This Day In Wrestling History – September 8th

Happy birthday, Raven!!

1950 – Verne Gagne defeats Miguel Guzman, to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship.

1967 – In Atlanta, El Mongol defeats Mr. Wrestling, to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship.

1983 –  Stan Hansen defeats Giant Baba, to win the Pacific Wrestling Federation World Heavyweight Championship (now part of the All Japan Triple Crown).  The match occurred in Chiba, Japan.

1986 – Jerry Lawler defeats Bam Bam Bigelow, to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship for the 46th time.

1990 – Kim Duk (aka Tiger Chung Lee) defeats Invader #1 to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

1991 – The National Wrestling Alliance officially strips Ric Flair of the NWA World Heavyweight Title;  only two days before Flair is to make his WWF in-ring debut. World Championship Wrestling had stripped Flair of “their title” back in July ’91, when Flair could not come to terms with WCW for a new contract. This would cause the splintering of the WCW and NWA title lineage.

1991 – The CMLL 58th Anniversary Show is held in Mexico City.

– Mascara Sagrada defeats Pirata Morgan to retain the Mexican Light Heavyweight Championship.

-In a five-on-four match, Octagon, Atlantis, El Vampiro, Rayo de Jalisco Jr and Konnan defeat Cien Caras, Mascara Ano 2000, Javier Cruz, Pierroth Jr., and Perro Aguayo.

-In a six-man tag team match, Anibal, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Lizmark defeat Nitron, Mascara Ano 2000, and Universo 2000.

– Konnan defeats Cien Caras and Perro Aguayo in a 3-Way Hair Vs Hair Match. Perro Aguayo was shaved as he was the first to lose two falls.

1997 – The Monday Night War continued: WCW Monday Nitro defeated WWE Raw Is War: 4.3 to 2.2 in the ratings.

1999 – Former WCW referee Mark Curtis passes away at age 37.  Curtis had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 1997, but continued working through the following year.  In 1999, a benefit show was promoted by Cody Michaels in Curtis’ hometown of Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania.  The event was notable as it featured stars from all of the big three promotions (WWE, WCW, and ECW);  including Mick Foley, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Shane Douglas, Bruno Sammartino and many more.  Curtis’ last match as a referee took place just days before his passing, with WCW staging a ten-bell salute in his honor at their next live event. Several independent promotions also held tribute/memorial shows across the following years.

2000 – On this episode of “ECW on TNN,” The Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke) defeat Yoshihiro Tajiri and Mikey Shipwreck, to win the ECW World Tag Team Championship.  Also, Kid Kash defeats Rhino, to win the ECW World Television Championship.

2001 – Arashi and Koki Kitahara defeat Shigeo Okumura and Nobutaka Araya, to win the vacant AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship.

2004 – TNA holds it’s final weekly pay-per-view event.  One title change occurred on the show.  Chris Harris and  Elix Skipper defeat The Naturals (Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas) to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship.

2005 – CM Punk makes his debut in Ohio Valley Wrestling.

2007 – In Johannesburg, South Africa, Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch defeat Paul London and Brian Kendrick to win the WWE World Tag Team Championship.  Cade and Murdoch had lost the titles to London and Kendrick three days earlier in Cape Town.

2009 – Lilian Garcia announces that she would be leaving WWE at the end of the month.  Garcia made her WWE debut on the August 23, 1999 episode of RAW Is WAR.  Garcia left WWE after the September 21, 2009 edition of RAW.  She made several cameo appearances afterwards (most notably on April 19, 2010 when ring announcer Justin Roberts and the RAW superstars were stranded in Europe after a volcanic eruption).  Garcia would return to WWE full-time in December 2011.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:  Former TNA Knockout and current Ohio Valley Wrestling talent Tanea Brooks, aka “Rebel” (age 38).  Happy birthday to one-time WCW World Champion David Arquette (45 today), former WCW wrestler Lodi (46 today), 3-time NWA Tag Team Champion Rick Michaels (42 today), 2-time ECW World Champion and 27-time WWE Hardcore Champion Raven (52 today), and finally “Asian Mist”  innovator The Great Kabuki (68 years old today).

SOURCES:  Google, Wikipedia, Cage Side Seats, PWMania.com, wrestleview.com, gerweck.net

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