This Day In History - April 23rd
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: CENA AND HBK GO FOR ONE HOUR, LOCKDOWN, PERFECT WINS THE IC TITLE AND MORE
1935 - Wildcat Pete defeats Tetsuo Higami in Honolulu, Hawaii to become the first Hawaii Heavyweight Champion.
1954 - Tony Atlas is born in Roanoke, Virginia.
1958 - Jack Dempsey wins his second British Welterweight Title from Mick McManus in London, England, ending his second reign.
1961 - Terry Gordy is born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1964 - Alex Perez and Tojo Yamamoto defeat Jackie and Sonny Fargo to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning their third reign.
1965 - Danny Hodge defeats Hiro Matsuda for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma, beginning his second reign.
1968 - José Lothario and Joe Scarpa (Chief Jay Strongbow) defeat Aldo Bogni and Bronko Lubich to win the Florida NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Bogni and Lubich's third reign.
1969 - Joe Scarpa defeats Boris Malenko for the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Miami, Florida, ending Malenko's fourth reign and beginning Scarpa's second.
1970 - Beautiful Brutus defeats Stan Pulaski to win the AWA Midwest Heavyweight Title in Omaha, Nebraska, ending Pulaski's third reign.
1973 - Sean Regan defeats The Brute for the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1976 - Bob Backlund defeats Harley Race to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title in St. Louis, Missouri, ending Race's third reign.
1976 - Ron Fuller defeats Don Carson for the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title in Knoxville, Tennessee, beginning Fuller's third reign.
1977 - John Cena is born in West Newbury, Massachusetts.
1977 - Dynamite Kid defeats Jim Breaks for the British Lightweight Title in Manchester, England, ending Breaks' sixth reign.
1977 - Ron Bass defeats Jimmy Snuka to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, ending Snuka's sixth reign.
1978 - Jim Crockett Promotions held a 10-team tournament for the NWA World Tag Team Title in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ric Flair and Greg Valentine were stripped of the title earlier in the month. The results were:
First round:
- Gene and Ole Anderson defeated Jack and Jerry Brisco.
- Paul Jones and Ricky Steamboat defeated Ciclón Negro and Baron Von Raschke.
- The Masked Superstar and Ken Patera defeated Tony Atlas and Bobo Brazil.
- Stan Hansen and Blackjack Mulligan defeated Johnny Weaver and Mr. Wrestling.
- André the Giant and Wahoo McDaniel defeated Ric Flair and Greg Valentine to advance to the semifinals.
Quarterfinals:
- Paul Jones and Ricky Steamboat defeated Gene and Ole Anderson to advance to the finals.
- The Masked Superstar and Ken Patera defeated Stan Hansen and Blackjack Mulligan.
Semifinals:
- The Masked Superstar and Ken Patera defeated André the Giant and Wahoo McDaniel.
Finals:
- Paul Jones and Ricky Steamboat defeated The Masked Superstar and Ken Patera to win the NWA World Tag Team Title.
1978 - Ray Candy and Steven Little Bear win their second Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by defeating The Assassin and Ernie Ladd.
1978 - Sivi Afi defeats John DaSilva in a tournament final for the vacant New Zealand Heavyweight Title.
1979 - The Assassins defeat Bill Dundee and Robert Fuller to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title.
1981 - Already a five-year pro, Satoru Sayama made his debut as Tiger Mask, defeating The Dynamite Kid in Tokyo, Japan. At that same event, Antonio Inoki defeats Stan Hansen for the NWF Heavyweight Title, beginning his fourth reign.
1981 - Giant Baba defeats Bruiser Brody in the finals to win All Japan's annual Champion's Carnival tournament.
1981 - Jos LeDuc defeats Steve Rickard for the NWA New Zealand British Commonwealth Heavyweight Title in Auckland, New Zealand, ending Rickard's third reign.
1983 - The WWF held an event at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, which aired on USA Network on May 11. The results were:
- Eddie Gilbert defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Charlie Fulton defeated Pete Sanchez.
- Swede Hanson defeated Mr. Fuji.
- Rocky Johnson defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco by countout. Muraco retained the title
- Johnny Rodz defeated Mac Rivera.
- André the Giant fought Big John Studd to a double-disqualification.
- Bob Bradley defeated José Estrada.
- Tony Garea defeated Tony Altimore.
- Salvatore Bellomo defeated Superstar Billy Graham by disqualification.
1983 - Ox Baker defeats Carlos Colón for the WWC World Heavyweight Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1984 - The WWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, with 22,091 fans attending. The results:
- Tiger Chung Lee defeated The Tonga Kid.
- René Goulet defeated José Luis Rivera.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana defeated J.J. Dillon.
- The Iron Sheik defeated Sgt. Slaughter by disqualification.
- Salvatore Bellomo defeated Ron Shaw (subbing for The Masked Superstar).
- Paul Orndorff, Roddy Piper and David Schultz defeated Tony Atlas, Rocky Johnson and Ivan Putski.
- Brian Blair defeated Samu by referee's decision after the 20-minute time limit expired.
- WWF Women's Tag Team Champions Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria defeated Peggy Lee and Wendi Richter.
- Bob Backlund defeated Greg Valentine.
1984 - Randy Savage defeats Austin Idol to win the CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Idol's third reign.
1986 - Bull Blitzer (Steve Wright) defeats Marty Jones in Walkden, England for the World Mid-Heavyweight Title, ending Jones' sixth reign.
1988 - Lex Luger and Sting defeat Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard in the finals of the third-annual Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina. The 22-team tournament was held over two events, the first being the previous night in Greenville, South Carolina. Also on the closing night of the tournament, in other matches, The Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes) defeated J.J. Dillon in a bullrope match, and Nikita Koloff defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair by disqualification.
1988 - Chris and Mark Youngblood defeats Bobby Jaggers and Dan Kroffat (Phil LaFon) to win the WWC Caribbean Tag Team Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, to begin their second reign.
1989 - Kahos, Rambo and Zandokan defeat Los Brazos (El Brazo, Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Plata) for the vacant UWA World Trios Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
1990 - The WWF tapes the 26th edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, subtitled "The Tussle in Texas", at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. The show aired on April 28 on NBC. The results were:
- Hulk Hogan pinned Mr. Perfect (with The Genius) after the legdrop.
- Earthquake (with Jimmy Hart) pinned Hillbilly Jim after the Earthquake splash.
- The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) fought The Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) to a double-disqualification, when Demolition interfered and all six men began fighting.
- WWF Champion Ultimate Warrior pinned Haku (with Bobby Heenan) after a flying shoulder block and splash to retain the title.
- The Big Bossman defeated Akeem by disqualification when Ted DiBiase and Virgil interfered.
1990 - At that same television taping in Austin, Texas, Mr. Perfect defeats Tito Santana in the finals of an eight-man tournament to win the WWF Intercontinental Title. This was to fill the vacancy left by the Ultimate Warrior after he won the WWF Title at WrestleMania VI. The match aired on the May 19 WWF Superstars.
1992 - The Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane and Tom Pritchard) defeated The Fantastics (Bobby and Jackie Fulton) in an eight-team tournament final in Harrogate, Tennessee to become the first SMW Tag Team Champions.
1994 - The USWA held an eight-team tournament in Jonesboro, Arkansas for the USWA Tag Team Title. The results:
First round:
- The Moondogs (Rex and Spot) defeated Don Bass and Billy Travis.
- The Eliminators (Kronus and Saturn) defeated Jeff Gaylord and Spellbinder.
- Brian Christopher and Eddie Gilbert defeated Doug Gilbert and Tommy Rich.
- The Bad Breed (Axl and Ian Rotten) defeated The Spiders (The Headbangers).
Semifinals:
- The Eliminators (Kronus and Saturn) defeated The Moondogs (Rex and Spot).
- Brian Christopher and Eddie Gilbert defeated The Bad Breed (Axl and Ian Rotten)
Finals:
- Brian Christopher and Eddie Gilbert defeated The Eliminators (Kronus and Saturn) to win the USWA Tag Team Title.
1994 - Chris Candido and Brian Lee defeat The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) in Johnson City, Tennessee to win the title.
1997 - Torch wins a battle royal to win Mike Roselli's ECCW Heavyweight Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1999 - Jonnie Stewart defeats George Petroski to become the first AWA Superstars International Heavyweight Champion.
2001 - The WWF held a live RAW is WAR at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, which got a 5.1 rating on Spike TV. The results:
Jakked:
- Hardcore Holly defeated Race Steele after the Alabamaslam.
- Billy Gunn defeated Jeff Michaels after the One and Only.
- Haku defeated Derek Selsvold with the Tongan Death Grip.
- Essa Rios defeated Derek Stone after a moonsault.
RAW is WAR:
- WWF Hardcore Champion Rhyno defeated Spike Dudley (with Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) to retain the title..
- Kaientai (Funaki and Taka Michinoku) defeated The Right to Censor (Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather (with Steven Richards)).
- Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho defeated Kurt Angle and William Regal in a submission match.
- The Big Show defeated Test by disqualification.
- The Radicalz (WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn (with Terri)) defeated Steve Blackman, Grandmaster Sexay and Raven.
- Trish Stratus defeated Ivory.
- WWF Champion Steve Austin, Christian, Edge and WWF Intercontinental Champion Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) defeated The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt (with Lita)) and WWF Tag Team Champions Kane and The Undertaker.
2003 - Hiroshi Tanahashi defeats Shinya Makabe in Hiroshima, Japan to win the G2 U-30 (Under 30) Climax tournament, and was later recognized as the first IWGP U-30 Champion. At the same show, Tiger Mask IV defeats Koji Kanemoto for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, ending Kanemoto's fourth reign.
2004 - Michael Berry defeats Brandon Groom in the finals in a six-man gauntlet match in Ponca City, Oklahoma to win the NWA Oklahoma Heavyweight Title.
2004 - Helena Heavenly defeats Miss Natural for the World League Wrestling Women's Title in Richmond, Missouri, beginning Miss Natural's second reign.
2004 - Eric Darkstorm defeats Super Destroyer in Greeneville, Tennessee for the Southern States Wrestling Appalachian Heavyweight Title, which was revived after two years of inactivity.
2004 - Outpatient defeats Cueball to win the New World Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Blackstone, Massachusetts. At the same event, Tommy Knoxville defeats Bryan Heel and Omega in a three-way match to become the first NWW Cruiserweight Champion.
2005 - Lexie Fyfe defeats Kiley McLean in a no-disqualification match in Richmond, Virginia to win the NWA World Women's Title.
2005 - Brent Dail defeats Chris Joel to win the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico, beginning Dail's sixth reign.
2005 - Bull Buchanan and David Young defeat Southside Trash (Big Daddy and Rowdy) for the Georgia Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Columbus, Georgia.
2005 - Chris the Bambikiller defeats Cannonball Grizzly to win the European Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title in Leoben, Austria.
2005 - The Old School Empire (Mike Boothe and Preston Quinn) defeat Scotty Blaze and Frank Parker for the NWA Virginia Tag Team Title in Richmond, Virginia.
2005 - RAVE (Kristian Frost and Zack Statik) defeat The Logan Brothers (Bryan and Matt) to win the NECW Tag Team Title in Seekonk, Massachusetts. This ended and began both team's second reign.
2005 - Mark Sterling defeats Michael Strider in a tournament final for the NWA Kansas Heavyweight Title in Lawrence, Kansas. Sterling had been stripped of the title earlier in the month for lack of defenses. This began his second reign.
2005 - Kaimana and J.T. Wolfen defeat The 808 Reckin Kru (Big Daddy Frank and Biggie Mack) in Honolulu, Hawaii to win the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title.
2006 - TNA held its second-annual Lockdown pay-per-view at the iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, Florida. The results:
- Team Japan (Black Tiger IV, Minoru Tanaka and Hirooki Goto) defeated Team USA (Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal and Alex Shelley), when Black Tiger pinned Lethal after a Tiger Suplex.
- Senshi pinned Christopher Daniels with a roll-up and his feet on the turnbuckle.
- Bob Armstrong (with The James Gang (B.G. James and Kip James)) defeated Konnan (with Homicide) in an arm wrestling match.
- Chris Sabin defeated Elix Skipper (with Simon Diamond), Petey Williams (with Scott D'Amore), Chase Stevens, Shark Boy and Puma in an Xscape match.
- TNA X Division Champion Samoa Joe pinned Sabu, who was wrestling with a broken arm, after a Muscle Buster to retain the title.
- Team 3D (Brother Ray, Brother Devon and Brother Runt) defeated Team Canada (Bobby Roode, Eric Young and A-1) (with Scott D'Amore) in an Anthem match. The match had flag match rules but the winning team's country's national anthem was sung after the match.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage pinned Abyss (with James Mitchell) after an Unprettier on a pile of thumbtacks to retain the title.
- Sting's Warriors (Sting, A.J. Styles, Ron Killings and Rhino) defeated Jarrett's Army (Jeff Jarrett, Scott Steiner and NWA World Tag Team Champions America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) (with Gail Kim and Jackie Gayda)) in Lethal Lockdown, when Sting made Harris submit with the Scorpion Deathlock.
2006 - Pro Wrestling NOAH held the 13th and final event of their Spring Navigation tour at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. The results:
- Ricky Marvin and Yoshinori Ota defeated Akihiko Ito and Mitsuo Momota.
- Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Takashi Sugiura and Shuhei Taniguchi defeated Atsushi Aoki, Junji Izumida and Kentaro Shiga.
- Tamon Honda and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Kishin Kawabata and Akitoshi Saito.
- Takuma Sano and Akira Taue defeated Eddie Edwards and GHC Openweight Hardcore Champion Scorpio.
- Takeshi Morishima, Takeshi Rikio and Mohammed Yone defeated Nigel McGuinness, Keith Walker and Doug Williams.
- Mitsuharu Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa defeated Minoru Suzuki and SUWA.
- Kenta Kobashi defeated GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Naomichi Marufuji.
- GHC Junior Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion KENTA defeated Taiji Ishimori to retain his title.
- GHC Heavyweight Champion Jun Akiyama defeated Masao Inoue to retain the title.
2006 - Toru Yokosuka defeats Ryo Saito in Tokyo, Japan to win the Dragon Gate Open the Dream Gate Title.
2006 - Takeshi Minamino defeats Rasse in a tournament final in Sendai, Japan for the vacant Michinoku Pro Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title. At the same event, GAINA and Jinsei Shinzaki win their second Tohoku Tag Team Title from The Great Sasuke and Dick Togo.
2007 - WWE held RAW at Earls Court in London, England, which got a 3.7 rating on USA Network. The show featured the epic WrestleMania 23 rematch between John Cena and Shawn Michaels. The results were:
Heat:
- World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy (with World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy) defeated Kenny Dykstra.
- Mickie James defeated Victoria.
- Chris Masters defeated Val Venis.
- Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad) defeated The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas).
- In a dark match between the shows, Johnny Nitro defeated Eugene.
RAW:
- Umaga (with Armando Alejandro Estrada), Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon defeated Robbie Brookside in a no-disqualification handicap match when Vince got the pin.
- Trevor Murdoch (with Lance Cade) pinned World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy (with World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy) after a flip-piledriver, with Matt actually landing on top of Murdoch instead of under him.
- WWE Women's Champion Melina pinned Maria.
- The Great Khali pinned Carlito after a tree slam.
- Shawn Michaels pinned WWE Champion John Cena after avoiding the FU and hitting the Sweet Chin Music. The match lasted nearly 56 minutes and took the entire second hour of RAW.
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