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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: HOGAN, MICHAELS AND AUSTIN WIN ROYAL RUMBLES

By Buck Woodward & Ryan Martinez on 2011-01-21 08:00:00

January 21st

On this day in history in ....

1946 - Joe Lynam defeats Jack Lipscomb for the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Title in Portland, Oregon, ending Lipscomb's fifth reign and beginning Lynam's second.

1953 - Kurt Von Poppenheim and Johnny Cretorian defeat Frank Stojack and Carl Engstrom to win the Northwest Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, beginning their second reign.

1958 - Johnny Valentine defeats Bill Melby for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, beginning his second reign.

1959  - Mr. Moto defeats Reggie Siki to win the NWA Beat the Champ International Television Title in Los Angeles, California, beginning his second reign.

1960
- Sonny Myers defeats Rock Hunter for the Amarillo NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas.

1963 - The Medics (Tony Gonzales and Donald Lortie) defeat Eric Pomeroy (Stan Pulaski) and Ray Andrews to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning their fourth reign.

1963 - Bull Curry defeats Tony Borne in Fort Worth, Texas to win the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title, ending Borne's second reign and beginning Curry's 11th.

1965 - Ken Lucas and Sputnik Monroe defeat Art Nielson and The Red Raider to win the Amarillo version of the NWA North American Tag Team Title in Amarillo, Texas.

1967 - Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher defeat The Devil's Duo (Angelo Poffo and Chris Markoff) for the World Wrestling Association World Tag Team Title.

1967 - Ray Stevens and Pat Patterson defeat Ciclon Negro and The Mongolian Stomper to win the American Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title in San Francisco, California.

1971 - The Texas Outlaws (Dick Murdoch and Dusty Rhodes) defeat Mark Lewin and Mario Milano in Sydney, Australia to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title.

1971 - Bobby Fields wins his third NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title, ending the fourth reign of Rocket Monroe in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

1972 - Don and Al Greene defeat The Avengers for the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title in Knoxville, Tennessee.

1977 - Victor Rivera and Cien Caras defeat Roddy Piper and The Hangman to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.

1979 - AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Ron Fuller and Toru Tanaka defeated Dennis Condrey and Don Fargo in a tournament final to win the vacant AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee. Fuller won the match on his own after Tanaka left the ring. The title would end up vacant again after Fuller and Tanaka split up, and feud over Fuller's AWA Southern Heavyweight Title.

1979 - The Yamaha Brothers (Kotetsu Yamamoto and Kantaro Hoshino) defeat The Great Kusatsu and Animal Hamaguchi to win the International Pro Wrestling World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

1983
- Terry Gordy defeats Kevin Von Erich for the World Class American Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, ending Kevin's fourth reign.

1984 - The WWF ran a show at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Eddie Gilbert and Rene Goulet ended in a 20-minute time-limit draw.
- Swede Hanson pinned Paul Vachon after an elbow drop.
- The Invaders defeated Mr. Fuji and Charlie Fulton, when Fulton was pinned after being hiptossed onto his partner.
- WWF Champion The Iron Sheik and Tito Santana were both disqualified after both men shoved down the referee after Sheik brought a steel chair into the ring.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco pinned Salvatore Bellomo with a sunset flip.
- The Masked Superstar defeated Bob Backlund by countout.
- The Haiti Kid and Tiger Jackson defeated Pancho Boy and Dana Carpenter, when Haiti pinned Carpenter. This match aired on the June 25 edition of Prime Time Wrestling.
- André the Giant, Jimmy Snuka and WWF Tag Team Champions Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson defeated Sgt. Slaughter and The Wild Samoans (Afa, Sika and Samula) in a two out of three falls match. Afa pinned Johnson after a headbutt to win the first fall, Snuka pinned Samula after a Superfly splash off André's shoulders in fall #2, and André pinned Afa after a big boot and a sit-down splash to win the match.

1985 - Legendary wrestler and Florida promoter Eddie Graham commits suicide at the age of 55. He was reportedly very despondent about financial problems (the territory was not doing well) when he suffered of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

1985 - The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham) defeat Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Hartford, Connecticut.

1985 - The WWF runs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results were:
- Moondog Rex pinned Terry Gibbs.
- Bret Hart defeated Rene Goulet by submission.
- Jim Neidhart pinned Tony Garea.
- Don Muraco pinned Swede Hanson.
- Blackjack Mulligan pinned Moondog Spot.
- André the Giant defeated Ken Patera by disqualification.
- Big John Studd pinned George Wells.
- Bob Orton, Jr. and Roddy Piper defeated The Junkyard Dog (subbing for The Tonga Kid) and Jimmy Snuka in a Texas Tornado match.
- The Spoiler pinned Rick McGraw.
- Tito Santana defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine by countout.

1986 - Tom Zenk defeats Bobby Jaggers for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title in Portland, Oregon, ending Jaggers' third reign.

1986 - Buddy Landel defeats Koko Ware in Louisville, Kentucky to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title, ending Ware's sixth reign and beginning Landel's third.

1990 - The WWF holds the third-annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view event at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. The PPV got a x.x buyrate. The results:
- In a dark match, Paul Roma pinned The Brooklyn Brawler.
- The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke) defeated The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond), when Butch pinned Jacques after the two hit the Battering Ram.
- Brutus Beefcake vs. The Genius ended in a double-disqualification. Beefcake locked in a sleeper after referee Earl Hebner was knocked down and then went to cut The Genius's hair. After Mr. Perfect attacked Brutus, Hebner recovered and disqualified both men.
- Ronnie Garvin defeated Greg Valentine in an I Quit match, making him submit with a reverse Figure Four Leglock.
- Jim Duggan defeated The Big Bossman by disqualification, after Bossman hit Duggan with his nightstick.
- Hulk Hogan, the #25 entrant, last eliminated #30 entrant Mr. Perfect to win the Royal Rumble match. The ironman of the Rumble was #1 entrant Ted DiBiase, who lasted 44 minutes and 47 seconds, breaking Mr. Perfect's 1989 mark of 27 minutes and 58 seconds.

1990 - Los Arqueros del Espacio (El Arquero, Danny Boy and Lasser) defeat Black Terry, José Ruiz Feliciano and Shu el Guerrero in Mexico City, Mexico for the Mexican National Trios Title.

1992 - WCW holds Clash of the Champions XVIII at the Kansas Expocenter in Topeka, Kansas, which drew a 3.7 rating on TBS, and featured the WCW debut of Jesse "The Body" Ventura. The results:
- In a dark match, Todd Champion and Firebreaker Chip defeated Bob Cook and Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker.
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated Big Van Vader and Mr. Hughes, when Rick pinned Hughes after a top-rope bulldog.
- Marcus Alexander Bagwell and Brian Pillman defeated Tracy Smothers and Terrence Taylor, when Bagwell pinned Smothers with a sunset flip after Pillman dropkicked Taylor out of the ring.
- Johnny B. Badd pinned Richard Morton after rolling through a Morton crossbody.
- PN News pinned Diamond Dallas Page after a top-rope splash.
- Cactus Jack pinned Van Hammer in a falls count anywhere match.
- The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) defeated Brad Armstrong and Big Josh, when Hayes pinned Armstrong after the Freebirds double-DDT'd Armstrong.
- Vinnie Vegas, in his WCW debut, pinned Thomas Rich after the Snake Eyes.
- Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham and WCW United States Tag Team Champion Ron Simmons defeated Larry Zbyszko and WCW World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton, when Windham pinned Eaton after hitting him with his hand cast as Eaton came off the top rope.
- Ricky Steamboat and Sting defeated WCW World Television Champion Steve Austin and WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Rick Rude, when both men pinned Austin after Sting hit a crossbody off the top as Austin held Steamboat in the air.

1995 - Mr. Pogo wins his second FMW World Brass Knuckles Title, defeating Atsushi Onita in Miyagi, Japan, ending Onita's third reign.

1996 - The WWF holds the ninth-annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view event at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California. The PPV got a x.x buyrate. The results were:
- In a match airing on the first-ever Free for All, Duke Droese defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley by disqualification, after Helmsley used brass knuckles. Droese won the match, so he earned the #30 entry spot in the Royal Rumble Match, while Helmsley had to enter #1.
- Ahmed Johnson defeated Jeff Jarrett by disqualification, after Jarrett jumped off the top rope and broke his guitar over Johnson's head.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart) defeated The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip), when Bart pinned Zip after Billy helped reverse the Bodydonnas' double suplex attempt on Bart into a small package, to retain the title.
- Goldust pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon to win the title, after The 1-2-3 Kid came and hit Ramon with a top rope Spinning Heel Kick while Marlena distracted the referee. This ended Razor's fourth and final run with the belt.
- Shawn Michaels, who entered from the #18 spot, last eliminated #22 entrant Diesel to win his second consecutive Royal Rumble Match. The '96 ironman was Hunter Hearst Helmsley, in the ring for 48 minutes and one second.

1996 - Bodyguard becomes the first ECCW Heavyweight Champion in Campbell River, British Columbia.

1997 - WCW holds Clash of the Champions XXXIV at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, drawing a 3.5 rating on TBS. The results were:
- In a dark match, Ice Train pinned Mark Starr.
- Dean Malenko defeated WCW Cruiserweight Champion Ultimo Dragon by submission with the Texas Cloverleaf to win the title. This began Malenko's third reign.
- Scotty Riggs pinned Mike Enos after a flying forearm.
- Chavo Guerrero, Jr., Chris Jericho and Super Calo defeated Mr. JL, Konnan and La Parka, when Jericho pinned Mr. JL after a hurricanrana off the top. The match was advertised at the start of the show as Guerrero, La Parka and Calo facing Konnan, Juventud Guerrera and Psychosis.
- Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray and Booker T) defeated Joe Gomez and The Renegade, when Booker pinned Renegade after the Harlem Heatseeker.
- Masahiro Chono pinned Alex Wright after a Yakuza Kick.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Scott Norton after the frog splash, following a Diamond Cutter from Diamond Dallas Page while Guerrero and the referee were knocked out on the floor.
- Chris Benoit pinned Kevin Sullivan in a falls count anywhere match, after Woman hit Sullivan over the head with a wooden chair.
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated The Amazing French Canadians (Pierre Oulette and Jacques Rougeau), when Scott pinned Oulette after a double-team top-rope DDT.
- Lex Luger defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion Scott Hall by disqualification after Syxx and Kevin Nash interfered.

1999 - Chip Fairway defeats The Suicide Kid for the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky.

2000 - Jimmy Angel defeats Scott Venom in North Versailles, Pennsylvania to win the Pittsburgh Wrestling League Three Rivers Title.

2001 - The WWF holds the 14th-annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view event at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:

WWF's Royal Rumble (1/21 from New Orleans) was a clear thumb's up show. The undercard was great overall, with just about everyone working hard and the crowd into most everything. The Rumble itself was mostly strong, although the first twenty minutes or so turned into a mess at times. Steve Austin going over to win the Rumble was not unexpected, but was done in a suitably dramatic fashion. There were a few surprise entrants in the Rumble. Commentary from Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler was great.

The broadcast opened with an excellent Rumble promo.

THE DUDLEY BOYZ beat EDGE & CHRISTIAN in 9:58 to capture the WWF World Tag Titles. Edge & Christian bailed out early and tried to leave, but the Dudleys dragged them back. The were doing a gimmick where the Dudleys were wrestling despite having "concussions" from the chairshots E & C gave them on Raw last week. Whenever they took a head blow they'd sell it big. Lawler didn't believe they had concussions because that's a bruised brain and he said the Dudleys don't have brains. The Dudleys doubled on Christian. E & C then worked over D-Von. Christian went to the top rope but D-Von catapulted Edge into him. E & C missed the "concerto" when D-Von ducked and he made the hot tag. Buh Buh Ray mopped up the floor on E & C. Christian took a high backdrop. Edge received the wazzup. Christian tried to use one of the title belts but missed. The Dudleys were about to 3D Christian but Edge speared Buh Buh. E & C tried to do the wazzup but it backfired and Christian took the blow. Edge was then 3D'ed and D-Von pinned him. Good opener. The fans were probably disappointed that no tables were used but it's best not to do the same thing every match.

Drew Carey arrived in a limo.
 
Vince McMahon said that despite the altercation between Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Steve Austin on Smackdown, neither man will be penalized.
 
HHH was worried that Stephanie and Trish Stratus might get into it during his match and cost him the World Title. Carey then walked in and was unaware of the current storylines as he was surprised to find out that HHH and Steph have been married over a year. He started talking about Kamala. Steph noted that Carey is supposedly a ladies' man, and sent him to Trish's dressing room, presumably hoping Trish would fall for him and drop Vince.
 
The Acolytes were playing cards and dinking beer, as usual. They showed each other their Rumble entry number. Bradshaw told Faarooq he'd better have another beer. Crash Holly barged in and said that even though they're friends, he'd be forced to eliminate either Acolyte if they got in his way in the Rumble. Faarooq remarked that Crash must be drunk, which was an inside joke since Crash got reprimanded recently for showing up drunk.

CHRIS JERICHO beat CHRIS BENOIT in 18:42 in a ladder match to capture the IC Title. Benoit quickly went after Jericho's arm that was "injured" on Smackdown. Jericho went for a springboard move but Benoit ducked and Jericho hit the floor. Benoit worked over Jericho on the floor and then got the ladder. They did some standard spots hitting each other with the ladder. Jericho bumped out and Benoit went for a tope but Jericho, in a sicko spot, knocked him out of the air with a hard chairshot to the head. Back in the ring they did some more ladder spots and bumps. Benoit took a teeter-totter ladder shot to the face. They did a neat spot where Jericho hooked an octupus hold on Benoit on top of the ladder. Benoit hooked the crossface. Jericho tapped but it didn't count under the ladder match rules. After a few more ladder spots, Benoit went up and tried for the diving headbutt off the ladder top but Jericho rolled clear and Benoit crashed hard. Jericho went up but Benoit tipped the ladder over. Benoit went up but Jericho tipped it and Benoit went out of the ring and Jericho made it up to get the belt. Real good match!

Carey made a few passes at Trish but she told him she was currently involved with someone. Vince came in and got real protective of Trish. Carey said that he has his own comedy PPV coming up and wondered if Vince had any advice on how to promote it. Vince, to get even with Carey for wanting Trish, recommended that Carey enter the Rumble, assuring Carey it would be perfectly safe. Carey nervously accepted.
 
Billy Gunn tried to talk Chyna out of wrestling since her neck isn't 100%, but she wouldn't listen.
 
Jericho did an interview as new IC Champ and said Benoit was a tough bastard but he proved Benoit wrong.

IVORY beat CHYNA by ref stoppage in 3:31 to retain the WWF Women's Title. Not much to the actual match. Chyna weakly tossed Ivory around a little. She also beat up Steven Richards. Chyna did the handspring elbow but both she and Ivory went down, with everyone selling it like the impact damaged Chyna's weak vertebrae. The ref stopped the match with Chyna lying motionless like she was paralyzed below the neck. JR & Lawler sold it as legit, with Lawler actually going in the ring to check on her. Gunn also came out. The EMT's put a neck brace on her and she was stretchered out. Angles like these are a dime a dozen nowadays but this one was handled well and looked very legit (though it wasn't).

Steph went to get her haired fixed and ecountered Trish there. Trish agreed to give Steph her spot since Steph, after all, needed her hair done more. Steph warned Trish not to interfere in HHH's match, and Trish said she has her own "affairs" to worry about.

Harvey Whippleman brought Carey some wrestling gear. Kane walked in and just stared at Carey in an intimidating manner.

Tiger Ali Singh was trying to decide which of his men (D-Lo Brown or Chaz) would get their team's spot in the Rumble. But Vince arrived and cancelled their participation, giving the spot to Carey. Singh didn't know who Carey is.

They did a fan comment segment from WWF New York over who would win the Kurt Angle vs. HHH match. These segments are very good.

KURT ANGLE defeated HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY in 24:12 to retain the WWF World Title. Trish came out in the fur coat & diamonds Vince bought for her. JR wondered what poor Linda thinks seeing that, and Lawler replied that vegetables don't think. Lawler said Trish is a baseball girl, meaning she won't play without diamonds. The match started off with some standard wrestling. Very good stuff with Angle dominating early as they are trying to push him as tougher than before. HHH sold for him and even bailed out after a suplex. They brawled on the floor. HHH hooked a grapevine hold and JR said it reminded him of Buddy Rogers. Lawler said no one today knows who Rogers is, which sadly is mostly true. They got off on Carey for a minute and Lawler mentioned piledriving Andy Kaufman many years sgo, with JR noting that eight people saw the movie about it. Low blow! Stephanie distracted the ref and HHH used a chair on Angle's knee. He went to work on the knee, including an old-fashioned Indian death lock. When HHH put the figure four on Angle, Trish helped Angle to the ropes, which led Steph to attack Trish for a heated catfight spot. They actually brawled across the announcers' desk and were clawing away when Vince arrived. It took him forever to separate them as they kept fighting with him trapped in the middle. He finally dragged both of them out. This was great! HHH and Angle continued on in the ring with some near falls. Angle did a moonsault but sold his knee. Angle has really become great and his moonsault is in Kenta Kobashi's league. The ref got bumped. Angle slammed HHH off the top but there was no ref to count the pin. The ref revived but was bumped again as HHH and Angle brawled. Angle blocked a belt shot from HHH and hit a suplex. HHH then blocked Angle's belt shot and hit the Pedigree but the ref was still out. Steve Austin ran in and juiced HHH with the belt, and then stunnered him. Angle crawled on top of HHH as the ref revived to count the pin. Great match!

Rock did a Rumble promo, wondering if Undertaker and Kane are now back together as a team.

STEVE AUSTIN won the Royal Rumble at the 1:01:52 mark. The intervals were announced as 2:00 but they were actually 1:45. Jeff Hardy (1) and Bull Buchanan (2) started off. Matt Hardy (3) came in and joined his brother to eliminate Buchanan. They then went at each other. Faarooq (4) arrived but the Hardys quickly eliminated him. Jeff had an off night as he was missing some key spots. Drew Carey (5) waltzed in, wearing glasses and not treating this seriously at all. He lucked out as both Hardys simultaneously eliminated each other. Kane (6) arrived and Carey tried to offer him money. Kane just stared. Raven (7) came in and went after Kane. Carey then eliminated himself, which was super lame. The match became a mess for a while as Raven brought in garbage cans, pans, and other hardcore match gimmicks. Al Snow (8) made his return and went after Raven, hitting him in the crotch with a bowling ball. Perry Saturn (9) went in. Kane was doing a superman act as all three opponents kept trying to eliminate him. Steve Blackman (10) showed up with his martial arts sticks for still more objects in the ring. Grandmaster Sexay (11) went in. Kane then went nuts and eliminated everyone else, leaving only himself in the ring. Honky Tonk Man (12) arrived as a surprise entry. He wanted to sing but Kane broke his guitar over his head and eliminated him. Rock (13) arrived and went after Kane and the match turned serious again. Goodfather (14) went in but was immediately dumped. The same thing happened to Tazz (15). Rock and Kane kept brawling, with their longevity (especially Kane's) one of the stories of the match. Bradshaw (16) went in and lariated the hell out of both Rock and Kane. Over the next few minutes the ring filled up as Albert (17), Hardcore Holly (18), K-Kwik (19), Val Venis (20), William Regal (21), and Test (22) arrived. Regal got eliminated. Up next was another surprise as Big Show (23) came in. He eliminated Test and Kwik and chokeslammed everyone else, including Kane, except Rock. Rock blocked the slam with a low blow and lariated Show over the top to eliminate him. Show was furious and dragged Rock out (through the ropes so it wasn't an elimination). Show pulverized Rock and left him laying. Crash Holly (24) arrived. Undertaker (25) then went in and joined forces with Kane to eliminate every other wrestler except Rock, who was still out on the floor. Scotty 2 Hotty (26) went in looking worried, as he should have been as UT & Kane quickly eliminated him. UT & Kane kept staring at one another. Steve Austin (27) came out to a big pop but before he reached the ring he was ambushed by HHH, who mauled Austin, leaving him literally a bloody mess before a ton of referees dragged HHH away. Rock recovered from his beating and went back in. Rock went at it with UT & Kane. Billy Gunn (28) and Haku (29) arrived. Haku, the former Meng in WCW, was probably a mystery to most of the live fans. Finally, Rikishi (30) went in. Haku got eliminated. Rikishi kicked UT in the chops and he went over for an elimination. Rock evaded Rikishi's ass drop and eliminated him. Austin recovered, and though bloody, went in and eliminated Gunn. Austin and Rock went at it, slugging it out. Austin blocked a Rock Bottom and gave Rock a stunner. Austin tried to throw Rock over. Kane came up behind and dumped both over but only Rock hit the floor for an elimination. Austin held on. Kane chokeslammed Austin. Kane brought in a chair but Austin blocked the blow, hit a stunner, and then sent Kane over the top with some hard chairshots for the win. Overall a solid Rumble, to set Austin us as the WWF Title challenger at WrestleMania.

2001 - Wifebeater becomes the CZW Iron Man Champion for the fourth and last time, in Smyrna, Delaware, by defeating Nate Hatred.

2002 - The WWF airs a live RAW and tapes the coming weekend's edition of Jakked from the BI-LO Center in Greenville, South Carolina. RAW got a 4.6 rating on Spike TV. The results were:
Dark matches:
- Brock Lesnar pinned Rico Constantino after the F-5.
- Randy Orton pinned Ron Waterman with an inside cradle.
Jakked:
- Test and WWF European Champion Christian defeated Albert and Scotty 2 Hotty.
- The Hurricane pinned A.J. Styles after the Vertebreaker, after Styles missed a Shooting Star Press.
- Perry Saturn defeated Funaki.
- Crash Holly defeated Oynx.
RAW:
- Rob Van Dam and WWF Tag Team Champions Spike Dudley and Tazz defeated Booker T and The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von), when Van Dam pinned D-Von after the Five-Star Frog Splash.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion William Regal defeated Edge by disqualification, after Edge was caught using Regal's brass knuckles.
- Mr. Perfect vs. Val Venis ended in a no contest, after Steve Austin interfered hit Perfect with a steel chair on the floor, then gave Venis the Stone Cold Stunner. Austin then announced his entry into the 2003 Royal Rumble match.
- Billy and Chuck defeated Big Show and Kane, when Billy pinned Show after the Fameasser, while Chuck held down Show's leg.
- The Rock and Triple H defeated Kurt Angle and WWF Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho, when Rock pinned Jericho after the Rock Bottom after Jericho accidentally hit Angle with the ring bell.

2003 - Steve White wins a battle royal in Hanceville, Alabama to become the first Ultimate NWA Heavyweight Champion.

2005 - Chris Sabin defeats Alex Shelley in Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada for the BCW Can-Am Television Title, beginning his second reign.

2005 - J.D. Escalade and The Juggulator defeat Team G.A.Y. (J.C. Lynch and Shane Young) to win the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Title in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

2005 - Porkchop Cash defeats The Psycho to win the NWA Battle Zone Cruiserweight Title in Magee, Mississippi, ending Psycho's fourth reign.

2005 - J.T. Thorn defeats Wavell Starr for the Canadian Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Crane River, Manitoba.

2006 - Arik Cannon defeats Jimmy Jacobs to win the IWA-Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Midlothian, Illinois, beginning his second reign.

2006 - Dean Allmark defeats Robbie Dynamite to win the British Mid-Heavyweight Title in Hanley, England.

2006 - Chris Cline defeats Blackhawk to win the National Wrestling League Cruiserweight Title in Hagerstown, Maryland.

2006 - Pepper Parks defeats Jon Moxley in a tournament final for the vacant Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title in Cincinnati, Ohio.

2007 - Dragon Gate holds "Primal Gate 2007: Night Four" at Kobe Sambo Hall in Hyogo, Japan. The results were:
- Yasushi Kanda, m.c.KZ and I-J Heavyweight Champion Masaaki Mochizuki defeated Open the Dream Gate Champion Don Fujii, Matt Sydal and The Turboman.
- Cyber Kong defeats Stalker Ichikawa Z and Syachihoko Machine in a three-way match.
- Magnitude Kishiwada defeated Yamato Onodera.
- CIMA, K-ness and Susumu Yokosuka defeated Taku Iwasa, Yuki Ono and Akira Tozawa.
- Genki Horiguchi vs. Ryo Saito ended in a no contest.
- Gamma, Naruki Doi and Open the Brave Gate Champion Masato Yoshino defeat Open the Triangle Gate Champions BxB Hulk, Anthony W. Mori and Super Shisa to win the title, and begin their second reign.

2007 - Ricky Marvin and Kotaro Suzuki defeat The Briscoes (Mark and Jay Briscoe) to win the NOAH GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

2007 - In another of many crazy Dramatic Dream Team Ironman Heavymetalweight Title changes, champion The Crazy SKB puts his title up for auction in Tokyo, Japan. Naoshi Sano wins the auction, and begins his ninth reign, ending SKB's second. Sempai then wins a battle royal to win the title.

2007 - Ipezzi Grossi (Dragon and Lothar) defeat The Beastie Boyz (Ape Atomica and Il Lupo) for the Italian Championship Wrestling Italian Tag Team Title in Lecco, Italy. At the same event, Kobra ends Manuel Majoli's second reign as ICW Interregional Heavyweight Champion.

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