On this day in history in ....
1956 - Jesse James defeats Frank Jares for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee, ending Jares' second reign and starting his own second run with the belt.
1963 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Prince Nero in Millstone, NJ.
1965 - WWWF ran New Haven, CT with the following results:
-Vittorio Apollo defeated Clyde Steeves.
-Tony Newberry defeated Ted Lewin.
-Fuzzy Cupid & Sky Low Low defeated Irish Jackie & the Jamaica Kid.
-Wahoo McDaniel defeated Jerry Graham.
-Gorilla Monsoon & Bill Watts defeated Bobo Brazil & Haystacks Calhoun.
1967 - WWWF ran Atlantic City, NJ at the Convention Hall with the following results:
-Tomas Marin defeated Chuck Richards.
-Frank Holtz defeated Steve Stanlee via disqualification.
-Arnold Skaaland defeated Frank Hickey.
-Luke Graham fought Miguel Perez to a draw.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Spiros Arion defeated WWWF U.S. Tag Team Champions Lou Albano & Tony Altimore to win the titles.
1967 - WWWF ran Washington, DC with the following results:
-Ernie Lassiter defeated Bob Taylor.
-Sam Rubin defeated Angelo Savoldi.
-Pete Sanchez defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Arman Hussian defeated Smasher Sloan.
-Gorilla Monsoon defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
-Irish Jackie & the Jamaica Kid defeated Sky Low Low & Little Brutus.
-Bobo Brazil defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka.
1968 - WWWF ran Baltimore, MD with the following top results:
-Tony Altimore & Lou Albano defeated Sammy Rubin & Lenny Solomon.
-Bull Ramos defeated Virgil the Kentucky Butcher.
-Prof. Toru Tanaka & Gorilla Monsoon defeated Earl Maynard & Victor Rivera.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated George Steele.
1969 - WWWF ran Washington, DC at the National Arena with the following results:
-The Fabulous Moolah defeated Vivian Vachon.
-Baron Scicluna fought John L. Sullivan to a draw.
-Antonio Pugliese defeated Frank Hickey.
-Mitsu Arakawa defeated Miguel Feliciano.
-Joe Cox defeated Lou Albano.
-Cowboy Bradley & Joey Russell defeated Frenchy Lamont & Billy the Kid.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka via disqualification.
1970 - Nick Bockwinkel defeats Paul DeMarco for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, ending DeMarco's fourth run with the title, and starting Bockwinkel's second reign.
1971 - WWWF drew the first $100,000 gate in the history of New York City to a Madison Square Garden event featuring the following results:
-Little Beaver defeated Joey Russell at 10:24.
-Mike Pappas defeated Jack Evans at 7:25.
-The Fabulous Kangaroos defeated Manuel Soto & Bill White at 29:21 in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match; fall #1 - Costello pinned Soto; fall #2 - Soto pinned Kent; fall #3 - Kent pinned White.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated the Black Demon at 8:17.
-Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Beautiful Bobby at 7:04.
-Bruno Sammartino pinned Blackjack Mulligan at 1:04 after a series of bodyslams.
-WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales & Gorilla Monsoon defeated WWWF International Tag Team Champions Luke Graham & Tarzan Tyler in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match at 20:13; fall #1: the champions were disqualified; fall #2: Tyler pinned Monsoon; fall #3: Morales pinned Tyler.
1972 - WWWF ran Atlantic City, NJ with the following results:
-El Olympico defeated Joe Turco.
-WWWF Tag Team Champion Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated Arnold Skaaland.
-George Steele defeated Sonny King via disqualification.
-Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Chuck O'Conner.
-The Blue Demon defeated Thomas Marin.
-WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales defeated WWWF Tag Team Champion Mr. Fuji via countout.
1975 - Torrie Wilson is born.
1975 - WWWF ran Caribou, Maine at the Armory with the following results:
-WWWF Tag Team Champion Pat Barrett defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna via disqualification when Scicluna was caught with a foreign object.
-Blackjack Lanza defeated Mike Paidousis.
-WWWF Tag Team Champion Dominic DeNucci defeated Butcher Vachon.
-Spiros Arion defeated Dean Ho.
-Blackjack Mulligan defeated Tony Garea via countout.
1977 - Championship Wrestling from Florida ran Orlando, FL at the Sports Stadium, bringing in WWWF champion Superstar Graham with the following results:
-Mike York & Tank Patton defeated Raul & Carlos Matta.
-Buddy Roberts defeated Brian Blair.
-Scott Casey defeated the Great Mephisto.
-Charlie Cook defeated Tony Marino via disqualification.
-Rocky Johnson defeated WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham in a non-title match.
-Dusty Rhodes & Steve Keirn fought Florida Tag Team champions Pat Patterson & Ivan Koloff to a draw.
1977 - WWWF ran Steubenville, Ohio at St. John's Arena with the following results:
-Johnny DeFazio defeated Frankie Williams.
-Peter Maivia & Ivan Putski defeated George Steele & Stan Stasiak in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0.
-Larry Zbyzsko defeated Baron Von Raschke via disqualification.
-Johnny Rivera defeated Jim Grabmire.
-Jose Gonzalez pinned Frank Monroe.
1979 - WWF ran Portland, Maine with the following results:
-Dave Darrow defeated Mike Jones via disqualification.
-Hussein Arab defeated Pete Doherty.
-Tito Santana defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Bulldog Brower defeated Dominic DeNucci.
-Ivan Putski defeated Jimmy Valiant.
-Greg Valentine fought Chief Jay Strongbow to a double disqualification.
1980 - Les Thornton enters WWC and is billed as the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Champion, reactivating a title that had not been used since Dick Steinborn held it in 1960.
1980 - WWF ran Asbury Park, NJ at the Convention Hall with the following results:
-Rick McGraw defeated Jose Estrada.
-Larry Sharpe defeated El Olympico.
-Tor Kamata defeated Tony Altimore.
-Bulldog Brower fought Angel Maravilla to a draw.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund fought WWF Intercontinental Champion Ken Patera to a double countout.
1980 - WWF ran South Yarmuth, Maine with the following results:
-Dave Darrow defeated Fred Marzino.
-Steve King fought Angelo Gomez to a draw.
-Johnny Rodz defeated Pete Doherty.
-Hulk Hogan defeated Rene Goulet.
-Andre the Giant & Ivan Putski defeated the Wild Samoans via disqualification.
1982 - Carlos Colon defeats Abdullah The Butcher for the WWC World Heavyweight Title (later to become the WWC Universal Title) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This was the first time the title ever changed hands, as Abdullah had been recognized as the champion since entering the company. On the same show, The Moondogs (Rex & Spot) defeating Invader I & Pierre Martel for the WWC World Tag Team Title.
1982 - WWF ran Providence, Rhode Island with the following results:
-Steve Travis defeated Charlie Fulton.
-Bob Orton Jr. won a 22-man battle royal to earn a world title shot later in the show.
-Sky Low Low defeated the Carolina Kid.
-Pedro Morales pinned Swede Hanson.
-Blackjack Mulligan defeated Mac Rivera with the claw hold.
-Salvatore Bellamo defeated Mr. Fuji via disqualification.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Bob Orton Jr.
-Jimmy Snuka pinned Tony Garea.
-Tony Atlas defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Pete Doherty.
-Ivan Putski defeated Jose Estrada.
1983 - Magnum T.A. & Hacksaw Duggan defeat Ted DiBiase & Mr. Olympis for the Mid South Tag Team Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1983 - A live event at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario drew 11,000 fans with the following results:
-NWA US Champion Greg Valentine defeated Cy Jernigan at 9:16.
-The One Man Gang defeated Mike Davis.
-Jacques Goulet & Kelly Kiniski defeated Nick DeCarlo & Vinnie Valentino.
-Bob Marcus defeated Masa Fuchi.
-Rufus R. Jones defeated Jake Roberts.
-Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. pinned Mike Rotundo at 23:04.
-Jimmy Valiant & Bob Orton Jr. defeated Mid-Atlantic TV Champion the Great Kabuki & Gary Hart in a steel cage match at 7:05.
-NWA World Tag Team Champions Jack & Jerry Brisco defeated Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood via disqualification at 18:22.
-Sgt. Slaughter defeated Canadian Heavyweight Champion Angelo Mosca to win the title at 22:18.
-NWA World Champion Harley Race defeated Ric Flair via disqualification at 16:42 when Flair accidentally punched guest referee Johnny Weaver after Race moved out of the way; after the bout, Weaver punched Flair as payback.
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Columbia, SC with the following results:
-Tom Shaft defeated Doug Vines.
-Brian Adidas defeated Jeff Sword.
-NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Johnny Weaver.
-The Renegade & Mark Youngblood fought NWA Tag Team Champions Don Kernodle & Ivan Koloff to a double disqualification.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated Wahoo McDaniel via disqualification.
1984 - WWF ran Brooklyn, NY with the following results:
-Rene Goulet fought Jose Luis Rivera to a draw.
-The Haiti Kid defeated Dana Carpenter.
-Paul Orndorff defeated Terry Daniels.
-Greg Valentine defeated Tony Garea.
-Sgt. Slaughter defeated the Iron Sheik.
1984 - WWF ran Salt Lake City, UT at the University of Utah with the following results:
Jesse Ventura defeated Salvatore Bellomo.
Mil Mascaras defeated Jerry Valiant.
Mad Dog Vachon defeated Tiger Chung Lee.
Big John Studd defeated Steve Gatorwolf.
WWF IC Champion Tito Santana defeated Moondog Rex.
WWF Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch defeated Rocky Johnson & SD Jones.
Andre the Giant won an 18-man Battle Royal.
1987 - Sherri Martel pinned WWF Women's Champion the Fabulous Moolah in Houston, Texas to win the title at 7:56 by blocking an attempted slam into the ring and reversing it into a cradle. After the match, Moolah knocked down referee Joey Marella for counting the pin before Sherri hit her in the back with the title belt - sending Moolah to the floor. The bout would air on WWF Television, marking the end of Moolah's run as prominent titleholder.
1988 - WWF ran three live events the same day, with the following results:
WWF in Toronto, Ontario at Maple Leaf Gardens:
-Terry Taylor defeated Scott Casey via submission with the Scorpion Deathlock at 12:07.
-The Powers of Pain defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov when the Barbarian pinned Zhukov with a clothesline off the top.
-King Haku pinned SD Jones (sub. for the Junkyard Dog).
-Greg Valentine pinned Don Muraco after hitting him with his shinguard as Muraco tried to revive the referee, who was knocked down moments earlier as Muraco attempted the tombstone.
-Prime Time Wrestling - 8/1/88: The Ultimate Warrior, Davey Boy Smith, & the Dynamite Kid defeated Mr. Fuji & WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition at 7:37 when Warrior pinned Smash with a forearm off the top.
-Terry Taylor (sub. for Hercules) pinned Richard Charland.
-WWF World Champion Randy Savage defeated Ted Dibiase via disqualification after Virgil interfered.
Santa Fe, NM:
-DJ Peterson defeated Billy Anderson.
-WWF Women's Champion Sensational Sherri defeated Rockin Robin.
-Paul Roma & Omar Atlas (sub. for Jim Powers) defeated Barry Horowitz & Sifi Avi.
-Frenchy Martin pinned Koko B. Ware.
-Tito Santana pinned Ron Bass.
Chicago, IL at the Rosemont Horizon:
-Bad News Brown pinned Jim Neidhart.
-Dino Bravo defeated Ken Patera via forfeit after Patera was attacked and injured during their arm wrestling contest and was unable to wrestle.
-The Rockers, Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated the Conquistadors.
-Rick Rude pinned Jake Roberts.
-The Big Bossman pinned Sam Houston.
-Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Lanny Poffo.
-Brutus Beefcake (w/ George Steele dressed as a woman) defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion the Honkytonk Man (with Peggy Sue, a wigged Sherri Martel) via disqualification.
-Andre the Giant pinned Jim Duggan,
1991 - WCW ran San Diego, CA at the Arts Center featuring the following results:
-Big Josh pinned Black Bart.
-PN News defeated Johnny B. Badd via disqualification when Teddy Long interfered.
-WCW World TV Champion Steve Austin pinned the Yellow Dog when Lady Blossom interfered.
-The Diamond Studd pinned Tom Zenk by putting his feet on the ropes for leverage.
-Dick Murdoch & Dick Slater defeated Richard Morton & Terrance Taylor when Slater pinned Morton with his feet on the ropes.
-El Gigante pinned the One Man Gang.
-Sting & Ron Simmons defeated Nikita Koloff & Barry Windham when Sting pinned Koloff.
1992 - WWF held the first-ever wrestling event at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona with the following results:
-Kamala pinned Jim Powers.
-The Nasty Boys defeated High Energy, Owen Hart & Koko B. Ware.
-Road Warrior Hawk (substituting for Davey Boy Smith) pinned Repo Man.
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Papa Shango with a press slam and splash.
-The Beverly Brothers defeated the Bushwhackers.
-Tito Santana (substituting for Sgt. Slaughter) defeated the Mountie.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart pinned Shawn Michaels.
1992 - WWF ran the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan with the following results:
-Crush defeated Skinner via submission with the head vice at 9:38.
-The Big Bossman defeated Nailz via disqualification at 7:11.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Natural Disasters defeated Ted Dibiase & IRS via disqualification at 8:47.
-Tatanka pinned Rick Martel at 16:38.
-Virgil pinned Kato at 12:15.
-The Undertaker pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Ted Dibiase (substituting for the Berzerker, with Jimmy Hart & Mr. Fuji) at 6:30; after the bout, Taker dropped Dibiase, Hart, and Fuji with tombstones.
-WWF Champion Randy Savage pinned Ric Flair at 20:42.
1994 - WWF ran North Tonawanda, NY at the Melody Fair with the following results:
-Duke Drose defeated Adam Bomb.
-WWF Women's Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Luna Vachon.
-Ted Dibiase's Undertaker defeated Thurmann Sparky Plugg.
-Mabel defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
-Doink the Clown defeated Jeff Jarrett.
-The Heavenly Bodies defeated the Smoking Gunns.
-Razor Ramon defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Diesel via disqualification.
1996 - WCW taped WCW Sarturday Night in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Riverfront Coliseum, featuring the following results:
-Alex Wright defeated Disco Inferno.
-Public Enemy defeated the Nasty Boys in a dog collar match.
-Dean Malenko defeated Eddie Guerrero.
-Rick & Scott Steiner defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat to win the titles.
-Kevin Nash & Scott Hall defeated Sting & WCW World TV Champion Lex Luger via disqualification.
-Randy Savage defeated WCW U.S. Champion Ric Flair in a non-title match.
1996 - WWF ran Spokane, WA with the following results:
-Justin Bradshaw defeated Bob Holly.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Smoking Gunns defeated The New Rockers, Marty Jannetty & Leif Cassidy, Henry & Phinneas Godwinn, and Skip & Zip.
-Steve Austin defeated Savio Vega in a No DQ match.
-Owen Hart defeated Aldo Montoya.
-Psycho Sid (substituting for Ahmed Johnson) defeated Goldust after about a minute.
-The Undertaker defeated Mankind.
-Psycho Sid defeated Davey Boy Smith after about a minute.
-Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
-WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels pinned Vader with the superkick after 3 minutes.
1998 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the War Memorial, featuring the following results:
-Tracy Smothers defeated Chris Chetti.
-John Kronus defeated Ulf Hermann.
-Lance Storm defeated Tommy Rogers.
-Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney defeated Danny Doring & Mike Lozansky.
-Masato Tanaka & Jerry Lynn defeated Mike Awesome & Justin Credible.
-Bam Bam Bigelow & Chris Candido defeated the Blue Meanie & Super Nova.
-Taz fought Bam Bam Bigelow to a no contest.
-ECW World TV Champion & ECW World Tag Team Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Spike Dudley.
-ECW World Tag Team champion Sabu defeated Mikey Whipwreck.
-Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley defeated the Sandman & Tommy Dreamer.
1999 - Kurt Angle defeats J.R. Smooth in Memphis, Tennessee, for the Memphis Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title, the first professional wrestling championship ever won by the Olympic gold medalist.
1999 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran the Riverfront Center in Alexandria, LA with the following results:
-Danny Doring & Roadkill defeated CW Anderson & Vito Lograsso.
-Chris Chetti & Nova defeated Tony Devito & Simon Diamond.
-Super Crazy defeated Little Guido.
-Jerry Lynn defeated Lance Storm.
-ECW World Tag Team Champions Spike Dudley & Balls Mahoney defeated Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley.
-Steve Corino defeated Bill Wiles.
-Francine defeated Steve Corino.
-ECW World Champion Taz defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri.
-Sabu defeated Justin Credible in a ECW Death match.
1999 - Edge wins his first WWF gold, capturing the Intercontinental championship in his hometown of Toronto, Ontario in Skydome. Edge was a last minute substitute for Ken Shamrock, who had travel issues. Edge was unaware he was winning the belt until after the referee had counted three. Other results from the show saw:
-The Godfather & Val Venis defeated Gangrel & Prince Albert following the Ho Train and Money Shot on Albert.
-Test defeated Meat with a flying elbow drop.
-Edge & Christian defeated the Acolytes when Edge pinned Bradshaw with a top rope DDT.
-D-Lo Brown defeated WWF European Champion Mideon in a non-title match following the Sky High and Lo Down.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Kane & X-Pac after the Acolytes interfered.
-The Road Dogg defeated Billy Gunn in a dog collar match by reversing the Fameasser into a pump handle slam.
-The Rock defeated the Big Bossman in a nightstick match following the People's Elbow.
-The Undertaker defeated the Big Show in a steel cage match when the Acolytes and Mideon attacked Show, allowing the Undertaker to escape over the cage.
2000 - Lance Storm defeats Big Vito in Cleveland, Ohio for the WCW Hardcore Championship.
2001 - WWF ran Pittsburgh, PA with a Smackdown taping at the Mellon Arena featuring:
-Bubba the Bulldog pinned Cory K with his feet on the ropes.
-WCW Tag Team Champion Chuck Palumbo (w/ WCW Tag Team Champion Sean O'Haire) pinned Test after O'Haire interfered and hit Test with one of the title belts.
-Jerry Lynn pinned K Kwick with a cradle.
Sunday Night Heat:
-Scotty 2 Hotty pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr. with the Worm at 3:57 after Chavo failed a splash off the top.
-Raven & Justin Credible defeated Sho Funaki & Taka Michinoku at 3:35 after Raven hit the DDT on Funaki.
-Albert pinned Hugh Morrus at 3:24 with the Baldo Bomb after Hugh failed a moonsault.
-Hardcore Holly pinned Mike Awesome at 3:27 with the Alabama Slam after Awesome missed a splash off the top.
Smackdown:
-Jeff Hardy (w/ Lita) defeated WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman & Hurricane Helms at 3:39 when Helms was pinned after sustaining the Twist of Fate / Swanton combo.
-The Dudley Boyz defeated Billy Gunn & the Big Show at 3:26 when Bubba Ray pinned Gunn following the 3D
-Diamond Dallas Page defeated Kane via disqualification at 4:24 following a chair shot; after the contest, Kane sat up from a chair shot from DDP and hit the chokeslam on WCW referee Nick Patrick.
-WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam & WCW US Champion Kanyon defeated Chris Jericho & Tajiri at 3:48 when RVD pinned Tajiri with the Five Star Frog Splash after Kanyon hit Tajiri with the US title belt,
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Lance Storm defeated Perry Saturn via disqualification at 3:19 when the challenger attacked Storm with Moppy.
-Edge & Christian defeated Tazz & Rhyno at 3:06 when Christian pinned Tazz after both simultaneously suffered a Gore from Rhyno that was intended for Edge.
-Kurt Angle defeated WCW World Champion Booker T via submission with the ankle lock to win the title at 10:29.
2002 - Flash and BJ Payne were released from their WWE developmental contracts.
2002 - NWA:TNA held their weekly Wednesday night PPV in Nashville, TN at the TNA Asylum. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
The July 24th edition of NWA: Total Nonstop Action began with Jeff Jarrett in the ring hitting security with chair shots. Mike Tenay explained that Jarrett had been in the ring for five minutes ranting. Jarrett demanded that Ken Shamrock bring him "his NWA Title". Jarrett said he would not leave the building until the NWA Title was his.
We cut to the back, where security, presumably holding back Ken Shamrock, got wiped out by the champion. One guard mouthed off to Shamrock, and he punched him out too. Bob Armstrong and Don Harris tried to calm Shamrock, who said (the audio was low) that he was doing things his way. They stepped aside. Shamrock left the room, then barricaded the door, locking security in the room. Shamrock told Ian Harrison to watch the door, and not let anyone in or out of the room.
Bill Behrens was in the ring, telling Jarrett to leave the ring, or security would come out and drag him out (Behrens didn't know Shamrock had locked up the guards). Behrens told him he was suspended for 60 days, starting today. Behrens waited for Jarrett to decide to leave or be dragged out, and Jarrett hit him with the chair. Shamrock hit the ring, and attacked Jarrett. Shamrock hit a dropkick and started pounding Jarrett. Apolo and Monty Brown came out and pulled Shamrock off Jarrett, but this allowed Jarrett to hit Shamrock with a chairshot. Jarrett was at a standoff with Apolo and Brown, when Brian Lawler and K Krush ran out. They got Jarrett to go with them to the back, while Behrens and Shamrock were helped from the ring. The announcers pointed out that security was still locked up in the back.
The opening match for the show was The Amazing Red vs. Low Ki. Low Ki felt out Red with some kicks, then Red hit two armdrags and a dropkick. Low Ki went to the floor, and Red hit a rana. Red slugged it out with Low Ki, then in the ring Ki missed a charged in the corner, and Red dropkicked him in the back of the head. Red hit a neckbreaker from the second rope for a two count. Low Ki tossed off a powerbomb, then hit a rolling somersault kick. Low Ki hit an elbowdrop for a two count. Red flipped out of a snapmare, but Low Ki hit a springboard bodypress, then a double underhook suplex, holding on with the Dragon Wing (double underhook clutch). Low Ki chopped Red in the corner, and when Red went to the top, Low Ki crotched him. Low Ki applied the Dragon Sleeper while in a Tree of Woe, then got a two count. Low Ki grabbed a knuckle lock and headbutted Red, but Red leaned back in the corner and kicked him. Low Ki blocked a series of kicks and got a dragon screw. Low Ki then unloaded with some kicks. Red hit a legsweep and a Red Star Press (standing backflip splash) for a two count. Red hit a sunset flip style flip powerbomb (Code Red) on Ki for a two count. Red hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT for a two count. Red went for it again, but Low Ki tossed it off. Red managed to avoid some strikes and kicks, and hit a spinning enzugiri to the back of the head. Red missed the corkscrew moonsault (InfraRed). Low Ki hit the cartwheel kick (Tidal Krush) in the corner, and the Ki Krusher '99 for the win. Low Ki wins. The fans chanted for Low Ki after the match.
The TNA girls (new ones) danced, while upcoming shows were plugged).
Goldy was in the back, following Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett went up to Harrison (security was banging on the door that Harrison was guarding) and said he wanted in, because he was looking for Shamrock. Harrison refused to move, and Jarrett said he would take care of "Joe Steroid" on his time, and went on looking for Shamrock.
The Hot Shots (Cassidy O 'Reilly & Chase Stevens) vs. Wildcat Chris Harris & Cowboy James Storm was next. The Hot Shots said "We're pricks, we're proud, we're protruding". They showed an interview from earlier with Storm & Harris, where they revealed that it was the Hotshots who had attacked them the night of the tag team tournament. Harris, with a cigarette, then started ripping on Storm's cowboy gimmick, saying it "sucked", cursing it, and told him not to do anymore "Stan Hansen stuff". Storm acted like it wasn't a gimmick at all.
The match got underway, with Storm hitting a headscissors and Storm a spear. O'Reilly took over on Storm outside, then tossed him into the ring so Stevens could get a cover for two. The Hotshots hit a double dropkick, sandwiching Storm's head for a two count. O'Reilly hit a jumping back elbow on Storm and a split leg moonsault for a two count. They hit a Hot Shot on Storm, then Stevens missed a moonsault. Chris Harris finally tagged in and hit a bulldog on Stevens and a Thesz press on O'Reilly. Harris hit a double clothesline. Storm hit a swinging reverse DDT on O'Reilly. Harris was caught in a DDT by Stevens, but reversed it into a Northern Lights suplex and got the pin. The Hotshots laid out Storm and Harris with a superkick/German suplex combo on both after the match.
Goldy was in the back, where the doctor was checking Shamrock. Shamrock woke up, and demanded to know where Jarrett was.
Apolo vs. Brian Lawler was next. The fans chanted "Jerry's Kid" at Lawler. Lawler hit a slam early, but Apolo downed him with a shoulderblock and hit a double arm suplex. Apolo chopped and punched Lawler in the corner, and hit a sitout powerbomb for a two count. Apolo ran into a superkick Lalwler choked Apolo with his necklace. Lawler worked over Apolo with a chinlock, but Apolo came back with a clothesline and a back elbow. Apolo hit a slam and legdrop for a two count. Apolo and Lawler traded blocks and reversals, until Apolo hit a superkick. Apolo went for the TKO/Hawaiian Crush/Stunner out of a fireman's carry, but Lawler reversed it into a DDT. Lawler was bleeding from the mouth. Lawler danced mockingly, then punched Apolo. Lawler then did the old Too Cool dance, and hit a neckbreaker. He started dancing again, and Apolo rolled him up from behind and pinned him. During this match, I noticed the setup of the Nashville Fairgrounds. It is obviously a much smaller building, but the fans are closer to the ring. Sort of reminds me of the ECW Arena or the old studio wrestling set ups, which I like. Looks much better than an empty arena to me.
After the match, Brian Lawler was at ringside, and Don West said he did a "good job" in the match. Lawler went psycho and choked West. With no security, Tenay and Ferrara had to pull Lawler off and convince him to leave.
K Krush came to the ring, and they replayed his hanging of Norman Smiley and Scott Hall from last week. K Krush said he should be referred to as "The Truth" and that K Krush is no longer. The Truth said "they gave me that name". He said he would no longer be "their puppet" and that the rules they created he does not abide by. He said he would not be held down, like Allen Iverson and Mike Tyson is. He brought up more athletes, most of which have been successful. He even mentioned O.J. Simpson.
Monty Brown came out and said he had heard enough of this. He said people make and create opportunities. He said he had been to two SuperBowls, and nothing was given to him. He said he left football to make his opportunities in wrestling. Brown said the "truth" may be that Krush couldn't "walk the walk" and maybe he wasn't "all that". Brown laid down a challenge, but Truth said he had no problem with him. Truth said they both have their views and that Brown should take his "Uncle Tom ass" out of the ring. Truth went to hit Brown, but Brown hit a double arm suplex and the Alpha Bomb (slam into powerbomb) on him. Brown ripped the Iverson shirt off Truth and left the ring.
Just my opinion, but I don't see the need for this kind of angle in wrestling. It's cheap heat, and certainly Krush/Truth is talented enough not to need it. Basically, its crap. Back to the report.
A video package aired on the history of Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles. They started to air an interview that Mike Tenay conducted earlier today with Styles and Lynn. Styles said he understood where Lynn was coming from, and that he respects him now. Lynn said he knows where AJ is coming from, since he was in his shoes ten years ago. Lynn said he appreciates that Styles now realizes what he was telling him about paying his dues. Lynn said he and AJ would be working as a unit tonight against the Elvises.
The TNA girls danced.
The NWA World Tag Team Title match was next. It was Jimmy Yang & Jorge Estrada vs. Jerry Lynn & AJ Styles. Siaki joined on commentary, but his mic was low. In the ring, Lynn hit some armdrags on Estrada. Estrada and Lynn traded hammerlocks, and Estrada hit a side slam. Lynn applied a reverse Gory Special, but Estrada got out and hit a rana. Lynn hit a flying headscissors, and pounded him in the corner. Styles tagged in, and he and Lynn hit a flapjack, and a dropkick/legdrop combo. Styles got a two count. Styles missed a spinkick, but caught a second one and got a two count on Estrada. Siaki was putting himself over on commentary. Estrada hit an anklescissors, sending Styles into the turnbuckles. Jimmy Yang came in, and Styles missed a dropkick, and Yang stomped him, but Styles hit the rana from the mat. Styles hit a spinning back suplex on Yang for a two count. Jerry Lynn tagged in, hit a drop toe hold, and Styles hit a senton on Yang. Lynn rammed Yang into the turnbuckles, and hit a snapmare. Yang reversed a whip, but Lynn hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Styles got a headscissors and a flying forearm in the corner on Yang. Styles went for a springboard bodypress off a whip, but Yang caught him on his knee. The match broke down, with Styles brawling with Estrada on the floor. Siaki clotheslined Styles, and tossed him in the ring. Yang put Styles in a pretzel hold, walked up him in the corner, and hit a series of shoulderblocks. Estrada tagged in and hit a suplex on Styles for a two count. Estrada hit a series of kneedrops to the midsection. Styles fought back, but was caught in a uranage for a two count. Yang tagged in and hung Styles gut first on the top rope. Yang got a two count. Estrada hit a springboard moonsault for a two count, and a small package for another two. Estrada hit a clothesline and a spinebuster for another two on Styles. Estrada dropped a knee, then hit a vertical suplex. Yang came in with a slingshot somersault senton. Yang applied an abdominal stretch, and Estrada gave him leverage. Styles came back with a Quebrada moonsault into a reverse DDT. Styles went for the tag, but Estrada cut him off. Estrada and Yang worked over Styles in their corner. Styles reversed a whip, but missed a dropkick. Estrada got a two count, and tagged in Yang. Styles missed an enzugiri, but hit a backkick on Yang. Tang's nose was busted open. Lynn got the tag, and cleaned house, hitting a springboard sunset flip from the second rope on Estrada for a two count. Lynn dropkicked Yang from the ring and hit him with a pescado. Estrada hit an Asai moonsault on Lynn. Styles went for a twisting plancha, but Siaki shoved the Elvises away, and Styles slammed into Lynn. Lynn went headfirst into the railing, and was busted open. In the ring, Yang & Estrada hit a legdrop/splash combo from opposite corners. The Elvises hit a double fisherman's neckbreaker on Styles, and kept Lynn from the ring. Styles fought back, and hit Yang with a discus clothesline and went to the top rope. Lynn managed a guillotine legdrop on the ropes and slingshot splash on Estrada and got the pin. Styles was standing on the top rope, and apparently mad about not getting to do his move on Yang, left the ring. Lynn, a bloody mess, was left lying in the ring. Lynn was the legal man in the match. Lynn & Styles retain the titles, and the Elvises get their first defeat.
The TNA Girls danced.
Next up was "Jive Talkin'", a interview segment with Disco Inferno with a living room set on the stage. Disco started talking about his accomplishments in wrestling, including his streak of wins over Barry Horowitz. No kidding, he mentioned that. He said he even judged pregnant bikini contests. Disco said he was there to teach the wrestlers how to be stars and have personality. Then he left. Segment went about seven minutes. Apparently his segment will be every week.
The TNA Girls danced again.
Ken Shamrock went up to Ian Harrison, and asked if he had seen Jarrett. Harrison said yes, and that he was looking for him. Shamrock said Jarrett better hope he doesn't find him.
Simon Diamond & Johnny Swinger vs. Monty Brown & Elix Skipper was next. Diamond & Swinger got a brief "ECW" chant. Simon slapped Skipper at the start, and Skipper responded with a kick. Skipper and Diamond slugged it out, and Skipper hit a rana for a two count. Skipper got a side cradle for another two. Swinger ran in, and Skipper leapfrogged him and Brown slugged him from the ring. Brown and Skipper hit Diamond with a double dropkick. Simon reversed a whip on Skipper and missed a dropkick, and Swinger hit Skipper with a clothesline from the apron. Simon & Swinger hit a sideslam/elbow combo on Skipper. Swinger hit a cobra legsweep on Skipper for a two count. Swinger went for a bodypress, and Skipper did the matrix to dodge it, but Diamond ran in and clotheslined him. Diamond tagged in and hit the Simon Series on Skipper, but Brown broke it up. Simon & Swinger hit a double reverse legsweep on Skipper for a two count. Simon went to clothesline Skipper, but he ducked and Simon hit Swinger. Skipper hit a flip styles Northern Lights on Swinger and tagged Brown. Brown hit a powerslam on Diamond, and a press slam on Swinger, dropping him on Simon. Brown covered Simon for a two count, but Swinger broke it up. Simon & Swinger hit the Problem Solver (elevated DDT) on Skipper, but he wasn't the legal man. Skipper tripped Swinger as he came off the ropes, and Brown caught Diamond in the Alpha Bomb for the pin. Skipper and Brown embraced after the match, but Skipper held Brown longer, and The Truth/K Krush came out and ambushed Brown. Truth hung Brown over the top rope, as Skipper just walked away, an obvious set up.
Goldylocks interviewed the Dupps about not getting a match. Stan Dupp commented on Goldy's pink top, saying pink was his favorite color. Stan called Bo a "retard" for leaving Fluff Dupp with Pa Dupp. Bo said in the wrestling business, all you have to do is bump into someone and you get a match that night. Bo bumped into Goldy's breast, but obviously was not getting a match with her. So, Bo bumped into Ian Harrison. A challenge was made for a match, and accepted.
Back in the ring, another match was going to be announced, but the Dupps came out. Ring Announcer Jeremy Borash introduced Bo Dupp, and the Dupps said the opponent was "some big muscled guy from the back". Ian Harrison came out, and Bo started out with punches, which lasted a few seconds. Ian pounded him in the corner and hit a clothesline and a slam. Stan Dupp joined the commentators. The fans chanted "USA" briefly at the British Harrison. Harrison hit a shoulderblock, but Bo hit a back elbow, a boot to the face, and a big splash. Harrison hit a back suplex and a press slam. Harrison hit shoulderblocks in the corner, missed a clothesline and hit a powerslam for two. Stan Dupp ran in and attacked Harrison, causing a DQ. Harrison hit a belly to belly on Stan. Bo was going to hit him with a wooden board, but Ian grabbed it, slowly, and broke it over his knee. The Dupps left.
In the back, Jeff Jarrett broke into the room where Shamrock and security was. Jarrett and Shamrock had a brief brawl, and were pulled apart by security. Ron Harris said that they would do things "his way" and demanded that Shamrock go to the ring for his match, while ordering security to take Jarrett away.
The ladder vs. submissions match for the NWA World Heavyweight Title match was next. Sabu came to the ring, and the ladder match between Malice & Sabu from last week was recapped. Shamrock came out, and the match was on. The fans chanted "Sabu" at the start. Shamrock hit some punches at the start, caught a kick and hit a clothesline. Shamrock went after a leg, but Sabu made the ropes. Sabu kicked Shamrock and rolled him up (the referee counted one for some reason) and Sabu applied a leglace, Shamrock reversed it, and they broke off. Sabu went for a leg again, and we were informed that security was fed up, and had left the building. Shamrock went for a jujigatame, but Sabu made the ropes. Shamrock tripped Sabu, and hit a series of knees to the gut and kicks to the head. Shamrock applied a chinlock, but Sabu made the ropes. Sabu ducked a clothesline, hit one of his own, and applied a jujigatame armbar. Shamrock got out and applied a leglace. Sabu made the ropes again. They announced that Ricky Steamboat will be brought in next week to bring order to the show, and he will have full authority in the company. Sabu hit a slingshot legdrop on Shamrock, and went for the jujigatame again. Shamrock got out and stomped Sabu. Shamrock hit a flying leg lariat in the corner on Sabu. Sabu rolled to the floor, and went for the ladder, but Shamrock hit a baseball slide, sending the ladder into Sabu. Shamrock dragged Sabu up the ramp, and tossed him into one of the dance cages. The dancer didn't move from the cage. Sabu was busted open, and Shamrock took him to ringside and tossed him into the ringpost. Sabu reversed a whip and sent Shamrock into the rail. Sabu set up a table on the ramp. Sabu put Shamrock on the table, and put a chair in the ring. Sabu chairlaunched onto the top rope, then flipped off through the table, which Shamrock had rolled off of. Sabu's back was now bleeding. Shamrock set up the ladder in the ring, and started to climb. Sabu weakly gave chase, but just lied at the foot of the ladder. Shamrock was having trouble getting the belt down. The lights went off, came back on, and Shamrock was still trying to get the belt down. Malice ran out, and chokeslammed Shamrock off the ladder. Malice then climbed the ladder and grabbed the still dangling belt. Malice held the belt over his head and walked up the ramp as the show ended.
2004 - WWE's Raw brand ran Erie, PA at the Civic Center with the following results:
-The Hurricane & Rosey defeated Chuck Palumbo & Mike Bucci.
-Rodney Mack pinned Steven Richards after Jazz interfered.
-Val Venis pinned Tyson Tomko with a full nelson slam.
-Batista pinned Maven with the sit-down powerbomb.
-Victoria pinned Jazz with the Widow's Peak.
-Chris Jericho pinned Kane with a roll up and putting his feet on the ropes for leverage after Kane hit an exposed turnbuckle.
-WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Rob Conway & Sylvian Grenier defeated Rhyno & Tajiri when Grenier pinned Rhyno with a roll up and grabbing the tights for leverage.
-World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit defeated Triple H via submission with the Crippler Crossface after Eugene came to the ring to counter the interference from Batista.
2004 - Combat Zone Wrestling presented the third annual Tournament of Death. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Combat Zone Wrestling held its third annual Tournament of Death event in Smyrna, Delaware outdoors behind the Break Away Tavern on Saturday afternoon 7/24. The show, CZW's annual celebration of insane spots and gore, drew in the area of 450-500 fans, a little down from last year's event, but still a great, fun insane show with the feeling of a demented Woodstock.
Complete results of the tournament saw:
*The show opened with CZW owner John Zandig coming out and asking the fans to remember that everyone working the show is a professional and that the fans should be careful to stay out of the line of the wrestlers and the objects they use.
Round One:
*Arsenal defeated Evil Ninja 2 in a best out of three falls Log Cabin Light Tube Death Match. Both are from the Canadian Internet Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) which does a hardcore style north of the border. The Log Cabins are light tubes taped together to build a square. Arsenal hit a dive through the ropes. They used the light tubes as weapons. Ninja tossed Arsenal off the apron into the first log cabin on the floor. The crowd popped huge for every light tube destroyed all day, letting out "ooohs" as the glass and powder flew into the air. Arsenal set up a chair in the ring and climbed, it dropping Ninja on it with a tombstone. It ended up with Arsenal superplexing Ninja off the top rope through two stacked "log cabins" for the win. OK match. The crowd was heckling the guys at the start since they were small and young and most of the fans hadn't seen them before.
*Nick Gage pinned Ruckus in a Barbed Wire Board Death Match. They had two barbed wire boards in the corners. Ruckus was a substitution for CZW owner John Zandig who pulled out of the show a few weeks back due to neck issues. Robby Mireno cut a good promo before the match. The Blackout gimmick (Mireno as a white boy trying to be a gangsta while running a "label" of black wrestlers) is my favorite thing in CZW right now. Gage used a chair to pummel Ruckus. Gage hit a running boot to a board, which was draped over Ruckus' face. Gage powerbombed Ruckus on the board for the pin. OK match.
*In the first of several Fans Bring The Weapons matches, The Wifebeater defeated Mad Man Pondo in a sick match that saw a stop sign, various light tube creations, a bunch of old records, a flat screen TV and more used as objects of destruction. Beater slammed a keyboard with thumbtacks glues to the keys over Pondo's head and the tacks stuck in. Both guys got huge reactions coming out. Fun brawl.
*Sexxy Eddy (another IWS worker) defeated Ian Knoxx in a Thumb Tack and Tack Strips Death Match. Tack Strips are strips with tacks attached to wooden boards. Eddy, who looks like WWE's Nunzio if he wore his hair like something out of the 1950s greaser movement, did a lot of mic work before the match. He also did a striptease bit using Zandig's wife to disrobe him. It was so out of place on the show, it had to have been a practical joke or something that was setting up a later angle that didn't take place. The early portions of the bout were pretty bad, but it turned into both guys taking numerous bumps into a ton of thumb tacks that were poured out of a cooler into the center of the ring. Eddy splashed Knoxx through one of the nail boards, propped on chairs, to the outside of the ring. He also slammed Knoxx off the ropes onto one of the tack boards. Eddy's routine was goofy but he was great at interacting with the crowd. Knoxx, who took an awesome bump at Cage of Death 5, had been sidelined with a shoulder injury in recent months, and seemed to be trying to make up for lost time with his bumping here. Just sick.
*In a second Fans Bring the Weapons Match, Necro Butcher defeated IWS's Green Phantom. Butcher got the biggest ovation on the show for his entrance. He beat the living hell out of Phantom, potatoing him with crazy stiff shots as they brawled around the ring and into the crowd. Phantom was bleeding heavily from what I believe was a broken nose as the blood was just dripping out of his mask. There were more unique weapons including a fan made "Light tube Cactus" made out of green tubes in a flower pot. Butcher stuck it between Phantom's legs and kicked it. No babies tonight. They splattered sour milk all over the place as well, which no doubt made those fans nearby happy. At one point, Phantom look a snowboard with light tubes attached to the bottom and jumped off the ropes onto Butcher on the floor with it, like he was in some demented XGames tournament. At this point, this was my favorite match on the show. It was just completely evil and brutal.
*JC Bailey defeated Chris Cash in a Light Tubes and Ladders Death match. They started out fast with Bailey putting a light tube under Cash's arm and kicking it, opening him up under the armpit. That's gotta hurt. Two ladders were brought into the equation. Cash was killing himself left and right out there. At one point, Bailey was hit with a light tube and a jagged piece jutted out of his stomach like a knife. Naturally, he made sure to sell it and waited for everyone to take photos and get video closeups before pulling it out. Sick! Bailey put Cash under a ladder with light tubes and hit a senton off the top onto the ladder. Who thinks of this stuff? Zandig came out after the match and noted that Cash was nervous about doing the match, but had proven himself. Zandig asked Cash to be on his team at the promotion's Cage of Death 6 which will apparently follow the great methodology they used last year with the team concept and (I assume) the two rings and suspended cage.
Semi-Finals:
*Sexxy Eddy defeated Arsenal in a Light Tubes Death Match with a springboard moonsault. The tubes were taped along the ring ropes horizontally, so if someone was whipped into the ropes, they would hit the tubes. They also had tubes set in the corners. Arsenal began drilling Eddy in the face with the bottom of a trash can several times. That was sick. At some point, Eddy was cut in the arm by something and apparently sliced a vein. He was shooting blood, which he shot farther by pulsing his hand. After the match, Eddy pulsed the blood into his own mouth, which may have been the most disgusting thing I've ever seen inside and out of wrestling. This was another insane bout. Thankfully, Eddy was OK after being stitched up.
Zandig brought Eddy back out and announced that due to his injuries, he was being sent to the hospital and would not work the finals. Zandig invited him to come back to Philadelphia at the promotion's ECW Arena afternoon show on 9/11.
*The Wifebeater defeated JC Bailey in another Fans Bring The Weapons match. Beater came out with a weedwhacker but Bailey attacked him and zapped him in the stomach with it. Beater pured a huge bucket of salt over Bailey's wounds. The finish saw them brawl into the crowd and atop a pickup truck. Beater gave him a sitdown powerbomb into the back of the truck, which had well over 100 light tubes sitting inside it, for the pin.
*Necro Butcher defeated Nick Gage in a Panes of Glass Death Match. They had the four Panes in each corner of the ring. Lots of brawling on the floor. Gage did the running boot through a plane of glass. Blackout returned and distracted Gage. They tried to attack Gage after the match but Butcher kept them at bay and ran them off.
Tournament of Death Final *WifeBeater defeated Necro Butcher in a match that saw more fan-made weapons, dozen of light tubes, barbed wire wrapped around the ropes, and two pieces of Cage fencing bridged between the ring and the guard rail -- one with barbed wire board and the other littered with light tubes. They had the sections of the crowd closest to the bridges back up as they set up the ring. They started out taking turns beating each other with the weapons and light tubes. Butcher got suplexed out of the ring onto the cage fencing covered in light tubes. They brawled through the crowd and on top of a truck. Beater gave Necro a sideslam off the top of the truck through two tables, with featured a plane a glass bridged across two chairs and one of the tables set on fire. The place went nuts for that. Beater pinned Butcher. Both men returned to the ring, where Zandig awarded Beater the Tournament of Death trophy. Zandig thanked the fans and teased there would be a PPV announcement soon. The promotion has been working on some kind PPV deal, although what that entails I am not yet sure of the details on. I would guess it would be a taped deal of some sort.
Notes: Necro Butcher also went to the hospital to get stitched up....The tournament was a rousing success in that it was a really entertaining show, especially if you are a fan of the death match style. I expect it will be a hot seller on www.smartmarkvideo.com....The show attracted bus trips from both New York City and Canada to the show....The outdoor location made for a unique atmosphere, as it did last year. Thankfully, the weather held up as the forecast was thunderstorms. It didn't actually rain until the final match of the show, and even then it wasn't a heavy downpour....There had been talk of last year's TOD winner Nick Mondo making an appearance at the show but it never happened. He recently did an interview with CZW's website discussing last year's TOD....The promotion returns to Philadelphia on 8/17 and then again with a matinee on 9/11. For more information, visit www.CZWWrestling.com.