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April 3rd
This Day In....
1903 - Tom Jenkins wins his second American Heavyweight Title, ending Dan McLeod's third reign in Buffalo, New York.
1908 - Frank Gotch defeats Georg Hackenschmidt in Chicago, Illinois to win the World Heavyweight Title, ending Hackenschmidt's near-three-year-long reign. Gotch's American Heavyweight Title, which he had won on December 17, 1906 from Fred Beell, was vacated. Gotch held the title until retiring in August 1912.
1933 - Steve Strelich defeats P.A. Mullikan to win the California Light Heavyweight Title in Pasadena, California.
1954 - Mr. X (Percy Hall) defeats Willie Liebenberg in Johannesburg, South Africa for the South African Heavyweight Title.
1961 - Don Leo Jonathan defeats Dr. X (Bill Miller) for the Omaha World Heavyweight Title in Omaha, Nebraska. This began and ended both's second reigns.
1964 - The Destroyer and Art Michalik defeat Nick Bockwinkel and Nick Kozak to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Salem, Oregon, beginning their third reign.
1964 - Don Duffy defeats Dick Dunn to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Dothan, Alabama, ending Dunn's second reign.
1965 - Huracán Ramírez defeats Rizado Ruiz to win the Mexican National Welterweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
1965 - Red McKin defeats Treach Phillips to become the first NWA Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion in St. Joseph, Missouri.
1967 - Rocky Johnson and Don Leo Jonathan defeat Chris and John Tolos for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1967 - Rocket and Sputnik Monroe defeat Don Curtis and José Lothario to win the Florida NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Orlando, Florida.
1968 - Mario Galento defeats Eduardo Pérez for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama. This began Galento's sixth reign and ended Pérez's third.
1969 - Lance Storm is born in Sarnia, Ontario.
1969 - The Gladiator (Rick Hunter) defeats Boris Malenko to win the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Jacksonville, Florida.
1969 - The Love Brothers (Hartford and Reginald) defeat Moose Cholak and Johnny Powers for the Buffalo NWA World Tag Team Title in Cleveland, Ohio. The Buffalo/Cleveland office left the NWA in 1970 and the National Wrestling Federation was founded.
1970 - Roger Kirby defeats Danny Little Bear to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in St. Joseph, Missouri, beginning his second reign.
1971 - Kinji Shibuya defeats Suni War Cloud for the NWA Beat the Champ Television Title.
1975 - Lola Garcia and Rena Manani defeat Mariko Akagi and Jumbo Miyamoto to win the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Fukui, Japan, ending Akagi and Miyamoto's ninth reign.
1976 - Dutch Savage defeats Jesse Ventura to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title in Portland, Oregon, to begin his sixth reign.
1979 - Adrian Adonis and Ron Starr defeat Killer Tim Brooks and Roddy Piper for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1980 - Antonio Inoki defeats Stan Hansen for the NWF Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, to begin his third reign.
1981 - At an EMLL event in Mexico City, Mexico, Tony Salazar wins the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title from Alfonso Dantés, ending Dantés' third reign. Also, Ringo Mendoza wins his fifth NWA World Middleweight Title, defeating Sangre Chicana, ending his second reign.
1982 - The Canadian Wrecking Crew (Terry Adonis and Bruiser Costa) defeat Dean Ho and Sonny Myers for the Vancouver NWA International Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia.
1983 - Dick Slater wins his second NWA Television Title in Greensboro, North Carolina, ending Roddy Piper's second reign.
1983 - Riki Choshu defeats Tatsumi Fujinami in Tokyo, Japan to win the WWF International Heavyweight Title.
1992 - Villano V defeats El Signo for the UWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Netzahualcoyótl, Mexico, ending Signo's second reign.
1992 - Sam Houston wins a 15-man battle royal to win the vacant Global Wrestling Federation Television Title in Dallas, Texas. The title was stripped from Eddie Gilbert on March 20 after he attacked a referee. At the same event, Danny Davis won the GWF Light Heavyweight Title from Barry Horowitz, ending his second reign.
1993 - ECW held an television taping at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Eddie Gilbert and ECW Television Champion Jimmy Snuka defeated J.T. Smith and Max Thrasher to retain the title.
- ECW Tag Team Champions Tony Stetson and Larry Winters defeated The Suicide Blondes (Chris Candido and Johnny Hotbody).
- Don Muraco defeated Glenn Osbourne.
- The Suicide Blondes (Chris Candido and Johnny Hotbody) defeated ECW Tag Team Champions Tony Stetson and Larry Winters to win the title.
- ECW Heavyweight Champion The Sandman and Rockin' Rebel fought to a double-disqualification to retain the title.
- Super Destroyer III (Salvatore Bellomo) defeated The Death Rider.
- Don Muraco defeated Ernesto Benifica.
- Tommy Cairo and J.T. Smith defeated The Canadian Wolfman and Max Thrasher, when Smith pinned Wolfman.
- ECW Television Champion Jimmy Snuka defeated Glenn Osbourne to retain the title.
- Salvatore Bellomo defeated Super Destroyer I by disqualification.
- Eddie Gilbert and ECW Television Champion Jimmy Snuka defeated Tommy Cairo and Glenn Osbourne, when Gilbert pinned Cairo.
- J.T. Smith defeated Max Thrasher.
- Don Muraco defeated ECW Heavyweight Champion The Sandman to win the title, beginning his second reign.
1993 - Miss Texas (Jacqueline) ends Lauren Davenport's fourth USWA Women's Title reign in Memphis, Tennessee, and begins her own sixth reign.
1993 - Yukihiro Kanemura and Mitsuhiro Matsunaga defeat Freddy Kreuger and Leatherface to win the W*ING World Tag Team Title in Kagoshima, Japan.
1995 - The WWF held the 104th, 105th and 106th Monday Night RAWs, one airing live and two taped, at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, on the heels of WrestleMania XI. The results were:
Dark matches:
- Bret Hart defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett.
- The Allied Powers (The British Bulldog and Lex Luger) defeated King Kong Bundy and Tatanka.
- The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated Jean-Pierre LaFitte.
- WWF Champion Diesel defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
April 3:
- Hakushi (with Shinja) pinned Bob Holly (with The 1-2-3 Kid) with a running senton, after Yokozuna tripped Holly.
- The Allied Powers (The British Bulldog and Lex Luger) defeated Well Dunn (Steven Dunn and Timothy Well (with Harvey Whippleman)), when Luger got the pin after a diving forearm.
- Alundra Blayze pinned WWF Women's Champion Bull Nakano with a bridging German suplex to win the title after Nakano missed a moonsault. This began Blayze's second reign. During that match, Jim Cornette announced that on the following week's show there would be a six-man tag match with The 1-2-3 Kid, Bret Hart and Bob Holly facing Hakushi, Owen Hart and Yokozuna. After the match an unknown woman attacked the new champion and broke her nose, causing her to have to get plastic surgery to repair the damage. This was the debut of Bertha Faye.
- Men on a Mission (Mabel and Mo) defeated Ben Jordan and Tony Roy.
- The show closed with
April 10:
- Adam Bomb fought Tatanka (with Ted DiBiase) to a double-countout.
- The Headshrinkers (Fatu and Sione) defeated Mike Bell and Tony DeVito.
- Kama (with Ted DiBiase) pinned Scott Taylor. Before the match, Kama debuted his new gold chain, which was made from The Undertaker's melted urn, which he stole at WrestleMania.
- The 1-2-3 Kid, Bret Hart and Bob Holly defeated Hakushi and WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and Yokozuna, when Holly pinned Owen with a roll-up after a dropkick from Bret, after Bret blind-tagged holly.
April 17:
- Jean-Pierre LaFitte pinned Duke Droese after the Cannonball.
- Doink the Clown (Steve Lombardi) (with Dink the Clown) pinned Raymond Roy after Whoopie Cushions from both clowns.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and Yokozuna (with Jim Cornette and Mr. Fuji) defeated The 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly to retain the title, when Yokozuna pinned The Kid after he caught the Kid coming off the top rope and delivered a belly-to-belly suplex.
- Henry Godwinn pinned Rich Myers after the Slop Drop.
1995 - Razor Ramon defeats Bill Dundee to win the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee. At the same event, Brian Lee ends Brian Christopher's 14th reign as USWA Heavyweight Champion.
1996 - Vance Nevada wins his third Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title, defeating Bobby Collins in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
1997 - Tower of Doom defeated Ox Harley and Bull Pain in a three-way tournament final to become the first IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion in Louisville, Kentucky.
1998 - The Brooklyn Brawler defeats Bobby Clancy for the vacant Border City Wrestling Television Title in LaSalle, Ontario. The title was stripped from Gene Miller on June 21.
1998 - Tarek the Great wins his 10th IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title in Scottsburg, Indiana, defeating The Suicide Kid.
1999 - ECW held the fourth-annual Cyberslam event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Jerry Lynn pinned Yoshihiro Tajiri.
- Nova and Chris Chetti defeated Rod Price and Skull Von Krush, when Nova pinned Price.
- Super Crazy pinned Mosco de la Merced.
- Taka Michinoku pinned Papi Chulo.
- ECW World Tag Team and Television Champion Rob Van Dam pinned 2 Cold Scorpio to retain the Television title.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Taz defeated Chris Candido by submission to retain the title.
- Shane Douglas pinned Justin Credible.
- The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von) and Mustapha Saed defeated The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten) and New Jack in an Ultimate Jeopardy Steel Cage (WarGames) match, when Mahoney was pinned.
1999 - Ray Gonzalez defeats Pierroth, Jr. to win the vacant WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, beginning his eighth reign. The title was held up after their March 27 match, also in Guaynabo.
1999 - Jay Jaillet defeat Luis Ortiz for the NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Title in Milford, Connecticut.
1999 - Kid Wikkid and Derrick King defeat Vic Grimes and Erin O'Grady (Crash Holly) to win the Power Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title in Jonesboro, Arkansas, beginning his second reign.
1999 - The Ringlords (Speedy Gonzales and Dan Slagel) defeat The Border Patrol (Chris and Mike Cannon) to win the NWA Northern Continental Tag Team Title in Joliet, Illinois.
2000 - Basically unopposed by WCW's 1.8-rated "History of Nitro" show, the WWF held the post-WrestleMania RAW is WAR at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Also taped beforehand was the weekend's WWF Jakked. The results:
Dark matches:
- D'Lo Brown defeated Scott Vick.
- The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated The Dupps (Bo and Jack).
Jakked:
- Al Snow pinned Viscera after two Head shots while Steve Blackman had the referee distracted.
- Bull Buchanan (with the Big Bossman) defeated Bradshaw (with Faarooq) by disqualification after Faarooq interfered. All four brawled after the match.
- D'Lo Brown and The Godfather defeated The Mean Street Posse (Joey Abs and Rodney (with Pete Gas)), when D'Lo pinned Rodney after the Lo Down following Godfather's Ho Train.
- Val Venis pinned WWF Hardcore Champion Hardcore Holly with a fisherman suplex.
RAW is WAR:
- Eddie Guerrero pinned WWF European Champion Chris Jericho (with Chyna) to win the title after Chyna interfered, turned on Jericho and DDT'd him.
- Road Dogg and X-Pac (with Tori) defeated T&A (Test and Albert (with Trish Stratus)), when X-Pac pinned Albert after the X-Factor after Road Dogg gave Albert a low blow.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit pinned Tazz with a bridging German suplex to retain the title.
- The Big Show defeated Rikishi (with Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty)) by disqualification when Too Cool interfered.
- Crash Holly pinned WWF Hardcore Champion Hardcore Holly, after the Acolytes, whom Crash paid off before the match, gave the champion a double spinebuster, to win the title. This ended Hardcore's third reign and beginning Crash's fourth.
- Kurt Angle defeated Val Venis by submission with the crossface chickenwing.
- Kane (with Paul Bearer) pinned Bull Buchanan (with the Big Bossman) after a chokeslam.
- The Rock defeated Shane McMahon (with Vince McMahon) by pinning WWF Champion Triple H, who interfered, after the Rock Bottom.
2001 - The WWF taped the April 5 SmackDown! and April 8 Sunday Night Heat at the Myriad Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. SmackDown! got a 4.3 rating on UPN. The results were:
Sunday Night Heat:
- Haku defeated Raven.
- The A.P.A. (Bradshaw and Faarooq) defeated Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn.
- WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero defeated Test to retain the title.
- Lita defeated Spike Dudley.
SmackDown!:
- Kane and The Undertaker defeated The Right To Censor (Bull Buchanan, The Goodfather and Steven Richards) in a handicap match, when Undertaker pinned Richards after the Last Ride.
- Rhyno pinned K-Kwik after the Gore.
- Kurt Angle and William Regal defeated Chris Benoit in a handicap match, when Benoit submitted while locked in both the ankle lock and Regal Stretch.
- Jeff Hardy (with Matt Hardy and Lita) defeated The Big Show after the Swanton Bomb and a fast count.
- X-Factor (Albert, Justin Credible and X-Pac) defeated Steve Blackman, Billy Gunn and Grandmaster Sexay, when Credible pinned Gunn after X-Pac's X-Factor.
- Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho after the Pedigree to win the title, after knocking Jericho out with a chair as he had Stephanie in the Walls of Jericho. This began HHH's third reign and ended Jericho's fourth.
2004 - The East Coast Wrestling Association held its eighth-annual Super 8 Tournament at Saint Matthews Parish Hall in Wilmington, Delaware. The results:
- Austin Aries defeated Shawn Daivari in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- ECWA Heavyweight Champion Mike Kruel defeated Ricky Reyes in a Super 8 Tournament first round match to retain the title.
- Christopher Daniels defeated Rocky Romero in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- John Walters defeated Nicho el Milionario (Psicosis) in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Christopher Daniels defeated ECWA Heavyweight Champion Mike Kruel in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match to win the title, beginning his second reign.
- Austin Aries defeated John Walters in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match.
- Matt Striker and ECWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Ace Darling won a Tag Team Summit battle royal to earn an immediate ECWA Tag Team Title match.
- ECWA Tag Team Champions The Valedictorians (Billy Bax and Rob Eckos) defeated Matt Striker and ECWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Ace Darling to retain the title.
- ECWA Heavyweight Champion Christopher Daniels defeated Austin Aries to retain the title and win the Super 8 Tournament, and become the first two-time winner of the tournament.
2004 - Agente Bruno and Rico Suave defeat Brent Dail (subbing for Vengador Boricua) and Super Gladiador for the WWC World Tag Team Title in Nagüabo, Puerto Rico.
2004 - Tommy Capone defeats Lonestar to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Columbia, Tennessee.
2004 - Blitz defeats Cynuxx, Tommy Diablo and Misawa in a four-way match for the IWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
2005 - WWE held WrestleMania 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It was the third WrestleMania held in Los Angeles (II and VII at the Sports Arena) and the fifth such to be held in the L.A. area (XII and 2000 at the Arrowhead Pond (now Honda Center) in Anaheim). 20,193 fans attended the show, which got a 1.68 buyrate, and had these results:
- In a 30-man interpromotional battle royal held prior to the pay-per-view broadcast, the match came down to two RAW superstars, Booker T and Chris Masters. Booker eliminated Masters to win the match. Also in the match were, from RAW, Rob Conway, Simon Dean, Sylvain Grenier, The Hurricane, Maven, William Regal, Rhyno, Rosey, Snitsky, Tajiri, Tyson Tomko, Val Venis and Viscera. SmackDown! represenatives were Akio, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Spike Dudley, Funaki, Charlie Haas, Hardcore Holly, Heidenreich, Mark Jindrak, Billy Kidman, Orlando Jordan, Paul London, Nunzio, Luther Reigns and Scotty 2 Hotty. This match was later included on the DVD of the event.
- WWE Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio pinned WWE Tag Team Champion Eddie Guerrero with a Hurricanrana.
- Edge defeated Shelton Benjamin, Chris Benoit, Christian (with Tyson Tomko) Chris Jericho and Kane in the first-ever Money in the Bank Ladder match.
- Eugene then came to the ring and said he was happy to be at WrestleMania, only to be interrupted by Muhammad Hassan and Daivari, who expressed their disgust in being left out of the event. They then attacked Eugene, who was saved by Hulk Hogan.
- The Undertaker pinned Randy Orton after a Tombstone Piledriver.
- WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus pinned Christy Hemme (with Lita) after a Chick Kick to retain the title.
- Kurt Angle defeated Shawn Michaels by submission with the Ankle Lock. This was just the first match of an impressive trilogy the two would have throughout 2005.
- Steve Austin was the guest on Piper's Pit. Roddy Piper welcomed Austin to the Pit with a slap, with Austin returning the gesture. Carlito interrupted the two and said that they were has-beens and now he what is "cool". Austin gave Carlito a Stone Cold Stunner and Piper threw him out of the ring. Austin and Piper celebrated with beer before, in typical fashion, Piper got a Stunner as well from Austin.
- Akebono defeated The Big Show in a Sumo match.
- John Cena pinned WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield after the FU to win the title.
- The 2005 WWE Hall of Fame class was introduced by Gene Okerlund. The inductees were Hulk Hogan, The Iron Sheik, Jimmy Hart, Paul Orndorff, Bob Orton, Roddy Piper and Nikolai Volkoff.
- Batista pinned World Heavyweight Champion TripleH after the Batista Bomb to win the title, ending Triple H's fifth reign.
2005 - Aja Kong wins her third AAAW Singles Title from Meiko Satomura in Yokohama, Japan, ending Satomura's second reign. At the same event, Toshie Uematsu and Ran YuYu win their second AAAW Tag Team Title from Carlos Amano and Manami Toyota. They were the last champions, as the GAEA Japan promotion closed one week later.
2005 - Goro Tsurumi wins his third IWA Japan World Heavyweight Title in Kanagawa, Japan, from Iron Hercule I.
2006 - WWE held its post-WrestleMania 22 RAW live from the same arena, Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Heat was also taped before RAW. RAW got a 4.1 rating on USA Network. The results were:
- In a dark match, The Highlanders (Robbie and Rory McAllister) defeated La Résistance (Robért Conway and René Duprée), when Duprée was pinned with an inside cradle.
Heat:
- Goldust and Snitsky defeated Colt Cabana and Brad James, when Snitsky pinned Cabana after a double-team wheelbarrow suplex.
- Lance Cade pinned Viscera with his feet on the ropes.
- Matt Striker pinned Chandler McClure.
- Trevor Murdoch pinned Eugene after a DDT.
RAW:
- The Spirit Squad (Kenny and Mikey (with Johnny, Mitch and Nicky)) defeated World Tag Team Champions The Big Show and Kane to win the title, when Kenny pinned Show after a legdrop off the top, after all five members of the Spirit Squad hit the High Spirits on Show.
- Chris Masters defeated Eric Priest by submission with the Masterlock. After the match, Carlito came out, spat apple in Priest's face and raised Masters' hand, but then gave Masters a back-cracker and spat apple in Masters' face.
- WWE Women's Champion Mickie James and Candice Michelle defeated Trish Stratus and Torrie Wilson, when Mickie pinned Torrie after the Chick Kick. Mickie was dressed like Trish Stratus for the match.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin pinned Chavo Guerrero after an Exploder suplex to retain the title. Before the match Chavo dedicated the match to Eddie Guerrero, since he didn't get a title match at WrestleMania. After the match, in a segment which aired on WWE.com Unlimited, Todd Grisham interviewed Chavo and asked him about his loss, in which Chavo simply said he let everyone down, including Eddie, and said that he quit.
- Edge (with Lita) and Triple H defeated WWE Champion John Cena in a handicap match, when Triple H got the pin after the Pedigree as Cena was going for the Five-Knuckle Shuffle on Edge.
2007 - WWE taped the April 6 edition of Friday Night SmackDown! and aired a live ECW from the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. SmackDown! got a 2.7 rating on The CW and ECW got a 1.7 rating on Sci Fi.
- In a dark match, Kofi Kingston and Jamie Noble defeated La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier).
SmackDown!:
- Mr. Kennedy pinned World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy after a DDT after Jeff missed the Swanton.
- The Miz pinned WWE United States Champion Chris Benoit after MVP interfered and pulled The Miz out from under Benoit's diving headbutt.
- World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy pinned King Booker with an inside cradle.
- Dave Taylor (with William Regal) vs. Kane never got underway because Kane attacked both Regal and Taylor outside the ring before the match could get started.
- WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick (with Ashley) defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero and Gregory Helms, when London pinned Helms after a Sliced Bread/powerbomb double-team move.
ECW:
- CM Punk pinned Stevie Richards after the GTS.
- Snitsky pinned Hardcore Holly after a big boot. After the match, Snitsky repeatedly hit Holly in the arm with a chair, then slammed the ring steps with his arm under them. This was Holly being written off television so he could have surgery for a nerve entrapment in his elbow.
- The New Breed (Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker and Kevin Thorn) defeated The ECW Originals (Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, The Sandman and Rob Van Dam) in an Extreme Rules match, when Burke pinned Sabu after hitting the Elijah Express through a table in the corner.
2011 -
2012 - WWE dropped Randy Orton from "The Marine: Homefront", which was slated to begin filming this June in Vancouver, British Columbia following complaints that Orton, who went AWOL from the Marines and was dishonorably discharged.
A WWE representative told TMZ.com:
"WWE demonstrated poor judgment in signing Randy Orton for the 3rd installment of the film. Despite Randy’s popularity, the fact that he was dishonorably discharged from the USMC made it inappropriate for him to be cast in this film."
Marines, including some who served in Orton's former unit, complained about the casting.
The Miz replaced Orton in the film.
2013 - WWE broadcast Main Event. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Washington, D.C. and your announcers are Michael ‘Filibuster’ Cole and John ‘Let’s Get Ready to Recap’ Layfield.
Before the first match, Wade Barrett makes his way to the stage. He tells Miz not to worry. He is not here for trouble today. He wants to passively observe one more time before Miz becomes the next victim of the Barrett Barrage on Sunday. He tells Miz to do whatever it is he is going to do. He is going to sit next to his pals JBL and Cole during this match.
Match Number One: The Miz versus Darren Young and Titus O’Neil
Darren starts things off and they lock up. Miz with a side head lock take down and he stares a hole through Barrett. Young with forearms and a side head lock. Darren with a shoulder tackle. Miz tries for a hip toss but Young avoids it. Miz with a reverse atomic drop and Miz tries for the figure four but Young gets to the ropes and the floor.
Darren wants a time out and they discuss strategy while we go to commercial.
We are back and Miz with a punch and he mocks the dog bark. Miz with kicks and punches. Miz with a boot to Titus but Titus with a shoulder tackle. Titus shows Miz how to bark. Titus with a punch to the head. Miz escapes a slam and he chops and punches Titus. Miz with a sunset flip but Titus does not go over.
Titus with a knee and European uppercut. Titus with a slam and Young is tagged in and he stomps on the midsection and then he applies a reverse chin lock. Miz with an elbow but Darren with a knee. Miz blocks a suplex and hits a suplex of his own. Miz sends Darren into the turnbuckles and then he climbs the turnbuckles and punches Darren and then he hits a short arm clothesline for a near fall.
Miz with knees but Darren with a kick and he kicks Miz in the back. Darren with an elbow drop and he tags in Titus. Titus with an elbow drop and then he chokes Miz in the ropes. Darren tags back in. Miz with a knee to the midsection followed by a boot to the head for a near fall. Darren goes to the floor in front of the announce table.
Titus checks on Darren but Miz stays in the ring so he does not get close to Barrett. Miz with punches in the corner and then he connects with knees. Darren with knees. Miz with a drop kick to the knees and he tries for the figure four but Young tries to send Miz into his corner but Miz knocks Titus off the apron. Miz with the Reality Check for a near fall as we go to commercial.
We are back and Titus with a boot to Miz. O’Neil gets a near fall. Titus with an abdominal stretch. Miz escapes and he kicks Titus. Titus catches Miz and he hits a back breaker and then he tosses Miz over his back and Titus gets a near fall.
Young tags in and he kicks Miz in the ribs. Darren with a chop to Miz followed by a leg drop and he gets a near fall. Young with a reverse chin lock. Miz with elbows but Young sends Miz into the corner and he Irish whips Miz but Miz with an elbow followed by a double leg take down and punches.
Young with a clothesline and he gets a near fall. Titus tags in and he hits a gourdbuster of Young onto Miz and Titus gets a near fall. Titus waits for Miz to get up in the corner and Titus with a splash and he gets a near fall. Titus misses a shoulder in the corner and Titus goes down.
Darren tags in and Miz with a knee and a knee lift followed by a boot to the head. Miz with the Awesome Clothesline and then Miz with a boot to Titus on the apron. Miz with the double sledge from the top but he can only get a near fall. Young with a kick and he gets Miz on his shoulders but Miz escapes and he kicks Young and hits a DDT but Titus breaks up the cover.
Miz sends Titus to the floor but Young with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Miz with kicks and Titus tries to trip Miz but Miz avoids it. Young with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with a baseball slide to Titus on the floor and Miz applies the figure four and Young taps out.
Winner: The Miz
After the match, Miz gets on the turnbuckles to celebrate his victory. Barrett gets up from the announce table and he holds the title belt for Miz to see.
We go to commercial.
We are back and do you want to see what an evisceration looks like? We see the Undertaker and CM Punk from this week’s Raw.
We then go to Shawn Michaels’ comments to Triple H about his match with Brock Lesnar on Sunday.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to see what Jack Swagger had to say in front of the Capitol.
We go to the interview area and Matt Striker is with the Big Show. Matt says that some think that he is the wild card, but some think that he is a valuable ally. Is the Big Show turning over a new leaf? Show wants to know how stupid Matt is. Show says that is the last thing that Orton and Sheamus want him to do. They want him at his most vicious, most cruel, and most intense. That is what he is bringing to Wrestlemania. It is not about redemption, friends, allies, wild cards, or turning leafs. It is about payback and retribution. Those rookies picked a fight with a giant. It was a dumb move. At Wrestlemania, they will find out that the only leaf they are turning is this one (as Show shows us his fist).
We go to commercial.
We are back and with a video package for Rock versus John Cena.
We go to credits.
2013 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Conor O’Brian is the number one contender for the NXT Title that is currently held by Big E Langston. What will happen when they meet in the ring tonight?
We are in Winter Park, Florida and your announcers are Brad ‘Brickie’ Maddox, Kassius ‘A Hero on Commentary’ Ohno, and Tony ‘When will they tell me where Wrestlemania is’ Dawson.
Bray Wyatt says that you do not applaud a mouse for surviving a night in the cage with a snake. Everyone knows that sooner or later the snake eats the mouse. You played with fire and now you burn.
Match Number One: Bo Dallas and Adrian Neville versus Erick Rowan and Luke Harper
Harper and Dallas start things off and they lock up. Harper backs Dallas into the corner but Bo with punches. Harper runs Bo into the corner and Rowan tags in. Rowan with an elbow and he chokes Bo in the ropes. Rowan sends Bo into the turnbuckles. Rowan with a forearm across the chest but Bo with a punch. Rowan with a forearm to the back.
Rowan with a head butt and then he tags in Harper. Luke punches Bo in the ribs. Harper with a European uppercut. Bo avoids a slam and Neville tags in. Neville with punches to Harper but Neville with a drop kick to the knees and then to the head. Neville with a Shooting Star Press for a near fall.
Harper sends Neville to the apron. Harper sends Neville to the floor and then Rowan sends Neville back in Harper with a boot to the head but Neville kicks out at two. We go to commercial.
We are back and Rowan works on Neville’s neck. Neville with punches to the midsection and he tries for a sunset flip but Rowan does not go down and he connects with a leg drop and gets a near fall. Rowan with kicks to Neville and then he puts Neville on the top turnbuckle. Harper tags in and he punches Neville in the chest and Harper gets a near fall. Harper with a head butt to the back of the head and Harper applies a reverse chin lock.
Neville tries to get to his feet and he succeeds. Neville with a kick but Harper with a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Harper with an elbow drop and he gets another near fall. Rowan tags back in and he hits an elbow drop and gets a near fall. Rowan with a bear hug and he runs Neville into the turnbuckles.
Harper tags in and he connects with a running head butt into the midsection. Neville with a punch but Harper with a punch and then he tags Rowan back in and he kicks Neville in the head. Rowan with a side head lock and he runs Neville into the turnbuckles. Harper is tagged back in and he connects with an elbow drop and gets a near fall.
Harper with a chop but he runs into an elbow and boot from Neville. Harper misses a boot in the corner and Dallas tags in. Dallas with running forearms followed by a punch to the midsection and a knee to the head and a running forearm. Bo with Acid Drop for a near fall. Rowan charges at Dallas and goes over the top rope to the floor. Dallas hits Wyatt on the apron. Neville with a corkscrew plancha onto Wyatt and Rowan on the floor.
Dallas with a belly-to-belly suplex for the three count.
Winners: Bo Dallas and Adrian Neville
We go to commercial.
Conor O’Brian says that the NXT Title belongs to him and tonight he will rise.
We are back and it is time for a video package about the John Cena and Rock match.
We return to the NXT Arena and there is a fourth man at the announce table. William Regal decides to return the favor to Kassius Ohno from last week and Regal punches Ohno and then he rakes the eyes. After the attack, Regal has a smile on his face before he leaves.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Brad and Tony try to figure out what just happened.
Match Number Two: Summer Rae and Audrey Marie versus Sasha Banks and Paige
Paige and Audrey start things off and Paige wants a piece of Summer but Audrey gets in the way. They lock up and Paige gets away and goes after Summer. Audrey with a take down and near fall. Audrey with a monkey flip and Paige with a drop toe hold. Sasha tags in and Audrey with a knee and wrist lock. Sasha with a forearm to the chest and an arm drag with help from the ropes.
Sasha with a head scissors take down and she gets a near fall. Audrey with a clothesline and Summer tags in and kicks Sasha. Summer chokes Audrey in the ropes and she taunts Paige on the apron to try to draw her into the ring. Summer gets a near fall and then tags Audrey back in. Audrey with a snap mare and rear chin lock.
Audrey gets a near fall. Summer tags back in and she sends Sasha’s head into the turnbuckles. Summer pulls Sasha out of the corner and gets a near fall. Summer with a front face lock and Audrey tags back in. Audrey sends Sasha’s head into the turnbuckles. Summer tags back in and applies a waist lock but Sasha with a rollup for a near fall.
Paige tags in and Summer tags in Audrey and then Summer runs to the back. Paige with a savate kick followed by the Paige Turner for the three count.
Winners: Paige and Sasha Banks
After the match, Paige runs up the ramp to the back to try to get a piece of Summer.
Big E Langston and Conor O’Brian walk in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and William Regal and Kassius Ohno will settle their differences in the ring next week on NXT.
Match Number Three: Big E Langston versus Conor O’Brian for the NXT Heavyweight Title
The two combatants try to psych themselves up and they lock up to a deadlock. They lock up again and Conor with a side head lock and kick to the chest. Langston with a shoulder tackle that sends Conor to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Langston with five shots to the midsection and then he tries for a slam but Conor escapes. Langston with a clothesline and Conor rolls to the apron. Conor drops Langston’s throat across the top rope and then Conor with a uranage for a near fall. Conor with kicks to the head and then he connects with an elbow drop and gets a near fall.
Conor works on the head and twist Langston to the mat and Conor gets a near fall. Conor continues to work on the neck. Langston punches Conor and Conor punches back. Conor with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Conor goes to the turnbuckles and hits a clothesline and gets a near fall.
Conor works on the neck with a nerve hold. Conor with an elbow to the back of the head and a boot to the chest and he gets a near fall. Conor returns to the nerve hold. Langston with elbows but Conor with a punch to Langston. Conor with more punches but they have no effect on Langston.
Langston BigE’s up and Langston with clotheslines and then he connects with five knees to the midsection. Langston runs into a big boot from Conor but Langston is able to kick out. Conor mocks Langston and then he tries for the Big Ending but Langston with a body block and then the straps are down.
Langston with the Big Ending and he gets the three count.
Winner: Big E Langston
After the match, Langston hears the crowd chanting ‘five’ and Langston gets Conor up for the Big Ending and he makes his own five count.
We go to credits
2015 - WWE announced that former Divas champion AJ Lee had retired from the company. The departure was not a surprise, given that the company sent paperwork informing her husband CM Punk that he had been terminated on their wedding day.
2023 - The following announcement is issued, officially signaling the end of the McMahon family at the helm of professional wrestling:
New, Publicly Listed Company to be 51% Owned by Endeavor and 49% by Existing WWE Shareholders
Endeavor to Contribute UFC into Company at Enterprise Value of $12.1 Billion
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR) (“Endeavor”) and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) (“WWE”) today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a new, publicly listed company consisting of two iconic, complementary, global sports and entertainment brands: UFC and WWE. Upon close, Endeavor will hold a 51% controlling interest in the new company and existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% interest in the new company.
Together, UFC and WWE will have global reach, impressive scale and omnichannel distribution. On a combined 2022 fiscal year-end basis, UFC and WWE achieved revenue of $2.4 billion and a 10% annual revenue growth rate since 2019.
“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” said Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor. “For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together.”
“Given the incredible work that Ari and Endeavor have done to grow the UFC brand – nearly doubling its revenue over the past seven years – and the immense success we’ve already had in partnering with their team on a number of ventures, I believe that this is without a doubt the best outcome for our shareholders and other stakeholders,” said Vincent K. McMahon, Executive Chairman of WWE.
McMahon continued, “Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity. The new company will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster our strong stable of brands. I, along with the current WWE management team, look forward to working closely with Ari and the Endeavor and UFC teams to take the businesses to the next level.”
The new company will be led by Emanuel (Chief Executive Officer), who will also continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer of Endeavor, McMahon (Executive Chairman of the Board) and Mark Shapiro, who will be President and Chief Operating Officer of both Endeavor and the new company. Dana White will continue in his role as President of UFC and Nick Khan will serve as President of WWE. The Board of Directors will consist of 11 members who will be appointed at a later date, six of whom will be appointed by Endeavor and five of whom by WWE.
Together, UFC and WWE expect to deliver an estimated $50 million to $100 million in annualized run rate cost synergies by leveraging, among other things, Endeavor’s back office and robust infrastructure. Endeavor also expects significant growth across revenue areas including domestic and international media rights, ticket sales and yield optimization, event operations, sponsorship, licensing and premium hospitality. Endeavor’s success at UFC, including increasing commercial opportunities that have driven more than 2x Adjusted EBITDA growth since its acquisition in late 2016, demonstrates the significant value creation opportunity and upside potential of having UFC and WWE under one roof.
Transaction Details and Approvals
The transaction values UFC at an enterprise value of $12.1 billion and WWE at an enterprise value of $9.3 billion. The transaction represents a contribution price of WWE of approximately $106 per share (before any post-closing dividend). Additionally, UFC and WWE will each contribute cash to the new company so that it holds approximately $150 million. At closing, Endeavor intends to sweep all excess cash at UFC, and shareholders of the new company (other than Endeavor) are expected to receive a post-closing dividend.
Under the terms of the transaction, existing WWE shareholders will roll all existing equity into the new entity that will be the parent company of UFC and WWE (“NewCo” until it is named at a later date) and intends to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TKO”. The listing of NewCo will expand the collective investor base to allow for broad market participation across Endeavor and NewCo.
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Endeavor and by the Board of Directors of WWE. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023.
This marks the successful conclusion of WWE’s strategic alternatives review process. WWE embarked on this process to take advantage of the company’s unique position in the entertainment ecosystem as well as the inflection point coming with its media rights renewals, both of which were widely recognized in the marketplace through this process.
Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving as financial advisors to Endeavor, and Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to Endeavor. The Raine Group is acting as lead financial advisor to WWE. J.P. Morgan and Moelis & Company LLC are also acting as financial advisors to WWE. The Raine Group, J.P. Morgan, and Moelis & Company LLC each rendered fairness opinions to the Board of Directors of WWE. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal advisor to WWE, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal advisor to WWE’s controlling stockholder, McMahon.
Webcast
Endeavor and WWE will make public a recorded audio webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET today discussing this transaction. The event and accompanying presentation materials can be accessed at investor.endeavorco.com or corporate.wwe.com/investors. The link to the webcast, as well as a recording, will also be available on those websites after the call concludes.
About Endeavor
Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events and experiences. The company is comprised of industry leaders including entertainment agency WME; sports, fashion, events and media company IMG; and premier mixed martial arts organization UFC. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation, sports operations & advisory, event & experiences management, media production & distribution, experiential marketing and brand licensing.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 228 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.
About WWE®
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, BT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in more than 180 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains, and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements regarding the potential transaction between Endeavor and WWE, including statements regarding the expected timetable for completing the potential transaction, the ability to complete the potential transaction, expected synergies, impacts and benefits of the potential transaction, projected financial information, future opportunities, expected cash distributions and other statements regarding NewCo’s and WWE’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, or future events or performance. Statements that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the expected market opportunity, growth, financial performance, realizable synergies and closing of the transaction. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this communication may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “outlook,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this communication are only predictions. Endeavor and WWE management have based these forward-looking statements largely on their current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that management believes may affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from what is expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the transaction will not be consummated; there may be difficulties with the integration and in realizing the expected benefits of the transaction; Endeavor and WWE may need to use resources that are needed in other parts of its business to do so; there may be liabilities that are not known, probable or estimable at this time; the transaction may result in the diversion of management’s time and attention to issues relating to the transaction and integration; expected synergies and operating efficiencies attributable to the transaction may not be achieved within its expected time-frames or at all; there may be significant transaction costs and integration costs in connection with the transaction; the possibility that neither WWE nor Endeavor will have sufficient cash at close to distribute to shareholders (or that the amount of cash available for distribution will be less than what the parties expect); unfavorable outcome of legal proceedings that may be instituted against WWE and Endeavor following the announcement of the transaction; and risks inherent to the business may result in additional strategic and operational risks, which may impact Endeavor’s, NewCo’s and WWE’s risk profiles, which each company may not be able to mitigate effectively. In addition, a number of important factors could cause Endeavor’s or NewCo’s actual future results and other future circumstances to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those important factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Endeavor’s or WWE’s respective Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as any such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, Endeavor’s investor relations site at investor.endeavorco.com and WWE’s investor relations site at https://corporate.wwe.com/. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as may be required under applicable law, neither Endeavor nor WWE undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Important Information For Investors And Stockholders
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any issuance or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In connection with the transaction, NewCo expects to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which will include an information statement of WWE and a preliminary prospectus of NewCo. After the registration statement is declared effective, WWE will mail to its stockholders a definitive information statement that will form part of the registration statement on Form S-4. This communication is not a substitute for the information statement/prospectus or registration statement or for any other document that WWE may file with the SEC and send to its stockholders in connection with the transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF WWE ARE URGED TO READ THE INFORMATION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the information statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by WWE through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by WWE will be available free of charge on WWE’s website at https://corporate.wwe.com/.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
In addition to the financials presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release includes certain non-GAAP financial information. Non-GAAP metrics have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for or superior to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP metrics versus their nearest GAAP equivalents. Other companies, including those in Endeavor’s and WWE’s industry, may calculate non-GAAP metrics differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of the non-GAAP metrics used in this press release as tools for comparison. Endeavor and WWE urge you to not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company and its business. See the presentation available on Endeavor’s investor relations site at investor.endeavorco.com and WWE’s investor relations site at https://corporate.wwe.com for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures.
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