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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: CROCKETT CUP, SPRING STAMPEDE, UK RAMPAGE, 65 MINUTES IN JAPAN AND MORE

April 19th

On this day in history in ....

1939 - Douglas "Ox" Baker is born in Sedalia, Missouri.

1952 - Henry Harrell defeats Tex Riley in a tournament final to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Jackson, Mississippi.

1954 - The Great Bolo and Tom Rice defeat Wilbur Snyder and Sandor Szabo for the NWA International Television Tag Team Title in Hollywood, California, ending their second reign..

1956 - Bobo Brazil defeats Gene Stanlee for the Ohio Heavyweight Title in Springfield, Ohio.

1957 - Don Leo Jonathan defeats Pepper Gomez for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas, ending Gomez's sixth reign.

1960 - Mike DiBiase defeats Eddie Graham to win the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Tampa, Florida.

1962 - Mike Clancy and Lester Welch defeat Dante and Mephisto for the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee, ending Dante and Mephisto's seventh reign.

1963 - Tarzan Tyler defeats Eddie Graham to win the Georgia World Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia.

1966 - Osamu "El Samurai" Matsuda is born in Hanamaki, Japan

1966 - Eddie Graham and Bob Orton defeat The Medics for the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.

1974 - Bill Ross wins his third European Lightweight Title from Jim Breaks in Stirling, English, ending Breaks' fourth reign.

1974 - The Original Mr. Wrestling (George Barnes) and Bobby Shane defeat Pat Barrett and Tony Kontellis to win the NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia.

1975 - Bobo Brazil defeats Abdullah the Butcher for the Detroit NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan, beginning his eighth reign.

1975 - Rusher Kimura defeats Mad Dog Vachon for the International Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Title in Sapporo, Japan.

1980 - Ric Flair defeats Jimmy Snuka in Greensboro, North Carolina to win his fourth NWA United States Heavyweight Title.

1982 - Tommy Rich defeats Ron Bass for the NWA National Heavyweight Title in Augusta, Georgia, beginning his third reign.

1982 - The Dream Machine defeats Dutch Mantel for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Mantel's sixth reign.

1984 - At an All Japan event at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan, a 10-man tag team elimination match takes place. Tatsumi Fujinami, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Antonio Inoki, Kengo Kimura and Nobuhiko Takada defeated Riki Choshu, Animal Hamaguchi, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Isamu Teranishi and Yoshiaki Yatsu in the match which lasted 65 minutes and 11 seconds.

1984 - Luke Graham wins the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title from Buzz Tyler in Kansas City, Kansas, ending Tyler's third reign.

1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions held the first of three annual Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournaments over two shows in the same day at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The tournament featured 24 teams. The results were:
First round:
- Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood defeated Bobby Jaggers and Mike Miller.
- Sam Houston and Nelson Royal defeated The Batten Twins (Bart and Brad).
- The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) defeated The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane).
- The Sheepherders (Butch Miller and Luke Williams) defeated Chavo and Hector Guerrero.
- Manny Fernandez and Jimmy Valiant defeated The Barbarian and Baron Von Raschke.
- Terry Taylor and Steve Williams defeated Bill Dundee and Buddy Landel.
- Buzz Sawyer and Rick Steiner defeated The Italian Stallion and Koko Ware.
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Black Bart and Jimmy Garvin defeated D.J. Peterson and Brett Wayne.
Second round:
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton) defeated Sam Houston and Nelson Royal.
- The Fantastics defeated NWA World Television Champion Arn Anderson and NWA National Heavyweight Champion Tully Blanchard.
- The Sheepherders defeated The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton).
- NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Ivan and Nikita Koloff defeated Manny Fernandez and Jimmy Valiant.
- Terry Taylor and Steve Williams defeated Dino Bravo and Rick Martel.
- Ron Garvin and NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum T.A. defeated Buzz Sawyer and Rick Steiner.
- Giant Baba and Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa) defeated NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Black Bart and Jimmy Garvin.
Quarterfinals:
- The Road Warriors defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express.
- The Fantastics and The Sheepherders were both disqualified, giving The Road Warriors a bye to the final match.
- NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Ivan & Nikita Koloff and Terry Taylor & Steve Williams fought to a draw.
- Ron Garvin and NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum T.A. defeated Giant Baba and Tiger Mask to advance to the final match due to the previous draw.
Finals:
- The Road Warriors defeated Ron Garvin and NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum T.A.
Non-tournament matches:
- Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion Jim Duggan defeated Dick Slater to retain the title.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes by disqualification to retain the title.

1986 - The WWF held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results:
- Sivi Afi fought Moondog Spot to a 20-minute time-limit draw.
- Corporal Kirchner pinned Paul Christy after a backdrop.
- The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond) defeated The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), when Bret was pinned after being knocked off the top rope.
- King Kong Bundy defeated Ted Grizzly and Johnny K-9 in a handicap match by pinning K-9 after the Avalanche and an elbowdrop. This match was originally scheduled to be Bundy vs. Uncle Elmer.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Big John Studd by disqualification when King Kong Bundy interfered.
- Tito Santana defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage by disqualification when Savage pulled the referee into Santana while he was locked in the figure-four leglock.
- Brutus Beefcake, Greg Valentine and Johnny V defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid), when Valentine pinned Dynamite after a low blow from Beefcake and using a handful of tights.

1986 - Bruce Hart wins his sixth Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title, ending Gama Singh's second reign in Edmonton, Alberta.

1987 - Big Bubba Rogers defeats One Man Gang in Muskogee, Oklahoma for the UWF World Heavyweight Title.

1988 - Jumbo Tsuruta defeats Bruiser Brody in Sendai, Japan to win the NWA International Heavyweight Title, ending Brody's third reign and beginning Tsuruta's third reign. He was the last champion before the title was unified into the AJPW Triple Crown in 1989.

1991 - The Georgia Guerillas defeat G.Q. and T.D. Madison (Tommy Dreamer) for the International World Class Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in South China, Maine.

1992 - The WWF held its second-annual UK Rampage event at Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. The results:
- Tatanka pinned Skinner after a Samoan drop.
- The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) defeated Dino Bravo and Col. Mustafa when Road Warrior Hawk pinned Mustafa after the Doomsday Device.
- Sid Justice (with Harvey Wippleman) defeated The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) by countout.
- WWF Champion Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) pinned Shawn Michaels (with Sensational Sherri) with a crossbody off the top to retain the title.
- The Mountie (with Jimmy Hart) pinned Virgil after using his shockstick.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart pinned Rick Martel with a small package to retain the title.
- Jim Duggan defeated Repo Man by disqualification when Repo Man hit Duggan with his grappling hook.
- The British Bulldog pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Irwin R. Schyster (with Jimmy Hart) after a powerslam.

1993 - Sherri Martel defeats Miss Texas for the USWA Women's Title in Memphis, Tennessee, but the decision was later reversed.

1993 - Brian Lee defeats Bobby Eaton in Barbourville, Kentucky to win the SMW Television Title.

1993 - Steve Gatorwolf defeats Navajo Kid for the American Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Kayenta, Arizona, beginning Gatorwolf's fifth reign and ending Navajo Kid's third.

1997 - Toshiaki Kawada defeats Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa in a three-way round-robin match to win the annual AJPW Champion's Carnival tournament. The final was a three-way match due to all three finishing the round-robin portion of the tournament in a tie at 19 points. Misawa and Kobashi fought to a draw to earn one point each, Kawada pinned Misawa to earn two points, and Kawada pinned Kobashi to earn another two points. Kawada won with four points to Kobashi and Misawa's one each.

1997 - Jersey All Pro Wrestling is founded as the Northern States Wrestling Alliance. The promotion changed to its current name three months later.

1997 - The Truth Commission (Recon and The Interrogator) defeat The Shooting Stars (Jerry Faith and Troy Haste) for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, to begin their second reign.

1998 - WCW held the third Spring Stampede pay-per-view at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado, which got a 0.74 buyrate. The results were:
- Goldberg pinned Saturn after the Jackhammer.
- Ultimo Dragon defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr. by submission with the Dragon Sleeper.
- WCW World Television Champion Booker T pinned Chris Benoit after a Harlem Sidekick to retain the title.
- Curt Hennig (with Rick Rude) pinned The British Bulldog (with Jim Neidhart) after slamming Bulldog's face into an exposed turnbuckle. During the match, Rick Rude was handcuffed to Jim Neidhart.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Prince Iaukea by submission with the Liontamer to retain the title.
- Lex Luger and Rick Steiner defeated Buff Bagwell and Scott Steiner, when Luger made Bagwell submit with the Torture Rack.
- Psychosis pinned La Parka after a Psycho Guillotine.
- Hulk Hogan and WCW World Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash defeated The Giant and Roddy Piper in a baseball bat on a pole match, when Hogan pinned Piper after hitting him with the bat. After the match, Hogan attacked Nash with the bat.
- Raven pinned WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page in a Raven's Rules match, after an Evenflow DDT onto a kitchen sink, to win the title.
- Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) pinned WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting in a no-disqualification match, after Kevin Nash interfered and gave Sting a Jackknife powerbomb, to win the title. This began Savage's third reign and ended Sting's fourth.

1999 - The Monday Night War continued, with WWF RAW is WAR beating WCW Monday Nitro, 6.1 to 4.1 in the ratings.

WCW Monday Nitro was live from Gainesville, Florida on the campus of the University of Florida, at the O'Connell Center. The results:
- Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko (with Arn Anderson) defeated Scott and Steve Armstrong.
- Psychosis defeated Blitzkrieg, Juventud Guerrera and WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Misterio, Jr. to win the title, ending Misterio's fourth reign.
- Brian Knobbs defeated Hak (with Chastity) in a garbage can vs. kendo stick match.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Disco Inferno.
- Raven (with Perry Saturn) defeated Kidman by disqualification.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner defeated Scott Norton to retain the title.
- Kevin Nash defeated Ric Flair (with Arn Anderson).
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page fought Goldberg to a no-contest to retain the title.

WWF RAW is WAR was live from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The results:
- Road Dogg defeated Owen Hart (with Debra).
- The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) fought The Brood (Edge and Gangrel (with Christian)).
- WWF Intercontinental Champion The Godfather defeated Hardcore Holly to retain the title.
- Ken Shamrock defeated The Big Bossman in a no holds barred match.
- Mankind defeated Triple (with Chyna) by disqualification.
- Billy Gunn defeated Jeff Jarrett (with Debra).
- The Big Show fought Viscera to a no-contest.

2000 - Triple X (Drake Dawson and Curtis Thompson) defeat Big Bubba Bain and L.A. Stephens for the NWA World Tag Team Title in Okinawa, Japan, beginning their second reign. At the same event, Leilani Kai wins her second NWA Mid-Atlantic Women's Title, defeating Strawberry Fields.

2000 - Billy D. defeats Samoa Joe for the UPW No Holds Barred Title in Santa Ana, California. Also at that show, Jobbers-R-Us (Billy Kim and Troubled Youth) win the UPW Tag Team Title from The Ballard Brothers (Shane and Shannon), ending their second reign.

2000 - Nikki Lyons defeats Bobby Collins to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Junior Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, ending Collins' second reign.

2000 - Masao Orihara defeats Sanshiro Takagi in Tokyo, Japan to become the first Dramatic Dream Team King of DDT Openweight Champion.

2002 - Three WWF Hardcore Title changes take place at a house show in Uniondale, New York. Goldust won the title from Bubba Ray Dudley, ending Bubba's seventh reign and beginning Goldust's seventh reign. Goldust lost the title to Raven, beginning his 16th reign, but Raven lost to Bubba Ray, beginning his eighth reign.

2002 - Colt Cabana defeats champion CM Punk and Eddie Guerrero in a three-way match in Dayton, Ohio to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title, ending Punk's second reign. At the same event, Vic Capri defeats Ace Steel for the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title.

2002 - Chessman and Electro Shock defeat La Parka, Jr. and Mascara Sagrada in Torreon, Mexico for the Mexican National Tag Team Title.

2002 - Destiny wins a battle royal, last eliminating Tony Stradlin, to win the NWA Wildside Beat the Champ Title.

2003 - Alex Montalvo defeats Livewire to win the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico, beginning his second reign.

2003 - Chicano defeats Nord for the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. At the same event, Noriega defeats Paparazzi to win the IWA World Junior Heavyweight Title, ending Paparazzi's second reign.

2003 - Chance Prophet defeats champion Jake Layton, Shane Matthews and Billy Maverick to win the NWA Bluegrass Heavyweight Title in Salyersville, Kentucky. At the same event, The Redneck Express (The Rebel and Chris Vega) defeat Chris Draven and Michael Lovely (subbing for Roger Anderson) for the NWA Bluegrass Tag Team Title.

2004 - WWE held a live RAW at the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, which got a 3.8 rating on Spike TV. The show featured the return of William Regal after being gone over a year with several health issues, and the debut of Eric Bischoff's nephew, Eugene Dinsmore, who was put in Regal's care. The results were:
- Christian (with Trish Stratus) pinned Chris Jericho after an unidentified man (Tyson Tomko) ran in and kicked Jericho in the face while he had Christian in the Walls of Jericho.
- WWE Women's Champion Victoria defeated Molly Holly by disqualification to retain the title when she didn't break a chokehold by the count of five.
- Garrison Cade (with Jonathan Coachman) pinned Tajiri with an elbowdrop off the top.
- Matt Hardy and Gail Kim vs. Lita and Val Venis ended in a no-contest.
- World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit and Edge defeated World Tag Team Champions Batista and Ric Flair, when Edge pinned Batista after a spear, to win the title. This ended Batista and Flair's second reign.

2005 - Adam Roberts defeats Adam Armor for the Ultimate NWA Heavyweight Title in Moulton, Alabama, beginning his second reign.

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