This Day In History - August 31st
August 31st
On this day in history in ...
1944 - Jos LeDuc is born in Montreal, Quebec.
1945 - Ted Cox defeats Buddy Rogers for the Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
1947 - Animal Hamaguchi is born in Shimane, Japan.
1950 - Don Eagle defeats Gorgeous George in Columbus, Ohio to win the Ohio AWA World Heavyweight Title, to begin his second reign.
1951 - Art Neilson and Jack Steel defeat Farmer Jones and Al Massey to win the Georgia NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1954 - Águila Solitaria is born in Tulancingo, Mexico.
1954 - Al and Tiny Mills defeat George and Sandy Scott for the Calgary NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Edmonton, Alberta, ending the Scotts' second reign.
1965 - Don Carson defeats Ken Lucas to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Pensacola, Florida, ending Lucas' second reign.
1967 - Len Rossi defeats The Great Yamaha (Kantaro Hoshino) for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to begin his fifth reign.
1968 - Verne Gagne defeats Dr. X (Dick Beyer) to win the AWA World Heavyweight Title in Bloomington, Minnesota, to begin Gagne's ninth reign.
1968 - José Lothario and Joe Scarpa (Chief Jay Strongbow) defeat Boris Malenko and Johnny Valentine to win the Florida NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida. This began Lothario and Scarpa's second reign.
1972 - Art Neilson and Johnny Weaver defeat Brute Bernard and Larry Hamilton for the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title in Greensboro, North Carolina.
1972 - Gorgeous George, Jr. wins a battle royal in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to win the vacant NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title.
1973 - Mr. Wrestling II defeats Bill Watts for the vacant NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia. Fred Blassie was the referee for the match. The title had been stripped from Watts two weeks earlier after he purposely got disqualified in a match against Wrestling II.
1974 - Manny Soto defeats Mr. California (Salvador Lothario) for the NWA Beat the Champ Television Title in Hollywood, California. At the same event, Butcher Brannigan and Man Mountain Mike defeat Angel Blanco and Dr. Wagner to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.
1974 - Chris Gallagher and Don Kent defeat Ricky Gibson and Steve Kovacs to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to begin their second reign.
1975 - SUWA is born in Kawanabe, Japan.
1977 - Jeff Hardy is born in Cameron, North Carolina.
1977 - Jane O'Brien defeats Maki Ueda to become the first Hawaiian Pacific Champion. This title later became known as the All Pacific Title.
1978 - Doug Gilbert defeats Bob Sweetan for the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in Kansas City, Kansas, ending Sweetan's second reign.
1979 - Mickie James is born in Montpelier, Virginia.
1979 - Ole Anderson and Ivan Koloff win their fifth NWA Georgia Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia, by ending the second reign of Stan Hansen and Tommy Rich.
1981 - Eddie Gilbert and Ricky Morton defeated Mr. (Masa) Fuchi and Mr. (Atsushi) Onita in Memphis, Tennessee to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title, ending Fuchi and Onita's third reign.
1983 - Junbo Tsuruta defeats Bruiser Brody for the NWA International Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Brody's second reign.
1985 - AJPW held an event at Ryōgoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall) in Tokyo, Japan. The main event featured seven title belts between the participants, though only one of the five titles held by them was at stake. The results were:
- Yoshihiro Momota defeated Shinji Sasazaki.
- Norio Honaga defeated Mitsuo Momota.
- Tarzan Goto and Toshiaki Kawada fought Shinichi Nakano and Fumihiro Niikura to a time-limit draw.
- Mighty Inoue and Great Kojika defeated Tim Horner defeated Marty Jannetty.
- Tor Kamata defeated Motoshi Okuma.
- Animal Hamaguchi, Masanobu Kurisu and Isamu Teranishi defeated Rusher Kimura, Masahiko Takasugi and Goro Tsurumi.
- Killer Khan defeated Ashura Hara by disqualification.
- Tiger Mask (Mistuharu Misawa) defeated NWA International Junior Heavyweight Champion Kuniaki Kobayashi to win the title. He was the last champion as the title was retired in 1986.
- Killer Tim Brooks and Tiger Jeet Singh defeated Giant Baba and Takashi Ishikawa.
- The Great Kabuki defeated Haru Sonada.
- PWF World Tag Team Champions Ted DiBiase and PWF Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen defeated NWA International Tag Team Champions - NWA United National Heavyweight Champion Genichiro Tenryu and NWA International Heavyweight Champion Jumbo Tsuruta to retain the title.
1986 - Eddie Gilbert and Sting defeat The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) for the UWF World Tag Team Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to begin their second reign. The title had been held up after a match between the two teams on August 17.
1987 - AJPW held an event at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results were:
- Masanobu Kurisu defeated Yoshinari Ogawa.
- Haruka Eigen and Isamu Teranishi defeated Gene Ligon and Nelson Royal, when Teranishi pinned Royal.
- Joel Deaton and Isao Takagi fought to a double-countout.
- Rusher Kimura and Goro Tsurumi defeated Motoshi Okuma and AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion Mighty Inoue, when Tsurumi pinned Okuma.
- Nick Bockwinkel, Austin Idol and Dick Slater defeated Masanobu Fuchi, Samson Fuyuki and Akio Sato, when Idol made Sato submit.
- Ashura Hara and Toshiaki Kawada defeated The Great Kabuki and Haru Sonada, when Hara pinned Sonada.
- Giant Baba and Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa) defeated Hiroshi Wajima and AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion Takashi Ishikawa, when Baba pinned Ishikawa.
- PWF Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen defeated Yoshiaki Yatsu by disqualification to retain the title.
- NWA United National Heavyweight Champion Genichiro Tenryu defeated NWA International Heavyweight Champion Jumbo Tsuruta by countout.
1987 - Jerry Lawler defeated Don Bass in a Hair vs. Title Steel Cage match for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Bass' second reign and beginning Lawler's 50th. At the same show, Bill Dundee defeated George Barnes to win the CWA International Heavyweight Title.
1990 - Steve Gatorwolf defeats The Japan Bomber (Riki Ataki) to win the American Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Holbrook, Arizona.
1991 - FMW held an event at Koen Park Gym in Chiba, Japan. The results:
- Yukihido Ueno besiegt Eiji Ezaki.
- Megumi Kudo besiegt Yukie Nabeno.
- Yoshika Maedomari, WWA World Women's Champion Combat Toyoda and Erika Tsuchiya defeated Keiko Iwami, Rie Nakamura and Miwa Sato.
- Billy Mack defeated Masashi Honda.
- Ricky Fuji and Turtle Mask defeated Battle Ranger and Amigo Ultra.
- Gregory Veritchev defeated The Shooter.
- Katsuji Ueda defeated AWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Mark Starr to win the title, beginning his second reign.
- Sambo Asako, Jimmy Backlund and WWA Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion Atsushi Onita defeated Horace Boulder, Tarzan Goto and The Gladiator in an Elimination match.
1991 - Kyoko Inoue defeats Debbie Malenko for the vacant IWA World Women's Title in Mita, Japan.
1992 - The WWF's fifth-annual "SummerSlam" airs on pay-per-view. The event took place two nights earlier in London, England at Wembley Stadium before 80,355 fans, and got a 1.5 buyrate. The results were:
Dark matches:
- Jim Duggan and The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke) defeated The Mountie and The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) (with Jimmy Hart), when Duggan pinned The Mountie after Sags accidentally hit an elbow drop on him.
- Papa Shango pinned Tito Santana after a shoulderbreaker.
- Tatanka pinned The Berzerker (with Mr. Fuji) after a Samoan drop.
Pay-per-view matches:
- The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) defeated Money, Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster (with Jimmy Hart)), when Animal pinned DiBiase after a powerslam, after DiBiase ran into Schyster on the apron.
- Nailz defeated Virgil by TKO when Virgil passed out from a sleeperhold.
- Rick Martel and Shawn Michaels (with Sensational Sherri) fought to a double-countout. Due to pre-match stipulations made by Sherri, neither man was to hit the other in the face. Sherri got on the apron during the match, and fainted. Martel and Michaels both went to check on Sherri, but ended up getting in a fight over who should check on her, resulting in the double-countout.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon) defeated The Beverly Brothers (Beau and Blake (with The Genius)) to retain the title.
- Crush defeated Repo Man by submission with the Cranium Crush.
- The Ultimate Warrior defeated WWF Champion Randy Savage by countout, due to interference from Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect.
- The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated Kamala (with Harvey Wippleman and Kim Chee) by disqualification after Kim Chee hit Undertaker with his helmet.
- The British Bulldog (with BBBofC, Commonwealth and EBU Heavyweight boxing Champion Lennox Lewis) pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart by countering a sunset flip attempt with a roll-up, to win the title. This ended Hart's second reign.
1992 - The USWA held an event at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The results:
- Doug Gilbert and The Russian Unified Team defeated Eric Embry, Tony Falk and The Hornet.
- USWA Women's Champion Miss Texas defeated Lauren Davenport to retain the title.
- The Star Chaser (Paul Diamond) defeated Barry Horowitz.
- "GWF Light Heavyweight Champion" Danny Davis defeated Brickhouse Brown by disqualification to retain the title. Davis was not the actual champion, he brought the title with him after leaving the GWF in April. The actual GWF Light Heavyweight Champion at the time was Alex Porteau.
- USWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Brian Christopher defeated Tom Prichard to retain the title.
- The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) defeated Doug Gilbert and USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion Eddie Gilbert.
- USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion Eddie Gilbert defeated The Dirty White Boy to retain the title.
- USWA Tag Team Champions Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Lawler defeated The Orient Express (Kato and Tanaka) to retain the title.
- Bill Dundee defeated Tommy Rich by disqualification in a Steel Cage match.
1993 - Crypt Keeper (José Estrada, Jr.) defeats Crash the Terminator (Bill DeMott) in Akita, Japan for the W*ING World Heavyweight Title.
1996 - Jamie Dundee defeats Wolfie D to win the USWA Television Title in Memphis, Tennessee. Dundee was the last to hold the title before the USWA closed in November 1997.
1997 - Kensuke Sasaki defeas Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Yokohama, Japan, ending Hashimoto's third reign.
1997 - Hayabusa, Kouji Nakagawa and Masato Tanaka defeat Mr. Gannosuke, The Gladiator and Hisakatsu Ooya in Yokohama, Japan for the FMW World Street Fight Six-Man Tag Team Title.
1997 - PG-13 (JC Ice and Wolfie D) defeat Steven Dunn and Flash Flanagan for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This began their 15th reign, and they were the last champions before the USWA closed.
1998 - WCW held its 155th episode of "Monday Nitro" live from the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida. The show ran unopposed in the ratings, as USA's U.S. Open tennis coverage kept "WWF RAW is WAR" off the air again. The show was taped this night, but would air as "RAW Saturday Night" on September 5. "Nitro" got a 6.04 rating (hours of 5.10, 6.62 and 6.41). The results were:
- Wrath pinned Jim Powers after the Meltdown.
- Scott Norton (with Vincent) pinned Norman Smiley after a powerbomb.
- Brian Adams (with Vincent) pinned Eddie Guerrero.
- Ernest Miller pinned Riggs after a kick.
- Konnan defeated Marty Jannetty by submission with the Tequila Sunrise.
- Lodi and Saturn (with Kanyon and Raven) defeated High Voltage (Kaos and Rage), when Lodi pinned Rage after a Spicolli driver from Saturn.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Juventud Guerrera pinned Evan Karagias after a Juvi Driver to retain the title.
- WCW World Television Champion Chris Jericho defeated Disco Inferno by submission with the Liontamer to retain the title.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg pinned Al Greene after the Jackhammer to retain the title.
- Lex Luger and Sting defeated WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart and Hollywood Hulk Hogan (with The Disciple) by countout.
1998 - ARSION held its first Zion Tournament in Osaka, Japan. The results were:
Quarterfinals:
- Ayako Hamada defeated Mari Apache.
- Mikiko Futagami defeated Rie Tamada.
- Michiko Omukai defeated Yumi Fukawa.
- Mariko Yoshida defeated Reggie Bennett.
Semifinals:
- Ayako Hamada defeated Mikiko Futagami.
- Mariko Yoshida defeated Michiko Omukai.
Final:
- Mariko Yoshida defeated Ayako Hamada to win the Zion Tournament. She was now scheduled to face Candy Okutsu, winner of May 5's ARS Tournament, to determine the first Queen of ARSION Champion on December 18.
2000 - J.W. Idol defeats Awesome Arpin in Pennsboro, West Virginia to win the NWA West Virginia/Ohio Heavyweight Title, to begin Idol's second reign and end Arpin's fourth. At the same show, Viper wins his fourth NWA West Virginia/Ohio Hardcore Title by defeating Mr. Attitude.
2001 - Kayoko Haruyama and Azumi Hyuga defeat Misae Genki and Ran Yu-Yu for the JWP Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2002 - AJPW held "Royal Road 30 Giant Battle 3rd" at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results were:
- Nobukazu Hirai defeated Ryuji Hijikata.
- Gran Nanaiwa, Mike Rotunda and Johnny Smith defeated Masa Fuchi, Gran Hamada and Kazushi Miyamoto.
- Abdullah the Butcher and Kendo Kashin defeated Yoji Anjo and Mitsuya Nagai, when Abdullah pinned Nagai.
- Dragon Kid, Masaaki Mochizuki and Jimmy Yang defeated Darkness Dragon, Magnum TOKYO and Susumu Yokosuka, when Dragon Kid pinned Yokosuka.
- AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champions Kronik (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) defeated Yuto Aijima and Tomoaki Honma, when Adams pinned Aijima, to retain the title.
- Mike Barton and Jim Steele defeated Hideki Hosaka and Shigeo Okumura, when Barton pinned Hosaka.
- Satoshi Kojima defeated AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion Nobutaka Araya.
- Goldberg defeated Taiyo Kea.
- AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion Arashi, Koki Kitahara, Masao Orihara, AJPW Triple Crown Champion Genichiro Tenryu and Steve Williams defeated Hiroshi Hase, Kaz Hayashi, George Hines, Keiji Muto and Jinsei Shinzaki in an Elimination match. Kitahara made Hayashi submit, Arashi pinned Hines, Shinzaki pinned Orihara, Williams pinned Shinzaki, Hase pinned Kitahara, Tenryu pinned Hase, Muto pinned Arashi and Williams pinned Muto. Tenryu and Williams were the survivors.
2002 - XPW held "Hostile Takeover" at Viking Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Psicosis defeated Super Crazy.
- Pogo the Clown and The Sandman fought to a no-contest.
- XPW World Tag Team Champions Mexico's Most Wanted (Damian 666 and Halloween) defeated The New Panthers (K-Malik Shabazz (Ron Killings) and Raphael Muhammed).
- XPW King of the Deathmatches Champion Supreme defeated Angel to retain the title.
- Juventud Guerrera defeated Chris Chetti.
- Vic Grimes defeated Altar Boy Luke and Little Guido in a three-way match.
- XPW Television Champion Kaos defeated Chris Hamrick in a Ladder match to retain the title.
- XPW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas defeated Terry Funk to a no-contest to retain the title.
2002 - CZW held its first "Tournament of Death" at Rack's Bar and Billiards in Dover, Delaware. The results were:
- In a quarterfinal match, Nate Hatred and Zandig fought to a no-contest in a Barbed Wire Boards match.
- In a quarterfinal match, The Messiah defeated Adam Flash.
- The Arsenal and The Green Phantom defeated The Hardcore Ninjaz (#1 and #2).
- In a quarterfinal match, Wifebeater defeated Necro Butcher in a Staplegun Falls Count Anywhere match.
- In a quarterfinal match, Nick Gage defeated Toby Klein in a Barbed Wire Boards and Wooden Strips with Nails match.
- In a quarterfinal match, Nick Mondo defeated Homeless Jimmy in a Weapons match.
- The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid & Johnny Kashmere) defeated Jon Dahmer & Towel Boy, Sonjay Dutt & Derek Frazier and The New School (Chris Cash & GQ) in a four-way Elimination match. The Backseat Boyz eliminated all three opponents.
- Ruckus defeated Nick Berk and Justice Pain in a three-way match.
- In a semifinal match, Wifebeater defeated Nick Gage in a Panes of Glass match.
- In a semifinal match, Nick Mondo defeated The Messiah in a Fans Bring the Weapons match.
- In the finals, Wifebeater defeated Nick Mondo in a 200 Lighttubes Barbed Wire match to win the Tournament of Death and win the unofficial CZW branch of the BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Title. The title, which was held by Zandig previously, was vacated when BJW and CZW's working relationship ended. The official title's vacancy was not filled until Kintaro Kanemura defeated Shadow WX on March 30, 2003.
2002 - The Furies defeat Jason Dukes and Skull Crusher for the Mid American Wrestling Tag Team Title in Big Bend, Wisconsin.
2002 - Don Heavy defeats SigMasta Rappo at "On Fire 2" in Oberglatt, Switzerland to win the Swiss Wrestling Federation Powerhouse Title, ending Rappo's third reign.
2002 - Chris Sanders defeats Void in Magee, Mississippi for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title.
2002 - Andy Douglas and Ricky Santell defeat Dante and Leatherface to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Columbia, Tennessee.
2003 - Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka defeat C.W. Anderson and Steve Corino for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title in Gifu, Japan. This began Otani and Tanaka's second reign. At the same event, Wataru Sakata defeats Low Ki to win the ZERO-ONE International Junior Heavyweight Title.
2003 - OZ Academy held its Summer Jumbo Tag Tournament at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Quarterfinals:
- KAORU and Mayumi Ozaki defeated Takako Inoue and Michiko Omukai.
- Lioness Asuka and Aja Kong defeated Carlos Amano and Mima Shimoda.
- Shinobu Kandori and Eagle Sawai defeated Kyoko Inoue and Devil Masami.
- Dynamite Kansai and Chigusa Nagayo defeated Etsuko Mita and Chikayo Nagashima.
Semifinals:
- KAORU and Mayumi Ozaki defeated Dynamite Kansai and Chigusa Nagayo.
- Shinobu Kandori and Eagle Sawai defeated Lioness Asuka and Aja Kong.
Final:
- Shinobu Kandori and Eagle Sawai defeated KAORU and Mayumi Ozaki.
2004 - IWA Japan held an six-man tournament in Tokyo, Japan to crown the first IWA World Heavyweight Champion. The results:
Quarterfinals:
- Jim Duggan defeated Bruiser Kong.
- Konga the Barbarian defeated George Hines.
- The Big Bossman defeatedd Freddy Krueger.
Semifinal:
- Jim Duggan defeated Konga the Barbarian.
Final:
- Jim Duggan defeated The Big Bossman to become the first IWA World Heavyweight Champion.
2004 - Takao Omori and Shinjiro Otani defeat Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Shinya Hashimoto for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title in Morioka, Japan.
2005 - Katsuhiko Nakajima defeats Osamu Namiguchi in Hiroshima, Japan to win the unofficial Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX version of the WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Title.
2005 - El Zorro defeats Charly Manson in Monterrey, Mexico for the UWA World Light Heavyweight Title, to begin his fourth reign.
2007 - Former three-time NWA World Welterweight Champion, four-time Mexican National Welterweight Champion and Mexican National Middleweight and Tag Team Champion Karloff Lagarde dies after several weeks in poor health following a stroke. He was 79 years old.
2007 - PWG held the first event of its third-annual "Battle of Los Angeles" at the Armory in Burbank, California, featuring the first-half of the first round of the Battle of Los Angeles Tournament. The results were:
Non-tournament:
- The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) defeated Los Luchas (Phoenix Star and Zokre).
First round:
- Joey Ryan defeated Chris Hero.
- Roderick Strong defeated Austin Aries.
- Matt Sydal defeated Jimmy Rave.
- Alex Shelley defeated Tyler Black.
- Claudio Castagnoli defeated Doug Williams.
- Pac defeated Jack Evans.
Non-tournament:
- PWG World Tag Team Champions El Generico and Kevin Steen defeated Dragon Kid and Susumu Yokosuka to retain the title.
2007 - IWA Mid-South held "Edge of Insanity" at the Don Preston Recreation Center in Midlothian, Illinois. The results were:
- Billy Roc defeated Jaysin Strife.
- IWA Mid-South Women's Champion Mickie Knuckles fought Daizee Haze to a double-pin draw to retain the title.
- A four-way match between Jeff Brooks, Jason Hades, Kid Hybrid and Bryan Skyline ended in a no-contest.
- Joker defeated C.J. Otis to qualify for the 2007 Ted Petty Invitational.
- NWA Midwest X Division Champion Jason Dukes defeated Jimmy Shalwin.
- Jack Thriller defeated Jeff Brooks.
- IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions The Iron Saints (Sal and Vito Thomaselli) defeated Jason Hades and Ricochet to retain the title.
- Delirious defeated Jimmy Jacobs and Devon Moore in a three-way match.
- The Trailer Park Boyz (Josh Abercrombie and Nate Webb) defeated Milwaukee's Finest (Dysfunction and Silas Young).
- IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion Chuck Taylor defeated IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Champion Brandon Thomaselli to leave with both titles.
2007 - Prince Mohmed Ameen defeats Cameron Kraze at the "International Wrestling Classic" in Ormesby, England for the 3 Count Wrestling Young Lions Title.
2007 - Aiger and Sayuri Okino defeat Sachiko Kanari and Sachiko Kanari to win the vacant Ladies' Legend Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
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