee Whittler (July 7, 1935 – January 29, 2001), better known by his ring name Smasher Sloan, was an American professional wrestler. He wrestled for the World Wide Wrestling Federation from the 1960s till early 1970s, w ...

Mr. Wrestling II John Francis Walker (September 10, 1934June 10, 2020), better known by the ring name Mr. Wrestling II, was an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with Championship Wrestling from Florida and Georgia Championship ...

Births

*January 10 Denny Brown *January 11

Kuniaki Kobayashi was a Japanese professional wrestler, most notable for being the generational rival of the famous Tiger Mask character in Japanese ''puroresu''. He wrestled numerous acclaimed matches against Tiger Mask I and Tiger Mask II. Early life Kob ...

(died in 2024) *March 18

Rick Martel Richard Vigneault (born March 18, 1956) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, trainer, and television presenter, better known by his ring name, "The Model" Rick Martel. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling As ...

*March 21 Angel Gabriele (died in 2016) *March 23 Ryuma Go (died in 2009) *March 24

Teijo Khan Thomas Leroy Kasat (March 24, 1956 – April 10, 2020) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Teijo Khan/Teijho Khan. As Khan, Kasat portrayed an Asian savage despite being Caucasian. He worked as part of Paul Jone ...

(died in 2020) *March 28

Dangerous Danny Davis Daniel Davis (born March 28, 1956) is an American former professional wrestling referee and wrestler best known under the ring name "Dangerous" Danny Davis when he worked for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). For years, he competed as M ...

*April 5

Diamond Dallas Page } Dallas Page (born Page Joseph Falkinburg Jr., April 5, 1956), is an American fitness instructor, actor, and retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract, under the ring name Di ...

*April 14

Larry Winters Larry Winters (April 14, 1956 – January 27, 2015) was an American professional wrestler and trainer who competed in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit during the 1980s and 90s. He has wrestled in the American Wrestl ...

(died in 2015) *April 21 Vicky Williams *May 7

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

(died in 2004) *May 9

Frank Andersson Frank Öivind Stefan Andersson (9 May 1956 – 9 September 2018) was a Swedish wrestler and entertainer. He started in wrestling, winning several world championship gold medals as well as a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles ...

(died in 2018) *May 11: * Espanto Jr. * Sunny War Cloud *May 14 Kasavubu (d. 1982) *May 24

Super Parka Ramón Ibarra Banda (born May 24, 1956) is a Mexican ''Lucha libre, luchador'', or professional wrestling, professional wrestler, working under the ring name Super Parka. Ibarra previously worked as Volador from 1990 until 1997 and as Super Parka ...

*May 25: **

Tatsutoshi Goto is a Japanese professional wrestler. He competed primarily in WAR and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and briefly used the name "T2000 Machine". He also briefly competed in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as part of the nWo Japan. Professio ...

** El Solar *June 4

Joe Malenko Jody Simon (born June 4, 1956) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Joe Malenko. He is the son of Boris Malenko and the older brother of Dean Malenko. Professional wrestling career Early career (1977–19 ...

*July 13

Tiger Jackson Bandai Namco Entertainment's ''Tekken'' media franchise is known for its diverse cast of characters hailing from various nationalities, all coming together to compete in the King of Iron Fist tournament. In addition to the human characters, '' ...

*July 19: **

Randy Rose Randall Alls (born July 19, 1956) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Randy Rose. Professional wrestling career Randy Rose began his career in 1974 in Tennessee. In 1980, Rose formed a tag team with Den ...

Yoshiaki Yatsu Yoshiaki Yatsu (谷津嘉章 ''Yatsu Yoshiaki'', born July 19, 1956) is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler and amateur wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is known for being one-half of the first-ever All Japan Pro Wrestling ...

*July 26

Tommy Rich Thomas Richardson (born July 26, 1956) is an American professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tommy "Wildfire" Rich. He is a one time former National Wrestling Alliance NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Wo ...

*July 28 Jimmy Jackson (wrestler) (died in 2008) *August 8 Taras Bulba(died in 2016) *August 10

Fred Ottman Fred Alex Ottman (born August 10, 1956) is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He worked for the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (later WWE) from 1989 to 1993 under the ring names Tugboat and Typhoon. As the former, ...

*September 16 Kazuharu Sonoda(died in 1987) *September 18 Súper Kendo *September 21

Ricky Morton Richard Wendell Morton (born September 21, 1956) is an American professional wrestler, currently performing on the independent circuit. For most of his career, Morton has performed with Robert Gibson (wrestler), Robert Gibson as the Rock 'n' Roll ...

*September 26

Richard Charland Richard Charland (born September 26, 1956) is a Canadian professional wrestler. Professional wrestling career Early career (1972-1980) Richard Charland became a wrestler with the encouragement by Mad Dog Vachon. The mat legend had met Charla ...

*October 12 Emilio Charles Jr. (died in 2012) *October 22 Bob Ryder (died in 2020) *November 2 Mike Davis(died in 2001) *November 3 Korstia Korchenko *November 6

Tony Rumble Anthony David Magliaro (November 6, 1956 – November 13, 1999) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known by the ring name Boston Bad Boy Tony Rumble. He competed on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit during the ...

(died in 1999) *November 12 Billy Anderson (wrestler) *November 20 Momma Benjamin *December 20

Super Strong Machine (born December 20, 1956) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler currently working as a trainer for the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion, known primarily by his ring name . Professional wrestling career Hirata applied and was approv ...

*December 27 Masashi Aoyagi (died in 2022) *December 31 MS-1(died in 2012)

Deaths

*May 19 Jack Taylor (Canadian wrestler) (69)

References

{{Years in professional wrestling