Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Today in Wrestling History - Big Van Vader Debuts in Japan
December 27th 1987
Big Van Vader debuts in New Japan
One of the most memorable debuts in the history of wrestling takes place at New Japan's "Inoki Toukon Live III" event at Sumo Hall in Tokyo. Riki Choshu & Masa Saito defeated Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura in one of the feature matches of the evening. Following the bout, Antonio Inoki defeated Choshu in an anti-climactic main event, winning via disqualification in six minutes. Big Van Vader then entered Sumo Hall and obliterated Inoki, knocking him out and pinning the Japanese legend with a powerslam in a match that didn't even last three minutes. The crowd rioted, resulting in New Japan being banned from running events at Sumo Hall for over a year. Vader immediately skyrocketed to the top of New Japan, as it had been years since Inoki had lost a match via clean pinfall.
The man behind the Vader mask, Leon White, had previously wrestled as "Baby Bull" Leon White in the AWA, and as Bull Power in Germany. He was actually scheduled to debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling, but New Japan worked out a deal with their promotional rival to sign him away for the Big Van Vader gimmick. Interesting to note, the first two choices New Japan had for the Vader gimmick were Sid Vicious and The Ultimate Warrior. Vader's debut in Sumo Hall is one of the most memorable, and controversial, events in New Japan history.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Georgia Championship Wrestling- Buzz Sawyer vs Mr Wrestling II
Buzz Sawyer vs Mr Wrestling II
(Masked Superstar Destroys II's Robe)
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
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.
1970 - Kim Il and Pak Song defeat Gorgeous George, Jr. and Rufus R. Jones to win the NWA Texas Tag Team 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 beltbefore 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.
1994 - ECW held their "Holiday Hell" show at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are the results:
- Stevie Richards defeated JT Smith.
- Dean Malenko defeated Ray Odyssey.
- Chris Benoit defeated Hack Myers.
- 911 defeated The Pitbulls in a Handicap match.
- Mikey Whipwreck defeated Don E. Allen.
- Tommy Dreamer & Cactus Jack defeated Tommy Cairo & The Sandman.
- ECW World Champion Shane Douglas defeated Ron Simmons.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Public Enemy defeated Sabu & Taz.
1995 - The WWF held the fifth In Your House pay-per-view, subtitled "Season's Beatings" at the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylania, before 7,289 fans. The results:
- Savio Vega pinned Bob Backlund in a dark match.
- 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.
In dark matches after the broadcast:
- Goldust pinned Duke Droese.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Smokin' Gunns (Billy and Bart), Hakushi, and Barry Horowitz defeated The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip), Yokozuna, and Isaac Yankem, DDS.
1995 - Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeats Atlantis in Mexico City, Mexico to win the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Title for the second time.
2000 - The 18th, and final, Starrcade event was held in Washington, DC at the MCI Center. Three months later, WCW would be purchased by the World Wrestling Federation, and thus ending the eighteen year streak of Starrcade events, going back to the days of Jim Crockett Promotions.
1970 - Kim Il and Pak Song defeat Gorgeous George, Jr. and Rufus R. Jones to win the NWA Texas Tag Team 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 beltbefore 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.
1994 - ECW held their "Holiday Hell" show at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are the results:
- Stevie Richards defeated JT Smith.
- Dean Malenko defeated Ray Odyssey.
- Chris Benoit defeated Hack Myers.
- 911 defeated The Pitbulls in a Handicap match.
- Mikey Whipwreck defeated Don E. Allen.
- Tommy Dreamer & Cactus Jack defeated Tommy Cairo & The Sandman.
- ECW World Champion Shane Douglas defeated Ron Simmons.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Public Enemy defeated Sabu & Taz.
1995 - The WWF held the fifth In Your House pay-per-view, subtitled "Season's Beatings" at the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylania, before 7,289 fans. The results:
- Savio Vega pinned Bob Backlund in a dark match.
- 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.
In dark matches after the broadcast:
- Goldust pinned Duke Droese.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Smokin' Gunns (Billy and Bart), Hakushi, and Barry Horowitz defeated The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip), Yokozuna, and Isaac Yankem, DDS.
1995 - Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeats Atlantis in Mexico City, Mexico to win the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Title for the second time.
2000 - The 18th, and final, Starrcade event was held in Washington, DC at the MCI Center. Three months later, WCW would be purchased by the World Wrestling Federation, and thus ending the eighteen year streak of Starrcade events, going back to the days of Jim Crockett Promotions.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Tag Team Thursday
WCW Monday Nitro
June 24th 1996
Charlotte, NC
WCW World Tag Team Titles
(Triple Threat/Triangle Match)
Sting and Lex Luger
(Champions)
vs
The Steiner Brothers
vs
Harlem Heat
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Match of the Night (Backlund vs Patera)
WWF Heavyweight Title
May 19th 1980
Madison Square Garden
Texas Death Match
Ken Patera
WWF Intercontinental Champion
vs
Bob Backlund
WWF Heavyweight Champion
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Talk Show Takedowns - WWE Top 10
The Shockmaster is still so dang funny...I remember watching that as it happened and thinking "oh this isnt right".
Thursday, November 28, 2013
The Big Cat Ernie Ladd
Today would have been the 75th birthday of "The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd.
Ernie Ladd was a world class athlete and attended Grambling State University on a basketball scholarship but ended up getting drafted by the San Diego Chargers to play in the young American Football League in 1961. One of biggest men to play the game at 6 foot 9 nine inches tall he dominated the defensive line and led the Chargers to 4 AFL championship games and won the AFL Title game in 1963. He started wrestling professionally during the AFL offseason but after stints in Houston and Kansas City his knee injuries forced him to retire and he went into wrestling full time in 1969.
He quickly became a top draw as a heel fueding against the biggest names in wrestling including Andre The Giant, Mr. Wrestling II, Wahoo McDaniel, Bruno Sammartino and Dick the Bruiser. He also had the distinction of challenging 3 WWF champions in the 1970s, first was Sammartino, then Pedro Morales and finally Bob Backlund in 1978. He became famous for using his taped thumb as a weapon to win controversial matches but wherever he went he would be the #1 contender to face the top babyface (good guy).
In 1986 due to ongoing knee injuries "The Big Cat" retired from the ring for good and in 1995 was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame in 1981.
He succumb to colon cancer at the way too young age of 68 in 2007.
Bobby "Pretty Boy" Heenan with his WWA Tag Team champions:
Baron Von Raschke and Ernie Ladd in 1973
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Match of the Day/Today in History (Mr.Perfect)
Today in 1990, Curt Hennig or Mr. Perfect as he was known in the WWF, defeated "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich for the Intercontinental Title (with some help from Bobby Hennan and Ted Dibiase).
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Survivor Series 2013
Survivor Series 2013
November 24th
TD Garden
Boston MA
Matches
| No. | Matches | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor Series Kickoff | Kofi Kingston vs The Miz | Singles match[5] |
| 1 | Randy Orton (c) vs Big Show | Singles match for the WWE Championship[6] |
| 2 | John Cena (c) vs Alberto Del Rio | Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship[7] |
| 3 | CM Punk and Daniel Bryan vs. The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper & Erick Rowan) | Tag Team match[8] |
| 4 | Cody Rhodes and Goldust, The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) & Rey Mysterio vs. The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns) and The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro & Jack Swagger) | Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team match[9] |
| 5 | Natalya, The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki Bella), The Funkadactyls (Naomi and Cameron) Eva Marie, & JoJo vs. AJ Lee, Tamina Snuka, Kaitlyn, Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes, Aksana, & Summer Rae | Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team match[10] |
| 6 | Big E Langston (c) vs. Curtis Axel | Singles match for the Intercontinental Championship[11] |
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
NWA World Heavyweight Title November 7th 1979
Harley Race would hold the belt for 302 days, from November 7th 1979 to September 4th 1980 when he again would lose the belt to Giant Baba, this time in Saga, Japan. Baba would be World champion for 5 days this time and Race would win back the belt on September 9th in Otsu, Japan.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tag Team Match of the Day
November 6th 1998 the ECW tag team titles changed hands.
The team of Balls Mahoney and Masato Tanaka had won the belts 5 days earlier in Cleveland OH at the November To Remember PPV by defeating Buh Buh Ray and Devon Dudley.This was the rematch in New York City and first title defense for Mahoney and Tanaka.
ECW World Tag Team Title Match
Balls Mahoney/Masato Tanaka
(Champions)
vs
The Dudley Boyz
(Buh Buh Ray/Devon)
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Saturday Night's Main Event - November 2nd 1985
The 3rd episode of the WWF Saturday Night's Main Event.
Taped October 31st in Hershey Park, PA and aired November 2nd 1985 on NBC.
Terry Funk vs The Junkyard Dog
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant vs King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd
Randy "Macho Man" Savage vs Tito Santana
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs Mr. Fuji (w/Don Muraco) in a Kung Fu challenge.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Today in Wrestling History - October 30th
1978 - Ric Flair and Big John Studd win the NWA Mid Atlantic Tag Team Titles by beating Ricky Steamboat and Paul Jones in Greenville, SC. They would not be champs long as they lost the rematch on November 5th 1978 in Greensboro, NC.
1999 - Big Van Vader defeats Mitsuharu Misawa in Tokyo, Japan to win the AJPW Triple Crown Unified Heavyweight Championship.
2001 - Test and Booker T defeat The Rock and Chris Jericho for the WWF World Tag Team Titles in Cincinnati, OH during a SMACKDOWN! show.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
The Blackjacks
The Blackjacks were a legendary tag team consisting of BlackJack Lanza and BlackJack Mulligan both big and very tough men.
They made their name in the AWA and WWF, along with a very good run in the WWA (Dick the Bruiser run promotion out of Indianapolis).
They never held the AWA World Tag Team titles but did hold the WWF and WWA Tag Team titles.
They won the WWA Tag Team titles (below) on November 26th 1971 in Indianapolis by defeating the team of Wilbur Snyder and Paul Christy. They held the belts until December 9th 1972 when they lost the titles to Dick The Bruiser and The Crusher in Detroit Michigan.
Moving on to the WWF in 1974 the Blackjacks won the WWF Tag Team Titles on August 26th 1975 in Philadelphia by defeating the reigning champions Dominic DeNucci and Pat Barrett (who replaced Victor Rivera in July of 1975). They held the belts for 74 days before losing to the team of Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi in Philadelphia on November 8th 1975.
Here they meet the reigning champions DeNucci and Rivera in a non title match in 1974.
They made their name in the AWA and WWF, along with a very good run in the WWA (Dick the Bruiser run promotion out of Indianapolis).
They never held the AWA World Tag Team titles but did hold the WWF and WWA Tag Team titles.
They won the WWA Tag Team titles (below) on November 26th 1971 in Indianapolis by defeating the team of Wilbur Snyder and Paul Christy. They held the belts until December 9th 1972 when they lost the titles to Dick The Bruiser and The Crusher in Detroit Michigan.
Here they meet the reigning champions DeNucci and Rivera in a non title match in 1974.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
NWA World Tag Team Champions (Slaughter and Kernodle)
NWA World Tag Team Champions
Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle
Won the belts September of 1982 (or were awarded the belts) in a fictional tournament final over Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba in Tokyo, Japan.
They held the belts for 192 days. Lost the belts to Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood on March 12th 1983 in a cage at the now legendary "Final Conflict" match in Greensboro NC.
Here are the final brutal minutes of that match
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
New WWE Tag Team Champions (10/14/2013)
WWE Monday Night RAW
October 14th 2013
St Louis, MO
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns
WWE Tag Team Champions
vs
Cody Rhodes and Goldust
Friday, October 18, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)