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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: THE FINAL WCW PPV, SATURDAY NIGHT'S MAIN EVENT RETURNS AND MORE

March 18th

On this day in history in ....

1933 - Joe Dawson defeats Billy Meeske to win the Australian Heavyweight Title in Brisbane, Australia, ending Meeske's second reign.

1936 - Bob Cummings defeats Billy Spendlove for the Montana State Middleweight Title in Great Falls, Montana.

1943 - Whipper Billy Watson defeats Jack Claybourne in Toronto, Ontario to win the Toronto NWA British Empire Heavyweight Title.

1952 - Ben and Mike Sharpe defeat Hombre Montana and Leo Nomellini for the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title, beginning their sixth reign.

1954 - Roy Shire wins the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title for the second time, defeating Marvin Mercer in Dayton, Ohio.

1956 - Rick Martel is born in Quebec City, Quebec.

1956 - Billy Varga defeats Al Loloati for the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1957 - George and Sandy Scott defeat Jim Austeri and Ali Bey to win the Mid-Atlantic NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Charlotte, North Carolina.

1959 - Papa Pasquale defeats Billy Wicks for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama, ending Wicks' third reign.

1960 - Ed Francis wins his fifth NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title from Shag Thomas.

1963 - Louie Tillet defeats Bull Curry for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title in Fort Worth, Texas, ending Curry's 12th reign.

1964 - Nick Bockwinkel and Nick Kozak defeat The Destroyer and Art Michalik to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Salem, Oregon, ending Destroyer and Michalik's third reign.

1964 - Larry Hennig and The Viking defeat Ken Lucas and Fritz Von Erich for the Amarillo NWA North American Tag Team Title in Lubbock, Texas.

1964 - Lee Fields and Mario Galento defeat The Mysterious Medics to win the Gulf Coast NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama, ending the Medics' seventh reign.

1968 - John DaSilva defeats George Gordienko for the New Zealand NWA British Empire Heavyweight Title in Auckland, New Zealand.

1971 - Championship Wrestling from Florida held a tournament for the NWA Florida Television Title in Tampa, Florida. The title was vacated after Tarzan Tyler was suspended after intentionally getting disqualified in a match against Bob Roop earlier in the month. The results:
First round:
- The Texan defeated The Champion (Tarzan Tyler).
- Bob Roop defeated Buddy Austin.
- The Grappler and Sam Steamboat fought to a draw.
Finals:
- The Texan defeated Bob Roop to win the vacant NWA Florida Television Title. After the match, The Texan unmasked, revealing himself to be Terry Funk.

1974 - Lou Thesz defeats Tommy Gilbert to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning Thesz's second reign and ending Gilbert's third. At the same event, The Infernos (Ron Gibson and Stan Pulaski) defeat Don Fargo and Rufus R. Jones for the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.

1976 - Mike Quackenbush is born in West Lawn, Pennsylvania.

1976 - The Hollywood Blonds (Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts) defeat Gorgeous George, Jr. and Greg Valentine in New Orleans, Louisiana to win the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title.

1977 - Chavo Guerrero and Victor Rivera defeat Black Gordman and Goliath for the NWA Americas Tag Team Title, ending Gordman and Goliath's 11th reign.

1981 - Jon Cortez defeats Johnny Saint to win the European Lightweight Title in London, England.

1981 - Ricky Cortez defeats Dick Garza for the Michigan Championship Wrestling Michigan Heavyweight Title in Port Huron, Michigan. This began Cortez's third reign and ended Garza's fourth reign.

1983 - The WWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results were:
- José Estrada defeated Pete Doherty.
- Tony Garea defeated Fred Marzino.
- Pete Sanchez defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Johnny Rodz defeated Samu.
- Iron Mike Sharpe defeated Special Delivery Jones
- Ray Stevens defeated Jules Strongbow.
- Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Lou Albano.
- Rocky Johnson defeated Superstar Billy Graham.
- André the Giant defeated Big John Studd.
- WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco.

1984 - Ivan Koloff defeats Angelo Mosca, Jr. in Charlotte, North Carolina to win his third NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title.

1984 - Blackman, Kato Kung Lee and Kung Fu defeat Solar I, Super Astro and Últraman in Naucalpan, Mexico to become the first UWA World Trios Champions.

1985 - Ivan and Nikita Koloff defeat Manny Fernandez and Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Tag Team Title in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Krusher Khrushchev would later join the Koloff's and they would be allowed to defend the title with any combination of the three. 

1986 - Black Bart defeats Sam Houston in Mooresville, North Carolina to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title.

1988 - Chris Benoit defeats Gama Singh to win the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta, ending Singh's fourth reign.

1989 - Four wrestling events, two from the WWF and two from the NWA, were held at four major northeastern arenas, in Boston, New York City, Landover and Philadelphia.

The WWF held an afternoon event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results:
- The Young Stallions (Jim Powers and Paul Roma) defeated The Conquistadores, when Roma got the pin after a missile dropkick.
- WWF Women's Champion Rockin Robin defeated Judy Martin to retain the title.
- Mr. Perfect pinned Ronnie Garvin after rolling through a crossbody. This match aired on the April 10 episode of Prime Time Wrestling.
- The Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) defeated The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (with Bobby Heenan)) by disqualification, when Anderson pulled the referee out of the ring as Michaels had Blanchard covered.
- The Red Rooster pinned The Brooklyn Brawler with a backslide.
- Hercules fought Bad News Brown to a double countout when both men went over the top to the floor.
- The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke) and Jim Duggan defeated Dino Bravo (with Frenchy Martin) and The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond), when Butch pinned Raymond after he was hit by Duggan's 2x4 on the floor.
- Hulk Hogan defeated The Big Bossman (with Slick) in a steel cage match, by escaping over the top of the cage after Hogan handcuffed Bossman to the ring ropes.

That night, the same matches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The match with The Young Stallions and The Conquistadores aired on the April 10 Prime Time Wrestling, and the Hercules-Bad News Brown match aired the following week. The match order in New York was unchanged from the Boston show other than the Hogan-Bossman steel cage match took place fourth on the card, instead of last.

The NWA also held two events in the northeast.

In the afternoon, there was a show at Capial Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results were:
- Eddie Gilbert defeated Bob Bradley.
- Butch Reed fought Dick Murdoch to a draw.
- Michael Hayes defeated Joey Maggs.
- Sting defeated Kendall Windham.
- Rick Steiner defeated Kevin Sullivan.
- NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham to retain the title.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated NWA World Television Champion Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams to retain the title.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair to retain the title.

That evening, the focus moved to the Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Michael Hayes defeated Joey Maggs.
- Dick Murdoch defeated Bob Bradley.
- Rick Steiner defeated Kevin Sullivan.
- NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger defeated Kendall Windham to retain the title.
- Barry Windham defeated Eddie Gilbert.
- Sting defeated Butch Reed.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated NWA World Television Champion Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams to retain the title.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair to retain the title.

1990 - Khaos, Rambo and Zandokan defeat Los Brazos (El Brazo, Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Plata) for the UWA World Trios Title in Mexico City, Mexico. This ended and began both team's second reigns.

1994 - Canek defeats Yamato for the UWA World Heavyweight Title, beginning his 13th reign, in Netzahualcóyotl, Mexico.

1995 - The next-to-last WWF event is held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results:
- Henry Godwinn pinned Barry Horowitz after the Slop Drop.
- Hakushi pinned Aldo Montoya after a running senton splash.
- WWF Women's Champion Bull Nakano pinned Alundra Blayze with her feet on the ropes after a powerbomb to retain the title.
- Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart in a No Holds Barred match by submission with the Sharpshooter.
- King Kong Bundy pinned The British Bulldog after the Avalanche.
- The Blu Brothers (Jacob and Eli (with Uncle Zebekiah)) defeated The Headshrinkers (Fatu and Sione (with Afa)), when Fatu was pinned after a clothesline.
- The Undertaker defeated Kama by disqualification after King Kong Bundy interfered.
- Razor Ramon and WWF Champion Diesel defeated Shawn Michaels and WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett, when Diesel pinned Jarrett after the Jackknife Powerbomb.

1995 - ECW held "Extreme Warfare" at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Mikey Whipwreck pinned Jason Knight.
- Ron Simmons pinned Hack Myers.
- Tommy Dreamer pinned Tony Stetson.
- Tommy Dreamer pinned Johnny Hot Body.
- Tommy Dreamer pinned Stevie Richards.
- Raven pinned Tommy Dreamer.
- 2 Cold Scorpio pinned ECW World Television Champion and Tag Team Champion Dean Malenko to win the Television title, beginning his second reign.
- Axl Rotten pinned Ian Rotten in a Strap match.
- The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated The Pitbulls (#1 and #2), when Rock pinned Pitbull #2.
- Sabu defeated Mikey Whipwreck by submission.
- Terry Funk and The Sandman defeated Cactus Jack and ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas, when Funk pinned Cactus after a piledriver on a flaming branding iron.

1995 - Greg Valentine wins the NWA North American Heavyweight Title for the second time in Dalals, Texas, defeating John Hawk (JBL).

1995 - Dynamite Kansai and Cutie Suzuki defeat Hikari Fukuoka and Mayumi Ozaki to win the Japan Women's Project Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.

1996 - The Monday Night War continued, with WCW Monday Nitro's 3.6 rating beating WWF Monday Night RAW's 2.9 rating.

The 28th WCW Monday Nitro was held live from UTC Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The results:
- WCW World Television Champion Lex Luger defeated Loch Ness by countout to retain the title.
- Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott).
- The Booty Man defeated Arn Anderson.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags).
- Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage defeated Kevin Sullivan and WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair fought to a double-countout in a Texas Tornado match.

The 150th WWF Monday Night RAW was taped one week earlier at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. The results were:
- The British Bulldog (with Jim Cornette) defeated Jake Roberts by countout after Roberts chased Cornette out of the arena with his snake.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust pinned Fatu after the Curtain Call.
- Diesel pinned Barry Horowitz after a punch.
- WWF Champion Bret Hart pinned Tatanka with a roll-up, after Tatanka bumped into The 1-2-3 Kid, who was on the apron.

1997 - Colonel DeBeers defeats Matt Borne to win the Championship Wrestling USA Television Title in Vancouver, Washington, beginning his fifth reign.

1998 - The Lords of the Ring (Rob Conway and Nick Dinsmore) defeat Rip Rogers and Trailer Park Trash for the OVW Southern Tag Team Title.

1999 - WCW held the 55th and 56th episodes of Thunder at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. On TBS, the first show was aired live and got a 3.3 rating. The second show aired one week later and got a 3.1 rating. The results:
March 18:
- Bobby Duncum, Jr. defeated Kenny Kaos.
- Vampiro defeated Prince Iaukea.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera to retain the title.
- Disco Inferno defeated The Disciple.
- Horace defeated Brian Adams.
- Meng defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in a WCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament first round match. WCW President Ric Flair stripped the injured Scott Hall of the title that night.
- Hollywood Hulk Hogan (with Horace) defeated Curt Hennig.
March 25:
- Jerry Flynn defeated Scotty Riggs.
- Wrath defeated Mike Enos.
- Fit Finlay defeated Chris Adams.
- Billy Kidman defeated Blitzkrieg.
- Horace defeated Kaz Hayashi.
- WCW World Television Champion Booker T defeated Perry Saturn in a WCW United States Heavyweight Championship tournament first round match.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Barry Windham by countout.

2000 - Mr. Destiny defeats The Luminious Warrior in Mexico, Missouri for the World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title, ending the Warrior's second reign.

2000 - Rikki Nelson defeats Gary Royal in Mayodan, North Carolina, to win his second NWA Mid-Atlantic Junior Heavyweight Title.

2000 - Derrick King and Moondog Spot defeat Wolfie D, who held the title by himself, for the Power Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title.

2000 - Brother Love defeats J.D. McKay in a ladder match in Cleveland, Mississippi to become the first NWA Mississippi Junior Heavyweight Champion.

2000 - At a ECW on TNN taping in Salem, New Hampshire, ECW Television Champion Super Crazy defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri in a "Death Match", ending their long running feud.  They would only face each other in a singles match on one other occasion in ECW, in November 2000.

2000 - Bad Boy Patrick defeats The German Patriot for the vacant Athletik Club Wrestling Junior Title in Weinheim, Germany, beginning his second reign. At the same event, Head Hunter defeats Argjend Qufaj in a Ladder match to win the ACW German Title.

2001 - WCW held its "Greed" pay-per-view event at the Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida. Greed would be the final pay-per-view event from the company, as it was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation later that week. The next WCW pay-per-view event was scheduled (and was even advertised in the final issue of WCW Magazine) for May 6, and entitled "The Big Bang", billed as "the creation of the new WCW", most likely after Eric Bischoff's intended purchase of WCW from AOL-Time Warner, along with investment group Fusient Media Ventures. Greed got a 0.1 buyrate, and its results were:
- Jason Jett pinned Kwee Wee after a Crash Landing.
- Kid Romeo and Elix Skipper defeated Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio, Jr., when Romeo pinned Misterio after a Last Kiss, to become the first WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions.
- Shawn Stasiak (with Stacy Keibler) pinned Bam Bam Bigelow after a Hangman's Neckbreaker.
- Team Canada (Mike Awesome and Lance Storm) defeated Konnan and Hugh Morrus, when Awesome pinned Morrus after a Awesome Bomb.
- Shane Helms pinned WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero, Jr. after a Vertebreaker to win the title, ending Guerrero's second reign.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Natural Born Thrillers (Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo) defeated Totally Buff (Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger) to retain the title. O'Haire pinned Luger after a Jungle Kick from Palumbo and Palumbo pinned Bagwell after a Seanton Bomb from O'Haire.
- Ernest Miller (with Ms. Jones) pinned Kanyon after a Roundhouse kick.
- Booker T pinned WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Rick Steiner after a Book End to win the title.
- Dusty and Dustin Rhodes defeated Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett, when Dustin pinned Flair with a roll-up. The match stipulation was that the loser of the fall would have to kiss the butt of the winner of the fall. Although Dustin pinned Flair, Jarrett ended up kissing Dusty's.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner (with Midajah) defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Falls Count Anywhere match, when Page passed out while in the Steiner Recliner, to retain the title.

2001 - Big Dick Dudley defeats Tommy Cairo and Axl Rotten in a three-way match to win the United States Extreme Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Deer Park, New York, beginning Dudley's second reign.

2001 - Emilio Charles, Jr. defeats Ringo Mendoza in Mexico City, Mexico for the CMLL World Middleweight Title, beginning his second reign.

2001 - Sumie Sakai defeats Megumi Yabushita to win the BS Japan Queen of the Ring and American Wrestling Federation Women's Titles in Tokyo, Japan.

2002 - The WWF held a live RAW at the Molson Centre in Montreal, Quebec, which earned a 5.3 rating on TNN. The show featured an opening segment with Hulk Hogan coming to the ring to a huge ovation. The Rock then came out and asked Hogan to show the fans how he felt about the nWo, with Hogan ripping off his nWo shirt and leaving the group. The results:
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam defeated Christian to retain the title.
- Lita defeated Trish Stratus.
- Edge and Kane defeated Kurt Angle and Booker T, when Edge pinned Angle after the Edgecutioner.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Al Snow and Maven fought to a no contest.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Billy and Chuck defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von (with Stacy Keibler) by disqualification to retain the title.
- Hulk Hogan and The Rock defeated Scott Hall and Kevin Nash by countout.

2004 - Fantasy defeats Avisman I for the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico, which had been stripped from Último Vampiro two days earlier.

2005 - Masato Tanaka won an eight-man battle royal, last eliminating Wataru Sakata, to become the first HUSTLE Hardcore Hero Champion in Tokyo, Japan.

2005 - Juggernaut wins the NWA/ECCW Pacific Northwest Heavywegith Title for the sixth time, defeating Scotty Mac in Surrey, British Columbia, ending Mac's third reign.

2005 - Brian Black defeats Maverick Wild to win the Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Methuen, Massachusetts.

2005 - Billy Merciless defeats Shane Matthews for the NWA Mid-America X Division Title in Columbia, Tennessee.

2006 - Saturday Night's Main Event returned to television after nearly 14 years. WWE held the show, the 32nd edition of SNME, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Aired on a one-hour tape delay, it got a 3.1 rating on NBC. This was the first SNME since October 27, 1992, and the first on NBC since April 15, 1991. The results were:
- In a dark match, World Tag Team Champion Big Show pinned Carlito.
- Triple H and WWE Champion John Cena defeated Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle in a handicap match, when Cena pinned Orton with a roll-up. This was a match pitting the individual RAW and SmackDown! WrestleMania 22 main events against one another.
- Mickie James (subbing for Torrie Wilson) and WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus defeated Candice Michelle and Victoria, when Trish pinned Victoria after the Stratusfaction. After the match, Mickie got on the mic and said she wanted to say goodbye the right way to Trish, as Trish had told her to give her some space. Mickie shook Trish's hand then pulled her in to kiss her but Trish turned her head and pushed Mickie away. Mickie then hugged Trish, but she pushed her away again. Mickie then made her long awaited heel turn and nailed a Chick Kick on Trish followed by the Stratusfaction. This led to their match at WrestleMania.
- Shane McMahon (with Vince McMahon) defeated Shawn Michaels in a Street Fight when Vince called for the bell while Michaels was locked in the Sharpshooter.
- Steve Austin and John "Bradshaw" Layfield were to face off in a beer drinking contest, but Austin caught JBL cheating by not drinking the beer, but rather pouring it on his shirt. Austin then gave JBL a Stone Cold Stunner. This segment was actually aired between the handicap tag team match and the women's tag.

2006 - Mad Man Pondo and Ian Rotten defeat Sal and Vito Thomaselli in Midlothian, Indiana to win the IWA Mid-South Tag Team Title.

2006 - Bobby Roode defeats Josh Daniels for the NWA Cyberspace Internet Title in Deer Park, New York.

2006 - Low Ki defeats John McChesney to win the International Wrestling Cartel Super Indy Title in Elizabeth, New Jersey, ending McChesney's second reign.

2006 - Three New England Championship Wrestling titles change hands in Framingham, Massachusetts. John Walters defeats Paul Lombardi for the NECW Heavyweight Title, ending Lombardi's second reign. Frankie Arion wins the NECW Television Title from Johnny Idol. Mark Bourne and Matt Logan defeat Sabotage (D.C. Dillinger and Eddie Edwards) for the NECW Tag Team Title. The Tag Team Title match was originally scheduled to be The A-List (Mark Bourne and Andre Lyonz) defending against The Logan Brothers (Bryan and Matt), but Bryan Logan and Andre Lyonz were injured before the match by Sabotage, so both uninjured team members paired up.

2006 - Bobby Sanford and Chris Stevens defeat John Bogie and Erik Watts for the Great Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Columbus, Georgia.

2007 - Cuervo and Ozz defeat Crazy Boy & Joe Lider, Alan Stone & Zumbido and Pegasso & Super Fly in a four-way elimination match to win the AAA World Tag Team Title in Naucalpan, Mexico.

2007 - Fantasma de la Ópera defeats Cerebro Negro to win the IWRG Intercontinental Welterweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico, ending Negro's fourth reign and beginning Ópera's second.

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