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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: RICK RUDE PASSES AWAY, HOGAN WINS HIS FOURTH WCW TITLE, TWO GIRLS FOR EVERY DREAMER AND MORE

April 20th

On this day in history in ....

1895 - Martin "Farmer" Burns defeats Evan "Strangler" Lewis for the American Heavyweight Title in Chicago, Illinois.

1933 - Earl McCreary defeats Jack Taylor in Calgary, Alberta to win the Canadian Heavyweight Title.

1936 - Albion Britt defeats Ted Christy in a tournament final in Hollywood, California to become the first National Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Champion.

1945 - Gory Guerrero defeats Jack O'Brien to win the Mexican National Welterweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, ending O'Brien's second reign.

1955 - NWA All-Star Wrestling held a four-team tournament in Vancouver, British Columbia for the Northwest Tag Team Title, which had been vacated by Boris and Ivan Kameroff. The results were:
Semifinals:
- Danno McDonald and Roger Mackay defeated Bill Currie and George Dusette.
- Ivan Kameroff and Gino Vagnone defeated Buddy Knox and Bud Rattal.
Finals:
- Ivan Kameroff and Gino Vagnone defeated Danno McDonald and Roger Mackay to win the vacant Northwest Tag Team Title.

1960 - The Great Bolo and Joe McCarthy defeat Bobby and Don Fields for both the Gulf Coast and Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Titles in Mobile, Alabama, ending the Fields' second reign.

1968 - Rusher Kimura and Thunder Sugiyama defeat Tank Morgan and Stan Stasiak to win the TWWA World Tag Team Title in Nagoya, Japan.

1970 - Argentina Apollo and José Lothario defeat Dale Lewis and The Missouri Mauler for the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Orlando, Florida.

1970 - K.O. Kox and Killer defeat Bob Geigel and The Stomper to win the Central States NWA North American Tag Team Title in St. Joseph, Missouri, to begin their second reign.

1971 - Jack Brisco wins his second NWA Florida Television Title in Tampa, Florida, defeating Terry Funk.

1977 - Johnny Stamboli is born in Atlanta, Georgia.

1980 - Toru Tanaka defeats Kevin Von Erich for the NWA American Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, ending Von Erich's second reign and beginning Tanaka's third.

1985 - Rick Davis defeats Sonny Myers to win the Universal Wrestling Alliance Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title.

1986 - The WWF held an event at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results:
- Pedro Morales defeated Hercules.
- Big John Studd defeated Tony Garea.
- Jake Roberts defeated Special Delivery Jones.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage by countout.
- Bob Orton, Jr. defeated Danny Spivey via countout.
- Adrian Adonis defeated Hillbilly Jim.
- Iron Mike Sharpe defeated Lanny Poffo.
- Brutus Beefcake, Greg Valentine and Johnny V defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs (The Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith) and Tito Santana.

1986 - The AWA held WrestleRock '86 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with 22,000 fans attending. The results:
- Brad Rheingans defeated Boris Zuhkov.
- Cowboy Lang and Little Mr. T defeated Lord Littlebrook and Little Tokyo.
- Colonel DeBeers defeated Wahoo McDaniel by disqualification.
- Buddy Rose and Doug Somers defeated The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels), when Somers pinned Jannetty.
- Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa) defeated AWA World Light Heavyweight Champion Buck Zumhofe.
- Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham defeated The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane), when Windham pinned Lane.
- Giant Baba defeated Bob Brown.
- Rick Martel and Harley Race fought to a double-countout.
- Sherri Martel won a battle royal. Other participants were Debbie Combs, AWA World Women's Champion Candi Divine, Rose Divine, Joyce Grable, Kat LeRoux, Despina Montagas, Misty Blue Simmes, and Luna Vachon.
- AWA America's Heavyweight Champion Sgt Slaughter defeated Kamala by disqualification to retain the title.
- AWA World Tag Team Champions Scott Hall and Curt Hennig defeated The Long Riders (Bill and Scott Irwin), when Hall pinned Bill, to retain the title.
- Scott LeDoux defeated Larry Zbyszko by disqualification in a boxing match.
- AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen defeated Nick Bockwinkel by disqualification to retain the title.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated The Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) in a steel cage match, when Animal pinned Garvin.
- Greg Gagne and Jimmy Snuka defeated Bruiser Brody and Nord the Barbarian in a steel cage match, when Snuka pinned Nord.
- Verne Gagne defeated Adnan Al-Kaissie in a steel cage match.

1987 - Two titles change hands at a Continental Wrestling Association event in Memphis, Tennessee. Chick Donovan defeats Soul Train Jones (Virgil/Vincent) for the CWA International Heavyweight Title. In the main event that night, Jerry Lawler defeated Austin Idol in a chain match in 36 seconds to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Idol's second reign and beginning Lawler's 39th reign. The Mercenaries were also awarded Jimmy Snuka and J.T. Southerns' CWA International Tag Team Title, after Snuka left the area.

1988 - Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard defeat Lex Luger and Barry Windham for the NWA World Tag Team Title in Jacksonville, Florida.

1989 - Mitsuo Momota defeats Shinichi Nakano to win the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title in Osaka, Japan.

1991 - The WWF held an afternoon event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, and an evening show at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results for both shows were:
- Kerry Von Erich fought The Warlord to a double-disqualification.
- Bret Hart defeated The Barbarian.
- The Berzerker defeated Tugboat.
- Ted DiBiase defeated Roddy Piper.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Haku.
- The Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) defeated The Orient Express (Kato and Tanaka).
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect defeated The British Bulldog.
- Sgt. Slaughter defeated WWF Champion Hulk Hogan by disqualification.

1991 - King Kong defeats TNT (Savio Vega) in Bayamón, Puerto Rico for the WWC Television Champion, ending TNT's third reign. At the same event, Super Medic III wins the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title frmo Scott Hall, and Ricky Santana wins his second WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Mr. Pogo.

1991 - Steve Gatorwolf wins his fourth American Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title from The Iraq Assassin in Flagstaff, Arizona.

1992 - The Dirty White Girl defeats Lauren Davenport to win the USWA Women's Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1996 - Akira Taue defeats Steve Williams to win the annual AJPW Champion's Carnival tournament.

1996 - ECW held its third-annual Hostile City Showdown event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Super Nova and El Puerto Ricano fought to a no-contest after The Eliminators attacked both men and hit the Total Elimination on them.
- Mikey Whipwreck pinned Billy Black.
- The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von (with Big Dick and Sign Guy Dudley)) fought The Pitbulls (#1 and #2 (with Francine)) to a no-contest after the referee was hit with a chair by D-Von and superbombed by the Pitbulls.
- Taz (with Bill Alfonso) defeated Devon Storm by countout after Storm was belly-to-belly suplexed over the top rope and through a table on the floor.
- Axl Rotten pinned Little Guido (with J.T. Smith) after an inverted front powerslam.
- The Sandman (with Missy Hyatt) and ECW World Television Champion 2 Cold Scorpio defeated The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don), when Scorpio got the pin after a moonsault.
- Brian Lee pinned Tommy Dreamer after breaking a concrete block over Dreamer's groin with a chair.
- Sabu pinned Rob Van Dam after a springboard moonsault.
- One of the more famous and infamous angles in ECW history then took place as Shane Douglas, before his match with Raven, said that Beulah McGillicutty was cheating on Tommy Dreamer while she was cheating on Raven, and called them both suckers. Dreamer came to the ring, took the mic from Dreamer and threatened Douglas. Douglas told Dreamer that he wasn't hardcore if he can't take the truth, and that Beulah never was pregnant as she had told him. Dreamer then demanded to know who he (the person Beulah was cheating with) was, with Douglas saying "it's not a he, it's a she." Kimona took the mic from Dreamer and said it was her. Beulah came out and she and Kimona made out, with Dreamer pulling them apart by their hair. Douglas, laughing, asked Dreamer what he had to say, with Tommy simply replying, "I'll take 'em both, I'm hardcore," and left with the girls as an angry Raven looked on from the ring.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Raven (with The Blue Meanie and Stevie Richards) pinned Shane Douglas (with Kimona Wanalaya) after hitting him with his boot to retain the title.

1996 - Jeff Jarrett defeats Jerry Lawler to win the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's 22nd reign and beginning Lawler's third.

1996 - Jim Steele defeats Ricky Santana for the WWC Television Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico. At the same show, Carlos Colón wins his 17th WWC Universal Heavyweight Title from El Bronco.

1997 - The WWF held its 14th In Your House pay-per-view, subtitled Revenge of the 'Taker, at the Rochester Community War Memorial Arena in Rochester, New York. The show had 6,477 fans in attendance and got a 0.5 buyrate. The results were:
- In a match airing on the Free for All, The Sultan (with Bob Backlund and The Iron Sheik) pinned Flash Funk after a powerbomb.
- The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldog and Owen Hart by disqualification when Bret Hart interfered and attacked the referee. Bulldog and Owen retained the title. LOD had defeated the champions at one point but this was disallowed due to the illegal man being pinned.
- Savio Vega (with Crush) defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia by countout after Crush gave Maivia with a heart punch on the floor. Maivia retained the title. After the match, Ahmed Johnson made the save.
- "Double J" Jesse James pinned Rockabilly (with The Honky Tonk Man) with a small package. This was the debut of Billy Gunn's infamous Rockabilly gimmick.
- WWF Champion The Undertaker pinned Mankind (with Paul Bearer) after a Tombstone piledriver to retain the title. After the match, Undertaker shot a fireball into Paul Bearer's face.
- Steve Austin defeated Bret Hart by disqualification after The British Bulldog interfered and hit Austin with a chair.
Dark matches held after the pay-per-view:
- Doug Furnas and Philip LaFon defeated The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas).
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Goldust.

1998 - WCW Monday Nitro won this week of the Monday Night ratings war, 5.1 to 4.4 over WWF RAW is WAR.

WWF RAW is WAR was taped on April 14 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The results:
- Faarooq defeated Kama Mustafa in a Long Island street fight.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan Severn (with Jim Cornette) defeated Mosh (with Thrasher).
- Bradshaw defeated The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust (with Luna) by disqualification.
- Terry Funk and Scorpio defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions The New Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart and Bombastic Bob (with Jim Cornette and Dan Severn)).
- D-Generation X (Billy Gunn, Road Dogg and Triple H (with Chyna and X-Pac)) defeated Owen Hart and L.O.D. 2000 (Animal and Hawk (with Sunny)).
- Dude Love defeated Steve Blackman.

WCW Monday Nitro was live from the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The results were:
- Konnan (with Vincent) defeated Chris Adams.
- The Barbarian (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Wayne Bloom.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Juventud Guerrera to retain the title.
- Goldberg defeated WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Raven to win the title. This was Goldberg's 75th victory without a defeat.
- La Parka defeated Ultimo Dragon.
- Chris Benoit defeated Curt Hennig (with Rick Rude) by disqualification.
- Hammer and Saturn fought to a double-countout.
- Buff Bagwell and Scott Steiner defeated Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock).
- WCW World Television Champion Booker T defeated Psychosis to retain the title.
- Lex Luger defeated Brian Adams (with Vincent).
- Hollywood Hulk Hogan defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Randy Savage to win the title. This began Hogan's fourth reign and ended Savage's third reign.

1999 - Former WWF Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude dies at age 40 at his home in Alpharetta, Georgia from heart failure, believed to be a result of an overdose of steroids and GHB. Prior to his work in the WWF, Rude had worked in NWA All-Star Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling and in the Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis, before moving on to Jim Crockett Promotions, Championship Wrestling from Florida and World Class Championship Wrestling. Rude was the first world champion in the World Class Wrestling Association, formed when WCCW left the NWA in 1986. He then had four years each in the WWF and WCW, and a had a short stint in ECW in 1997, before returning to the WWF that year as a member of D-Generation X. He is known for appearing on both WWF RAW is WAR and WCW Monday Nitro in November 1997, RAW being taped before he left the company and Nitro airing live, and also appeared on ECW Hardcore TV on that prior weekend. Rude was a part of the nWo before he left WCW in early 1999. At the time of his death, Rude was training to make a comeback to wrestling after suffering a severe back injury in 1994.

1999 - FMW held a pay-per-view event at Korauken Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results:
- Yoshinori Sasaki defeated Naohiro Yamazaki.
- FMW Street Fight Six-Man Tag Team Champion Ricky Fuji defeated Masao Orihara by disqualification.
- FMW Street Fight Six-Man Tag Team Champion Hisakatsu Oya defeated Katsumi Usuda.
- Mr. Gannosuke defeated Yukihiro Kanemura.
- Koji Nakagawa and Gedo defeated Tetsuhiro Kuroda and Masato Tanaka, when Gedo pinned Kuroda.
- FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight, Independent World Heavyweight and Street Fight Six-Man Tag Team Champion Kodo Fuyuki and Hayabusa defeated Daisuke Ikeda and Muhammad Yone, when Hayabusa pinned Yone.

1999 - Jason Lee defeats Chris Alexander (subbing for Johnny Spade) for the OVW Light Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky, beginning Lee's second reign and ending Spade's second.

2000 - Meng defeats Luminous Warrior to win the World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Garin Valley, Missouri, ending Warrior's third reign.

2000 - Tiffany defeats Martha Villalobos for the Mexican National Women's Title in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, ending Villalobos' second reign.

2001 - Assisted Suicide (Rawskillz and Hurricane Tatum) defeat Team Impact (Darren Dalton and Robby Royce) to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in Brandon, Manitoba.

2001 - Barry Houston defeats Big Bully Douglas and Chris Gatlin in a three-way match in Nashville, Tennessee to become the first, and only, NWA Main Event Nashville Television Champion.

2002 - The WWF Hardcore Title changes hands three times at a house show in Des Moines, Iowa. Bubba Ray Dudley lost the title to Goldust, ending his eighth reign and beginning Goldust's eighth reign. Raven won the title from Goldust, beginning his 17th reign, before losing the title back to Bubba Ray, beginning his ninth reign.

2002 - Todd Sexton defeats Jeremy Lopez for the NWA Wildside Junior Heavyweight Title in Cornelia, Georgia.

2002 - Jason Rumble defeats Kid Narcissistic to win the NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Title in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

2003 - Shane the Glamour Boy wins the IWA World Hardcore Title from Ricky Banderas in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, beginning his fifth reign. Banderas won the title back the same day, beginning his second reign. At the same event, Anarchy defeats Super Crazy for the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title, ending Crazy's second reign.

2003 - Etsuko Mita and Nanae Takahashi defeat Takako Inoue and Mima Shimoda for the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

2004 - WWE taped the April 22 SmackDown! and April 24 Velocity at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia. SmackDown! got a 3.4 rating on UPN. The results were:
- Johnny Stamboli defeated Bobby Roode.
Velocity:
- Mark Jindrak (with Theodore Long) defeated Orlando Jordan.
- Jamie Noble defeated Spike Dudley.
- Nunzio defeated Funaki.
- Billy Gunn and Hardcore Holly defeated The Basham Brothers (Danny and Doug).
SmackDown!:
- Booker T defeated Rob Van Dam.
- Charlie Haas and Rico (with Miss Jackie) defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty to win the title.
- John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated "Mexican Champion" El Gran Luchadore (Paul London).
- Chavo Classic and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero defeated WWE United States Champion John Cena in a handicap match.
- D-Von Dudley (with Bubba Ray Dudley and Paul Heyman) defeated WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero.

2004 - Keiji Muto defeated Kensuke Sasaki to win the annual AJPW Champion's Carnival tournament in Tokyo, Japan.

2006 - HUSTLE held its HUSTLE 16 pay-per-view event at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan. The results were:
- The Hustle Kamens (Blue, Red and Yellow) defeated Itako and The Neo Devil Pierrots (#1 and #2).
- Wataru Sakata defeated Kenzo Suzuki.
- Yuki Rock and Jo Shimaki defeated Captain Bomber and Yusanso Man.
- Yoji Anjo, Yoshiaki Kawada, The New Yinling-sama, Sodom (Mark Jindrak) and Giant Vabo defeated Erica (Aja Kong), Naoya Ogawa, Shinjiro Otani, Razor Ramon Hard Gay and Tajiri in an elimination match.

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