August 1st
On this day in history in ....
1963 - Eddie Graham defeats Hiro Matsuda for the (Florida) Southern Heavyweight Title in Jacksonville, Florida, beginning his fourth reign with the title.
1972 - Devon is born.
1974 - Bulldog Bob Brown defeats Harley Race in Kansas City, Kansas for the Central States Heavyweight Title. This ended Race's sixth reign with the belt, and started Brown's fifth title run.
1982 - Harley Race defeats Jumbo Tsuruta for the NWA United National Heavyweight Title (now part of the All Japan Triple Crown) in Tokyo, Japan. This ended Tsuruta's fourth reign with the belt.
1983 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Greenville, SC with the following results:
Vinnie Valentino defeated Tom Lintz
Gene Anderson defeated Mike Davis
Mike Rotundo defeated the Assassin
Jake Roberts defeated Rufus R. Jones
Bob Orton Jr. defeated Dory Funk Jr.
Ric Flair & Ricky Steamboat defeated NWA Tag Team Champions Jack & Jerry Brisco via disqualification
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Columbia, SC, with the following results:
Vinnie Valentino defeated Kurt Von Hess
Nikita Koloff defeated Barry Hart
NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Pez Whatley
NWA Tag Team Champions Don Kernodle & Ivan Koloff defeated the Renegade & Mark Youngblood
Ricky Steamboat defeated Wahoo McDaniel via disqualification
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran a doubleshot, featuring the following results:
Mount Holly, NJ at the Burlington County Vo-Tech High School featuring the following results:
Denny Brown fought Stoney Burke to a draw
Pat Tanaka defeated Gerald Finley
Ron Bass defeated the Barbarian via disqualification
Manny Fernandez defeated Superstar Billy Graham
NWA TV Champion Dusty Rhodes defeated Abdullah the Butcher via countout
Huntington, WV:
Rising Sun #1 defeated Ricky Reeves
NWA National Tag Team Champions Arn & Ole Anderson defeated Johnny Weaver & Sam Houston
NWA U.S. Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Starship Eagle
Jimmy Valiant defeated Paul Jones in a dog collar match
NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock N' Roll Express defeated Ivan & Nikita Koloff
NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought Magnum TA to a draw
1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran San Antonio, TX, healined by Baby Doll & The Rock N' Roll Express defeating Jim Cornette & NWA World Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey
1987 - Bill Watts' UWF held their final "Superdome Extravaganza" at the Superdome in New Orleans. Watts' had run several supercards at the Superdome over the years, with it peaking in the early 80's, when Mid-South Wrestling (as the promotion was known then) drew up to 30,000 fans for shows with Junkyard Dog, Ted DiBiase and the Freebirds. This show drew 5,000 fans, up from two previous Dome shows Watts had run, but far less than the peak events. Watts would soon sell the promotion to WCW. Here are the results:
- Shane Douglas defeated Gary Young.
- Davey Haskins defeated Mike Boyette.
- Terry Gordy defeated The Angel Of Death.
- Terry Taylor defeated Steve Cox.
- Barry Windham defeated Shaska Watley.
- Rick Steiner defeated Chris Adams in a Taped Fist match.
- Sting defeated The Enforcer.
- Tim Horner & Brad Armstrong defeated The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) via disqualification.
- Dusty Rhodes & Steve Williams defeated Eddie Gilbert & Dick Murdoch in a Double Bullrope match.
- The Fabulous Freebirds defeated Black Bart, Big Bubba Rogers & The Terminator in a First Blood Elimination Steel Cage match, in which wrestlers were eliminated when they were busted open. Order of elimination was: Buddy Roberts, The Terminator, Michael Hayes, Black Bart, Bubba Rogers. Terry Gordy was the sole survivor.
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Richmond, VA at the Coliseum before 7,500 fans, featuring:
Thunderfoot #1 & Sean Royal defeated the Italian Stallion & Nelson Royal
Ivan Koloff defeated Todd Champion
The Barbarian defeated Kendall Windham
Jimmy Valiant & Bugsy McGraw defeated the MOD Squad
Jimmy Garvin defeated Manny Fernandez
Nikita Koloff defeated NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger via disqualification
NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock N' Roll Express defeated NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson
Ron Garvin defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification
1988 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Milwaukee, WI at the Mecca, featuring the following results:
Dick Murdoch defeated the Russian Assassin
Jimmy Garvin defeated Rick Steiner
Al Perez defeated Kendall Windham
Larry Zbyszko defeated Tim Horner
Bugsy McGraw defeated Rip Morgan
Ricky Morton & Brad Armstrong defeated the Sheepherders
The Fantastics, Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers defeated NWA U.S. Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane in a non-title bunkhouse match
NWA World TV Champion Mike Rotundo defeated Nikita Koloff
Dusty Rhodes, Lex Luger, Sting, & the Road Warriors defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair, NWA US Champion Barry Windham, NWA Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard, and JJ Dillion in Wargames - The Match Beyond.
1989 - NWA ran a TV taping in Baton Rouge, LA at the Centroplex featuring the following results:
The New Zealand Milita, Jacko Victory & Rip Morgan defeated The Dynamic Dudes, Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace when Morgan pinned Ace after Victory hit Ace in the face with a canteen behind the referee's back; it was later stated Ace sustained a broken cheek bone as a result of the blow
Brian Pillman pinned Norman (w/ Teddy Long) with a roll over as Norman had a fit on the mat; after the match, Long slapped Norman and ordered him to go after Pillman, with Norman then ramming Pillman into the ringpost and hitting a splash off the middle turnbuckle after Long laid Norman's giant key across Pillman's chest
1991 - WCW ran St. Louis, MO at the Arena, featuring the following results:
WCW U.S. Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin defeated Tracey Smothers & Steve Armstrong
Richard Morton defeated Robert Gibson
WCW World TV Champion Steve Austin fought Bobby Eaton to a draw
Dustin Rhodes & Big Josh defeated Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko via disqualification
WCW World Champion Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham
Sting defeated Nikita Koloff in a Texas Death Match
PN News, Yellow Dog (Brian Pillman under a mask) & the Junkyard Dog defeated the Diamond Studd, Johnny B. Badd & Black Bart
Ron Simmons & EL Gigante defeated The Hardliners, Dick Murdoch & Dick Slater in a steel cage match
1992 - WCW ran Philadelphia, PA at the Civic Center, featuring the following results:
Bobby Eaton pinned Michael Hayes (substituting for Larry Zbyszko, selling the arm injury he sustained on TV)
Madusa pinned Heidi Lee Morgan
Dustin Rhodes pinned Greg Valentine with the bulldog; stipulations stated the match could only end following Rhodes' bulldog or Valentine's figure-4
WCW TV Champion Steve Austin fought Barry Windham to a draw
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Unified WCW and NWA World Tag Team Champions Steve Williams & Terry Gordy in a non-title match
Ricky Steamboat pinned Cactus Jack in a falls count anywhere match
Sting & Ron Simmons defeated WCW World Champion Big Van Vader & the Super Invader
Nikita Koloff pinned WCW U.S. Champion Rick Rude in a non-title match
1996 - W*ING Kanemura defeats Masato Tanaka in a tournament final in Shiodome, Japan to become the first FMW Independent World Heavyweight Champion.
1996 - WCW ran Beaumont, TX at the Civic Center featuring the following results:
Konnan defeated Michael Wallstreet.
Alex Wright (sub. for Chavo Guerrero Jr.) defeated Terry Taylor (sub. for Psychosis)
Big Bubba defeated John Tenta
Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Dean Malenko via reverse decision; Malenko originally won the match and title after hitting Mysterio with brass knuckles
Public Enemy defeated the Nasty Boys in a Streetfight
Randy Savage defeated WCW U.S. Champion Ric Flair; Flair originally won with his feet on the ropes for leverage but the bout continued with the title not at stake
WCW World Champion the Giant defeated WCW World TV Champion Lex Luger
1997 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Rostraver, PA at the Ice Garden featuring:
John Kronus defeated Louie Spicolli
Nova defeated Barry Hardy
Tracy Smothers & Little Guido defeated Los Cholos
ECW TV Champion Taz defeated Wolfie D
Axl Rotten defeated Chris Chetti
Mikey Whipwreck & Spike Dudley defeated Bobby Duncum Jr. & Jason
Shane Douglas & Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Candido defeated Buh Buh Ray &, D-Von, & Big Dick Dudley
Rob Van Dam defeated Balls Mahoney
Sabu defeated Tommy Dreamer
1997 - New Japan Pro Wrestling ran Tokyo, Japan at Sumo Hall with the following results:
Takashi Iizuka & Kazuyuki Fujita defeated Kendo Kashin & Tatsuhito Takaiwa at 9:20 when Takaiwa submitted to Iizuka
Shinjiro Ohtani & Koji Kanemoto defeated Jushin Liger & El Samurai at 17:24 when Ohtani pinned Liger
Tatsumi Fujinami & Osamu Kido defeated Riki Choshu & Kengo Kimura at 9:06 when Kido pinned Kimura
Satoshi Kojima pinned Lord Steven Regal at 9:45
Hiroyoshi Tenzan pinned Tadao Yasuda at 10:31
Scott Norton pinned Junji Hirata at 6:31
Masahiro Chono defeated Michiyoshi Ohara at 18:39 via submission
The Great Muta pinned Manabu Nakanishi at 10:25
Shinya Hashimoto defeated Kazuo Yamazaki at 11:35 via submission
1998 - WCW ran Little Rock, AR at Barton Coliseum featuring the following results:
Lizmark Jr. & Silver King defeated Damien & Ciclope
Ernest Miller defeated Terry Taylor
Fit Finlay defeated Chris Adams
Jim Duggan defeated Kendall Windham
Raven defeated Perry Saturn
Brad Armstrong defeated WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho in a non-title match
Lex Luger defeated WCW U.S. Champion Bret Hart via disqualification in a non-title match when Scott Hall interfered; moments later, Kevin Nash made the save
Kevin Nash & Lex Luger defeated Scott Hall & WCW U.S. Champion Bret Hart
1999 - WCW ran Battle Creek, MI at the Kellogg Arena, featuring:
Vampiro defeated Chris Adams
The Barbarian defeated Lash Laroux
Jerry Flynn defeated Dave Taylor
Disco Inferno defeated Vincent
Perry Saturn defeated Kanyon
Jim Duggan defeated Curt Hennig via disqualification
Sting & Booker T defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Diamond Dallas Page & Bam Bam Bigelow in a non-title match
2000 - WCW ran Terre Haute, IN at theHulman Center for a WCW Thunder taping, featuring:
WCW U.S. Champion, WCW Cruiserweight Champion, & WCW Hardcore Champion Lance Storm defeated Juventud Guerrera; only the cruiserweight title was on the line
The Wall pinned David Flair
Elix Skipper pinned Billy Kidman
Sean O'Haire pinned Shawn Stasiak
WCW U.S. Champion, WCW Cruiserweight Champion, & WCW Hardcore Champion Lance Storm defeated Norman Smiley; only the hardcore title was on the line
Buff Bagwell pinned Shane Douglas
Mike Awesome pinned Kanyon
WCW U.S. Champion, WCW Cruiserweight Champion, & WCW Hardcore Champion Lance Storm pinned Ernest Miller; only the U.S. title was on the line
WCW World Champion Booker T, Sting, & WCW Tag Team Champions Kronik defeated Jeff Jarrett, Vampiro, the Great Muta, & the Demon in an elimination match
Gen. Rection, Chavo Guerrero Jr., & Lash LeRoux (w/ the Wall & Major Gunns) defeated Cody Hawk, Race Steele, & Anthony Murphy
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Disco Inferno (w/ Konnan, Juventud Guerrera, & Tygress) defeated Chris Harris & Matt Stryker
The Great Muta defeated WCW Tag Team Champion Brian Adams
2010 - TNA ran Concord, NC at the Cabarrus Arena & Event Center featuring an appearance from Ric Flair before the main event. Jeremy Borash introduced guest referee Mick Foley, who talked about the wrestling legacy of the Carolinas. Ric Flair then came to the ring and put down Concord, saying "Being in Concord on a Sunday night isn't my idea of a good time." He warned Foley to call the match right down the middle. Rob Van Dam pinned A.J. Styles after a Five-Star Frog Splash to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Title. Mick Foley was the guest referee was hit with a low blow by Ric Flair, who came to the ring with Styles. Foley later laid Flair out with Mr. Socko.
Other results from the show saw:
Ink, Inc. Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore defeated Beer Money, James Storm & Robert Roode when Moore pinned Roode.
Douglas Williams pinned Jay Lethal with the Chaos Theory to retain the TNA X-Division Title.
Madison Rayne defeated Angelina Love to retain the TNA Knockout Title. At one point in the match referee Earl Hebner got in Rayne's way as she was whipped into the corner. Rayne stopped herself and yelled at Hebner, but Love then pushed her into the referee's arms and Hebner laid a big kiss on her. Hebner then did a Ric Flair-style strut to a big pop from the North Carolina crowd.
Jeff Jarrett pinned Desmond Wolfe after hitting the Stroke.
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
This week’s show starts off with a look back at Money in the Bank with Vince McMahon’s comments about what would happen if CM Punk left the Allstate Arena with the WWE Title. We then see highlights of the match that was won by CM Punk. We move to last week’s Raw when Rey Mysterio won and lost the WWE Title in the course of two hours. After John Cena thought that he had won the WWE Title, he was confronted by the man who never lost the WWE title with his Summer of Punk music. How will Triple H’s second week in charge go?
We are live from Indianapolis, Indiana and your announcers are Jim ‘Elvis is Dead’ Ross, Jerry ‘Type’ Lawler, and Michael ‘Glamour Boys’ Cole.
The crowd chants for CM Punk as we get the weekly storm of pyro.
CM Punk makes his way to the ring with THE WWE title belt.
Punk has his mic to address the fans. Punk says that THE CHAMP is here. Punk takes his traditional position in the center of the ring to address the WWE Universe. Now the $64,000 Question. After everything that he did and said, why did he come back. Punk asks for everyone’s time to tell a story. Punk says that he knew for a long time that his contract expired on July 17, 2011 so he was thinking about this momentous change for over a year.
Punk says that he loves the place that he works. He just hates the people in charge. He could have resigned and dealt with the soul crushing status quo. Or he could speak his mind and cause some change in its wake. Punk says that he spoke his mind and he caused a bit of a change. The domino effect took place. The next night on Raw, Vincent K. McMahon was relieved of his day to day duties. Punk says that is tangible change that can be felt in the air. He asks for some of the credit, but he says that credit also goes to the fans. He says that the fans have been fed scraps. Punk says that he is here to make it fun again for everyone.
Punk says that he might be unpredictable or unorthodox but he wouldn’t want it any other way. As proud as he was of backing up everything that he said, he said that the voice of the voiceless needed to be heard. Punk says that the people needed to hear it. He says that he came back with a megaphone and other media outlets. Punk says that he cannot change this place or this industry sitting at home on his couch in Chicago.
Punk says that he made the call to come back, even though he hates being on the phone. Punk says that his timing couldn’t have been better. We are already back to the status quo because John Cena is parading around as the WWE Champion. John Cena is as much WWE Champion as the guy in the front row with his replica title belt. Punk says that the fan has a belt, but he has a Championship title.
Punk says that it is more of the same old same old. No matter the outcome of a bogus tournament that was held during his time off, not matter who believes that he should be getting a rematch. Punk says that he is holding the most important title in the world. This shows that without a shadow of a doubt, he is the best wrestler in the world. He says that he is the one and only WWE Champion.
Punk is interrupted by Triple H and Punk acknowledges that it is time to play the game.
Punk wants everyone to give it up for H-H-H who is the C-O-O. Hunter thanks everyone for the warm reception and he will address the WWE Title situation.
Hunter wants to explain why he resigned Punk. Hunter says that it came down to business because it was good for business. That is the same reason why he brought back JR. That is the same reason why he brought back John Morrison. It was good for business. As COO, it is his job to try to give them what they want. The WWE Universe wanted CM Punk so he put his personal feelings aside and he gave them CM Punk.
Punk acknowledges the ‘personal feelings’ comment. Punk doesn’t want Hunter to hide behind the suit and he wants Hunter to explain his personal feelings for CM Punk. Hunter says that they are irrelevant, but he thinks that Punk is a smug, overrated, attention seeking guy who puts a little too much stock in his hype. Hunter says that shouldn’t be a problem.
Punk asks Hunter if it is like looking into the mirror. Punk says that he is a bit of a jerk. Punk says that it is not up to him to decide if he is overrated. Punk says that he wishes that Hunter would have said that he hates Punk’s guts but he knows what kind of a commodity Punk is. Punk says that Vince and his yes men screwed the pooch with talent. Punk mentions guys like Batista, Mick Foley, Chris Jericho, and Brock Lesnar.
Punk says that Hunter didn’t want to see him go anywhere else, but he couldn’t afford seeing Punk go anywhere else.
Hunter wants Punk to tell the truth why he resigned.
Punk says that he said that he wanted to facilitate change. Hunter says that another way of looking at it was that Punk was doing it for himself. He wanted to hear his own voice. What if the pipe bomb goes off and nobody is around to hear it. Without the WWE, the ‘pipe bomb’ and Punk really mean nothing. Hunter says that Punk did that for his own ego.
Punk says that is a 50/50 maybe and Punk prefers 100% truths. Punk says that he is THE WWE Champion.
Hunter says that Punk is the WWE Champion but so is John Cena. That is a situation that he will settle later tonight.
Hunter starts to leave the ring, but he wants Hunter to wait around and he tells the people in the truck to stop the music. Punk says that he is just getting started. Just because he signed his name, it doesn’t mean that he is going to shut up and toe the company line. He isn’t going to promo class or media training. Punk curtsies to the ego that is Hunter Hearst Helmsley. He talks about Hunter hogging the spotlight over people who deserved a spotlight. Even when Hunter was carrying Shawn’s bags, he was pushing people around. Punk asks Hunter how many times did he say I just don’t think he has what it takes while lying in bed with his wife. No matter what Hunter is wearing, he is the same man that he has always been. He is a bully who likes to throw people around and push them. He tells Punk to watch out who he pushes because he likes to push back.
Hunter tells Punk that he is the first person to say that he has a massive ego. That massive ego is telling him to slap every single rotten tattoo off his fat ass. Hunter says that he is not going to do that because it is bigger than that. Hunter says that he took the job as COO for the fans. That comes with certain responsibilities and rules. He might not like them, but he respects them. Hunter says that he will not break those rules. Hunter strongly suggests that Punk doesn’t break them either.
Punk asks ‘Or What’? Is he going to beat him up? Is he going to fight him? Is he going to punch him in the face? Does he have to ask his wife for permission first?
Punk leaves the ring.
Rey Mysterio is in the back and he is getting ready for his match later tonight. John Morrison flips over Rey and he gives Rey his t-shirt.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kelly Kelly is at the announce table.
Match Number One: Divas Number One Contender Battle Royal featuring Eve Torres, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Alicia Fox, Tamina, Natalya, Kaitlyn, AJ Lee, Melina, Gail Kim, Beth Phoenix, and Rosa Mendes
Melina is thrown out of the ring as soon as things start. Rosa Mendes is also eliminated while Alicia Fox tries to eliminate Natalya. Tamina eliminates Kaitlyn. Beth works over Tamina while the Bellas work on AJ Lee and Eve. AJ is eliminated. Eve with a Thesz Press on Alicia in honor of the current champion. The Bellas with a double drop kick to eliminate Natalya. The Bellas work over Beth and we go to commercial.
We are back and nothing has changed because we still have five women in the match. Beth fights off the Bellas. The Bellas continue to work over Beth. Eve is sent to the apron but she fights off Alicia. Alicia slides to the floor and she eliminates herself.
Eve with an elbow and then she avoids a kick from Nikki. Nikki sends Eve into the turnbuckles. Nikki punches Eve while she is in the ropes. Eve is eliminated. Beth grabs both Bellas and then she eliminates them both.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
After the match, Kelly comes into the ring and she hugs her opponent at SummerSlam. Then Beth grabs Kelly and throws her out of the ring. Beth throws Kelly into the ringside barrier and then Beth grabs a mic.
Beth tells Kelly that her days as the perky cut blonde bimbo are officially done.
Miz is in the locker room taping his wrists for his tag match against Rey Mysterio and John Morrison. Truth enters and he asks Miz what’s up. Miz asks Truth who he is talking to. Truth tells Miz that they are the same. Miz disagrees. Truth asks Miz if he said that Triple H being in charge is a mistake. Miz points out that we have two champions. Truth interrupts Miz and suggests that it is a c-o-n-spiracy. Miz tells Truth that because they are tag team partners, they don’t have to share the same viewpoints. Miz talks to himself and he wonders why he is talking to himself.
Truth asks Miz if Hunter was going to bring Punk back all the time, why were they in a title tournament. Truth tells Miz that he is gonna get got.
We go to commercial.
Continued ...