1961 in professional wrestling

1961 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling.

Only two promotions held notable shows in 1961.

• Debut date uncertain:
  • The Beast^[13]
  • Ernie Ladd
  • Gino Brito
  • Ivan Koloff
  • Jack Lanza^[13]
  • Jonathan Boyd^[13]
  • Luke Graham^[13]
  • S. D. Jones^[13]
  • Spiros Arion^[13]
  • Tony Parisi^[13]
  • Wahoo McDaniel^[13]
  • Jean Antone
• April – Umanosuke Ueda^[13]
• July 4 – Les Thatcher^[13]
• July 16 – Dr. Wagner^[13]
• October 11 - Masio Koma (JWA)

• Date of birth uncertain:
  • Penny Mitchell
  • Eli the Eliminator
• January 24:
  • Reggie Bennett^[14]
  • Kōji Iibashi
• 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:
  • Bull Pain
  • Despina Montagas
• 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:
  • Ron Harris^[14]
  • Don Harris^[15]
• 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
• October 7 – Al Mills^[16] 50/51
• November 8 – Blimp Levy, 56