AWA Roster in 1980: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions

American Wrestling Association: Rosters History Database

On this page you find the full AWA Roster in the year 1980. This includes the list of all AWA Wrestlers, division between Men and Women Rosters, active Tag Teams & Stables, the current reigning Champions, as well as Managers, Announcers, Authority figures, Producers and other personalities in American Wrestling Association.

Our complete Pro Wrestlers Database allows you to travel through time and see the AWA Roster by Year or any specific Date in history. Simply use the filters below! You even have the option to view a breakdown of the rosters split by Face and Heel divisions.

1980

AWA: All (29)

Men

Women

Teams

Champions

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

Verne Gagne

Won: July 18, 1980

Chicago, Illinois

166+ days

Gagne retired from active wrestling while still the champion.

166+

days

Nick Bockwinkel

Won: November 8, 1975

Saint Paul, Minnesota | House show

1714 days

1714

days

AWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship

Dino Bravo

Won: December 6, 1979

Toronto, Ontario | House Show

391+ days

Billed as champion on arrival; previously held NWA Canadian Title.

391+

days

AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship	Vacant Won: November 1, 1980 60+ days Championship vacated for undocumented reasons	60+ days
	Tommy Rich Won: October 6, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| CWA Show 26 days	26 days
	Jimmy Valiant Won: September 9, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| CWA Show 27 days	27 days
	Tommy Rich Won: September 1, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| CWA Show 8 days	8 days
	Jimmy Valiant Won: August 25, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| CWA Show 7 days Defeated Bill Irwin in a rematch.	7 days
	Vacant Won: August 18, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| CWA Show 7 days Championship vacated after a match against Jimmy Valliant	7 days
	Bill Irwin Won: August 11, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| CWA Show 7 days Defeated Jimmy Valiant the finals of an eight-man one-night tournament.	7 days
	Vacant Won: August 4, 1980 7 days Title was vacated when Dundee won the CWA World Heavyweight Championship	7 days

View All Reigns

AWA World Tag Team Championship

East-West ConnectionAdrian Adonis & Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Won: July 20, 1980

Denver, Colorado | Live event

164+ days

Won by forfeit when Gagne no-showed scheduled defense.

164+

days

Verne Gagne & Mad Dog VachonVerne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon

Won: June 6, 1979

Winnipeg, Manitoba | Live event

410 days

410

days

AWA Southern Tag Team Championship	Bill Dundee & Tommy RichTommy Rich Bill Dundee Won: December 22, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| House Show 9+ days	9+ days
	Ken Lucas & Ricky MortonRicky Morton Ken Lucas Won: November 17, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| House Show 35 days Defeat the Irwins in rematch.	35 days
	Roger Kirby & Guy Mitchell Roger Kirby & Guy Mitchell Won: November 4, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| House Show 13 days	13 days
	Ken Lucas & Ricky MortonRicky Morton Ken Lucas Won: November 3, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| House Show 1 day Held up after a match against Bill Irwin and Scott Irwin on November 10, 1980, in Memphis, Tennessee.	1 day
	Bill Irwin & Larry LathamBill Irwin & Larry Latham Won: October 27, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| House Show 7 days	7 days
	Eddie Gilbert & Tommy GilbertEddie Gilbert & Tommy Gilbert Won: September 29, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| House Show 28 days	28 days
	The Angel & Sonny King The Angel & Sonny King Won: September 15, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee \| House Show 14 days	14 days
	Eddie Gilbert & Tommy GilbertEddie Gilbert & Tommy Gilbert Won: August 25, 1980 Louisville, Kentucky \| House Show 21 days	21 days

View All Reigns

AWA World Women's Championship

Vacant

Won: March 27, 1975

2106+ days

The championship was vacated when Betty Nicoli retired.

2106+

days

AWA Brass Knuckles Championship

The Crusher

Won: October 12, 1980

Saint Paul, Minnesota | House show

80+ days

80+

days

Don Fargo

Won: February 12, 1979

Memphis, Tennessee | House show

597 days

Don Fargo is billed as champion upon entering the promotion.

597

days

Extras

The profile of each AWA wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics.

Also, check out these useful articles we put together:

6864 Comments
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This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Joshua Araujo

Staff
· 1 hours ago
Added a bunch of new images (+ card position data) to Roddy Piper and Ezekiel Jackson's profiles!

https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/wrestlers/roddy-piper
https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/wrestlers/ezekiel-jackson
- 0 Up 1 Down
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Thomas Keane-wyer · 2 hours ago
Why is brad Baylor in the upper card and not the lower card with the rest of vanity project.
- 0 Up 1 Down
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Draysin Martin · 6 hours ago
Daria Rae is in TNA & so is Elayna Black Daria Rae is only going to best an assistant GM
- 0 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
gary vaughan · 13 hours ago
will there be more NXT superstars going to the main roster brands
- 0 Up 2 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
robert franklin · 22 hours ago
On smackdown jan 16 2026 I have winner predictions and wanted winners for the matches on the card they are below
Sami zayn vs ilja dragunov ilja dragunov wins
Trick Williams vs matt Cardona matt Cardona wins
Damian priest vs solo sikoa Solo sikoa wins
Randy orton vs the miz The miz wins
I also have other matches I'd like to see added to the smackdown card for jan 16 2026 episode of Friday night smackdown with winners they are below
Cm punk vs Bron breakker Bron breakker wins
Cm punk vs seth rollins Seth rollins wins
Damian priest vs Aleister black Aleister black wins
Solo sikoa Jacob fatu and Tama tonga vs jey uso Jimmy uso and Sami zayn jey uso Jimmy uso and Sami zayn wins
Randy orton vs aj styles vs la knight randy orton wins
Oba femi vs Leon slater Leon slater wins
Oba femi vs trick Williams vs Eddy Thorpe trick Williams wins
Trick Williams vs Grayson waller Grayson waller wins
What do you think about my match card for wwe smackdown i wish Seth rollins would come back
- 0 Up 8 Down
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  Draysin Martin · 11 hours ago
  
  @robert franklin These superstars on the upper half are happening but the other half either already happened or wasn't confirmed at all,
  CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker happened last week, Seth Rollins is waiting to be cleared to return, & as for Priest vs. Black it already happened multiple times last year and two weeks ago, and The Bloodline vs. OG Bloodline happened at the beginning of last year
  
  0 Up 0 Down
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robert franklin · 1 days ago
On raw jan 19 2026 there are title changes and matches I'd like to see they are below
Becky lynch vs Maxxine Dupri Maxxine Dupri wins title
Cm punk vs Finn balor Finn balor wins title
Gunther vs el grande americano el grande americano wins
Dragon Lee and alexa bliss vs Kofi kingston and Asuka Kofi kingston and Asuka wins
Drew mcintyre vs shinsuke nakamura vs ilja dragunov ilja dragunov wins
Bron breakker vs jevon Evans jevon Evans wins
The wyatt sicks vs the mfts the mfts wins
What do you think about my match card ideas for jan 19 2026 Monday night raw and predicted and wanted winners
- 0 Up 9 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Draysin Martin · 11 hours ago
  
  @robert franklin Most of these superstars aren't even on Raw and we haven't had a mixed tag match in WWE since Wrestlepalooza which was The Vision vs. CM Punk & AJ lee
  Drew Mcintyre, Shinsuke Nakamura, The Wyatt Sicks, The MFT's, & Alexa Bliss are on Smackdown
  
  0 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Davey Castegnaro · 1 days ago
Breaking News: Powerhouse Hobbs will be a free agent at Midnight!!! He's currently one of the Trios Tag Team champions along with Samoa Joe & Katsuyori Shibata.
What could this mean? With AEW collision tapings happening tonight. I wonder if the opps are gonna drop the titles to Hangman Adam Page & Jetspeed (Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight)
Guess we'll see.
- 2 Up 1 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Draysin Martin · 1 days ago
  
  @Davey Castegnaro It means the Opps will either vacate the AEW World Trios Championships or have HOOK be the replacement
  
  1 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Bee · 1 days ago
The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier, Trey Miguel, & Myron Reed) have signed with AEW
- 3 Up 1 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Draysin Martin · 1 days ago
  
  @Bee I'm so excited for this
  
  3 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Robert Gray · 1 days ago
Honestly all the tag teams besides the Usos, Wyatt Sicks, Judgment Day, the New Day, and The MFTs have been a no show

Rey Fenix might (a big might) be Low card

Matt Cardona hasn’t shown up on Smackdown since his match with Kit Wilson so probably a Low Card for him
- 1 Up 2 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Constance Affinito · 1 days ago
  
  @Robert Gray We can't call Matt Cardona a low-card, he returned 2 weeks ago, and he's going against Trick Williams for a WWE Championship qualifying match.
  
  2 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Max · 1 days ago
On the wwe website they finally have Jimmy uso listed as a wrestler on raw he is no longer on smackdown
- 5 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Thomas Keane-wyer · 2 days ago
Stacks hasn't got the heritage cup coming out with him for matches and I think they have deactivated the cup so they won't use it again.
- 4 Up 2 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Wright Hill · 1 days ago
  
  @Thomas Keane-wyer 100% True.
  
  1 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Central · 2 days ago
I don't think Roman counts as a SmackDown superstar anymore. He's had far more appearances on Raw than SmackDown in 2025.
- 1 Up 2 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
smah · 2 days ago
many new debuts and signings to the NXT roster tonight. swipe right (brad baylor, ricky smokes), jackson drake, keanu carver, eli knight.
after about 3 months, jaida parker has returned to tv. she's a face or a tweener, and set to feud with blake monroe.
also - OTM might be tweeners? maybe not, but they worked with joe hendry against heel dark state and didn't betray him or go back on him. worth considering.
- 5 Up 2 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Texas Steve · 2 days ago
Jackson Drake,Brad Baylor,Ricky Smokes,and Eli Knight are all on NXT officially
- 1 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Robert Gray · 2 days ago
Brock is most likely inactive until next appearance
Bayley is most likely a regular face
Seth could be a tweener (don’t know for sure) but because of The Vision turning on him
- 3 Up 2 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Robert Gray · 2 days ago
  
  @Robert Gray Jaida Parker is back as a face feuding surf Blake Monroe
  
  2 Up 0 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Robert Gray · 2 days ago
  
  @Robert Gray El Grande Americano can be moved to Low Card
  
  2 Up 1 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Wright Hill · 2 days ago
Finn Bálor is definitely Tweener. And Upper Card, since he is feuding with World Heavyweight Champ, CM Punk.
- 3 Up 2 Down
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Vishnoah · 3 days ago
Finn Balor uppercard,

Next feud with CMPunk
- 3 Up 2 Down
- This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
  Draysin Martin · 3 days ago
  
  @Vishnoah Finn is also Tweener due to the hints he's dropping turning face & leaving Judgement day
  
  2 Up 2 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Kason Garrett · 3 days ago
Bron breaker suspended indefinitely
- 3 Up 2 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Micah K · 3 days ago
Also new Logan Paul, Jacob fatu Nathan Fraser, and La knight photos

Russev low card or inactive motor city machine guns are definitely inactive not low carders

But don’t rush on this
- 5 Up 2 Down
This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Micah K · 3 days ago
AJ styles upper card, two new photos one from the heel 2024 and one from this year. And yeah
- 3 Up 2 Down

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AWA Roster in 1980: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions

AWA: All (29)

Men

Women

Teams

The Blond Bombers

The East-West Connection

Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens

Pat O'Connor & Rufus R. Jones

Champions

AWA World Heavyweight Championship

AWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship

AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship

AWA World Tag Team Championship

East-West ConnectionAdrian Adonis & Jesse "The Body" Ventura

Verne Gagne & Mad Dog VachonVerne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon

AWA Southern Tag Team Championship

Bill Dundee & Tommy RichTommy Rich Bill Dundee

Ken Lucas & Ricky MortonRicky Morton Ken Lucas

Roger Kirby & Guy Mitchell Roger Kirby & Guy Mitchell

Ken Lucas & Ricky MortonRicky Morton Ken Lucas

Bill Irwin & Larry LathamBill Irwin & Larry Latham

Eddie Gilbert & Tommy GilbertEddie Gilbert & Tommy Gilbert

The Angel & Sonny King The Angel & Sonny King

Eddie Gilbert & Tommy GilbertEddie Gilbert & Tommy Gilbert

AWA World Women's Championship

AWA Brass Knuckles Championship

Don Fargo

Extras

Part Time Wrestler

Manager

Ring Announcer

Interviewer

Promoters

Coaches