This Day In Wrestling History – May 28th
Trivia
2000 – Mitsuharu Misawa left All Japan & founded Pro Wrestling NOAH, taking all but 2 (Masanobu Fuchi & Toshiaki Kawada) of All Japan’s full-time roster with him
2001 – Lance Storm became the 1st member of The Invasion to appear on WWF programming
2001 – The WWF fired Brian Lawler, aka Grandmaster Sexay, following his arrest for possession of illegal drugs. He was arrested early in the morning in Calgary, Alberta, Canada after landing for Raw that night, where he was scheduled to team with Steve Blackman & Trish Stratus against Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn, & Terri. The WWF had apparently made it very clear to their employees not to bring any “illegal contraband” into Canada, & his arrest at an international checkpoint was an embarrassment to the company. Sexay had been getting storyline & TV time, and had in fact appeared as the guest co-host on Heat the night before
2001 – There was quite a bit of controversy over the Hart family (most notably Bruce, Stu, & Diana) appearing in the front row at an edition of Raw in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Martha Hart, widow of Owen Hart, said it would be “disgusting” if any of them showed up before the event, given her legal entanglements with the company. Bret Hart was obviously against it, although neither he or Martha talked to their family, instead deciding to send their messages back & forth in the Canadian newspapers
2002 – The NWA’s Bill Behrens announces that Dan Severn is being stripped of the NWA World Heavyweight Title. Due to Severn’s being unable to appear at the 1st NWA-TNA PPV event
2007 – Bret Hart, a stroke survivor, was announced as become an official spokesperson for the March of Dimes in the Battle against Strokes
2007 – Christian Cage signed a new 1 year deal with TNA
Events
In 1994, the WWF held a live event in Zurich, Switzerland at Hallenstadion:
– Sparky Plugg defeated The 1-2-3 Kid
– Adam Bomb & Kwang defeated The Bushwhackers
– IRS defeated Tatanka
– Yokozuna defeated Mabel
– WWF Tag Team Champions The Headshrinkers defeated The Quebecers
– WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart to retain the title
In 1996, the 2nd airing of WWF In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog went off without a hitch, after a power outage thwarted the 1st attempt. The event, held in North Charleston, South Carolina (the original attempt was held in Florence) was marketed as ‘Beware of Dog 2′. Also, I believe this is the only WWF/E PPV to have been held in South Carolina. With an attendance of 4,500:
– Marc Mero (with Sable) defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
– Shawn Michaels (with Jose Lothario) fought The British Bulldog (with Diana Smith, Owen Hart, & Clarence Mason) to a double-pinfall draw (Michaels retains the WWF Title)
– Savio Vega defeated Steve Austin (with Ted Dibiase Sr.) in a Caribbean Strap Match, forcing Austin’s manager Ted DiBiase to leave the WWF
– Vader (with Jim Cornette) defeated Yokozuna
– Goldust (with Marlena) defeated The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) in a Casket Match to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
In 2002, NJPW Fighting Spirit Memorial Day was held in Sendai, Japan:
– Koji Kanemoto defeated Jushin Liger
– Kensuke Sasaki defeated Akira
– Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Kenzo Suzuki
– Scott Norton fought Hiroshi Tanahashi to a draw
– Masa Chono defeated Yuji Nagata
Title Changes
1921 – Walter Miller defeated Ted Thye to win the World Middleweight Title in Los Angeles, California
1937 – Walter Achiu defeated Sailor Watkins in a tournament final to become the 1st National Wrestling Association World Junior Light Heavyweight Champion in El Paso, Texas
1949 – Tarzan Lopez defeated Mike Kelly to win the NWA World Middleweight Title
1966 – Crusher & Dick the Bruiser defeated Larry Hennig & Harley Race to win the AWA World Tag Team Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota
1966 – Hiro Matsuda & Michiaki Yoshimura defeated Joe Carrolo & Killer Karl Kox to win the JWA All Asia Tag Team Titles
1974 – Red Bastien defeated The Great Mephisto to win the Texas Heavyweight Title
1977 – Tony St. Clair defeated Gwynn Davies to win the British Heavyweight Title in Manchester, England
1977 – Jackie Fargo defeated The Executioner to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee
1978 – Bruiser Brody defeated Dale Valentine to win the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas
1978 – Dutch Mantel defeated Don Garfield (Don Fargo) to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee
1985 – Dino Bravo defeated King Tonga (Haku/Meng) to win the vacant International Wrestling International Heavyweight Title in Montreal, Quebec
1997 – The Truth Commission defeated Steven Dunn & Paul Diamond to win the USWA Tag Team Title in West Helena, Arkansas
1997 – Mohammed Hussein defeated Rey Gonzalez to win the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Gurabo, Puerto Rico
2001 – on Raw, Chris Jericho defeated Rhyno to win the WWF Hardcore Title, but would lose the belt back to Rhyno later in the night
2005 – El Diamante defeated Eddie Colon to win the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Birthdays
Happy birthday to current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins (28), former AWA & USWA Champion Kamala (65), former WWF wrestler Barry Orton (57), & one-time WWF Tag Team Champion Headbanger Mosh (44)
Also, today would have been the birthday of famed Boston promoter Paul Bowser (129)
In Memoriam
On this day in 2009, the wrestling world lost 10-time NWA Americas Heavyweight Champion ‘The Golden Greek’ John Tolos at the age of 78. Tolos started his career in his native Canada, competing alongside brother Chris as the Canadian Wrecking Crew. The duo found success all over the NWA territories, winning tag team titles from Stampede and Maple Leaf Wrestling in Canada, down to San Francisco and Hawaii. John also won tag team gold in the Texas, Western States and Los Angeles territories, teaming with various wrestlers. It was in the Hollywood territory where Tolos found his greatest success. Alongside 5 Tag Team Title reigns, he was a 10-time Heavyweight Champion, 3-time Television Champion and one-time United National Champion in the territory. He also won the Brass Knuckles title on several occasions, though there are conflicting sources on the exact number. In 1963, he and Chris won the WWWF US Tag Team Titles from Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski, arguably his most ‘significant’ title win. Tolos retired in the early 1980′s, though returned to wrestling as a manager in the early 1990′s, appearing as ‘Coach’ in the WWF and under his real name in the UWF. He quietly retired again the following year, taking a job as a security guard for Universal Studios Hollywood. In the years prior to his death, Tolos’ health had been in decline & he eventually passed peacefully of kidney failure