Friday, December 31, 2010

Match of the Day

Our Match of the Day is from January 21st 1992 and Clash of Champions 18.

Held in Topeka, Kansas the main event was the 4 top contenders to Lex Luger's WCW World Title involved in a tag team match. It was Rick Rude and Stunning Steve Austin against The Dragon Ricky Steamboat and Sting.

Enjoy


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

ECW Holiday Hell 1995


Today December 29th 1995 - ECW made its New York City debut, with "Holiday Hell" at Queens' Lost Battalion Hall.
The results:
- Taz defeated Koji Nakagawa by submission with the Tazmission.
- Hack Meyers pinned J.T . Smith.
- Mikey Whipwreck pinned ECW World Television and World Tag Team Champion 2 Cold Scorpio, after Cactus Jack double-arm DDT'd Scorpio while the referee was knocked out, to win both titles. After the match, Whipwreck tried to return the Television Title to Scorpio, saying that he didn't want to win it that way, before Cactus clotheslined Scorpio to the floor. Cactus Jack became co-holder of the title. This began Jack and Whipwreck's second reign as tag champs, Whipwreck's second as TV champ, and ended Scorpio's third TV Title reign.
- The Eliminators (Saturn and Kronus) defeated The Pitbulls when Saturn pinned Pitbull #2 after Total Elimination.
- Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie and Beulah McGillicutty came to the ring and told Tommy Dreamer that Raven broke his leg the night before and couldn't wrestle, so Dreamer would have to face Meanie instead. Dreamer pinned Meanie in 12 seconds after a DDT, and pinned Richards in the same fashion in 12 seconds. Dreamer attempted to piledrive Beulah when Raven attacked Dreamer and they had their scheduled match. Raven pinned Dreamer after a DDT on a chair, earning an ECW World Heavyweight Title match later in the show.
- Bruiser Mastino pinned El Puerto Ricano after a powerslam. After the match, Mastino continued to attack El Puerto Ricano before 911 chokeslammed Mastino. Bill Alfonso came out and shoved 911 until Tod Gordon jumped Alfonso. Taz then came out and pulled Gordon off Alfonso. 911 hit a second chokeslam on Mastino before a stare-down with Taz.
- Buh Buh Ray Dudley pinned The Blue Meanie after a top-rope splash.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion The Sandman pinned Raven to retain the title after a top-rope facebuster slam.


- The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustafa Saed), who subbed for The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray was still in ECW, but Tom Prichard had gone to the WWF to become Zip of the Bodydonnas), defeated The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) when Saed pinned Rock with a roll-up after New Jack hit Rock with a chair. Before the match, the crowd chanted "please don't go" towards Public Enemy, but after the match chanted "you sold out" before eventually applauding them. Public Enemy would wrestle two more matches for ECW before leaving for World Championship Wrestling in January 1996.


- Sabu pinned ECW Tag Team Champion Cactus Jack when Cactus failed a bodyslam and Sabu fell on top for the win. Before the match Cactus Jack said the match would be contested under Olympic rules and brought out NCAA wrestling referee John "Pee Wee" Moore, who then proceeded to go through amateur rules, before 911 came out and chokeslammed Moore, and declared himself the referee.

Match of the Day

Twenty Five years ago today
1985 - The National Wrestling Alliance and American Wrestling Association hold their third joint-promoted "NWA/AWA Star Wars" event at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The results:
- Ron Bass defeated J.J. Dillon.
- NWA World Midgets' Champion Little Tokyo defeated Cowboy Lang to retain the title.
- AWA World Women's Champion Sherri Martel defeated Debbie Combs to retain the title.
- Jake Roberts defeated Paul Ellering by disqualification.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) defeated The Long Riders (Bill and Scott Irwin) to retain the title.
- Sgt. Slaughter defeated Chris Markoff and Boris Zhukov in a handicap match.
- NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum T.A. defeated Tully Blanchard to retain the title.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes by disqualification to retain the title.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khruschev.
Match of the Day
- Stan Hansen defeated AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel by submission to win the title. Hansen had Martel in the Brazos Valley Backbreaker (Boston Crab) and when Martel would try to power out of it, Hansen would press his head against the middle turnbuckle to keep the hold on. Martel eventually submitted.



Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Today in Wrestling History

1968 - The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser win their fourth AWA World Tag Team Title and third World Wrestling Association Tag Team Title, defeating Mitsu Arakawa and Dr. Moto (Tor Kamata) for both in Chicago, Illinois. This ended Arakawa and Moto's second WWA reign.


1992 - WCW held Starrcade '92 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Omni, using the "BattleBowl/Lethal Lottery" concept again of having "random" tag team matches with the winners moving on to a battle royal. The show also featured several non-Lethal Lottery matches. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Brad Armstrong defeated Shanghai Pierce.
- In a Lethal Lottery tag team match, Van Hammer & Danny Spivey defeated Johnny B. Badd & Cactus Jack when Hammer rolled up Jack for the pin after Badd hit Cactus while they were arguing.
- In a Lethal Lottery tag team match, Big Van Vader & Dustin Rhodes defeated Kensuke Sasaki & The Barbarian when Rhodes pinned Barbarian after he collided with Sasaki. After the match, Vader attacked Rhodes.
- In a Lethal Lottery tag team match, The Great Muta & Barry Windham defeated Brian Pillman & 2 Cold Scorpio when Muta pinned Scorpio with a moonsault.
- In a Lethal Lottery tag team match, Steve Williams & Sting defeated Jushin Liger & Erik Watts when Williams pinned Watts with a Hot Shot.
- NWA & WCW World Tag Team Champions Shane Douglas & Ricky Steamboat defeated Barry Windham & Brian Pillman when Douglas pinned Windham with a belly-to-belly suplex.
- Sting defeated Big Van Vader to win the King of Cable tournament by powerslamming Vader as he jumped off the top rope.
- WCW World Champion Ron Simmons defeated Steve Williams via DQ. The match ended in a double countout, but the referee disqualified Williams after the bout for continuing to attack Simmons.
- NWA World Champion Masahiro Chono defeated The Great Muta via submission with an STF.


- The Great Muta won the Battlebowl battle royal by eliminating Barry Windham with a dropkick. The match also included Steve Williams, Sting, Big Van Vader, Dustin Rhodes, Van Hammer and Danny Spivey.



1997 - WCW held Starrcade '97 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C., featuring the long awaited showdown between Sting and Hollywood Hulk Hogan after over a year of building to it. Here are the results:
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero defeated Dean Malenko with a frog splash to Malenko's injured knee.
- Scott Hall was having an in-ring interview, with the Giant attacking him. The Giant was supposed to wrestle Kevin Nash on the show, but Nash wasn't there (which was never quite explained).
- Randy Savage (who was subbing for Konnan), Scott Norton & Vincent defeated Ray Traylor and Rick & Scott Steiner when Savage pinned Scott with a top rope elbow.
- Bill Goldberg defeated Steve McMichael with a jackhammer.
- Perry Saturn (subbing for Raven, who came out and said he didn't feel like wrestling) defeated Chris Benoit in a No DQ match after Raven DDT'd Benoit.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Lex Luger after Scott Norton knocked out Luger.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Curt Hennig with a Diamond Cutter to win the WCW United States Title.
- Larry Zbyszko defeated Eric Bischoff via DQ to take control of Monday Nitro. Bret Hart was the guest referee.

- Sting defeated Hulk Hogan via submission to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title. Hogan actually won the match via a fast count from referee Nick Patrick after a legdrop (although it didn't look fast at all, it was sold as being fast, which came across very poorly to the audience). Bret Hart came out to restart the match as referee, saying he wasn't going to let anyone get screwed, and Sting won via submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. The match, the pinnacle of the NWO vs. WCW feud, was considered a disappointment, with the screwy ending annoying many fans who had been waiting over a year for Sting to score a clean win over Hogan in his return to action.

Wilbur Synder & Pepper Gomez vs_Ox Baker & Big Bill Miller

From Indianapolis and the air conditioned Expo Center its All Star Championship Wrestling with Sam Menacker on the call.
Wilbur Snyder and Pepper Gomez vs Ox Baker and Big Bill Miller


Monday, December 27, 2010

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan sent out pictures of his rebuilt spine

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Gorgeous George


Today in 1963 the man who had been credited with establishing pro wrestling as a viable television staple and one its first big stars, "Gorgeous" George Wagner, died of a heart attack.

Born in 1915 he became the first big star of pro wrestling on the new medium of television. During the first Golden Age of Pro Wrestling in the 1940s and 1950s George Wagner and pro wrestling rivaled even the early stars of entertainment during prime time and spurred many to buy their first television set.

George had made a statement in 1949 by starring in the "B" movie "Alias the Champ" and this began his ascent to stardom on television.

In 2008 a very good full length biography of George Wagner was published, The Outrageous Bad-Boy Wrestler Who Created American Pop Culture, written by John Capouya.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Clash of Champions 24


From 1993 the most infamous moment in the history of WCW. The debut of the "Shockmaster"

This was from Clash of Champions 24 held in Daytona Beach.

He was supposed to be a scary monster of a man who tip the balance in favor of Sting and Davey Boy Smith's team at the WarGames that year. Instead he became a joke and the most embarrassing entrance of any wrestler EVER!

He tripped coming out of the "wall" he was behind as he busted through it and his "mask" fell off since it was the cheapest piece of material they could find and it was a glittered and painted storm trooper mask.

Christmas Day in Wrestling History

Today in wrestling history is dominated by World Class Championship wrestling and their "Christmas Day Star Wars" Card.

But lets start way back first:

1965 - In Indianapolis, Indiana, Dick the Bruiser defeats Gene Kiniski for the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title, beginning his third reign. Also, Moose Cholak and Wilbur Snyder defeat The Assassins (Guy Mitchell and Joe Tomasso) to win the WWA World Tag Team Title.

1978 - Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling held a "Superdome Extravaganza" in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Superdome, headlined by a tournament for the United States Tag Team Title. Here are the results of the show:
- Jim Shields defeated Bill Irwin.
- Karl Von Krupp defeated Bob Markus.
- Jerry Stubbs defeated The Assassin #1 to win the Mid-South Louisiana Title.
- Ron Bass defeated Karl Kox to win the Mid-South Brass Knuckles Title.
- Ernie Ladd defeated Ray Candy via forfeit to win the Mid-South North American Title.
United States Tag Team Title Tournament: Round One
- Jack & Jerry Brisco defeated Terry Latham & Ricky Fields.
- Ernie Ladd & Stan Hansen defeated The Angel & Gama Singh.
- Wahoo McDaniel & Jim Shields defeated The Assassins.
- Bobby Jaggers & Jerry Brown defeated Randy Tyler & Mike George.
- Andre The Giant & Dusty Rhodes defeated Rob Bass & Ron Slinker. Andre & Rhodes received a bye into the semifinals.
United States Tag Team Title Tournament: Quarterfinals
- Ernie Ladd & Stan Hansen defeated Jack & Jerry Brisco. Ladd & Hansen received a bye into the finals.
- Bobby Jaggers & Jerry Brown defeated Wahoo McDaniel & Jim Shields.
United States Tag Team Title Tournament: Semifinals
- Andre The Giant & Dusty Rhodes defeated Bobby Jaggers & Jerry Brown.
United States Tag Team Title Tournament: Quarterfinals
- Andre The Giant & Dusty Rhodes defeated Ernie Ladd & Stan Hansen to win the tournament and the U.S. Tag Team Title. Danny Hodge was the special referee.

1979 - Jack and Jerry Brisco defeat Austin Idol and The Masked Superstar to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title.

1981 - At World Class Championship Wrestling's "Christmas Star Wars" in Dallas, Texas, Jose Lothario defeats Ernie Ladd in Dallas, Texas to win the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title for the third time. Also, Tiny Tom defeats Little Tokyo to win the NWA World Midgets' Title, ending Tokyo's second reign.

982 - World Class Championship Wrestling holds the first "Christmas Star Wars" event at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, drawing a crowd of 18,000 fans (and a Texas record gate at the time) for a show that featured one of the most famous heel turns of all time, a turn that sparked arguably the greatest feud in Texas wrestling history, the Von Erichs vs. The Fabulous Freebirds. Here are the results from the show:
- Brian Adias defeated Frank Dusek.
- Jose Lothario & Al Madril defeated Magic Dragon & Checkmate.
- Lone Eagle defeated Little Tokyo.
- World Class American Champion Kevin Von Erich defeated King Kong Bundy via DQ.
- World Class Texas Champion David Von Erich defeated Bill Irwin.
- Ken Mantel won a Battle Royal.
- Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & David Von Erich (subbing for Buddy Roberts) defeated Tom Steele, Mike & Tommy Sharpe to become the first World Class Six-Man Tag Team Champions. After the match, David gave his share of the title to Roberts, since he was the third member of the Freebirds.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Kerry Von Erich in a No Disqualification Steel Cage match in which Michael Hayes was the referee. Leading up to the match, World Class had run a storyline where, due to past controversial decisions in Flair title matches, there was a dispute as to who the referee would be. It was decided that Hayes, rather than usual officials David Manning or Bronco Lubich, would be "tough but fair" and able to keep control in the match. During the match, Von Erich and Flair got knocked out, and Hayes dragged Kerry on top of Flair and counted to three. However, Von Erich refused to accept the victory, and gave the match to Flair. Hayes screamed at Von Erich, calling him an "idiot" and as Kerry exited the cage, Terry Gordy slammed the door on Von Erich's head, sparking off the Freebird heel turn and the beginning of the legendary feud with the Von Erichs.

1983 - Magnum T.A. & Mr. Wrestling II defeat Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart to win the Mid-South Wrestling Association Tag Team Title in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1983 - World Class Championship Wrestling held their "Christmas Star Wars" card at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, drawing over 19,000 fans. Here are the results:
- The Missing Link defeated Johnny Mantell.
- Iceman Parsons & Brian Adias defeated The Super Destroyers to win the World Class American Tag Team Title.
- Kerry Von Erich defeated Kamala via DQ.
- Mike Reed defeated The Mongol.
- David Von Erich defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via DQ.
- Jose Lothario defeated Black Gordman.
- Kevin & Mike Von Erich defeated Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts in a No DQ Loser Leaves Town match when Kevin pinned Gordy.
- Jimmy Garvin defeated Chris Adams to win the World Class American Title.

1984 - World Class Championship Wrestling held their "Christmas Star Wars" event at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, drawing over 17,000 fans. Here are the results:
- Kelly Kiniski defeated Buck Zumhoffe.
- Rip Oliver defeated Iceman Parsons.
- Jose Lothario defeated El Diablo Grande.
- World Class American Tag Team Champions The Fantastics defeated The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey).
- Kerry Von Erich defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair via DQ.
- Kevin Von Erich defeated Chris Adams in a Lumberjack match.
- Terry Gordy, Buddy Roberts & Chic Donovan defeated Skandar Akbar, The Missing Link & Mr. X in a Loser Leaves Town elimination match. This was done like a battle royal, and Terry Gordy ended up as the sole survivor (and didn't have to leave town).
- Mike Von Erich & Billy Jack Haynes defeated Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts.

1985 - World Class Championship Wrestling held their "Christmas Star Wars" event at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, drawing over 8,000 fans. Here are the results:
- John Mantell defeated Tommy Montana.
- Iceman Parsons & Brian Adias defeated The Great Kabuki & The Grappler.
- Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Jose Lothario.
- Lance Von Erich defeated World Class American Champion Rick Rude via DQ.
- Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts defeated Mark Youngblood & Dave Peterson.
- The Missing Link defeated Jack Victory.
- Kerry & Kevin Von Erich defeated World Class American Tag Team Champions Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez via DQ.
- Scott Casey & Sunshine defeated John Tatum & Missy Hyatt.
- IWGP Champion Antonio Inoki defeated Steve Williams.
- Bruiser Brody defeated One Man Gang in a chain match.
- Kerry, Kevin & Lance Von Erich defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts).

1986 - AWA holds their "Brawl In St. Paul" event at the St. Paul Civic Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, drawing over 8,000 fans. Here are the results:
- Buck Zumhoffe vs. Buddy Wolfe went to a time limit draw.
- Earthquake Ferris defeated Brian Knobbs.
- Steve O defeated Boris Zuhkov.
- Greg Gagne, Scott Hall & Leon White (Vader) defeated Larry Zbyszko, Mr. Saito & Super Ninja.
- Jimmy Snuka defeated Col. DeBeers via countout.
- AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel defeated Curt Hennig via disqualification.
- The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Janetty) defeated Buddy Rose & Doug Somers in a steel cage match.

1986 - World Class Championship Wrestling held their "Christmas Star Wars" event at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, drawing over 7,000 fans. Here are the results:
- Mark Youngblood defeated Tim Brooks.
- Steve Simpson defeated The Grappler.
- Lance Von Erich defeated Master Gee (George Wells).
- Dingo Warrior (Ultimate Warrior) vs. Bob Bradley ended in a double DQ.
- Candie Divine defeated Lock.
- Tony Atlas defeated Matt Borne.
- Scott Casey defeated Black Bart in a Loser Rides A Mule match.
- Kevin & Mike Von Erich defeated World Class Tag Team Champions Brian Adias & Al Madril via DQ.
- Abdullah the Butcher defeated Bruiser Brody in a Loser Leaves Town Steel Cage match.

1987 - World Class Championship Wrestling held their "Christmas Star Wars" event at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, drawing over 4,000 fans. The show was headlined by three steel cage matches, and one of the more distasteful angles in wrestling history. Here are the results:
- The Missing Link defeated Vince Apollo.
- The Real Thing (Rip Morgan) defeated Jason Sterling.
- Brian Adias vs. Bill Irwin ended in a double countout.
- The Fantastics defeated Jack Victory & John Tatum.
- Kerry Von Erich won a Pole Battle Royal, climbing a pole to grab the $10,000 prize.
- World Class Texas Champion Matt Borne defeated The Iron Sheik.
- Jeff Raitz defeated Tony Falk.
- Eric Embry defeated Shaun Simpson in a Steel Cage match to win the World Class Light Heavyweight Title.
- Kevin Von Erich, Chris Adams & Steve Simpson defeated Terry Gordy, Buddy Roberts & Iceman Parsons in a Steel Cage match to win the vacant World Class Six Man Tag Team Title.
- World Class Champion Al Perez defeated Kerry Von Erich in a steel cage match. Prior to the match, Fritz Von Erich was attacked by a group of heels and faked a heart attack in the ring. Legitimate news media fell for the act, and reported on his "heart attack" as being real. For the next several weeks, Fritz' "condition" would get better or worse depending on how well the shows were drawing, as his sons promised to get revenge for what had happened to their father.


1991 - Wilbur Snyder passes away in Pompano Beach, Florida at age 62.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Match of the Day (Christmas Eve Edition)

Our Match of the day is from Starrcade 1988.
Held December 26th 1988 at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk VA.

This was the first Starrcade held under the new WCW banner and with new owner Ted Turner and the first not be on Thanksgiving Day. It was moved to avoid competing with the WWF Survivor Series PPV.

The main event was the NWA World Champion defending his belt against the "Total Package" Lex Luger.
This was a rematch from The Great American Bash in July when the match between this 2 was stopped due to excessive bleeding by Luger.
Until early 1988 Luger had been a member of the feared Four Horseman with Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, but when he said they were holding him back they turned on him and he left the horseman and challenged Flair for the NWA World Title.




Sunday, December 19, 2010

Match of the Day


Today's Match of the Day is from December 19th 1999, WCW Starrcade.

For the WCW World Heavyweight Title

Champion Bret Hart vs Goldberg
(notice the bleak, old style entrance they give Bret and all the buildup is to Goldberg)
and this was the match the effectively ended Bret's career. He suffered a concussion from a Goldberg mule kick but kept going and was diagnosed later with post concussion syndrome.





WWE TLC PPV Tonight


TLC: TABLES, LADDERS AND CHAIRS PPV TONIGHT - Live from the Toyota Center in Houston, TX., World Wrestling Entertainment presents its final pay-per-view on the 2010 calendar, TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs! The full card is as follows: The Miz vs Randy Orton for the WWE title in a tables match; Kane vs Edge vs Rey Mysterio vs Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight title in a TLC match; John Cena vs Wade Barrett in a chairs match; Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston vs Jack Swagger for the Intercontinental title in a triple threat ladder match; John Morrison vs Sheamus in a ladder match; Natalya and Beth Phoenix vs Layla and Michelle McCool in a tag team tables match.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Happy Birthday Stone Cold Steve Austin

Today is the 46th birthday of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Here is the final King of the Ring match in 1996 that set Stone Cold on his way to superstardom. The clip begins with the tremendous Brian Pillman making his debut in the WWF.


Friday, December 17, 2010

Match of the Day


Todays Match comes from the WWF PPV "In Your House #5: Seasons Beatings" held today in 1995. Held at the Hershey Park Arena, the main event featured Davey Boy Smith vs Bret Hart for the WWF title.

here is the entire card
(listen for classic Vince McMahon the announcer)
- Razor Ramon and Marty Jannetty defeated The 1-2-3 Kid and Sycho Sid when Ramon pinned Sid after a bulldog from the second rope.
- Ahmed Johnson pinned Buddy Landel (subbing for Dean Douglas) after the Pearl River Plunge. Prior to the match, Jerry Lawler presented Jeff Jarrett with a gold record for his country album, "Ain't I Great?". Jarrett was guest commentator for the match. After the match, Jarrett attacked Johnson with the gold record.
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Henry Godwinn in an Arkansas Hog Pen match. Hillbilly Jim was the guest referee.
- Owen Hart defeated Diesel when Diesel was disqualified for shoving the referee.
- The Undertaker defeated King Mabel in a Casket match.
- Bret Hart pinned The British Bulldog to retain the WWF Title.



Today in Wrestling History December 17th


1906 - Frank Gotch defeats Fred Beel in Kansas City, Missouri to win the American Heavyweight Title for the third time. Gotch would go on to defeat George Hackenschmidt two years later to unify the belt with the World Heavyweight Title
.














1979 - The WWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, with a card airing live on the MSG Network in the New York area, but also in Japan, as this card was almost immediately following the Antonio Inoki-Bob Backlund WWF title controversy in Japan, as well as featuring many Japanese stars. This card also featured the Madison Square Garden debut of Hulk Hogan. The results were:
- Larry Zbyszko pinned Bulldog Brower.
- Riki Choshu and Seiji Sakaguchi defeated Bad News Allen and Jo Jo Andrews, when Sakaguchi made Andrews submit with a Boston crab, to retain the NWA North American Tag Team Title. This match was billed as being for the "Japanese Tag Team Title".
- Mike Graham defeated Johnny Rodz by submission with a figure-four leglock.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Ted DiBiase by knockout with a bearhug.
- Bob Backlund defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas death match to win the vacant WWF World Heavyweight Title. WWF President Hisashi Shinma had possession of the title belt before the match, although the title vacancy was not mentioned to the United States television audience.
- Antonio Inoki pinned Hussein Arab after an enzuigiri to retain the NWF Heavyweight Title. This match was billed as being for the "Japanese Heavyweight Title".
- Harley Race defeated Dusty Rhodes by referee stoppage, due to Rhodes' excessive bleeding, to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title.
- Pat Patterson pinned Dominic DeNucci, after reversing a monkey flip into a roll-up, to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title.
- Tatsumi Fujinami pinned Johnny Rivera with a back suplex to retain the WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title.
- Ivan Putski and Tito Santana defeated Victor Rivera and Swede Hansen to retain the WWF World Tag Team Title, when Santana pinned Hansen with a top rope crossbody.


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Today in Wrestling History December 15th


1963 - The most important figure in the history of professional wrestling in Japan, Rikidozan, dies of complications from a stab wound suffered on December 8th at the age of 38.
Rikidozan, who debuted in 1951, helped to popularize professional wrestling in post-WWII Japan, and would train Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba, who would become two of the most influential and powerful individuals in Japanese wrestling.
While it was thought that Rikidozan, whose Japanese name was Mitsuhiro Momota, was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in truth he was Korean. Because Koreans were heavily discriminated against in Japan, his real background was kept secret, not being revealed until long after his death. Rikidozan's final match was on December 7th, teaming with Great Togo & Michiaki Yoshimura to battle The Destroyer, Buddy Austin & Illio DiPaolo to a draw.
Stories of what happened the night Rikidozan was stabbed are cloudy, with legend and fact often getting mixed up. He was stabbed in a nightclub and allegedly it was by a member of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia.
However, stories have circulated for years that he beat up his attacker and partied into the night before going to the hospital, which is why the wound got infected and ended up killing him. Obviously, there are many that doubt that account of the stabbing.

Rikidozan vs The Destroyer
JWA 12/2/63.
Rikidozan, the father of puroresu, goes against The Destroyer. This match drew the second-highest TV rating in puroresu history, and perhaps the largest in terms of number of viewers.




Monday, December 13, 2010

Match of the Day

This match took place today in 1989 The Colossal Connection (Andre the Giant and Haku) defeat Demolition (Ax and Smash) for the WWF Tag Team Title in Huntsville, Alabama, ending Demolition's second reign.
This would be Andre's last championship reign in wrestling.

The video says 1990 but it did happen in 1989.


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Today in Wrestling History December 7th

1987 - NBC taped WWF's 14th Saturday Night's Main Event program at the Landover Arena in Landover, Maryland. The show would air on January 2, 1988.


The show saw the following results:
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeat King Kong Bundy with a legdrop. After the match, Andre The Giant attacked Hogan.



- WWF Tag Team Champions Strike Force (Rick Martel & Tito Santana) defeat The Bolsheviks (Boris Zuhkov & Nikolai Volkoff) in two straight falls of a three falls match. Martel made Zuhkov submit to a Boston crab to win the first fall, and Santana pinned Zuhkov after he collided with Volkoff to win the second.


1990 - Terry Gordy & Steve Williams win the All Japan World Tag Team Title by winning the annual Real World Tag League tournament in Tokyo, Japan.
The belts had been vacated in July when The Great Kabuki (who held the belts with Jumbo Tsuruta) jumped with Genichiro Tenryu to SWS (Super World Sports).
William & Gordy defeat Stan Hansen & Danny Spivey on the final night of the tournament, winning the tournament by one point.



1997 - WWF held their D-Generation X Pay-per-view in Springfield, Massachusetts at the Civic Center. This event saw the return of Owen Hart to WWF television for the first time since the Survivor Series "Montreal Screwjob" the previous month.
Here are the results:

- TAKA Michinoku defeated Brian Christopher with the Michinoku Driver in the finals of a month long tournament to win the WWF World Light Heavyweight Title. TAKA defeated Devon Storm and Mr. Aguila to reach the finals, while Christopher defeated Flash Flanagan and Scott Taylor (Scott 2 Hotty).
- Los Boricuas (Miguel Perez, Jesus Castillo & Jose Estrada) defeated DOA (Chainz, Skull and Eight Ball) when Estrada pinned Chainz.
- Butterbean defeated Marc Mero via DQ in the fourth round of a Toughman boxing match when Mero hit Butterbean with a lowblow.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions Billy Gunn & Road Dogg defeated The Legion of Doom via DQ when Hawk took a slop bucket from Henry Godwinn (who had come down to interfere) and used it as a weapon.
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Sgt. Slaughter in a Bootcamp match with a Pedigree after Chyna gave Slaughter a low blow.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated The Undertaker via DQ when Kane interfered and chokeslammed Jarrett when Jarrett got in his way as he went after Undertaker.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Steve Austin defeated Rocky Maivia with a stunner.

- Ken Shamrock defeated WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels via DQ when Triple H and Chyna attacked Shamrock as he had Michaels in an anklelock. After the match, Owen Hart came out from the crowd and attacked Michaels, the first time Owen had been seen since Montreal. Sadly, WWF dropped the ball and decided not to to follow-up with a Owen vs. Shawn feud.



Friday, December 3, 2010

Royal Rumble 2011

Here is the poster for the Royal Rumble 2011 PPV.

It will at the TD Garden in Boston MA on January 30th.


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Wrestlemania VII


Here is the promo for the scrapped Wrestlemania VII at the LA Coliseum. WM 7 was moved indoors for what the WWF called "security issues" .

In reality it was moved because the tickets were not selling well and the 100,000 seat Coliseum would not have been half full, so to make a full house they moved to the LA Sports Arena.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Match of the Day (Survivor Series Edition)


Today's Match of the Day is from Survivor Series 1991.

Subtitled "The Gravest Challenge" this Survivor Series would have the first Singles match during a Survivor Series PPV and this was a big one. The WWF Champion Hulk Hogan was facing The Undertaker. November 27th 1991 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit Michigan.

(I had to improvise on part 2 because for some reason this was the only clip I could find of UT pinning Hogan)









Saturday, November 27, 2010

Starrcade 1986 (Skywalkers)


Today in 1986 the NWA(WCW) held its annual Starrcade PPV. It was held at 2 different cities, Greensboro NC and Atlanta GA.
It was almost a thrown together main event of World Champion Ric Flair defending the NWA World Heavyweight title against the Russian Nightmare Nikita Koloff.
On October 14th of 1986 the #1 contender and soon to be World Champion Magnum T.A. was involved in a one car accident in Charlotte NC that left him severely injured and unable to wrestle in the Starrcade main event. The injuries Magnum suffered were so severe that they would end his wrestling career. NWA promoter Jim Crockett would turn Nikita Koloff from hated Russian into a beloved hero to face Ric Flair in Magnum's place.

The co-main event would be the first ever (for the NWA and PPVs) scaffold match featuring the Road Warriors w/Paul Ellering against The Midnight Express w/Jim Cornette, thus giving the title "Night of the Skywalkers" to the PPV.
Here is the complete card from 1986

Starrcade (1986): Night of the Skywalkers

The Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) defeated The Midnight Express (with Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers) in a Skywalkers match
    • Jim Cornette was injured in the match when he landed wrong after falling from the underside of the scaffold.







Friday, November 26, 2010

Survivor Series 1987


The very first Survivor Series was held this day November 26th in 1987. Taking place at the Richfield Coliseum in Cleveland OH, this was Vince McMahon's answer to the NWA's Starrcade PPV held on Thanksgiving night since 1983 and to capitalize on the Hulk Hogan/Andre The Giant feud from Wrestlemania III.

The matches were tag team style elimination matches made up of teams of 5 wrestlers to a side.





The main event was the team "captained" by Hulk Hogan (Paul Orndorff, Don Muraco,Ken Patera and Bam Bam Bigelow) facing a team "captained" by Andre The Giant (One Man Gang, King Kong Bundy, Butch Reed and Rick Rude).

Thursday, November 25, 2010

ECW November To Remember 1998


Today I am looking back at ECW November to Remember from 1998 and it was a wild affair.

November 1, 1998 from the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.














Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Survivor Series 1990


The fourth annual Survivor Series was held on Thanksgiving night, November 22nd 1990 at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford Connecticut.
Memorable for several reasons but in the grand scheme of the future of the WWF/WWE was the debut of The Undertaker. Formerly known as "Mean" Mark Callous, the wrestler WCW journeyman wrestler Mark Calloway would become legend in the WWF and is still performing today.
This years Series had 5 Survivor Elimination matches and a Grand Finale with each "babyface" survivor teaming up to meet the "heel" survivors. The Undertaker would make his debut as a member of "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase's team "The Million Dollar Team" which also consisted of Ted Dibiase, and Rhythm & Blues (Honky Tonk Man & Greg Valentine).


The first Survivor Series elimination match of the night saw The Warriors (Ultimate Warrior, Kerry Von Erich and The Legion of Doom) vs The Perfect Team (Curt Henning and Demolition (Ax, Smash & Crush) with Bobby Heenan in their corner.

Here are the promos building to the Survivor Series (You dont see promos and buildup like this anymore)





Here is the elimination match



The Grand finale was the "babyface" team of Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and Tito Santana facing the heel team of Ted Dibiase, Rick "The Model" Martel, The Warlord and Power & Glory (Paul Roma & Hercules).