Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
January 20th
On this day in history in ....
1937 - Sandor Szabo defeats Billy Hanson in Oakland, California for the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title.
1948 - Gypsy Joe Dorsetti defeats Billy Hickson in Eugene, Oregon to win the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Title.
1955 - Al and Tiny Mills win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Title for the fifth time, defeating Whipper Billy Waston and Paul Baillargeon in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1959 - Joe Christie defeats Pepper Gomez in Dallas, Texas for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title, ending Gomez's 10th reign.
1961 - Dan Manoukian defeats Ciclon Negro to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
1962 - Fritz Von Goering defeats Billy White Wolf for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title.
1964 - The WWWF runs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York with these results:
- WWWF United States Tag Team Champions Chris and John Tolos defeated Miguel Perez and Pedro Morales in a two out of three falls match.
- Roy Heffernan defeated Gino Brito.
- Tony Marino defeated Al Costello.
- Don McClarity defeated Klondike Bill.
- Tiny Tim and Pancho Lopez defeated Sky Low Low and Fuzzy Cupid in a two out of three falls match.
- Bobo Brazil and Vitorio Apollo defeated Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski.
- WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Dr. Jerry Graham.
1964 - Kinji Shibuya and Don Leo Jonathan defeat Dory Funk, Sr. and Dory Funk, Jr. in a tournament final in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for the vacant Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title.
1969 - The WWWF runs at the Boston Garden with the following results:
- Johnny Rodz defeated Bob Harmon.
- Ricky Sexton defeated Pete Sanchez.
- Bull Ramos defeated Ron Sanders.
- Antonio Pugliese defeated Carlos Colón.
- Barbara Owens and Donna Christianello defeated Toni Rose and Patty Neilson in a two out of three falls match.
- Spiros Arion and Victor Rivera defeated Lou Albano and Tony Altimore.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated Haystacks Calhoun via disqualification in a $2,000 bodyslam challenge.
- WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion The Sheik defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino by countout. Sammartino retained the World title.
1972 - Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens defeat Red Bastien and Crusher Lisowski to win the AWA World Tag Team Title in Denver, Colorado.
1973 - Earl Maynard defeats Ripper Collins in Los Angeles, California for the NWA Hollywood Wrestling Television Title.
1973 - Dan Kroffat and Lennie Hurst defeat Michel Martel and Danny Babich in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to win the Stampede International Tag Team Title, ending Martel and Babich's second reign.
1975 - The WWWF runs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York with these results:
- Dean Ho defeated Bill White.
- Tony Garea defeated Hans Schroeder.
- Butcher Vachon defeated Joe Nova.
- The Wolfman defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Spiros Arion defeated Larry Zbyszko.
- Pedro Morales and Victor Rivera fought Killer Kowalski and Bobby Duncum to a draw.
- WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow defeated WWWF Tag Team Champions Jimmy & Johnny Valiant in a two out of three falls match, winning the third fall by disqualification. The Valiants retained the titles. Gorilla Monsoon was the guest referee.
1975 - Guy Mitchell defeats Gene Kiniski in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the Vancouver version of the NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign and ending Kiniski's fourth.
1978 - Carlos Jose Estrada defeats Tony Garea for the vacant WWF Junior Heavyweight Title in Uniondale, New York.
1978 - The Great Kusatsu and Animal Hamaguchi defeat The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) to win the IWA Japan World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1979 - The WWWF runs at the Boston Garden with the following results:
- Dave Darrow defeated Mike Paidousis.
- Pete Doherty defeated Mark Tendler.
- Johnny Rodz defeated Sylvano Sousa.
- Bruno Sammartino defeated Peter Maivia by disqualification.
- World Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah defeated Joyce Grable.
- Stan Stasiak fought Chief Jay Strongbow to a no contest.
- WWWF Tag Team Champions Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna (sub for Spiros Arion) and Victor Rivera.
1979 - Thor the Viking (Scott Irwin) defeats Terry Funk to win the Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in St. Petersburg, Florida, ending Funk's second reign.
1980 - Raul Mata defeats Alfonso Dantes for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Guadalajara, Mexico, ending Dantes' fourth reign.
1981 - Brad Armstrong wins a tournament final in Mobile, Alabama for the vacant Southeast version of the NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title.
1984 - Killer Khan defeats Archie "Mongolian Stomper" Gouldie in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title, ending Gouldie's eighth, and final, run with the belt.
1985 - Edward Gossett, known in wrestling as Eddie Graham, dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Tampa, Florida at the age of 55.
1985 - The Maoris (Tudui and Wakahi) defeat Jerrt Oske and Rick Casey (Wendell Cooley) for the Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Tag Team Title in San Antonio, Texas.
1987 - Bad News Allen defeats Ron Simmons in Tampa, Florida, to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title.
1987 - The Rock 'n' Roll RPMs (Mike Davis and Tommy Lane) defeat Jeff Jarrett and Billy Travis for the AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending and beginning each team's second reign.
1989 - Joe Malenko defeats Masanobu Fuchi in Fukuoka, Japan to win the All Japan World Junior Heavyweight Title.
1992 - Dino Bravo wrestles his last match, defeating The Barbarian, at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He would then go into retirement, and was killed just over one year later when he was shot, gangland style, in the living room of his home.
1995 - Pierroth, Jr. defeats La Parka for the Mexico National Light Heavyweight Title in Mexicali, Mexico, ending Parka's second reign and beginning Pierroth's third.
1995 - The New Breed (Ric Austin and Mike Legacy) defeat Purple Haze (Chris Pilon and Tommy Wonder) to win the vacant Border City Wrestling Can-Am Tag Team Title in Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada.
1996 - Billy Joe Eaton defeats Frankie DeFalco for the Mid-American Wrestling Heavyweight Title in West Allis, Wisconsin.
1997 - Mitsuharu Misawa defeats Kenta Kobashi in Osaka, Japan to win the AJPW Triple Crown Title for the third time.
1997 - Kyoko Inoue defeats Takako Inoue to unify the All Japan Pacific Title, IWA World Title and WWWA World Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1997 - In what is considered one of the best singles matches of the decade, Mitsuharu Misawa defeats Kenta Kobashi in Osaka, Japan to win his third All Japan Triple Crown (NWA International, NWA United National, PWF World) Championship.
1998 - Owen Hart defeats Goldust (dressed as champion Triple H) to win the WWF European Title in Davis, California. Owen was declared champion by Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter as he deemed Goldust a substitute for Triple H.
1998 - Gutterboy and Randy the Violat or defeat Flex Fenom and Shorty Smalls to become the first House of Pain Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions in Hagerstown, Maryland.
2000 - Chris Michaels defeats Sean Casey for the NWA OVW Light Heavyweight Title in Jeffersonville, Indiana, ending Casey's second reign.
2001 - The NWA Mid-Atlantic Hardcore Title changes twice in Washington, North Carolina as first Andrue Bane defeats Madd Maxx, then Bane loses the title to Lodi.
2001 - The Boogaloo Crew (Scotty Wrenn and J.C . Dazz) defeat 3 Count (Shannon Moore and Shane Helms) for the NWA Wildside Tag Team Title in Cornelia, Georgia, beginning their second reign.
2001 - Team Impact (Robby Royce and Darren Dalton) defeat Assisted Suicide (Hurricane Tatum and Rawskillz) for the Canadian Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada. The same night, El Diablo de Jesus defeats Bobby Collins to win the CWF Junior Heavyweight Title, ending Collins' fourth reign.
2001 - The Power Company (Dave and Dean Power) defeat Gino Caruso and The Equalizer in Cedar Grove, New Jersey to become the first NWA Jersey Tag Team Champions.
2002 - The Royal Rumble was held in Atlanta, Georgia at the Phillips Arena. The show saw a Ric Flair vs. Vince McMahon streetfight, WWF Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho defeat The Rock, and Triple H win a Royal Rumble that also marked the return (at least temporarily) of Curt Hennig and Goldust to the WWF. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:
WWF's Royal Rumble (1/20 from the Phillips Arena in Atlanta) turned out to be an excellent show, despite having match endings which were somewhat predictable. The Undisputed WWF Title match between Chris Jericho and Rock was outstanding, and the street fight between Ric Flair and Vince McMahon was great fun. The Rumble itself was stacked heavily towards the upper end, with Undertaker being the only real star power in the early going. They did a really good angle with him and Maven. Unlike most Rumbles, there was no wrestler who made any impression for longevity, as everyone who went in early was eliminated before long. The eliminations were spread out so that there were rarely large numbers of wrestlers in the ring. Commentary from Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler was strong, though they got off on tangents a couple of times. The live crowd was hot.
TAZZ & SPIKE DUDLEY defeated THE DUDLEYS in 5:06 to retain the WWF World Tag Titles. The Dudleys had announced a strategy to isolate and destroy. Thus, they laid Tazz out on the floor early and began doubling on Spike. Spike was wearing a neckbrace to sell an injury from Smackdown. Bubba Ray tore the neckbrace off and they worked on his neck. Spike mounted a brief comeback but ended up getting double flapjacked. Tazz finally hot tagged in. He suplexed both Dudleys and briefly put the Tazzmission on Stacy Keibler. They all began brawling. Bubba manhandled Spike but Tazz surprised D-Von with the Tazzmission for the submission win. Decent opener.
WILLIAM REGAL defeated EDGE in 9:43 to capture the IC Title. Referee Nick Patrick searched the ring for brass knux, and eventually found them by reaching way down into Regal's tights. That was a good source for jokes from JR & Lawler. Lawler mentioned Regal's nose injury and surgery about 834 times. The match was about average. In a sense, Edge deserves a singles push but he has so much more charisma as a team with Christian. They did one neat spot where Edge DDT'd Regal on the apron. Each hooked an STF, but in both cases there was a rope break. Edge went for a spear but Regal pulled Patrick in front of him and he took the blow. Regal then revealed a second pair of brass knux from his tights. He KO'ed Edge and got the pin as Patrick revived. Afterward, Regal claimed to have been blessed with the "power of the punch" and looked heavenward as if thanking God for his gift.
TRISH STRATUS beat JAZZ in 3:42 to retain the Women's Title. Jackie was the special referee. She wore a revealing top, and Lawler wished all refs dressed like that until JR brought him back to sanity by noting what Earl Hebner would look like in that outfit. Trish's hand was bandaged to sell Jazz's recent assault on her, where she slammed a heavy lid down on her hand. Not too bad for a WWF women's match. They seemed to get confused during one spot but otherwise went at it non-stop and did a lot of reversals. They put over Jazz pretty well while giving Trish more of an edge as a tough competitor. The finish saw Trish win clean with the bulldog.
RIC FLAIR defeated VINCE McMAHON in a street fight in 14:54. Flair's son Reid and daughter Megan were in the front row. Vince came out looking huge. I guess he's been working out with his son-in-law. Vince actually got the better of Flair early with power moves, after which Vince would pose and strut. Vince did one chop and let out a "whooo!". Flair responded with a series of chops. Flair got a pop for doing his face-first bump and upside down flip into the corner. Vince went on big time offense on the floor. He hit Flair with a sign and a garbage can. He posted Flair and rammed him into the stairs. Flair juiced a gusher. Vince bodyslammed Flair on the floor right in front of his kids. He grabbed Megan's camera and took a photo of her bloody dad for her. Vince wrapped Flair's leg around the ring post. Lawler put Vince over like crazy. Vince hooked the figure four but Flair reversed it. Vince got a pipe but Flair low blowed him and sent him to the floor. He hit Vince with a monitor, knocking him across the announcers' desk. Vince juiced, and Megan took his photo. Back in the ring, Flair pounded Vince with fists and another low blow before clocking him with the pipe and winning with the figure four. Technically a gimmick match, but loads of fun!
Michael Cole asked Nick Patrick if he planned to review the tape of the Edge vs. Regal match. Patrick, being a heel, acted evasive. He was rescued by Stephanie, who took over the interview. She began boasting that her husband Triple H would destroy everyone in the Rumble, especially Steve Austin. She wished Debra was there so she could kick her ass. Austin arrived and gave her the "what" treatment until she screamed and ran off in frustration.
CHRIS JERICHO defeated ROCK in 18:48 to retain the Undisputed WWF World Title. Rock quickly sent Jericho to the floor. Jericho came back with a flying forearm. Jericho hit a series of chops and a spinkick. Rock responded with a flurry of punches. Jericho removed the padding from one turnbuckle, which would come into play during the closing sequence. Rock escaped a walls attempt but Jericho hit a perfect missile kick. Jericho got crotched and Rock hit a superplex. They did some really good brawling here and the crowd was red hot for the match. Jericho hit back-to-back lionsaults but only scored a two count. Rock came back with a sharpshooter. Jericho tapped but referee Earl Hebner was distracted by Lance Storm and didn't see it. As Hebner argued with Storm, Christian sneaked in and attacked Rock. Storm & Christian were eventually escorted out. Jericho made the cover but again only got two. Jericho tried for a People's Elbow but Rock hurled him out to the floor. Jericho got Rock Bottomed through the broadcast desk. Rock rolled Jericho back in but Jericho kicked out at two. Jericho hooked the walls but Rock made the ropes to a huge pop. There was a major ref bump. Jericho hit Rock with one of the title belts but only scored two when Patrick ran in as substitute ref. Rock DDT'd Jericho but Patrick refused to make the count. Rock gave Patrick a Rock Bottom. Rock laid Jericho out and hit the People's Elbow but there was still no ref. Jericho gave Rock a low blow and sent him into the turnbuckle exposed earlier. Jericho then scored the pin using the ropes as Hebner revived. They still won't give Jericho a non-controversial win, but I guess that's the WWF. It was still an excellent match.
Shawn Michaels appeared at WWF New York and predicted either Austin or Undertaker would win the Rumble.
TRIPLE H won the ROYAL RUMBLE in 1:09:18. The time intervals were announced as two minutes, but they were actually a little longer. The first two in were Rikishi (#1) and Goldust (#2). Rikishi nearly dumped Goldust twice. Big Bossman (#3) came in, followed by Bradshaw (#4). Rikishi backed his ass into Bossman's face, leading to his elimination. Lance Storm (#5) and Al Snow (#6) arrived. Bradshaw killed Storm with a lariat. Billy Gunn (#7) came in. Storm and Bradshaw were both ousted. Storm gets no respect. Undertaker (#8) came in as the first big star. He cleaned house, eliminating Goldust, Snow, Rikishi, and Gunn to be left alone in the ring. Matt Hardy (#9) came in, accompanied by Lita even though she was not part of the Rumble. Lita gave UT a low blow to give Matt a brief flurry of offense. Jeff Hardy (#10) was next to arrive. The Hardys and Lita all hugged to finish off their failed break-up storyline. They tripled on UT, including a twist of fate and a swanton but he shook it off and eliminated both Jeff and Matt in succession. Maven (#11) came in. He appeared to be a lamb being led to UT's slaughter but the Hardys & Lita illegally went back in. UT dumped them all back out, but it distracted UT enough for Maven to hit him from behind with a dropkick, which sent UT over the top, eliminating him. There was a huge pop for Maven. UT was furious. He grabbed a chair and busted Maven open with it. Meanwhile, Scotty 2 Hotty (#12) arrived but UT laid him out in the aisle. UT threw Maven over the top rope, which was not a legal elimination since UT was not legally in the ring, but it ended up counting because Maven was destroyed. UT pounded Maven through the crowd to the concession stand. He smashed Maven head first through the popcorn machine. Maven was left laying in a bloody heap and was unable to continue. Back at the ring. Christian (#13) came in and went at it with Scotty, who had recovered. Dallas Page (#14) arrived. Scotty hit the worm on Christian but then got eliminated by Page. Chuck Palumbo (#15) came in. The returning Godfather (#16) arrived and took forever to get to the ring because he brought 12 hos and kept dancing with them. Page got eliminated. Albert (#17) arrived and was immediately eliminated. Godfather got eliminated after missing a ho train. Perry Saturn (#18) came in. Steve Austin (#19) arrived and business picked back up. He eliminated every remaining wrestler, namely Christian, Palumbo, and Saturn. There was still over a minute until the next entrant, so Austin threw Christian and Palumbo back in, gave them stunners, and eliminated them a second time. Val Venis (#20) came in, doing his old porn gimmick. He held his own with Austin until Test (#21) arrived. Austin then rallied and ousted both Venis and Test. Triple H (#22) was next. He and Austin had a staredown before going at it. Hurricane (#23) arrived. He grabbed both Austin and HHH as if he would toss them both out. They just looked at each other, threw Hurricane out, and went back to brawling. Faarooq (#24) came in. Austin and HHH stopped fighting each other long enough to throw him out, then returned to fighting each other. Four big names then joined the brawl as "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig (#25), Kurt Angle (#26), Big Show (#27), and Kane (#28) all went in. Hennig looked good, and given his positioning I'm assuming he's back full time. Kane got a big pop for literally throwing Big Show out. Angle then ousted Kane. Rob Van Dam (#29) went in and gave Angle a frog splash, kicked Hennig (it looked painful), and gave Austin the rolling thunder. HHH stopped RVD with a Pedigree. Booker T (#30) came in, having drawn the coveted final spot. He threw RVD out and did the spinaroonie in celebration, only to be caught with a stunner from Austin and eliminated. Angle hit an Olympic slam on HHH. He then gave Austin a series of German suplexes. Austin came back and was trying to oust Hennig when Angle came up from behind and dumped Austin over. Austin was furious and went back in illegally, hitting Angle, HHH, and Hennig with stiff chairshots. Austin was escorted out. Hennig revived and hit a perfectplex on Angle but was ousted by HHH. This left Angle and HHH. Angle sent HHH over but HHH held the ropes and his feet didn't touch the floor. Angle thought he had won but HHH nailed him and sent him over the top. HHH was declared the winner and will get the Wrestlemania Wotld Title shot. A great Rumble!
2002 - Cibernetico defeats Canek in Salamanca, Mexico for the Universal Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title, ending Canek's 14th reign.
2003 - Lance Storm & William Regal defeat The Dudley Boyz in Providence, Rhodes Island to regain the WWE World Tag Team Championship they had lost the day before.
2006 - Scotty Mac and D.K. Roc defeat Hot & Bothered (Cole Bishop and Kurt Sterling) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the ECCW Tag Team Title, ending Hot & Bothered's second reign.
2006 - Blackbird Ice defeats Blackbird Jazz to win the vacant NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Humboldt, Tennessee.
2006 - The Mountain State Wrestling Tag Team Title changes hands twice in the same night in Bud, West Virginia as Johnny Blast and Kris King defeat Big Bad John and Joe Simon, then Derek Billings and Chad Cross defeat Blast and King.
Thanks to Ryan Martinez for his help with the above.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
