This Day In History - February 22nd
February 22nd
On this day in history in ....
1903 - In a historic match, Tom Jenkins and Frank Gotch wrestle for the first time ever in Cleveland, Ohio. Jenkins wins this first meeting between two of the top wrestlers of the era.
1971 - Fritz Von Erich defeats Toru Tanaka in Ft. Worth, Texas to win the NWA American Heavyweight Title for the ninth time. He would lose it back to Tanaka the next day.
1984 - Jumbo Tsuruta defeats Nick Bockwinkel in Tokyo, Japan to win the AWA World Heavyweight Title.
1982 - Dick Slater defeats Mike Rotunda for the NWA Television Title in Columbia, South Carolina, the first of two runs with this title for Slater.
1997 - ECW holds their Cyberslam event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are the results:
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Eliminators defeated Rob Van Dam in a Tables and Ladders match.
- Chris Chetti defeated Little Guido.
- Stevie Richards defeated Balls Mahoney.
- Axl Rotten defeated Spike Dudley.
- The Dudley Boyz defeated The Gangstas.
- Taz defeated Tracey Smothers.
- Terry Funk (replaced by Sandman during the match) & Tommy Dreamer defeated Raven & Brian Lee.
- Sabu defeated Chris Candido.
1998 - WCW held their Superbrawl VIII Pay-per-view in San Francisco, California at the Cow Palace. Here are the results of the show:
- In a dark match, Ultimo Dragon defeated Shiryu. Shiryu would later work in WCW without his mask as Kaz Hayashi.
- Booker T defeated Rick Martel with a sidekick to win the WCW World Television Title, this began Booker's second reign. The winner of this match went on to face Perry Saturn in a second Television Title match.
- WCW World Television Champion Booker T defeated Perry Saturn with the Harlem Hangover (somersault top rope legdrop).
- Disco Inferno defeated La Parka with the Chart Buster (stunner).
- Bill Goldberg defeated Brad Armstrong with the spear/jackhammer combo.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Juventud Guerrera in a "title vs. mask" match with the Liontamer. As a result, Guerrera had to unmask, and unlike Rey Mysterio (who lost his mask one year later at the same event), Juventud has continued to wrestle without his mask.
- Davey Boy Smith defeated Steve McMichael via submission with an armbar. McMichael had "hurt" his arm against the ringpost earlier in the match. McMichael later claimed he never submitted.
- United States Champion Diamond Dallas Page defeated Chris Benoit with the Diamond Cutter.
- Lex Luger defeated Randy Savage via submission with the Torture Rack in a no-disqualification match. For some reason, the bell rang when the NWO interfered to help Luger, even though it was a no-DQ bout. Luger then put Savage in the rack, and won via submission, as the bell rang a second time.
- Kevin Nash & Scott Hall, with Dusty Rhodes, defeated Rick & Scott Steiner, with Ted DiBiase, to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship when Scott turned on Rick, powerbombing him. Dusty rammed DiBiase into the ringpost and Hall gave Rick the Outsider Edge for the pin and the belts.
- Sting defeated Hulk Hogan to win the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Title after Randy Savage ran in and hit Hogan with a spraypaint can. This was to settle the title controversy following Starrcade two months earlier.
2000 - Crash Holly defeats Test in Memphis, Tennessee to win the WWF Hardcore Title. This would be the first of 22 Hardcore Title reigns for Crash.
2003 - Mafia (Dan Maff) defeats Homicide in Woodbridge, New Jersey to win the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title, ending Homicide's fifth reign as champion.
2004 - Kaz Hayashi defeats TAKA Michinoku in Tokyo, Japan to win the vacant All Japan World Junior Heavyweight Title. The belt had been vacated the day before when champion Kendo Ka Shin failed to appear for a title defense.
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