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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: FUNK BEATS SABU FOR THE ECW TITLE, STARRCADE GETS MOVED AND MORE

December 26th

On this day in history in ....

1944 - Yaqui Joe defeats Gus Wisbar for the Tennessee version of the World Middleweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee.

1957 - Verne Gagne and Bronko Nagurski defeat The Atomic Blonds (Johnny Valentine and Chet Wallich) in Minneapolis, Minnesota to win the Minneapolis version of the NWA World Tag Team Title.

1960 - Orest Antonation and Lorne Corlett defeat Joe Fiorino and Al Torres to become the first Madison Wrestling Club Middleweight Tag Team Champions in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

1963 - The man credited with establishing professional wrestling on television, and one of the first big stars in the business "Gorgeous" George Wagner, dies at age 48 of a heart attack.

1963 - Jackie Fargo and Mario Milano defeat Tojo Yamamoto and Ivan Malenkov in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the Mid-America version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title.

1966 - Dominic DeNucci and Don Leo Jonathan defeat Don Jardine and Dutch Savage for the Vancover version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1969 - Danny Lynch defeats Dave Ruhl in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to win the Calgary version of the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title, ending Ruhl's fourth reign.

1969 - King Curtis Iaukea and Buddy Austin defeat Mario Milano and Spiros Arion in Sydney, Australia to win the International Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title.

1970 - Moose Cholak and Wilbur Snyder win their second World Wrestling Association World Tag Team Title in Indianapolis, Indiana, by defeating The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Don Kent).

1973 - Gene and Ole Anderson defeats Brute Bernard and Jay York to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title in Columbia, South Carolina.

1974 - Paul Jones defeats Ivan Koloff for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title in Greensboro, North Carolina, ending Koloff's second reign and beginning his own second.

1975 - Ed and Jerry Morrow defeat Mr. Hito and Gil Hayes for the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

1976 - Ric Flair and Greg Valentine defeat Gene and Ole Anderson to win the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Greensboro, North Carolina, ending the Andersons' fourth reign.

1976 - The Sheik wins the Toronto version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title for the third time, defeating Thunderbolt Patterson in Toronto, Ontario.

1976 - Bill Dundee and Ricky Gibson defeat Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1981 - Eric Embry wins a tournament final in St. Petersburg, Florida to win the vacant Florida Television Title.

1981 - Bugsy McGraw defeats The Great Kabuki in a fictitious match for the NWA American Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.

1981 - David Von Erich defeats Jack Brisco in St. Petersburg, Florida for the NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Brisco's fourth reign. Also, Eric Embry wins a tournament final for the vacant NWA Florida Television Title.

1982 - Terry Kay defeats Private Nelson for the NWA Canadian Television Title in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

1982 - After 14 years in operation, NWA Hollywood Wrestling, also known through the years as the North American Wrestling Alliance and World Wrestling Association (prior to NWA membership), closes. It had been run Gene and Mike LeBell. NWA Hollywood Wrestling had a working relationship with both New Japan Pro Wrestling and the Japan Wrestling Association/All Japan Pro Wrestling, during which time the NWA United National Heavyweight Title (now part of the All Japan Triple Crown) was created. The final NWA Hollywood champions were:
- NWA Americas Heavyweight Champion: El Monarca
- NWA Americas Tag Team Champions: Black Gordman and Master Lee
- NWA Beat the Champ Television Champion: Billy Anderson
- NWA Brass Knuckles Champion (Los Angeles version): Alexi Perez (last known champion in 1977)
- NWA California Women's Champion: Lola Gonzales
- NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion (Los Angeles version): Perro Aguayo (also held WWF title)
- NWA World Tag Team Champions (Los Angeles version): Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Plata

1983 - 24,592 fans pack New York City, New York's Madison Square Garden for a WWF event. The results:
- Jose Luis Rivera pinned Rene Goulet.
- Salvatore Bellomo and Tiger Chung Lee fought to a 20-minute time limit draw.
- Arnold Skaaland and Jimmy Snuka defeated Lou Albano and WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco, when Snuka pinned Muraco.
- Sgt. Slaughter pinned Chief Jay Strongbow.
- The Masked Superstar defeated Ivan Putski by disqualification.
- The Iron Sheik defeated Bob Backlund to win the WWF World Title, when Backlund's manager, Arnold Skaaland, threw in the towel as Backlund was trapped in the Camel Clutch.
- The Wild Samoans (Afa, Sika and Samula) defeated Special Delivery Jones and WWF Tag Team Champions Tony Atlas and Rocky Johnson in a two-out-of-three-falls match.
- Tito Santana pinned Ivan Koloff.
- The Invaders defeated Iron Mike Sharpe and Butcher Vachon.

1983 - Randy Savage wins his second NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title, defeating Terry Taylor in Memphis, Tennessee.

1985 - Ted DiBiase and Steve Williams defeat Eddie Gilbert and Dick Murdoch (replacing The Nightmare) to win the Mid-South Tag Team Title in Biloxi, Mississippi, beginning their second reign. They would be the last to hold the titles before Mid-South Wrestling became the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1986.

1987 - Abbuda Dein (Rocky Iaukea) defeats Art Barr in Portland, Oregon to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Television Title.

1987 - Mika Suzuki defeats Kaoru Maeda in a tournament final for the vacant AJW Junior Title in Tokyo, Japan. The title had been vacated on October 11 when Kyoko Asoh retired.

1988 - Starrcade, nicknamed "True Gritt" is held at the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia. This is the first Starrcade to not be held on Thanksgiving, as WWF had successfully bumped them out of the spot with the Survivor Series. Cable providers would not allow the companies to have head-to-head Pay-per-view events again (like in 1987), so the proven PPV commodity (WWF) won out, forcing the change. Here are the results:
- Kevin Sullivan & Steve Williams defeated The Fantastics when Williams pinned Fulton after catching a leapfrog attempt and giving Fulton a Hot Shot to win the United States Tag Team Title. The Fantastics were originally going to be facing the Sheepherders, but WWF signed them and turned them into the Bushwhackers.
- The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane, managed by Jim Cornette) defeated The Original Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose, managed by Paul E. Dangerously) when Lane pinned Rose after a Double Goozle (legsweep and clothesline combination).
- The Russian Assassins (Angel Of Death & Jack Victory) defeated Junkyard Dog & Ivan Koloff with Assassin #1 pinned Koloff after headbutting him with a loaded mask.
- Rick Steiner defeated Mike Rotundo to win the NWA World Television Title. During the match, Steve Williams came out and rang the bell as Steiner had Rotundo beat, to make the referee think the time limit had expired. Confusion ensued, and Steiner rammed Rotundo into Williams and Kevin Sullivan, then rolled him up for the pin.
- United States Champion Barry Windham defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via countout. The two were brawling outside when Bigelow missed a charge and ran into the ringpost, as Windham rolled back into the ring for the win.
- Dusty Rhodes & Sting defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors via disqualification when manager Paul Ellering pulled the referee out of the ring as Sting had Animal pinned with a flying bodypress.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Lex Luger when Luger went for a torture rack but his leg (which Flair had been working on) gave out, allowing Flair to fall on top of Luger and get the pin with his feet on the ropes.
- In a match that took place after the PPV broadcast ended, Junkyard Dog won a Bunkhouse Stampede battle royal, last eliminating Abdullah The Butcher. The battle royal had been hyped in advance for the show, but for some reason was not included on the PPV, annoying many fans. To make matters worse, you could hear the introductions for the battle royal during post-match interviews following the Flair-Luger match, then the PPV ended.

1990 - New Japan Pro Wrestling held a "Legends Show" at Hamamatsu Arena in Hamamatsu, Japan. The results:
- Animal Hamaguchi and Kuniaki Kobayashi defeated Takayuki Iizuka and Shiro Koshinaka.
- Osamu Kido defeated Hiro Matsuda.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Jushin Liger defeated Negro Casas.
- The Great Muta defeated Tiger Jeet Singh by disqualification.
- Masahiro Chono defeated Lou Thesz. This was the last career match for the 74-year-old Thesz.
- Masa Saito defeated Nick Bockwinkel.
- Tatsumi Fujinami defeats long-time rival Riki Choshu for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. This marks Fujinami's third reign, the first time any wrestler had held New Japan's top title three separate times. On the same card, Super Strong Machine & Hiro Saito defeat Kensuke Sasaki & Hiroshi Hase for the IWGP Tag Team Title.
- Hiro Saito and Super Strong Machine defeated Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki to win the IWGP World Tag Team Title.
- In a Boxer vs. Wrestler match, Tony Halme (later known as the WWF's Ludvig Borga) defeated Shinya Hashimoto by knockout at 1:58 of round three.

1990 - Joseph Magliano (the real name of Joey Maggs) defeats Danny Davis to win the USWA Junior Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1991 - Joe Savoldi defeats The Tazmanic in Monticello, New York to win the IWCCW Light Heavyweight Title. The same day, Tom Brandi is awarded as the first IWCCW Television Champion.

1993 - Eastern Championship Wrestling held the first-ever "Holiday Hell" event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Chad Austin pinned Pitbull #1.
- Mike Awesome pinned Randy Starr. This was Awesome's ECW debut.
- ECW Tag Team Champions Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac defeated Tommy Cairo and ECW Maryland Champion J.T. Smith, when Tazmaniac pinned Cairo, to retain the title.
- Shane Douglas pinned Tommy Dreamer.
- Mr. Hughes defeated The Sandman by knockout.
- Rockin' Rebel defeated Don E. Allen.
- Terry Funk pinned ECW Heavyweight and Television Champion Sabu in a No Disqualification match to win the Heavyweight Title for the first time.
- Pat Tanaka pinned Rocco Rock in a Body Count match.
- Tommy Dreamer won a Lights Out Battle Royal.

1993 - Rocky Dellaserra defeats Billy Two Eagles for the West Coast Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia, ending Two Eagles' second reign.

1994 - The USWA Tag Team Title changes hands twice in Memphis, Tennessee. Beauty and the Beast (Jim and Ron Harris) defeat The Moondogs (Rex and Spot), ending their second reign. Immediately after, PG-13 (JC Ice and Wolfie D) defeated Beauty and the Beast, to begin their fourth reign.

1995 - The Samoan Gangsters win the vacant IWCCW Tag Team Title in Hamburg, Pennsylvania.

1995 - Jerry Lawler wins the SMW Heavyweight Title for the second time, although SMW had folded a month earlier, defeating Brad Armstrong in Louisville, Kentucky, ending his second reign. The title change was repeated the following night in Memphis, Tennessee, before the title was officially retired on December 30. Lawler would be the last man to hold the title, as the company folded in 1996.

1997 - ECW ran at the Lost Battalion Hall in Queens, New York. The results were:
- The Great Sasuke defeated Tiger Mask IV.
- Jerry Lynn defeated Chris Chetti.
- Justin Credible defeated Tommy Dreamer.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions Chris Candido & Lance Storm defeated Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten and The Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers) in a three-way dance.
- The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) defeated Spike Dudley and New Jack.
- Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, Al Snow and ECW World Television Champion Taz defeated Doug Furnas, Phil Lafon, Sabu and Rob Van Dam.

1997 - The Army Of Darkness (Incubus and Dr. Luther) defeat The BBC (Mike Rosselli and Randy Tyler) for the Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in New Westminster, British Columbia.

1998 - ECW ran a show at the Lost Battalion Hall in Queens, New York. The results:
- Spike Dudley pinned Lance Storm in 10 seconds.
- Yoshihiro Tajiri pinned The Prodigy.
- Reckless Youth pinned Nova.
- The Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers) defeated Danny Doring and Roadkill.
- Super Crazy pinned Antifaz del Norte.
- ECW World Television Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Skull Von Crush.
- The Dudleys (Big Dick, Buh Buh Ray, D-Von Dudley) defeated Chris Chetti, Rex King and Wolfie D.
- Balls Mahoney, New Jack and Axl Rotten defeated The Dudleys (Big Dick, Buh Buh Ray, D-Von Dudley).

1998 - Chris Michaels defeats Mike Rapada for the NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee.

1999 - Flash Flanagan defeats Rico Constantino to win the OVW Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky.

1999 - Manami Toyota and Miho Wakizawa defeat Kumiko Maekawa and Tomoko Watanabe in the finals of the annual AJW The Best Tag Team League.

1999 - Mr. Pogo, Shouji Nakamaki and Ichiro Yaguchi defeat Atsushi Ohnita, Shigeo Okumura and Mitsunobu Kikuzawa to become the first World Barbed-Wire Street Fight Six-Man Tag Team Champions in Kobe, Japan.

1999 - Ladies' Choice defeats Moondog Manson to win the ECCW Hardcore Title in New Westminster, British Columbia.

1999 - Hector Garza defeats Pirata Morgan for the International Wrestling Council World Heavyweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico, ending Morgan's second reign.

2001 - Disco Fury defeats American Dragon for the NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title in Surrey, British Columbia, beginning his fourth reign.

2002 - CIMA defeats Milano Collection A.T. in Tokyo, Japan to win the Ultimo Dragon Gym International Light Heavyweight Title.

2003 - Ikuto Hidaka and Dick Togo defeat Naohiro Hoshikawa and Tatsuhito Takaiwa in a tournament final to become the first NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champions in Tokyo, Japan.

2003 - Danny Fargo (real name Audie Hager) dies of cancer at age 44.

2004 - Ring of Honor holds "Final Battle 2004" at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania National Guard Armory. The results were:
- Jimmy Jacobs defeated Trent Acid.
- Deranged and Lacey defeated AngelDust and Becky Bayless in a Mixed Tag Team match, when Lacey pinned Bayless.
- Rockin' Rebel defeated Devon Moore.
- Homicide defeated Josh Daniels.
- ROH Pure Champion John Walters defeated Jimmy Rave by submission to retain the title.
- Dan Maff and B.J. Whitmer defeated The Carnage Crew (Loc and DeVito) in a Fight Without Honor.
- Jay Lethal defeated Prince Nana's Weapon of Mask Destruction #2.
- Steve Corino and CM Punk defeated Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong.
- Low Ki and Bryan Danielson fought to a no contest.
- Austin Aries defeated Samoa Joe to win the ROH Heavyweight Title, ending Samoa Joe's 22-month reign as champion. Samoa Joe defeated Xavier for the title on March 22, 2003.

2004 - Too Cool II (Tim Grind & Flex) defeat Bill Dundee & Kevin White and Mordecai & Nicholas Doom in a Triple Threat match to become the first Memphis Wrestling Southern Tag Team Champions in Memphis, Tennessee.

2004 - Vance Desmond defeats Rocky Reynolds to win the NWA Tri-State X Division Title in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

2005 - Chris Khan defeats Johnny Lightning for the NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Title in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Khan had another title win on the same show, as he and Vance Desmond defeated J.D. Escalade and The Juggulator to win the vacant NWA Tri-State Tag Team Title.

2006 - BxB Hulk, Anthony W. Mori and Super Siesar defeat Naruki Doi, Gamma and Masato Yoshino in Kobe, Japan to win the Dragon Gate Open the Triangle Gate Title.

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