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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: PILLMAN PASSES AWAY, DROZ PARALYZED DURING MATCH, JUVENTUD ARRESTED DOWN UNDER, FIRST HELL IN A CELL TAKES PLACE

October 5th

On this day in history in ....

1971 - Jumbo Miyamoto & Aiko Kyo defeat Marie Vagnone & Jane Sherill to win the WWWA World Tag Team Title for the second time in Chiba, Japan.

1982 - Judy Martin defeats Yukari Omori for the All Japan Pacific Title in Osaka, Japan. The belt had been vacated by former champion Jumbo Hori when she made the decision to challenge for the WWWA World Tag Team Title. At the time, there were strict rules about not being able to challenge for a title if you were already a defending champion.

1985 - The second WWF "Saturday Night's Main Event" special was shown on NBC, drawing an 8.3 rating for the network. The show featured matches taped on October 3rd in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Here are the results:
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Nikolai Volkoff with a legdrop in a Flag match.
- Uncle Elmer defeated Jerry Valiant in six seconds with a bodyslam.
- Paul Orndorff vs. Roddy Piper went to a double countout as they brawled out of the ring and down the aisle.
- King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd defeated Tony Atlas & Andre The Giant via disqualification when Bundy & Studd continuously double teamed Andre after knocking out Atlas. Hulk Hogan made the save.
- Uncle Elmer got married, despite a mid-ceremony interruption by Roddy Piper, who was run off by Hogan and Andre. The marriage also featured color commentator Jesse Ventura making fun of the wedding, which led to a short feud with Piper & Ventura vs. Elmer & Hillbilly Jim. During the wedding reception, Hillbilly Jim tripped Ventura into the wedding cake.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine defeated Tony Garea & Lanny Poffo when Valentine forced Garea to submit to the figure four leglock.

1991 - Sasha defeats Monster Ripper for the WWC Women's World Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico. This would begins Sasha's third title reign, and mark the end of the fifth and final run with the belt for Monster Ripper.

1996 - ECW held their "Ultimate Jeopardy" match at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are the results:
- Louie Spicolli defeated Doug Furnas.
- Mikey Whipwreck defeated J.T. Smith.
- Taz defeated Johnny Smith in a Submissions match.
- The Eliminators defeated The Samoan Gangsta Party.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Gangstas vs. The Blue Meanie & Stevie Richards ended in a no-contest.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Gangstas defeated The Eliminators.
- Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Terry Gordy.
- D-Von Dudley defeated Buh Buh Ray Dudley.
- ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #2 ended in a no-contest after Douglas shook the surgical halo of Pitbull #1.
- The Sandman & Tommy Dreamer defeated Stevie Richards & Brian Lee in an Ultimate Jeopardy match when Sandman pinned Richards. As a result, Sandman won Raven's ECW World Title.

1996 - Cowboy Bob Orton Jr. defeats Tito Santana for the AWF World Heavyweight Title in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. However, AWF Commissioner Jim Brunzell holds up the title due to Sheik Adnan's interference and orders a rematch, which Santana wins. These matches were the only title changes for the AWF strap (Santana was the first champion), as the company closes in December of 1996.

1997 - Brian Pillman, one of wrestling's most controversial figures, passed away at the age of 35. Pillman's body was found in a hotel room in Bloomington, Minnesota (where he wrestled the night before) when he didn't show up in St. Louis that afternoon for a WWF Pay-per-view. The cause of death was said to be a heart attack brought on by arteriosclerotic heart disease.

1997 - WWF presented their "Badd Blood" Pay-per-view from the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri. At the start of the show, Vince McMahon appeared on the screen to inform the audience that Brian Pillman had been found dead that afternoon. Here are the results:
- The Nation Of Domination (Rocky Maivia, D'Lo Brown & Kama Mustafa) defeated The Legion Of Doom in a handicap match when Rocky pinned Hawk with a Rock Bottom. Originally, Ken Shamrock, who was injured, was supposed to team with the Road Warriors.
- Max Mini & Nova defeated Tarantula & Mosaic when Mini pinned Tarantula with a crucifix.
- The Godwinns defeated The Headbangers to win the WWF World Tag Team Title when Phinneas pinned Mosh with a powerbomb.
- A Legends Ceremony was held, with awards being presented to Jack Brisco, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Gene Kinishi, Sam Muchnick, Harley Race, and Lou Thesz.
- Owen Hart defeated Faarooq to win a tournament final for the WWF Intercontinental Title after Steve Austin hit Faarooq with the title belt. Ironically, Faarooq had lost his first round match to Ken Shamrock, but when Shamrock got injured, Faarooq was allowed to advance and make it to the finals, beating Ahmed Johnson in the semifinals. Owen defeated Goldust and Brian Pillman to make it the the finals. The previous champion, Steve Austin, was suspended and stripped of the title by Commissioner Slaughter.
- The DOA (Crush, Skull, Eight Ball & Chainz) defeated Los Boriquas (Savid Vega, Miguel Perez, Jesus Castillo & Jose Estrada) when Crush pinned Castillo with a backbreaker.
- WWF World Champion Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith defeated Vader & The Patriot when Hart pinned Patriot with a rollup.
- Shawn Michaels defeated The Undertaker in the very first "Hell In A Cell" match when Kane, making his WWF debut, interfered and gave Undertaker a tombstone piledriver.

1999 - Darren "Droz" Drozdov was seriously injured during a botched Tiger Driver (powerbomb) attempt by D'Lo Brown during a match on a WWF show at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Drozdov would suffer nerve damage, and was paralyzed from the waist down. Drozdov is still hopeful to one day walk again.

2000 - While in Australia for a WCW tour, Juventud Guerrera is arrested following an incident in a hotel lobby. Guerrera stripped naked and was shouting obscenities at people. Police had to use capsicum spray to subdue him, and it took six officers to hold him down. During the melee, a female officer was taken to the hospital with a chest injury, later found to be a broken rib. The police charged Anibal Gonzales Hernandez with three counts of assault, disorderly conduct, obstructing police and possession of a dangerous drug, believed to be Ecstasy. He pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to two counts of assaulting police, one of assault causing bodily harm and one count each of disorderly behavior, willful exposure and possessing a dangerous drug. He was fined $2,050 and ordered to pay $1,400 to three police officers. His lawyer said that his actions were a result of taking the drug Ecstasy, and Ecstasy was found on his body at the time of arrest. He was not "convicted" because it was proven that he was the sole supporter of his family, and if prevented from traveling, he could not wrestle. WCW sent him home following his court appearance, and later released him. Juventud had previously been busted in the United States for DUI.

2002 - Ring Of Honor held their "Glory By Honor" event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are the results:
- Homicide, by himself, won a Tag Team Scramble match, defeating Jose & Joel Maximo, Divine Storm, and Special K.
- The Backseat Boyz defeated Homicide & Steve Corino. Homicide accidentally hit Corino during the match, leading to Corino turning on Homicide.
- The Christopher Street Connection & Allison Danger defeated Joey Matthews, Christian York & Alexis Laree.
- Tony Mamaluke defeated James Maritato to win the rights to the "Full Blooded Italian" name.
- Amazing Red defeated Ikuto Hidaka.
- Fast Eddie defeated Don Juan.
- Steve Corino defeated Rudy Boy Gonzalez in a Texas Death Match.
- Low Ki defeated Samoa Joe in Joe's Ring of Honor debut.
- Prince Nana defeated Elax.
- The Insane Clown Posse defeated Mr. X and Mr. Y in a short, two minute match. The Ring Of Honor crowd booed and chanted "Kill The Clowns" and "Don't Come Back" during the match.
- Jay Briscoe defeated ROH Champion Xavier in a non-title match.
- The Carnage Crew defeated Da Hit Squad.
- Michael Shane defeated Spanky and Paul London in a three way dance.
- Christopher Daniels defeated Doug Williams. As a result of a pre-match stipulation, Williams was no longer allowed to obey the "Code Of Honor" and shake hands with his opponents.

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