This Day In Wrestling History – August 23rd
THIS DAY IN WRESTLING HISTORY – AUGUST 23rd
BY BILL FENBERS (on Twitter @billbeingbill)
1958 – Gene Dubuque and Mike Valentino defeat Ramon Torres and Dick Warren, to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco Version).
1961 – Whipper Billy Watson defeats Gene Kiniski, to win the NWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver Version).
1968 – The Professional defeats Tarzan Tyler, to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship.
1975 – The Invaders defeat Pat Patterson and Moondog Mayne, to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco Version).
1977 – In Shreveport, Louisiana, The Medics (Billy Garrett / Jim Starr) defeat Porkchop Cash and Mike George, to win the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship.
1978 – In Abilene, Texas, Killer Karl Krupp defeats The Lawman, to win the vacant NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship.
1980 – In Southwest Championship Wrestling, Wahoo McDaniel defeats Tully Blanchard, to win the SWCW Southwest Heavyweight Championship.
1993 – Masanobu Fuchi defeats Dan Kroffat, to win the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
1993 – Jeff Jarrett defeats Vampire Warrior, to win the USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. Also, Miss Texas defeats Luna Vachon, to win the USWA Women’s Championship for the 7th time.
1996 – Miss Texas becomes USWA Women’s Champion for the 14th and final time; defeating Samantha.
1996 – ECW holds Requiem for a Pitbull from Reading, PA.
-In a mixed tag team match, The Sandman and Missy Hyatt defeat Raven and Lori Fullington.
-Hack Myers defeats Super Nova.
-Mikey Shipwreck defeats Little Guido.
-Louie Spicolli defeats Buh Buh Ray Dudley.
-The Gangstas (Mustafa Seed and New Jack) defeat The Samoan Gangsta Party (Sammy the Silk and Matty Smalls), to retain the ECW World Tag Team Championship.
-In a tag team match, Tommy Dreamer and Terry Gordy defeat The Eliminators (Kronus and Saturn).
-Brian Lee defeats The Prodigy.
-Rob Van Dam defeats Tommy Dreamer.
1999 – On WCW Monday Nitro, The West Texas Rednecks (Barry Windham / Kendall Windham) defeat Harlem Heat, to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
1999 – One night after SummerSlam in Minneapolis, RAW IS WAR airs from Ames, Iowa. This marks Lilian Garcia’s debut as WWE Ring Announcer.
-While demanding a title shot from Mankind, Triple H clamps an armbar on Jim Ross in the ring. Mankind comes out and promises to give Triple H a shot at the WWE Championship; in exchange for J.R’s freedom. Triple H snaps J.R’s arm anyway. Michael Cole would replace Ross on commentary for the rest of the night.
-Jeff Jarrett, now the European AND Intercontinental Champion, is in the ring with Mark Henry. As a reward for betraying D’Lo Brown at SummerSlam, Jarrett decides to give Henry the European Championship. Debra is also rewarded for helping Jarrett win both titles the night before. She now has a blonde assistant named Miss Kitty.
-Triple H pins Mankind to become the new WWE Champion. Shane McMahon had made himself special guest referee. Click on the video link below to watch the match in it’s entirety.
2000 – In Ultimate Pro Wrestling, Mikey Henderson defeats Stretch, to win the UPW Lightweight Title.
2002 – Madison defeats Bam Bam Bambi, to win the NWA World Women’s Championship.
2003 – In Chaotic Wrestling (CW), Brian Black and Mighty Mini defeat The Lost Souls (Brian Buffet / Peter Mulloy), to win the CW Tag Team Championship.
2006 – Charles Evans defeats Seth Skyfire, to win the OVW Television Championship.
2008 – In the Empire Wrestling Federation’s “Flirting With Disaster” event, Ryan Taylor defeats Vizzion, to win the EWF American Heavyweight Championship.
2009 – WWE holds SummerSlam from Los Angeles.
-In the dark match, Beth Phoenix wins a 15-diva Battle Royal by last eliminating Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres. Chavo Guerrero serves as special guest referee.
-Rey Mysterio retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship, defeating Dolph Ziggler.
-MVP defeats Jack Swagger in a singles match.
-Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho and Big Show) retain the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship, defeating Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard / JTG).
-Kane defeats The Great Khali in a singles match.
-In a tag team match, DX (Triple H / Shawn Michaels) defeat Legacy (Cody Rhodes / Ted DiBiase).
-Christian retains the ECW Championship, defeating William Regal.
-Randy Orton retains the WWE Championship, defeating John Cena.
-CM Punk wins the World Heavyweight Championship; defeating Jeff Hardy in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match.
2014 – In World Xtreme Wrestling, Sean Maluta vacates the WXW Heavyweight Championship. It would be left vacant for almost four months.
2014 – In Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling, Nicole Matthews defeats Bishop, to win the ECCW Championship; the top title in the promotion. Due to this victory, Matthews vacates the ECCW Women’s Championship.
2014 – In Combat Zone Wrestling, Alexander James is awarded the reactivated CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship. The title had been inactive for almost two years.
2015 – WWE holds SummerSlam from Brooklyn, New York.
-Sheamus defeats Randy Orton in a singles match.
-In a Fatal Four-Way Tag Team match, The New Day (Kofi Kingston / Big E with Xavier Woods ringside) become the new WWE Tag Team Champions. New Day defeats former champs The Prime Time Players (Titus O’Neil / Darren Young), The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara / Kalisto) and Los Matadores (Diego / Fernando).
-Dolph Ziggler defeats Rusev by countout.
-The tag team of Neville and Stephen Amell (from TV series “Arrow”) defeat the tag team of Stardust and King Barrett.
-In a triple-threat match, Ryback retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship; defeating The Miz and The Big Show.
-In a tag team match, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose defeat The Wyatt Family (Luke Harper / Bray Wyatt).
-In a Title vs. Title match, Seth Rollins (World Heavyweight Champion) defeats John Cena, and wins Cena’s United States Championship. Rollins was assisted by Jon Stewart; who ran down to the ring and hit Cena with a chair. Rollins then hit Cena with a pedigree onto the chair to secure the win.
-In a three-team elimination match, Team Bella (Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, and Alicia Fox) defeat Team PCB (Paige, Charlotte, Becky Lynch) and Team BAD (Sasha Banks, Naomi, and Tamina).
-Kevin Owens defeats Cesaro in a singles match.
-The Undertaker defeats Brock Lesnar by submission.
BIRTHDAYS
-Fumihiro Niikura (born 1957)
-Yoshikazu Taru (born 1964)
-J.C. Bailey (born 1983, died in 2010)
-Ryan Howe (born 1987)
SOURCES: Google, Wikipedia, WWE, YouTube, Bleacher Report, wrestlingdata.com, CageSide Seats, gerweck.net, wrestlingdata.com, Pro Wrestling Wiki