This Day In History - May 31st

May 31st

On this day in history in ....

1937 - Red Berry defeats Hugh Nichols to win the World Light Heavyweight Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ending Nichols' third reign.

1940 - Jules Larance defeats Gil Knutsen for the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.

1944 - El Santo wins his third Mexican National Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, defeating Tuffy Truesdale in a tournament final. Tarzan López had won the title from Santo on April 1, but it was vacated on April 8 because López already was World Middleweight Champion.

1965 - Pepper Martin defeats The Mad Russian for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, beginning his fourth reign.

1967 - Vampiro is born in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

1968 - Alberto and Enrique Torres defeat El Mongol and Hans Schmidt in Atlanta, Georgia to win their fourth Georgia NWA Southern Tag Team Title.

1969 - The WWWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results:
- John L. Sullivan (Johnny Valiant) defeated Chuck Richards (subbing for Ricky Sexton).
- Bulldog Brower defeated Ricky Sexton (subbing for Carlos Colón).
- Angelo Savoldi (subbing for Pete Sanchez) defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Arnold Skaaland (subbing for Angelo Savoldi) defeated Duke Savage.
- Haystacks Calhoun and Dominic DeNucci defeated Luke Graham and Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Victor Rivera fought Toru Tanaka to a draw.
- Killer Kowalski defeated WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino in a Texas death match.

1971 - Tom Jones and Billy Red Lyons defeat The Spoilers for the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Shreveport, Louisiana.

1972 - Karl and Kurt Von Brauner defeat Robert Fuller and Kevin Sullivan for the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee, to begin their 10th reign.

1972 - The Professional (Doug Gilbert) and Mike Webster win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title from Boris Malenko and Bob Roop in Miami, Florida.

1974 - Gene and Ole Anderson defeat Bob Armstrong and Robert Fuller to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia, ending Armstrong and Fuller's second reign.

1975 - Ed Wiskoski defeats Jerry Oates for the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in Kansas City, Kansas.

1976 - Jim Breaks defeats Vic Faulkner to win the British Welterweight Title in Bradford, England, beginning his second reign.

1979 - Great Kojika and Motoshi Okuma win their fourth AJPW All Asia Tag Team Title, defeating The Kiwis (Butch Miller and Sweet William) in Noshiro, Japan.

1980 - Dick the Bruiser defeats King Kong (Bruiser) Brody in Indianapolis, Indiana for the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title, his ninth.

1981 - Jake Roberts defeats The Grappler to win the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title in Shrevport, Louisiana.

1981 - Caballero Blanco lost his mask to Águila Solitaria in Mexico City, Mexico.

1982 - El Hijo del Canek is born in Tabasco, Mexico.

1982 - Al Tomko defeats Silvano Sousa for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title.

1982 - The Continental Wrestling Association held an event at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The results:
- Roy Rogers defeated The Invader.
- Ron Bass defeated Pat Hutchinson and Tom Maley in a handicap match.
- The Iron Sheik defeated Bobby Fulton.
- Koko Ware defeated Bill Dundee by disqualification.
- King Cobra defeated NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Champion Bobby Eaton to win the title, ending Eaton's fifth reign.
- AWA Southern Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (Norvell Austin and Dennis Condrey) defeated The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) by disqualification to retain the title.
- AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler defeated Kamala by disqualification to retain the title.

1984 - The WWF held an event at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The results:
- Jacques Rougeau defeated Dan Ferris.
- George Steele defeated Tom Stanton.
- Jesse Ventura defeated Willie Tremblay.
- Bob Backlund fought Paul Orndorff to a double disqualification.
- Pat Patterson defeated Salvatore Bellomo.
- Salvatore Bellomo and Tony Garea defeated Mr. Fuji and Tiger Chung Lee.
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defeated David Schultz.

1986 - The WWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- David Sammartino defeated Les Thornton.
- Bob Orton, Jr. defeated Lanny Poffo.
- Adrian Adonis defeated Sivi Afi.
- Dan Spivey defeated Iron Mike Sharpe.
- Paul Orndorff defeated Don Muraco (with Mr. Fuji) by countout.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage defeated Tito Santana in a no-disqualification match to retain the title.
- The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell) defeated The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), when Brunzell pinned Bret.
- Jake Roberts and Ricky Steamboat fought to a double-disqualification.

1986 - Ron Bass defeats Tyree Pride in Nassau, Bahamas to win the NWA Bahamas Heavyweight Title, ending Pride's second reign.

1986 - Eric Embry wins his second WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, ending Super Medico I's third reign.

1991 - Los Villanos (I, IV and V) defeat The Hawaiian Beasts (Kokina (Yokozuna), Fatu and the Samoan Savage) for the UWA World Trios Title in Naucalpan, Mexico. This began Los Villanos' fourth reign.

1991 - Bill Dundee defeats Tom Prichard (subbing for Eric Embry) for the USWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, beginning his third reign.

1992 - Chi Chi Cruz (Corey Peloquin) defeats Gerry Morrow in Winnipeg, Manitoba to win the West Four Wrestling Alliance Canadian Heavyweight Title.

1993 - The WWF held a live Monday Night RAW at the Manhattan Center in New York City, New York. The results:
Dark matches:
- The Bastion Booger fought Bob Backlund to a draw.
- Russ Greenburg defeated LA Gore.
- Jim Duggan and Rick Steiner defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and Yokozuna by disqualification.
Monday Night RAW:
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Marty Jannetty (with Sensational Sherri) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow (with Luna Vachon) by countout to retain the title.
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) defeated The Executioner (Donn Lewin) and Rich Myers.
- Mr. Hughes defeated Bert Centeno.
- Jim Duggan defeated Bill Thomas.
- Razor Ramon defeated Tony Roy.
- After RAW ended, Mr. Hughes and Tatanka were both disqualified after both hit the referee. This match aired on WWF Mania on June 12.

1995 - Espectrito lost his hair to Octagoncito in Veracruz, Mexico.

1996 - Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. defeats Apolo Dantés in Mexico City, Mexico for the CMLL World Heavyweight Title.

1996 - Scott Sterling defeats Beau James to win the Southern States Wrestling Appalachian Heavyweight Title in Pennington Gap, Virginia.

1998 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Wisconsin Center Arena played host to the first of two WWF Over the Edge pay-per-view events, which got a 0.58 buyrate. 9,822 fans attended the show. The results were:
- LOD 2000 (Animal and Hawk (with Sunny and Droz)) defeated The Disciples of Apocalypse (8-Ball and Skull (with Chainz)), when Animal pinned 8-Ball after a Powerslam.
- Jeff Jarrett (with Tennessee Lee) pinned Steve Blackman after Lee hit Blackman with a kendo stick.
- Marc Mero pinned Sable with a cradle. Before the pin, Mero laid down to let Sable pin him and win. Sable, hesitant at first, went for the pin on Mero, who reversed it into a cradle for the win. With the loss, Sable was forced to leave the WWF.
- Kaientai (Funaki, Teioh and Togo) defeated Bradshaw and Taka Michinoku in a handicap match, when Togo pinned Michinoku after a senton bomb.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock pinned Faarooq with a roll-up and his feet on the ropes to retain the title.
- Kane (with Paul Bearer) pinned Vader in a mask vs. mask match after a Tombstone piledriver.
- The Nation (D'Lo Brown, Owen Hart and Kama Mustafa (with Mark Henry)) defeated D-Generation X (Billy Gunn, Road Dogg and Triple H (with Chyna and X-Pac)), when Hart pinned Triple H after a Pedigree on the European title belt.
- WWF Champion Steve Austin defeated Dude Love in a no disqualification, falls count anywhere match to retain the title. Vince McMahon was special guest referee, Gerald Brisco was guest timekeeper and Pat Patterson was guest ring announcer. McMahon said that his and only his hand could make the three-count. Patterson announced the no disqualification and the falls count anywhere stipulations as the match was in progress. Love blasted McMahon with a chair by mistake, knocking him unconscious. Dude had Austin down for the cover, with Patterson trying to make the count. The Undertaker prevented this, pulling Patterson out of the ring and chokeslamming him through an announce table. The same fate waited for Brisco as he attempted to count as well. Austin hit the Stone Cold Stunner on Dude Love, made the cover, and slapped McMahon's hand three times on the mat for the victory.

1999 - The Monday Night War continued, with WWF RAW is WAR's 6.9 rating beating WCW Monday Nitro's 3.3.

WCW Monday Nitro was live from the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The results:
- Hak (with Chastity) defeated Kidman by disqualification.
- Van Hammer defeated Evan Karagias.
- Konnan and Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated The West Texas Rednecks (Bobby Duncum, Jr. and Curt Hennig) by disqualification.
- David Flair (with Arn Anderson, Asya, Ric Flair and Torrie Wilson) defeated Erik Watts.
- Ernest Miller (with Sonny Onoo) defeated Scott Norton.
- Randy Savage (with Madusa) defeated Fake Kevin Nash.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Bobby Eaton.
- Bam Bam Bigelow and Diamond Dallas Page defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Kanyon and Saturn (subbing for Raven) to win the title.
- WCW World Television Champion Rick Steiner fought Sting to a no-contest in a steel cage match to retain the title.

WWF RAW is WAR was taped May 25 at the Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. The results were:
- The Big Show defeated Billy Gunn by countout.
- Beaver Cleavage (with Mrs. Cleavage) defeated Christian.
- Jeff Jarrett (with Debra) defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion The Godfather to win the title. This began Jarrett's fourth reign.
- Vince McMahon defeated The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) by disqualification.
- Road Dogg defeated The Big Bossman by disqualification.
- The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Kane and X-Pac to win the title.
- Val Venis (with Nicole Bass) defeated Ken Shamrock.
- Triple H (with Chyna) defeated Mankind.
- WWF Champion Steve Austin defeated The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) by disqualification to retain the title.

2001 - Mazada and Nosawa lost their hair to Mike Segura and Último Vampiro in Naucalpan, Mexico.

2002 - OVW held the first of the year's Summer Sizzler Series events at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. The results:
- Redd Dogg (Rodney Mack) defeated Sean O'Haire.
- Shelton Benjamin defeated Chris Kanyon.
- David Flair defeated Bull Buchanan.
- Seven (Kevin Thorn) defeated Leviathan (Batista).
- Flash Flanagan and Trailer Park Trash defeated OVW Southern Tag Team Champions The Lords of the Ring (Rob Conway and Nick Dinsmore), when Trash pinned Dinsmore, to win the title. This ended Conway and Dinsmore's ninth reign and began Flanagan and Trash's second.
- OVW Heavyweight Champion Nova defeated The Prototype (John Cena) to retain the title. Mick Foley was the guest referee.

2002 - Rey Bucanero and Último Guerrero defeat Negro Casas and El Hijo del Santo in Mexico City, Mexico to win the CMLL World Tag Team Title. This ended Casas and Santo's third reign and began Bucanero and Guerrero's second.

2002 - Kintaro Kanemura defeats Sanshiro Takagi to win the DDT KO-D Openweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Takagi's second reign.

2002 - Scotty Mac defeats Black Dragon for the NWA/ECCW Heavyweight Title in Surrey, British Columbia.

2002 - Rooftop defeats A.C. Brown to win the NWA Mississippi Junior Heavyweight Title in Yazoo City, Mississippi.

2003 - ROH held Do or Die at the Murphy Recreation Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Dan Maff (with Allison Danger) defeated B.J. Whitmer.
- Tony Mamaluke defeated Jason Cross.
- Iceberg defeated Oman Tortuga (with Diablo Santiago).
- Matt Stryker defeated Tom Carter.
- The Second City Saints (Colt Cabana and CM Punk (with Lucy)) defeated The Briscoes (Jay and Mark), The Carnage Crew (DeVito and Loc) and Special K (Dixie and Izzy) in a scramble match.
- Andy Anderson defeated John Walters.
- Christopher Daniels (with Allison Danger) defeated Frankie Kazarian, CM Punk and Jimmy Rave in a four-way match.
- The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere) defeated Special K (Jody Fleisch and Slim J).
- ROH World Champion Samoa Joe defeated Homicide (with Julius Smokes) to retain the title.

2003 - In Carolina, Puerto Rico, Carly Colón wins his eighth WWC Universal Heavyweight Title by defeating Sabu, and Alex Montalvo defeats Pablo Marquez for the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning his third reign. Also at that show, Eddie Colón won the vacant WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title by defeating Dominican Boy in a tournament final.

2003 - USA Pro Wrestling held the second-annual Big Dick Dudley Memorial Show at the Franklin Square Firehouse in Franklin Square, New York. The results:
- The Solution (Havok and Papadon (with Miss Michelle)) besiegen Team Target (Devious and Tekno Heat).
- Chris Caliber defeated Chewy, Javi-Air and Cody Surekill in a four-way elimination match.
- Monsta Mack defeated Prince Nana.
- USA Pro Xtreme Champion Grim Reefer defeated Deranged to retain the title.
- Tony Lo defeated The Masked Maniac.
- Dan Barry defeated Azrieal and Smoked Out in a three-way elimination match.
- James Newblood (with Mr. Big) defeated Johnny TNT.
- The Boogie Knights (Danny Drake and Mike Tobin) defeated The Christopher Street Connection (Buff-E and Mace).
- The S.A.T. (Joél and José Maximo) defeated The Flock (Mikey Whipwreck and Wayne) in a tables, ladders and chairs match.
- Louie Ramos defeated Johnny Bravado in a hardcore match.
- USA Pro New York State Heavyweight Champion Tim Arson won the second-annual Big Dick Dudley Memorial battle royal. Other participants were: Adolph, Bad Boy KRACKA, Chris Caliber, Chewy, Danny Demanto, Danny Drake, Pat Gunner, Jim Hustler, J-Kronik, Javi-Air, Tony Lo, Kevin Matthews, Prince Nana, Poppalicious, Psycho, Rayza, Norman Smiley, Smoked Out, Vinny Stylin', Cody Surekill, Johnny TNT, Mike Tobin and Danny Yamz.
- USA Pro America's Heavyweight Champion Skinhead Ivan defeated Tim Arson to retain the title.
- Simon Diamond and Matt Striker (with Becky Bayless and Simply Luscious) defeated USA Pro Tag Team Champions The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz (K.C. Blade and E.C. Negro) to win the title.
- Billy Reil defeated Josh Deeley.
- USA Pro United States Heavyweight Champion Mike Kruel defeated Xavier to retain the title.
- Raven defeated USA Pro Heavyweight Champion Balls Mahoney to win the title, ending Mahoney's fifth reign.

2003 - JC Bailey defeats Michael Todd Stratton (Todd Morton) in Clarksville, Indiana to win the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title for the second time.

2003 - The Hawaiian Power Company (Kapu and Tiki) defeat The Iraqi Regime (Al-Ahmed Mohammed and Dumas Shiite) to win the vacant NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

2003 - J.P. Black wins his third NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Pasadena, Texas, ending Steve DeMarco's second reign.

2003 - Tiger Mulligan last defeats John Brooks in a 17-man gauntlet match in Lynn, Massachusetts to become the first Millennium Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion.

2004 - WWE held a live RAW at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, which got a 3.2 rating on Spike TV. The results:
Sunday Night Heat:
- Maven pinned Steven Richards with a face-first Russian leg sweep.
- The Hurricane and Rosey defeated Jean Frederic Clement and Eric Mastrocola, when Rosey pinned Clement.
- Rhyno pinned Rory McGregor after the Gore.
- Batista pinned Val Venis after the Batista Bomb.
RAW:
- La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier) defeated World Tag Team Champions Edge and World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit, when Grenier pinned Edge after Edge accidentally speared Benoit, to win the title. The new champions celebrated with the fans during and after the following commercial break. Sylvain Grenier was especially emotional, winning the title in his hometown.
- WWE Women's Champion Victoria pinned Jazz by reversing a suplex into a roll-up.
- Shelton Benjamin pinned WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton (with Batista) with a powerslam.
- Matt Hardy (with Lita) pinned Garrison Cade after the Twist of Fate.
- Eugene defeated Kane by disqualification when the referee got knocked down.

2007 - El Hijo del Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000, Jr. defeat Felino and Pantera for the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Title in Naucalpan, Mexico.


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