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August 17th
On this day in history in ....
1968 - Dr. X (Dick Beyer, aka The Destroyer) defeats Verne Gagne for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in Bloomington, Minnesota, ending Verne's eighth reign with the title.
1986 - Nikita Koloff defeats Magnum T.A. in the final match of a Best Of Seven Series for the NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Charlotte, North Carolina. Magnum had been stripped of the title on May 29th for hitting NWA President Bob Geigel, who was reprimanding Magnum for attacking Nikita when he insulted Magnum's mother during a contract signing. The title was put up for grabs in a Best Of Seven Series between the two, with Nikita having a 3-0 lead before Magnum came back and tied it up, leading to this final match, which saw Nikita hit Magnum with a chain as Ivan Koloff distracted the referee in order to get the win. This concept of a "Best Of Seven" series would be repeated numerous times, all patterned after this feud.
1992 - Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett defeat The Moondogs (Spot & Cujo) for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This was the fifth title change between the two teams in a span of less than two months.
1997 - ECW held their second Pay-per-view, Hardcore Heaven, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the War Memorial. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten defeated The FBI (Little Guido & Tracey Smothers).
- Prior to the PPV, Sabu & Rob Van Dam beat up the Insane Clown Posse. Sandman tried to make the save, and was injured by Sabu & RVD. This was taped and shown during the PPV broadcast, leading to the less-than-memorable storyline where Sandman "stole an ambulance" and was driving back to the building while announcer Lance Wright followed him in the "Extreme Chopper" helicopter.
- ECW World Television Champion Taz defeated Chris Candido via submission with the Tazmission.
- Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Spike Dudley with a moonsault.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Al Snow with a VanDaminator.
- Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley were awarded the ECW World Tag Team Championship due to the Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa) being injured and unable to defend the belt. The Dudleys then defeated PG-13 when Buh Buh pinned Wolfie D after 3D.
- Tommy Dreamer defeated Jerry Lawler with a DDT in a match that saw interference from Rick Rude, Jake Roberts and Sunny on Lawler's behalf.
- Shane Douglas defeated Sabu and Terry Funk in a Three Way Dance to win the ECW World Heavyweight Title. Douglas & Funk pinned defending champion Sabu first, after interference from the Sandman, and Douglas pinned Funk with a belly to belly suplex. Post match, a huge brawl breaks out with The Dudleys, New Jack, The Eliminators, Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney and others getting involved.
1998 - Wrestler Terry Garvin, who later worked as an agent for WWF, died of stomach cancer at age 60. Garvin, real name Terry Joyal, had a successful tag team in the 70's with Ronnie Garvin (not his real brother) and later Jimmy Garvin (who was Ronnie's real-life stepson, also not a real brother) joined them to form a trio.
1998 - Maryland Championship Wrestling Light Heavyweight Champion Shane Shamrock (real name Brian Hauser) dies after being shot by a police officer during a domestic dispute with his former girlfriend. He was 23.
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