This Day In Wrestling History – January 13th

1990 – Chris Chavis, wrestling as ‘Tatanka,’ makes his pro wrestling debut in a match against Joe Thunderstorm, at Larry Sharpe’s wrestling school, “The Monster Factory,” in Philadelphia.

1993 – WCW Clash of the Champions XXII is held in Milwaukee in front of 4,000 fans; it receives a 2.9 TV rating.  This is the final Clash event for announcer Jim Ross; shortly after this event JR left WCW to work in the WWF.

– Cactus Jack defeats Johnny B. Badd.
– 2 Cold Scorpio defeats Scotty Flamingo.
– Chris Benoit defeats Brad Armstrong.
– Vinnie Vegas defeats Tony Atlas, in an Arm Wrestling Match.
– The Wrecking Crew (Rage & Fury) defeat Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk.
– Shane Douglas & Ricky Steamboat defeat Brian Pillman & Steve Austin, to retain the NWA & WCW World Tag Team Championships.
– In a Thundercage Match, Dustin Rhodes, Sting, & Cactus Jack defeat Paul Orndorff, Barry Windham, & Big Van Vader.

1997 – In the Monday Night Wars, WCW Monday Nitro (3.4 TV rating) beats WWF Monday Night RAW (2.3 rating).

2000 – This evening’s WWF SmackDown, features the return of Cactus Jack, one of Mick Foley’s three personas. Cactus Jack had not been on television in almost two years.

2005 – In a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match on SmackDown, The Basham Brothers (Doug & Danny) defeat Rey Mysterio & Rob Van Dam, Booker T & Eddie Guerrero, and Mark Jindrak & Luther Reigns, to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.

2006 – On SmackDown Randy Orton, (subbing for an injured Booker T), defeats Chris Benoit in the seventh and final match, in Booker’s Best-of-Seven United States Championship Series with Benoit for the vacant United States Championship.  Booker defeated Benoit in the first three matches. Orton took over after Booker suffered an injury, but lost the next three matches vs Benoit, setting up the seventh and decisive match. Despite Orton getting the victory, and wrestling in place of Booker T for more than half the best-of-seven, Booker is awarded the U.S. Title.

Also on the show, Kurt Angle wins a 20-man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal, to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.  The title had been vacated by Batista earlier in the night, after he had a triceps injury, in a match against Mark Henry at a house show a few days earlier.  As the new champion, Angle moves from the RAW roster to the SmackDown roster.

2007 – At Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s Based on a True Story event, The Human Tornado defeats Joey Ryan, in a Guerrilla Warfare Match, to become the new PWG World Champion.

2009 – On ECW on Sci Fi, the undefeated Jack Swagger defeats Matt Hardy, to win the ECW Championship.

2013 – TNA Genesis is held at the Impact Zone in Orlando, in front of 1,100 fans.

– Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez defeat Joey Ryan & Matt Morgan, to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship.
– Mr. Anderson defeats Samoa Joe.
– Christian York defeats Kenny King, to earn a shot at the X Division Championship.
– Rob Van Dam defeats Christian York, to retain the X Division Championship.
– Devon defeats Joseph Park.
– Velvet Sky wins a Gauntlet Match over ODB, Gail Kim, Mickie James, and Miss Tessmacher.
– Christopher Daniels (with Kazarian) defeats James Storm.
– Sting, making his return from a November injury, defeats D.O.C.
– In a Three-Way Elimination Match, Jeff Hardy defeats Austin Aries and Bobby Roode, to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

2014 – It’s announced on this evening’s Monday Night RAW, that The Ultimate Warrior would be the first inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

2017 – In a Three-Way Match at SHINE 98, LuFisto defeats Mercedes Martinez and Allysin Kay, to win the SHINE Championship.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: wrestling manager Trina Michaels (36 years old); former FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion & NEXUS member, Mason Ryan (37 years old); indie wrestler LC Lunar (25 years old); former WWE Tag Team wrestler Shad Gaspard (38 years old); Ring of Honor ring announcer & commentator, Ian Riccaboni (32 years old); former IWGP tag team champion & Junior Heavyweight tag team champion, Yujiro Takahashi (38 years old); former NWA World Tag Team Champion & North American Tag Team Champion, Reno Riggins (52 years old); Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Tadasuke (33 years old); former Tough Enough contestant Luke Robinson (34 years old); and Canadian Wrestling & Stampede Wrestling Hall of Famer Bruce Hart (69 years old).

Today would’ve been the 50th birthday for 4-time ECW Tag Team Champion ‘The Eliminator’ John Kronus. Today would’ve also been the 87th birthday for WWE Hall of Famer Bearcat Wright, who helped desegregate professional wrestling in the late 1950s and early 1960s.