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January 24th
On this day in history in ....
1939 - Dean Detton defeats Oki Shikina in Honolulu, Hawaii for the Hawaii Heavyweight Title.
1948 - The first World Heavyweight Champion of the current version of the National Wrestling Alliance, Orville Brown, dies at age 72.
1950 - Ray Eckert wins the San Francisco NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title for the third time, ending Sandor Szabo's 13th reign, in San Francisco, California.
1956 - Buddy Rogers defeats Karl Von Albers for the Eastern Heavyweight Title in Baltimore, Maryland.
1963 - Lou Thesz defeats Buddy Rogers in Toronto, Ontario to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title for the third time. However, Northeast promoters refuse to recognize the title change since it was a one-fall match (title matches back then were two out of three falls), and break away from the National Wrestling Alliance to form a new organization, the World Wide Wrestling Federation (later WWF, now known as WWE). As an interesting aside, Thesz beat Rogers in a three falls rematch on February 7, 1963 in Toronto, a result often forgotten.
The real reason for the split was because Northeast promoters Toots Mondt and Vince McMahon, Sr. controlled Buddy Rogers' bookings, and wanted to keep Rogers (and the title) in the Northeast. The other NWA members were not pleased with the situation, and this led to the split. Rogers dropped the NWA Title to Thesz (and got back his deposit on the belt), and the Northeast promoters used the one-fall match as the reason for the split from the NWA. To clear up a common misconception, Rogers was not immediately named WWWF World Heavyweight Champion. He would not be declared champion until April 29, 1963, having won a fictional tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rogers would then drop the title a month later to Bruno Sammartino in less than a minute.
1963 - Don Curtis and Mark Lewin defeat The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) for the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title.
1965 - Michael Alfonso, better known as two-time ECW World Champion Mike Awesome, is born in Tampa, Florida. Awesome is also known for his work in FMW in Japan under the name The Gladiator.
1966 - The WWWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results were:
- Angelo Savoldi and Pete Sanchez fought to a 20-minute time-limit draw.
- Antonio Pugliese (Tony Parisi) defeated Smasher Stone by submission with a Boston Crab.
- Tarzan Tyler pinned Miguel Perez.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna by disqualification, after Scicluna threw Sammartino on top of the referee.
- Prince Curtis Iaukea defeated Magnificent Maurice.
- The Beast (subbing for The Mongolian Stomper) defeated Chief Big Heart.
- Bobo Brazil and Johnny Valentine defeated WWWF United States Tag Team Champions Bill and Dan Miller by referee decision, after the match stopped due to MSG's 11:00pm curfew.
1967 - Mad Dog Vachon defeats Hans Schmidt in Chicoutimi, Quebec to win the International Wrestling International Heavyweight Title, ending Schmidt's fifth reign.
1968 - Danny Hodge defeats Lou Thesz for the International Pro Wrestling TWWF World Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1968 - Clayton Thomson defeats Mick McManus to win the British Middleweight Title in London, England, beginning Thomson's second reign.
1969 - Paul Jones and Nelson Royal defeat The Medicos for the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.
1969 - Flash and Rocket Monroe win their second NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Dothan, Alabama, defeating Don Carson and Dick Dunn, ending their second reign.
1970 - The WWWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results:
- Ivan Koloff defeated Willie Farkas.
- Little Beaver and The Jamaica Kid defeated Billy the Kid and Sky Low Low.
- Jean DuBois and Pete Sanchez fought to a draw.
- Joe Crugnale defeated Lou Albano.
- Bulldog Brower and Prof. Toru Tanaka fought to a double disqualification.
- Ernie Ladd and Waldo Von Erich defeated Gorilla Monsoon and WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino in a two out of three falls match.
1972 - Bob Brown and Gene Kiniski win their second Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia, defeating Mark Lewin and Steven Little Bear.
1972 - Bob Kelly defeats Eddie Sullivan to win the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Laurel, Mississippi. This ended Sullivan's third reign and began Kelly's eighth.
1972 - Gene Madrid defeats Jimmy Jones for the West Virginia Heavyweight Title in Bluefield, West Virginia.
1973 - Jacques Rougeau, Sr. defeats Waldo Von Erich in a tournament final for the vacant National Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Buffalo, New York. The title had been stripped from Johnny Valentine.
1973 - Masked Lee and Princess War Star defeat Mariko Akagi and Jumbo Miyamoto in Yokkaichi, Japan to win the WWWA World Tag Team Title, ending Akagi and Miyamoto's second reign.
1976 - Frankie Laine defeats Gilles Poisson in Edmonton, Alberta for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
1977 - Bill Dundee and Ricky Gibson defeat Dutch Mantel and David Schultz to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1977 - Jim Breaks wins his sixth European Lightweight Title in Bradford, England, defeating Bobby Ryan.
1980 - The Assassin (Jody Hamilton) defeats The Avenger for the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in Kansas City, Kansas.
1984 - Two historic events took place at a WWF television taping in Allentown, Pennsylvania. During the taping of one show, The Iron Sheik defeated Steve Lombardi. As he was exiting the ring, Sgt. Slaughter, at the time a heel, was coming out for his match with John Callahan (which he won). The two started to argue, and referees separated them. At the taping for the next episode, the two had another run-in, this time ending with Slaughter getting on the microphone and making a speech about his love for America before challenging the Sheik to a match. This started Slaughter's celebrated babyface turn. Also on the show, Roddy Piper, who had been managing and doing Piper's Pits, wrestled his first televised match for the WWF, teaming with David Schultz to defeat John Callahan and Frankie Williams.
1988 - Jim Crockett Promotions holds their second ever pay-per-view, The Bunkhouse Stampede, live from Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Much like their first PPV, Starrcade '87, there were several factors working against the show. The WWF once again provided competition, although not with a PPV event (Survivor Series) at the same time (cable companies refused to allow WWF and the NWA to have head-to-head PPV events again after the Starrcade-Survivor Series fiasco in November). Instead, WWF offered the first Royal Rumble on USA Network, opposite the PPV. Also, Jim Crockett Promotions held the event outside of their usual strongholds in the South, infuriating fans that were already insulted by Starrcade being held in Chicago the previous year. On top of that, a ticketing snafu resulted in many tickets being printed with incorrect start times. A majority of fans walked into the building during the next-to-last match on the show, and the entire card was under two hours long, annoying the live audience.
The results of the show were:
- In a dark match (that was actually carried on many cable systems, as cameras were rolling), Jimmy Garvin and Sting defeated The Sheepherders (Butch Miller and Luke Williams) by disqualification.
- NWA World Television Champion Nikita Koloff fought Bobby Eaton to a 20-minute time-limit draw to retain the title.
- Larry Zbyszko (with Baby Doll) pinned NWA Western States Heritage Champion Barry Windham to win the title, after hitting Windham with Baby Doll's shoe.
- Road Warrior Hawk defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair by disqualification, after Flair hit Hawk with a steel chair.
- Dusty Rhodes won the Steel Cage Bunkhouse Stampede battle royal, last eliminating The Barbarian. Also in the match were: Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Ivan Koloff, Lex Luger, Road Warrior Animal and The Warlord.
1988 - In direct competition to the NWA Bunkhouse Stampede pay-per-view, the WWF presented the first ever Royal Rumble, aired live on USA Network, from Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The show featured the contract signing for WWF Champion Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant's title match to take place at February 5's Main Event, as well as Dino Bravo attempting to break the world benchpress record of 712 pounds, which he did, with help from Jesse Ventura. The results were:
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Rick Rude by disqualification, after Rude pulled the referee in the way while Steamboat jumped off the top rope.
- The Jumping Bomb Angels (Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki) defeated WWF Women's Tag Team Champions The Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai and Judy Martin (with Jimmy Hart)) in a two out of three falls match, to win the title. In the first fall, Martin pinned Yamazaki after a reverse powerbomb. Yamazaki pinned Kai with a sunset flip to win fall #2, and Tateno pinned Martin after a double missile dropkick for the third fall.
- Jim Duggan, entering from the #13 spot, last eliminating the One Man Gang (#19) to win the Royal Rumble match. This Rumble match, unlike all the others, had only 20 entrants. Bret Hart (#1) lasted 25 minutes and 42 seconds in the ring, the longest to be in the ring.
- The Islanders (Haku & Tama) defeated The Young Stallions (Jim Powers & Paul Roma) in two straight falls of a three fall match.
1990 - Jerry Lynn defeats Johnny Love to win the Pro Wrestling America Light Heavyweight Title in Red Wing, Minnesota.
1992 - Eddie Gilbert defeats Terry Garvin (Terry Simms) for the vacant GWF Television Title in Dallas, Texas. The title was held up a week earlier after match between them. This began Gilbert's second reign.
1993 - The WWF holds the fifth-annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California, which earned a 1.25 buyrate. The results were:
- In a dark match, Doink the Clown (Matt Borne defeated Jim Powers by submission.
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated The Beverly Brothers (Beau and Blake), when Scott pinned Blake after a Frankensteiner.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels pinned Marty Jannetty after the superkick to retain the title. Before the match, Sensational Sherri came out in a neutral role. She later tried to hit Michaels with her shoe but ended up hitting Jannetty with it by accident.
- Bam Bam Bigelow pinned The Big Bossman after a diving headbutt.
- WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Razor Ramon by submission with the Sharpshooter to retain the title.
- #27 entrant Yokozuna last eliminated #30 entrant Randy Savage to win the Royal Rumble match. Savage hit his elbow drop from the top and then instinctively went for a pinfall, despite pinfalls not counting in the match. Yokozuna kicked out of the pinfall, launching Savage over the top rope. #2 entrant Bob Backlund broke the longevity record, lasting 61 minutes and 10 seconds, breaking Ric Flair's record from 1992, 59 minutes and 26 seconds. Before the match, "Julius Caesar" and "Cleopatra" came out to promote WrestleMania IX at Caesar's Palace, which had an ancient Rome theme. Caesar read a proclamation announcing the stipulation of the winner receiving a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania. This Rumble match also featured the debut of Giant Gonzalez (formerly El Gigante in WCW), not as an official entrant, but to attack The Undertaker, eliminating him. This would eventually set up their match at WrestleMania IX.
1994 - The WWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Owen Hart defeated Jim Powers.
- Sparky Plugg defeated Bastion Booger.
- Jeff Jarrett and Marty Jannetty fought to a draw.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels in a ladder match to retain the title.
- The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu) defeated Men on a Mission (Mo and Mabel).
- Crush defeated Randy Savage by countout.
- Lex Luger and Tatanka defeated Kwang and WWF Champion Yokozuna.
1996 - Gary Albright and Stan Hansen defeat Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Title in Matsumoto, Japan, ending Kawada and Taue's second reign.
1998 - WCW held its second-annual Souled Out pay-per-view at the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio, earning a 1.02 buyrate. The results:
- Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Lizmark, Jr. and Chavo Guerrero, Jr. defeated La Parka, Psicosis, Silver King and El Dandy, when Guerrero pinned Psicosis after a Tornado DDT.
- Chris Benoit defeated Raven in a Raven's Rules match, when Raven passed out while in the Crippler Crossface.
- Chris Jericho defeated WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Misterio, Jr. by submission with the Liontamer to win the title. This ended Misterio's third reign and began Jericho's third.
- WCW World Television Champion Booker T pinned Rick Martel after a Harlem Hangover to retain the title.
- Larry Zbyszko (with Dusty Rhodes) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion Scott Hall (with Louie Spicolli) by disqualification, after Spicolli interfered. After the match, Rhodes turned on Zbyszko and joined the nWo.
- Ray Traylor and The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott (with Ted DiBiase)) defeated The nWo (Konnan, Scott Norton and Buff Bagwell (with Vincent)), after Scott pinned Konnan after a Steiner Screwdriver.
- WCW World Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash (with Eric Bischoff and WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan) pinned The Giant after a (botched) Jackknife Powerbomb. Nash dropped Giant on his neck, injuring him.
- Bret Hart defeated Ric Flair by submission with the Sharpshooter.
- Lex Luger defeated Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) by submission with the Torture Rack.
1998 - Emi Motokawa defeats Momoe Nakanishi in Tokyo, Japan for the AJW Singles Title.
1999 - The WWF holds the 11th-annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California, which earned a 1.88 buyrate. The results were:
In matches airing on Sunday Night Heat:
- Christian pinned Jeff Hardy.
- Bob Holly and Scorpio defeated Too Much (Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor), when Holly pinned Christopher.
- Mankind pinned Mabel. After the match, Mabel hit Mankind with a splash to soften him up for his title match later in the night.
In pay-per-view matches:
- The Big Bossman pinned Road Dogg after a Bossman Slam.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Ken Shamrock defeated Billy Gunn by submission with the ankle lock to retain the title.
- WWF European Champion X-Pac pinned Gangrel after the X-Factor to retain the title.
- WWF Women's Champion Sable defeated Luna in a strap match to retain the title, after a fan (to later be known as Tori) attacked Luna.
- The Rock defeated WWF Champion Mankind in an I Quit match to win the title, beginning his second reign. Rock won after placing the microphone by Mankind's mouth and letting the words "I quit" (taken from a previous Mankind promo) play out on the speakers. This match was featured in the documentaty "Beyond the Mat", showing Mick Foley's wife and kids panicking over the amount of violence displayed.
- #2 entrant Vince McMahon won the Royal Rumble match, last eliminating #1 entrant Steve Austin. Vince snuck out of the ring under the bottom rope during the match, with Austin chasing him afterward, through the crowd and out of the arena. The two brawled into a bathroom but The Corporation was waiting inside and attacked Austin. Austin was then taken away in an ambulance. McMahon came back into the arena and actually joined Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler on commentary during the match. Austin returned to the arena, driving the ambulance he was taken away in. McMahon won when The Rock interfered and distracted Austin, letting McMahon eliminate him from behind. Austin and McMahon, as the first two entrants and the last two in the match, were in the longest, for 56 minutes and 38 seconds. Austin had the most eliminations, with eight.
1999 - Lioness Asuka defeats Kyoko Inoue in Tokyo, Japan for the Jd' TWF World Women's Title, beginning her fourth reign and ended Inoue's second. At the same event, Megumi Yabushita wins her second Jd' Junior Title, defeating Sumie Sakai.
1999 - Professor Maxwell defeats Colonel Payne for the vacant NWA Michigan Television Title in Brownstown, Michigan. The title was vacated when Skull Ganz won the Michigan Heavyweight Title on December 26.
2000 - WWF RAW is WAR defeated WCW Monday Nitro, 6.7 to 3.1 in the ratings in this week in the Monday Night War.
WCW Monday Nitro was held live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and featured the first matches in a tournament for the WCW Cruiserweight Title, vacated one week earlier by Oklahoma. The results:
- In a tournament match, Psychosis pinned Kaz Hayashi.
- The Wall pinned Kid Romeo.
- Norman Smiley defeated Shannon Moore.
- Tank Abbott defeated Al Greene.
- Terry Funk defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in a hardcore match.
- Sid Vicious pinned Don Harris.
- Billy Kidman pinned Vampiro.
- Lex Luger defeated Booker T.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Mamalukes (Big Vito and Johnny the Bull), defeated Fit Finlay and WCW Hardcore Champion Brian Knobbs.
- Sid Vicious pinned Kevin Nash to win the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Title.
WWF RAW is WAR was live from the CoreStates Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one night after the Royal Rumble at Madison Square Garden. Matches for the weekend's edition of Jakked were taped as well. The results were:
- In a dark match, Papi Chulo (Essa Rios) pinned Jason Goodnight.
Jakked:
- Albert pinned Gangrel.
- The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher).
- Funaki pinned Joey Abs.
- The British Bulldog pinned Julio Fantastico.
RAW is WAR:
- Edge and Christian vs. Al Snow and Steve Blackman ended in a no contest, after Edge suffered an injury from a double team legdrop.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho pinned Hardcore Holly with the Lionsault to retain the title, after Chyna interfered and hit Holly with a Pedigree on a chair.
- Crash Holly and Viscera defeated Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty), when Viscera pinned Grandmaster Sexay with a legdrop.
- Kane (with Tori) defeated X-Pac by disqualification, after X-Pac used a chair.
- The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff Hardy (with Terri Runnels)) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn) by disqualification, when The Dudley Boyz prevented the pinfall after Jeff hit the Swanton. The Dudleys then 3D'd both Hardys and superbombed Terri through a table.
- The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) defeated D'Lo Brown and The Godfather, when Bradshaw pinned D'Lo after the Clothesline from Hell.
- The Big Bossman defeated WWF Hardcore Champion Test by disqualification, after Test used the Bossman's nightstick.
- The Rock and Rikishi defeated WWF Champion Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) and Big Show by disqualification after the New Age Outlaws interfered, with Cactus Jack making the save.
2002 - Pantera defeats champion Último Vampiro and Pentagón in a three-way match in Naucalpan, Mexico to win the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Title, ending Vampiro's third reign.
2004 - Jack Tunney, the figurehead WWF President during the 1980's wrestling boom and into the 1990's, passed away at the age of 68.
2004 - Los Boricuas (Hurácan Castillo, Jr. and Miguel Perez, Jr.) win their fifth IWA World Tag Team Title in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, defeating Chicago and Stefano. At the same show, Slash Venom wins his second IWA World Hardcore Title, ending Vampiro's fourth reign.
2004 - Shane Matthews defeats Jammer to win the NWA Main Event X Division Title in Columbia, Tennessee.
2004 - Johnny Kidd defeats Cameron Knite in a tournament final in London, England for the vacant British Middleweight Title, as recognized by Real British Wrestling.
2005 - Oklahoma governor Brad Henry declared it "Jim Ross Day", as WWE RAW was being held in Oklahoma City that night at the Ford Center. During an in-ring celebration with Stacy Keibler and Danny Hodge, Ric Flair and Triple H interrupted Ross' speech. Flair gave Ross a low blow and he and Triple H attacked Hodge until Randy Orton made the save. The event, which also featured a taping of Sunday Night Heat, which was only shown outside North America due to the coming Sunday's Royal Rumble, had the following results:
- In a dark match, Chris Masters defeated Chris Simpson.
Sunday Night Heat:
- Victoria pinned Molly Holly after the Widow's Peak.
- Simon Dean defeated Jerry Steele by submission.
- The Hurricane and Rosey defeated Chad Collyer and Jeremy Young, when Hurricane pinned Collyer following a neckbreaker/Samoan drop combination.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin pinned Rhyno after the Exploder suplex.
RAW:
- Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels defeated Christian, Edge and Tyson Tomko, when Benoit pinned Tomko with a roll-up after Tomko missed a big boot on Benoit and got hit with Michaels' Sweet Chin Music.
- Viscera defeated Tajiri in an over-the-top rope Royal Rumble Qualifying match.
- Batista defeated World Tag Team Champions La Resistance (Rob Conway and Sylvain Grenier) in a handicap Royal Rumble Qualifying match, by pinning both men after hitting a spinebuster on Conway on top of Grenier.
- Muhammad Hassan (with Daivari) pinned Val Venis after the Flatliner in a Royal Rumble Qualifying match.
- Kane defeated Maven and Gene Snitsky in a three-way match, by pinned Maven after a chokeslam.
- Randy Orton pinned Ric Flair (with World Heavyweight Champion Triple H) after the RKO.
- In a dark match after the show, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton defeated Batista, Edge and World Heavyweight Champion Triple H.
2006 - WWE tapes the January 27 edition of Friday Night SmackDown! and the weekend's edition of WWE.com Velocity at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, South Carolina. The results:
- In a dark match, William Regal pinned David Flair after a running knee to the head.
Velocity:
- The Gymini (Jake and Jesse (with Simon Dean)) defeated Jason Jones and Ditzy Moore.
- Bobby Lashley pinned Brad Attitude after the Dominator.
- Jamie Noble and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash defeated Brian Kendrick and Paul London, when Noble made Kendrick submit with a dragon sleeper.
SmackDown!:
- Mark Henry (with Daivari) pinned Rey Mysterio after a powerslam.
- The Mexicools (Super Crazy and Psicosis) defeated The Dicks (Chad and James) and The FBI (Nunzio and Vito) in a three-way Royal Rumble Qualifying match, when Crazy pinned Nunzio following a wheelbarrow/facebuster double team.
- Chris Benoit defeated Randy Orton by submission with the Crippler Crossface in a no holds barred falls count anywhere match.
- JBL (with Jillian Hall) and Scotty 2 Hotty fought to a no contest.
- World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle defeated WWE Tag Team Champions MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro (with Melina)) in a handicap match, by making Mercury submit with the ankle lock.
- In a dark match after the show, World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle defeated Mark Henry (with Daivari and WWE Tag Team Champions MNM) by disqualification after Daivari and MNM interfered as Henry was in the ankle lock. Rey Mysterio made the save for Angle.
2007 - Boris Alexiev (Santino Marella) defeats Mike Kruel, who was defending for champion Eddie Kraven to win the OVW Television Title in Louisville, Kentucky.
You can write Ryan Martinez at freshprinceofatlanta@gmail.com.
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