This Day In History - March 7th
March 7th
On this day in history in ....
1939 - Dean Detton defeats Lou Plummer for the San Francisco Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title in San Francisco, California.
1940 - Ray Steele defeats Bronko Nagurski to win the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title in St. Louis, Missouri.
1953 - Gorgeous George defeats Don McIntyre for the Georgia NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia, ending McIntyre's eighth reign.
1955 - Gloria Barattini wins her second NWA Florida Women's Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Betty Hawkins' third reign.
1961 - Eddie Graham defeats Buddy Austin for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.
1963 - Bruce Prichard is born.
1963 - Buddy Austin and Great Scott defeat Johnny Barend and Buddy Rogers to win the Northeast NWA United States Tag Team Title in Washington, DC. During Austin and Scott's reign, NWA Capitol Wrestling left the NWA and became the World Wide Wrestling Federation, with the title becoming the WWWF United States Tag Team Title.
1967 - In Tokyo, Japan, NWA International Heavyweight Champion Giant Baba fought WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino to a draw in a two-out-of-three falls match to retain his title. Each man one a fall each by pinfall with bodypresses, taking just over a half-hour in total. The match ended in a draw when the third fall reached the 60-minute time limit for the match. The WWWF title was not at stake.
1969 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- Irish Jackie and Little Beaver defeated Little Brutus and Sky Low Low in a two-out-of-three falls match.
- Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Tom Branden.
- Bulldog Brower defeated Louis Cerdan.
- Johnny Rodz defeated Bob Harmon.
- Baron Mikel Scicluna and John L. Sullivan (Johnny Valiant) fought to a draw.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Killer Kowalski by countout to retain the title.
1969 - Mario Milano and The Spoiler (Don Jardine) defeat Don Leo Jonathan and Antonio Pugiliese to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia.
1970 - Baron Von Raschke wins the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title from Dick the Bruiser in Chicago, Illinois, ending his fourth reign.
1973 - Championship Wrestling from Florida held an event at the Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. The results were:
- Scott Casey and Ron Starr fought to a draw.
- José Azzeri and Treach Phillips fought to a draw.
- NWA Florida Women's Champion Bonnie Watson defeated Kathy O'Day to retain the title.
- NWA Florida Tag Team Champions Mike Graham and Kevin Sullivan defeated Gorgeous George, Jr. and Ron Wright to retain the title.
- Paul Jones defeated Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Mr. Kleen by disqualification. Kleen retained the title.
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Buddy Colt defeated Mark Lewin to retain the title.
1975 - George Gouliovas wins his second NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Title in Sydney, Australia, from The Great Mephisto.
1975 - Terry Latham and Ron Starr defeat The Hell's Angels for the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Dothan, Alabama, ending the Angels' second reign.
1977 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- Don Kent and Jose Gonzalez fought to a draw.
- Gino Hernandez defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Larry Zbyszko defeated Doug Gilbert.
- Bobo Brazil defeated Jan Nelson.
- Carlos Rocha defeated Executioner #2 (Big John Studd).
- Ivan Putski defeated Executioner #1 (Killer Kowalski).
- Tony Garea defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Dusty Rhodes defeated Rocky Tomayo.
- WWWF World Tag Team Champions Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf defeated Tor Kamata and Stan Stasiak to retain the title.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Ken Patera to retain the title, after guest referee Gorilla Monsoon stopped the match due to Patera's excessive bleeding.
1977 - John Anson and Ski-Hi Morse defeat Don Leo Jonathan and Dutch Savage to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1978 - Mike Graham and Steve Keirn win their second Florida NWA United States Tag Team Title in Miami, Florida, defeating Jack and Jerry Brisco.
1980 - Larry Lane defeats Bob Morgan in Amarillo, Texas to win the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
1981 - Medic II defeats Maravilla for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
1982 - The Cadillac Tournament was held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results were:
First round:
- Jimmy Valiant defeated Tim Gerard.
- Austin Idol defeated Jake Roberts.
- Johnny Weaver defeated Jay Youngblood.
- Jesse Ventura defeated Mike Rotundo.
- Big John Studd defeated John Bonello.
- Blackjack Mulligan, Jr. (Barry Windham) defeated The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) by disqualification.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Adrian Adonis.
- Roddy Piper defeated Dino Bravo.
Quarterfinals:
- Jimmy Valiant defeated Austin Idol.
- Jesse Ventura defeated Johnny Weaver.
- Blackjack Mulligan, Jr. and Big John Studd fought to a double-countout.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Roddy Piper, however, Steamboat was assaulted and injured by Roddy Piper after the match, leaving Steamboat unable to continue in the tournament. This changed Valiant and Ventura's semifinal match to the tournament final.
Finals:
- Jimmy Valiant defeated Jesse Ventura to win the Cadillac Tournament.
1983 - Dino Bravo defeats Billy Robinson in Montreal, Quebec to win the International Wrestling International Heavyweight Title for the fourth time, ending Robinson's second reign.
1983 - Stagger Lee (Koko B. Ware) defeats Bobby Eaton for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning his second reign and ending Eaton's fourth. At the same show, Jerry Lawler defeats Austin Idol to win the AWA International Heavyweight Title.
1984 - Mark Youngblood defeats Dick Slater in a tournament final to win the NWA Television Title in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The title had been vacated in January when Jimmy Valiant, who held the title and was wrestling under the name Charlie Brown, went back to using his other name.
1985 - Gary Royal defeats Marty Jannetty to win the NWA Central States Television Title in Kansas City, Kansas.
1986 - Al Perez defeats Jos LeDuc for the WWC North American Heavyweight Title in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
1987 - The WWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, with nearly all the matches taped for future editions of Prime Time Wrestling. The results were:
- Pedro Morales pinned Jimmy Jack Funk after a backbreaker. This match aired on March 16.
- Jim Duggan pinned Moondog Spot after a running clothesline. This match aired on March 16.
- Don Muraco and Bob Orton, Jr. (with Mr. Fuji) defeated Jerry Allen and Dan Spivey, when Orton pinned Allen after a superplex. This match aired on March 16.
- Ron Bass pinned Special Delivery Jones after a flying back elbow. This match aired on March 16.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart (with Danny Davis and Jimmy Hart)) defeated The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond), when Bret pinned Jacques after Davis came in the ring and reversed Jacques' small package behind the referee's back. This match aired on April 13.
- Outback Jack pinned Jimmy Jack Funk (subbing for Barry O) after a bulldog.
- Billy Jack Haynes, WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper defeated Adrian Adonis (with Jimmy Hart), Hercules and Paul Orndorff (with Bobby Heenan) in an Elimination match. Piper and Adonis were both counted out, Hogan pinned Orndorff with a roll-up, Hercules pinned Haynes after a running clothesline from the corner, and Hogan pinned Hercules after a legdrop. This match aired on April 20.
1987 - Lazer Tron (Hector Guerrero) defeats Denny Brown in Atlanta, Georgia to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title, ending Brown's third reign.
1988 - Max Pain and Gary Young defeat The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don) for the Championship (formerly Continental) Wrestling Association Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning their second reign.
1989 - Houston Wrestling promoter and announcer Paul Boesch dies after a heart attack in Sugar Land, Texas. He was 76 years old.
1993 - Nick Tarentino defeats The Lightning Kid (Sean Waltman) to win the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation Maryland Title in Baltimore, Maryland, beginning his second reign.
1994 - The USWA held "Memphis Memories" at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The results:
- The Nightmares (Ken Wayne and Danny Davis) and Skull Von Krush defeated Jeff Gaylord, King Corba and Spellbinder, when Davis pinned Gaylord.
- JC Ice vs. Wolfie D ended in a double-countout.
- Koko B. Ware pinned Billy Joe Travis.
- Tommy Rich defeated Jimmy Valiant by disqualification.
- USWA Tag Team Champions The Moondogs (Rex and Spot) defeated Frankenstein and Leatherface.
- Austin Idol, Jerry Lawler and USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Brian Christopher defeated Terry Funk, Doug Gilbert and USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion Eddie Gilbert by disqualification.
- Tommy Gilbert, Al Greene, Don Greene, Jerry Jarrett, Sputnik Monroe and Lance Russell were inducted to the Memphis Hall of Fame.
- Jerry Lawler defeated USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Brian Christopher, Terry Funk, Doug Gilbert, USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion Eddie Gilbert, Austin Idol, Moondog Spot, Tommy Rich, Jimmy Valiant and Koko B. Ware in a 10-man Four Corners Elimination match.
1994 - Mike Furnas defeats Killer Kyle for the SMW Television Title in Dungannon, Virginia.
1995 - Ricky Fuji and Hisakatsu Ooya defeat Yukihiro Kanemura and Mr. Pogo for the FMW World Brass Knuckles Tag Team Title in Iwate, Japan.
1997 - Salvatore Sincere defeats Brian Anthony to win the NWA Pro Wrestling eXpress Heavyweight Title in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.
1998 - The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt) are awarded the NWA 2000 Tag Team Title in Hope Mills, North Carolina. The Hardys gave up the title on June 29 when they left NWA 2000 after officially signing with the WWF. At the same event, Eddie Brown defeats The Iron Sheik for the NWA 2000 American Heritage Heavyweight Title.
1999 - Michael Hayes pins champion Baldo (Albert/A-Train/Giant Bernard) in a tag team match in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with Hayes and Brandon Baxter against Baldo and Randy Hales, to win the Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. At the same event, Derrick King and Kid Wikkid win a tournament for the vacant PPW Tag Team Title.
1999 - Ringo Mendoza defeats Satánico for the CMLL World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
2000 - WCW held the 103rd edition of Thunder at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which aired live on TBS and got a 1.9 rating. The results were:
- The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea (with Paisley) defeated Psychosis (with Juventud Guerrera) by disqualification in a WCW Cruiserweight Title Tournament match.
- The Demon defeated Idol (Lodi) (with (Lenny) Lane).
- The Cat defeated The Maestro (with Symphony).
- Dustin Rhodes defeated Lash LeRoux.
- Fit Finlay vs. Meng ended in a no-contest.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Mamalukes (Big Vito & Johnny The Bull (with Disco Inferno)) defeated Billy Kidman & Booker (with Torrie Wilson), Harlem Heat 2000 (Big T & Stevie Ray (with Cash & J. Biggs)) and The Harris Boys (Don & Ron) in a Four Corners Elimination match to retain the title.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett defeated Vampiro to retain the title.
2000 - Lioness Asuka defeats Sumie Sakai by forfeit in Tokyo, Japan to retain her Trans-World Wrestling Federation
World Singles Title and win the TWF World Tag Team Title. Asuka was originally scheduled to face Sakai for both titles, but Sakai was injured. Asuka awarded the title to Crusher Maedomari and Drake Morimatsu.
2001 - Tommy Dreamer defeats Scott D'Amore and Rhino in a three-way match to win the Border City Wrestling Can-Am Heavyweight Title, which was stripped from Sabu that day, in Oldcastle, Ontario. Also at that event, Otis Apollo and Johnny Swinger defeat Geza Kalman, Jr. and Dyson Pryce for the BCW Can-Am Tag Team Title.
2002 - Troy Thompson, Jr., better known to Memphis wrestling fans as "Dream Machine" Troy Graham, dies of a heart attack at age 47.
2003 - Zack Mercury defeats Brian Jewel for the vacant NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Spyder was stripped of the title the same day and was suspended from the NWA. At the same event, Brian Jewel defeats Dick Walker to win his fourth Canadian Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title.
2003 - Vince Vicallo defeats Billy Kryptonite (Chad Toland) to win the Chaotic Wrestling New England Heavyweight Title in Methuen, Massachusetts.
2005 - WWE taped the 615th episode of RAW and the 340th Sunday Night Heat at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. On Spike TV, the ratings were 3.8 for RAW and 0.8 for Heat. The results were:
- In a dark match, Shamus Young pinned Murray Happer with a sunset flip off the middle turnbuckle.
Heat:
- Gene Snitsky pinned Val Venis after a pumphandle slam.
- Chris Masters defeated Caprice Coleman by submission with the Masterlock.
- World Tag Team Champions William Regal and Tajiri defeated Simon Dean and Maven, when Regal pinned Dean after a running kneelift.
RAW:
- World Heavyweight Champion Triple H pinned Rosey after the Pedigree.
- Kane pinned Christian after a chokeslam.
- Edge pinned Chris Jericho after a DDT.
- Chris Benoit defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin by submission with the Crippler Crossface.
- Batista pinned Ric Flair (with World Heavyweight Champion Triple H) after the Batista Bomb.
- In a dark match after the show, Batista pinned World Heavyweight Champion Triple H after the Batista Bomb.
2006 - WWE taped the 343rd edition of Friday Night SmackDown! and 189th Velocity at the Civic Center in Mobile, Alabama. The results:
Velocity:
- Super Crazy defeated Simon Dean.
- The Pitbulls (Kid Kash and Jamie Noble) defeated Funaki and Scotty 2 Hotty.
- Tatanka defeated Frankie Ciatso (Frankie Capone/Coverdale).
- WWE Tag Team Champions MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro (with Melina)) defeated Brian Kendrick and Paul London.
SmackDown!:
- Bobby Lashley and Finlay fought to a no contest in a Money in the Bank qualifying match.
- Paul Birchill defeated William Regal.
- Kristal defeated Jillian Hall in a Divas Uncovered match.
- WWE United States Champion Chris Benoit defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms.
- Rey Mysterio and World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle defeated Mark Henry (with Daivari) and Randy Orton by disqualification.
2007 - OVW held its weekly television taping at Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky. The results:
Dark matches:
- Vito defeated Ramón.
- Cassidy Riley defeated T.J. Dalton.
- Vladimir Kozlov defeated Judge Reason.
- The Basham Brothers (Danny and Doug) defeated Mike Tolar and Wyatt Young.
- Tony Braddock (Roadkill) defeated Adam Evans.
- Beth Phoenix defeated Maryse.
- Deuce, Domino and OVW Television Champion Mike Kruel defeated Johnny Jeter, Cody Runnels and Shawn Spears.
Television matches:
- Jake Hager defeated Dewey.
- Tommaso defeated Jamin Olivencia.
- OVW Heavyweight Champion Paul Birchill defeated Little Guido to retain the title.
- OVW Southern Tag Team Champions Ox and Hammer (Charles Evans & Justin LaRouche) defeated Chet the Jett & Steve Lewington, Gothic Mayhem (Pat Buck & Johnny Punch) and The Belgium Brawler & Nick Sinn.
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