2017 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

These promotions held notable events in 2017.

Calendar of notable shows

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Notable events

*September 1 –

CyberAgent is a Japanese digital advertising company, which was founded in 1998 by Susumu Fujita and headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is owned by Susumu Fujita with 20.50% interest; Fujita is the representative director, while Yusuke Hidaka is the execut ...

purchased

DDT Pro-Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Its name is an initialism of Dramatic Dream Team, which was the promotion's original name from 1997 to 2004. Founded in March 1997 by Shintaro Muto, the p ...

, which also included

Ganbare☆Pro-Wrestling , is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 2013 as a sister promotion of DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT). The promotion ran as a brand under the DDT umbrella, until DDT became CyberFight in 2020. It was then considered a sister promotion ...

and

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling is a Japanese joshi puroresu or women's professional wrestling, women's professional wrestling promotion founded in 2012 as a sister promotion of DDT Pro-Wrestling. Initially running alongside other shows such as live music and other Japanese id ...

, with CyberAgent becoming their parent company. *December 7 –

Alexa Bliss Alexis Cabrera ( Kaufman; born August 9, 1991) is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Alexa Bliss. In 2013, Bliss signed a contract with WWE and was assigne ...

vs.

Sasha Banks Sacha, Sasha, or Sascha may refer to: People * Sasha (name), includes list of people with the name and the variants Sascha or Sacha Musicians * Sacha (singer), born Sacha Visagie, Canadian singer and songwriter * Sasha (DJ) (born 1969), born Alex ...

during a

WWE Live A house show (also commonly called a live event) is a professional wrestling event produced by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their ...

tour is the first women's match contested in the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

, and specifically,

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

Tournaments and accomplishments

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA)

All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW)

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)

Kazuchika Okada IWGP Heavyweight champion 2016

Pro Wrestling Noah

Ring of Honor

TNA/Impact/GFW

WWE

Title changes

AAA

TNA/Impact/GFW

NJPW

ROH

The Crash Lucha Libre

WWE

: – Raw : –

SmackDown ''WWE SmackDown'', also known as ''Friday Night SmackDown'' or simply ''SmackDown'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE. It airs live every Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on USA Network in the United ...

: – NXT

Raw and SmackDown

Raw and SmackDown each had a world championship, a secondary championship, a women's championship, and a male tag team championship. Raw also had a championship for their cruiserweight wrestlers.

NXT

Awards and honors

''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''

''Wrestling Observer Newsletter''

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

WWE

WWE Hall of Fame

NXT Year-End Awards

The award winners were announced on NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia on January 27, 2018.

Debuts

* January 3 –

Great-O-Khan , better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the United Empire stable, the former NJPW World Television Champion in his one time, and the final official ...

* January 15 –

Miyuki Takase is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Actwres girl'Z,Pro Wrestling Wave and Pure-J. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2017–present) ...

* January 17 – Yuya Aoki * February 18 –

Jack Morris John Scott Morris (born May 16, 1955) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers. Morris won 254 games throughout his career. Arme ...

* February 25 –

Soma Watanabe is a Japanese professional wrestler and kickboxer signed to Gleat where he is the former G-Rex Champion . He is also known for competing in Wrestle-1 and Pro Wrestling Heat Up. Professional wrestling career Wrestle-1 (2017–2020) Watanabe ma ...

* March 4 –

Satsuki Totoro is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Actwres girl'Z and Ice Ribbon. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2017–present) As a freelancer, ...

* March 5 –

Hikari Shimizu is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Actwres girl'Z and Pro Wrestling Wave. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2017–present) As a ...

* March 26 –

Kakeru Sekiguchi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Actwres girl'Z and Oz Academy. Professional wrestling career Independent Circuit (2017-present) As a freelancer, Sekigu ...

* April 9 – Hanan * April 15 **

Grayson Waller Matthew Farrelly (born 21 March 1990) is an Australian professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Grayson Waller, and is in a tag team with Austin Theory as A-Town Down Under, where he is ...

Leo Isaka is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler currently signed to the Japanese professional wrestling promotion, promotion Marvelous That's Women Pro Wrestling. He is also known for his tenure with Pro Wrestling Zero1 where he is th ...

* April 6 –

Manami is a common primarily feminine Japanese given name. Written forms Manami can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *愛美, "love, beauty" *愛海, "love, sea" *愛未, "love, not yet" *愛実, "love, fruit" *真名美, "tr ...

* April 13 –

Shota Umino is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Early life Umino was born on April 13, 1997, in the special ward of Setagaya in Tokyo, Japan. He is the son of NJPW referee Hiroyuki Umino (also known under h ...

* April 16 –

Itsuki Aoki better known by her ring name Itsuki Aoki is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her time in the Japanese promotions Oz Academy and Pro Wrestling Wave. In World Wonder Ring Stardom, she is a m ...

* April 22 –

1 Called Manders Steven Manders (born 23 October 1993), better known by his ring name 1 Called Manders, is an American professional wrestler currently performing on the independent circuit. He is also known for his time with American promotions Game Changer ...

* April 29 – Takato Nakano * May 4 –

Koju Takeda ; born May 8, 1991) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and preponderently for the Japanese promotions DDT Pro-Wrestling and Wrestling of Darkness 666. Professional wrestling career DDT Pro-Wrestling (2017–pre ...

* May 28 – Takahiro Katori * June 11 **

Hina Hina may refer to: People and deities * Hina (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Hina (goddess), the name assigned to a number of Polynesian deities. * Hina (singer), of 2021 group Lightsum Other u ...

Rina Rina or RINA may refer to: __NOTOC__ People and fictional characters * Rina (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Kento Rina, Indian politician * Mahfuza Rahman Rina, Bangladeshi politician * Tongam Rina (born 1979), Indian jo ...

Ibuki Hoshi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working in the Japanese promotion Ice Ribbon where she is a one-time ICE Cross Infinity Champion. She is a former International Ribbon Tag Team Champion. She is currently inactive, due to maternity ...

* June 18 –

Thekla Thekla (, ''Thékla'', ) is a Greek feminine given name made famous by Saint Thecla, a 1st-century Christian martyr. In English, it is more commonly romanized as Thecla. In modern Russian language it is known as Fekla/ Fyokla and considered to be ...

* June 25 –

Miku Aono is a Japanese professional wrestler, actress and gravure idol. She is currently signed to Dream Star Fighting Marigold, where she a former Marigold United National Champion. She is best known for her time in Actwres girl'Z, where she is a forme ...

* July 2 –

Shoki Kitamura is a Japanese professional wrestler currently performing in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1 where he is a former World Junior Heavyweight Champion and International Junior Heavyweight Champion. Professional wrestling career Independ ...

* July 14 –

Yukio Naya is a Japanese professional wrestler, working for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT). He is a former KO-D 8-Man Tag Team Champion and co-holder of the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship. Hailing from a sumo ...

* July 16 –

Tyson Maeguchi better known by his ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler and former kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his time with Ganbare Pro-Wrestling where he is a former Spirit of Ganbare World Tag ...

* August 18 – Matt Vandagriff * August 20 –

Yuki Iino is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), where he is a former DDT Universal Champion; as well as being a former DDT Extreme Champion, KO-D Tag Team Champion with Tetsuya Endo, three-time KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Cham ...

* August 26 –

Yuki Kamifuku is a Japanese professional wrestler and model currently working with Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling and also is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions DDT Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah. Professional wrestling career Independ ...

* September 15 – Sae * September 16 –

Rising Hayato , better known by his ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler working for the Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2016–present) Hayato started his professional wrestling career i ...

* September 29 –

Leyla Hirsch Leyla Hirsch (; born September 27, 1996) is a Russian-born American professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and its sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). Before joining AEW in 2020, Hirsh was active on ...

* October 13 –

Towa Iwasaki is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the professional wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1), where he is a former United National Heavyweight Champion. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2017–pr ...

* October 15 –

Ayame Sasamura is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer and is best known for her tenure with the Japanese promotions Seadlinnng and Active Advance Pro Wrestling. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2017–present) ...

* October 19 – Rick Boogs * October 29 – Giulia * October 31 –

Yuna Mizumori is a Japanese professional wrestler working for the World Wonder Ring Stardom where she is a member of the Cosmic Angels stable. She is also known for her work in various promotions from the independent circuit such as Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling ...

* November 7 –

Megan Bayne Megan Doheny (born June 1, 1998), better known by her ring name , is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She also makes appearances on the U.S. independent circuit, primarily for Game Changer Wrestling ...

* November 12 –

Takumi Baba is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Zero1 where he is a World Junior and International Junior Heavyweight Champion. He is also known for his work in Wrestle-1 and in the Japanese independent scene. Profession ...

* November 13 – Tomoyo Hirata * December -

Callum Newman Callum Joseph Newman (born 31 August 2002) is an English professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current third leader of the United Empire, and a former two-time IWGP Tag Team Champion. Early life ...

* December 8 – Oji Shiiba * December 24 –

Himeka Arita better known by her ring name or simply Himeka is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with the Japanese professional wrestling promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom where she is a former Goddesses of Stardom C ...

Retirements

Kyoko Kimura is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Throughout her 14-year career, she competed in Big Japan Pro Wrestling, Ibuki, Ice Ribbon, JWP Joshi Puroresu, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling and World Wonder Ring Stardom, a ...

(July 20, 2003 – January 22, 2017) *

Rosa Mendes Milena Leticia Roucka ( ; born October 25, 1979) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, valet and model. She was known for her time in WWE under the ring name Rosa Mendes. She managed former WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico from 201 ...

(November 2006 – February 13, 2017) *

Kellie Skater Callee Keating (born 30 September 1987) is an Australian retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler best known by her ring name Kellie Skater. She has wrestled internationally, in Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States. She i ...

(2007 – February 25, 2017) *

Barry Darsow Barry Allen Darsow (born October 6, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler who performed as Smash, one half of the tag team Demolition. He also wrestled as Krusher Kruschev, Repo Man, the Blacktop Bully, Man Mountain Darsow and "Mr. ...

(1983-2001, 2007-2017) * Sachie Abe (May 2, 1996 – April 2, 2017) *

Akebono Tarō was an American-born Japanese professional sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining sumo in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching t ...

(March 31, 2005 - April 11, 2017) * Ricardo Rodriguez (August 11, 2006 – May 5, 2017) *

Shelly Martinez Shelly Leonor Martinez (born February 9, 1980) is an American model, actress, retired professional wrestler and valet. She is known for her work with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its ECW brand under the ring name Ariel and for Total ...

(December 2000 – May 17, 2017) *

Tyson Kidd Theodore James "TJ" Wilson (born July 11, 1980), better known by the ring name Tyson Kidd, is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he works as a road agent (professional wrestling), producer. The final graduate o ...

(July 23, 1995 – June 29, 2017) *

Velvet Sky Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an United States, American color commentator and retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and the National Wrestling Allian ...

(2003 – July 6, 2017) (return in ROH in 2019) *

Bob Armstrong Joseph Melton James (October 3, 1939 – August 27, 2020) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. In the course of his career, which spanned five decades, Armstrong held numerous championsh ...

(1960 – July 13, 2017) (returned for a match in 2019) *

Mark Henry Mark Jerrold Henry (born June 12, 1971) is an American former powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and retired professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract. Henry is a two-time Olympian (1992 and 19 ...

(September 20, 1996 – August 2, 2017) *

Eva Marie Natalie Eva Marie Nelson (born September 19, 1984) is an American media personality, professional wrestler, model, actress and businesswoman. She is best known for her tenures in WWE from 2013–2017 and 2020–2021, where she performed under ...

(July 1, 2013 – August 4, 2017) (return in

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

in 2021) *

Sid Eudy Sidney Raymond Eudy (December 16, 1960 – August 26, 2024) was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, best known for his tenures in the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), wrestling ...

(1987 – August 5, 2017) *

Bill Eadie William Reid Eadie (born December 27, 1947) is an American retired professional wrestler, best known for performing under the ring names The Masked Superstar and Ax, the latter as part of Demolition (professional wrestling), Demolition. Early ...

(December 15, 1972 – August 12, 2017) *

Big Van Vader Leon Allen White (May 14, 1955 – June 18, 2018), better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or simply Vader, was an American professional wrestler and professional American football, football player. During his career, he performed for New J ...

(1985-August 26, 2017) *

Danny Havoc Grant Amos Berkland (May 19, 1986 – May 31, 2020), better known by his ring name Danny Havoc, was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), and was noted for mixing his technical style w ...

(July 30, 2005 – September 9, 2017) (returned to wrestling in 2019 until his death in 2020) *

Terry Funk Terrance Dee Funk (June 30, 1944 – August 23, 2023) was an American professional wrestler and actor. Widely considered one of the most influential and greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Funk was known for the longevity of his car ...

(1965-September 23, 2017) *

Atsushi Onita is a Japanese actor, politician, and semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and is credited with introducing the hardcore wrestling, deathmatch style of professional wrestling t ...

(April 14, 1974 – October 31, 2017) *

Manami Toyota is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, best known for her work with All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW). She is widely considered to be one of the greatest female professional wrestlers of all time. Following AJW's closure, Toyota conti ...

(August 5, 1987 – November 3, 2017) *

Candice Michelle Candice Michelle Beckman (born September 30, 1978), better known as Candice Michelle, is an American model, actress and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in WWE. After spending years modeling and acting, Michelle ...

(November 15, 2004 – December 2, 2017) (full retirement, through full inactive since 2009) *

Dai Suzuki is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for his time in the Japanese promotions DDT Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Freedoms. Professional wrestling career Independent circuit (2013–2017) Suzuki made his professional wrestling ...

(November 28, 2014 – December 13, 2017) *

Great Kabuki , better known as , is a Japanese retired professional wrestler. He is famous as the first to blow Asian mist in his opponents' faces. Professional wrestling career Mera was born on September 8, 1948, in Nobeoka, Japan. He started wrestling in ...

(October 31, 1964 – December 22, 2017)

Deaths

Jimmy Superfly Snuka Paparazzo Photography

* January 9 – Timothy Well, 55 * January 15 –

Jimmy Snuka James Reiher Snuka (born James Wiley Smith; May 18, 1943 – January 15, 2017) was a Fijian and American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Snuka wrestled for several promotions from the 1970s to 2010s ...

, 73 * January 25 –

Jun Izumida was a Japanese professional wrestler who worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah. Sumo career Before being a professional wrestler, Izumida was a sumo wrestler, making his debut in March 1986. He reached a highest rank of ...

, 51 * February 2 –

Tom Drake Tom Drake (born Alfred Sinclair Alderdice; August 5, 1918August 11, 1982) was an American actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances.

, 86 * February 10 –

Bob Sweetan Robert Carson (born Robert Beier; July 4, 1940 – February 10, 2017), better known by his ring name Bob Sweetan, was a Canadian professional wrestler. Sweetan was nicknamed "Bruiser" and "Mr. Piledriver", the latter in reference to his finishing ...

, 76 * February 11 –

Chavo Guerrero Sr. Salvador Guerrero Llanes (January 7, 1949 – February 11, 2017), better known as Chavo Guerrero or Chavo Guerrero Sr., and also known during the 21st century as "Chavo Classic", was a Mexican-American professional wrestler. He was best k ...

, 68 * February 16 –

George Steele William James Myers (April 16, 1937 – February 16, 2017), better known by his ring name George "The Animal" Steele, was an American professional wrestler, school teacher, author, and actor. His career lasted from 1967 until 1988, though he mad ...

, 79 * February 17 –

Nicole Bass Nicole Fuchs (''née'' Bass; August 10, 1964 – February 17, 2017) was an American bodybuilder, actress, professional wrestler, and professional wrestling valet. She worked for companies such as Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling ...

, 52 * February 18 –

Ivan Koloff Oreal Donald Perras (August 25, 1942 – February 18, 2017) was a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by the ring name "the Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff, where he was billed from Russia and, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, ...

, 74 * February 21 –

Bruiser Bedlam Ion William Croitoru (December 7, 1963 – February 21, 2017) was a Canadian professional wrestler and outlaw biker, known to wrestling fans by his ring names Johnny K-9, Taras Bulba and Bruiser Bedlam. Croitoru worked in several Canadian wrestli ...

, 53 * March 7 – Ron Bass, 68 * March 13 –

Dennis Stamp Dennis Stamp (December 6, 1946 – March 13, 2017) was an American professional wrestler and referee. He was best known for wrestling extensively during the 1970s and 1980s for the American Wrestling Association, and for the National Wrestling Al ...

, 70 * April 8 ** Joaquín Roldán, 63 ** Fishman, 66 * April 10 – Larry Sharpe, 65 * April 17 – Rosey, 47 * April 20-

Katsuji Ueda was a Japanese kickboxer, martial artist and professional wrestler, best known for his time with Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) between 1990 and 1995. He was usually utilized in martial arts fights during his FMW career and won the promotio ...

, 71 * April 28 – Brazo de Oro, 57 * May 7 –

Gran Apache Mario Balbuena González (April 16, 1959 – May 7, 2017), better known under the ring names Gran Apache and El Apache, was a Mexican '' luchador'', or professional wrestler and trainer. Balbuena worked for AAA / Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) ...

, 58 * May 16 –

Doug Somers Douglas Duane Somerson (September 22, 1951 – May 16, 2017) was an American professional wrestler known by his ring name "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers. He worked in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the mid-1980s as part of a tag team with ...

, 65 * June 8 -

Ron Starr Bobby Eugene Nutt (April 3, 1951 – June 8, 2017), better known by his ring name Ron Starr, was an American professional wrestler. Starr was a mainstay for numerous wrestling territories throughout the 1970s and 80s, capturing almost three doz ...

, 66 * June 17 – Buddy Wayne, 50 * June 23 – Mr. Pogo, 66 * July 2 –

Smith Hart Smith Stewart Hart (November 28, 1948 – July 2, 2017) was an American-Canadian professional wrestler and a member of the Hart wrestling family. His parents were Stu and Helen Hart. Smith was the first of their twelve children, being one of th ...

, 68 * July 3 – Joe Robinson, 90 * July 6 –

Diane Von Hoffman Phyllis Burch (April 13, 1962 – July 6, 2017) was an American professional wrestler active from 1979 to 2013. Burch wrestled under the names Diane Von Hoffman, The Teutonic Terror, and Lady Beast. She wrestled in Memphis's United States W ...

, 55 * July 11 –

Buddy Wolfe Leslie Charles Wolff (April 11, 1941 – July 11, 2017) was an American football player and professional wrestler, known by his ring name "Beautiful" Buddy Wolfe, who competed in North American regional promotions including the American Wrestling ...

, 76 * August 16 - Don Nakaya Nielsen, 58 * September 14 –

Otto Wanz Otto Wanz (; 13 June 1943 – 14 September 2017) was an Austrian professional wrestler and boxer. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1968. He is a one time American Wrestling Association champion and former operator of the Catch ...

, 74 * September 17 **

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Raymond Louis Heenan (November 1, 1944 – September 17, 2017) was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, and wrestler. He performed with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now ...

, 72 ** Rey Celestial, 22 * October 3 –

Lance Russell Lance Russell (March 18, 1926 – October 3, 2017) was an American sports broadcaster and ring announcer, primarily serving as a professional wrestling announcer and commentator in the Memphis region from 1959 to 1997. In NWA Mid-America and its ...

, 91 * October 15 – Burrhead Jones, 80 * October 20 –

Stan Kowalski Stan Kowalski (born Bert Smith; May 13, 1926 – October 20, 2017) was an American professional wrestler who was one half of the tag team Murder Incorporated with partner Tiny Mills in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) from 1960 to 1975. ...

, 91 * November 5 - Tokyo Joe (Joe Daigo), 75 * November 8: ** Eddy Steinblock, 61 **

Tugboat Taylor Dickie Dean Taylor (December 9, 1945 – November 8, 2017) was an American professional wrestler who was best known as Tugboat Taylor in the Global Wrestling Federation in Texas. Early career Taylor started in the Marine Corps in 1964 and foug ...

, 71 * December 9 –

Tom Zenk Thomas Erwin Zenk (November 30, 1958 – December 9, 2017) was an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder. He was a babyface for his entire career and was best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1987 ...

, 59 * December 17 -

Rubén Pato Soria Rubén "Pato" Soria (February 2, 1942 - December 15, 2017) was a Mexican ''Lucha libre, luchador'', or professional wrestler, in the 1960s who was very popular with the female fans. Retired in 1970 while on tour in the US. Probably more well known ...

, 75

References

{{Years in professional wrestling

List of notable promotions

Calendar of notable shows

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Notable events

Tournaments and accomplishments

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA)

All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW)

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)

Pro Wrestling Noah

Ring of Honor

TNA/Impact/GFW

WWE

Title changes

AAA

TNA/Impact/GFW

NJPW

ROH

The Crash Lucha Libre

WWE

Raw and SmackDown

NXT

Awards and honors

''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''

''Wrestling Observer Newsletter''

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

WWE

WWE Hall of Fame

NXT Year-End Awards

Debuts

Retirements

Deaths

See also

References