This Day In History - August 16th
August 16th
On this day in history in ....
1946 - Ted Cox defeats Dave Levin in Houston to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title. It marked the end of Levin's second title reign and the beginning of Cox's second run with the belt.
1960 - Verne Gagne becomes the AWA World Heavyweight Champion for the first of a record ten times. Pat O'Connor, the defending NWA World Heavyweight Champion, had been recognized as the first AWA World Champion in May of 1960, but was given 90 days to defend against number one contender Gagne, or be stripped of the title. The match never happened, and Gagne was given the title.
1992 - The Great Muta (Keiji Mutoh) defeats Riki Choshu in Fukuoka, Japan to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title. This marked the end of Choshu's third and final reign as New Japan Pro Wrestling's top champion.
1993 - Jimmy Del Ray defeats Ricky Morton to win the vacant Smokey Mountain Wrestling "Beat The Champ" Television Title. The belt, which was only defended on TV tapings, would be surrendered by the champion if they won five consecutive title defenses. However, on this occasion the belt had been vacated because a suspended Tony Anthony had won the title under a mask as the "Mighty Yankee" two months earlier.
2003 - Justin Credible defeats Terry Funk for the 3PW World Heavyweight Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Electric Factory.
