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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: FLAIR DEBUTS AT THE GARDEN, JIM ROSS RETURNS TO TV AND MORE

March 1st

On this day in history in ....

1937 - Ben Jordan defeats Bill Collins to win the Georgia Southern Light Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning his third reign.

1940 - Kenny Mayne defeats Henry Jones in Salt Lake City, Utah for the Utah Middleweight Title.

1942 - Ciclon Veloz defeats Jack O'Brien to win the Mexican National Welterweight Title in Pachuca, Mexico.

1952 - Ben and Mike Sharpe defeat Ron Etchison and Sandor Szabo for the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title, beginning their fifth reign.

1953 - Al Kashey and Tom Rice defeat Bobby Bruns and Rikidozan to win the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1965 - Booker T is born in Houston, Texas.

1966 - Duke Keomuka and Fritz Von Erich defeat The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) and The Golden Terror for the Texas NWA World Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.

1967 - Curtis Iaukea wins his sixth Hawaii NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii, from Johnny Barend.

1968 - Dennis Hall and Ken Lucas defeat Chin Lee and Pancho Villa to win the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Dothan, Alabama.

1972 - Goliath and Kinji Shibuya defeat Dory Dixon and Earl Maynard to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California.

1975 - Pierre Martel defeats Carlos Colon for the WWC North American Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, ending Colon's second reign. At the same show, Toru Tanaka won a tournament final to become the first WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Champion.

1976 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results were:
- Rocky Tamayo defeated Johnny Rivera.
- Dominic DeNucci defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Ric Flair, in his MSG debut, defeated Pete Sanchez.
- Louis Cyr defeated Pat Barrett.
- Superstar Billy Graham and Ivan Koloff defeated WWWF World Tag Team Champions Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi in a two-out-of-three falls match.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Ernie Ladd to retain the title.
- Susan Green defeated Kitty Adams. Adams replaced World Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah, who suffered a broken collarbone the night before in Toronto, Ontario in a match with Green.
- WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion Bobo Brazil defeated Jerry Blackwell to retain the title.

1977 - Dick Murdoch defeats The Great Zimm (Waldo Von Erich) in Shreveport, Louisiana to win the NWA Tri-State North American Heavyweight Title.

1980 - The WWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Johnny Rodz defeated Mike Masters.
- Joyce Grable and Vivian St. John defeated Winona Littleheart and Cindy Majors.
- Ken Patera defeated Dominic DeNucci.
- Larry Zbyszko defeated Bruno Sammartino by disqualification.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Sika defeated Tito Santana.
- WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated Afa.
- Pat Patterson defeated Bulldog Brower.

1981 - Steve Keirn wins his second NWA National Television Title from Kevin Sullivan, ending his second reign.

1981 - Villano III defeats Fishman for the UWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico.

1982 - Jerry Lawler defeats Dutch Mantel to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This ended Mantel's second reign and began Lawler's 20th.

1986 - The first-ever WWF Slammy Awards airs on MTV, which was taped in December at the Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The show was mainly used to promote the WWF's "The Wrestling Album", which was released in November of 1985. Award winners were:
- Roddy Piper for Best Personality in the "Land of a Thousand Dances" video.
- Mona Flambe (Cyndi Lauper) for Best Producer.
- Gene Okerlund for Best Commentator.
- Nikolai Volkoff for Most Ignominious.
- Junkyard Dog for Best Single Performer.
- Gene Okerlund, Jimmy Hart, Hillbilly Jim and The Junkyard Dog also performed their respective songs from The Wrestling Album.

1986 - The fifth edition of the WWF's Saturday Night's Main Event, taped February 15 in Phoenix, Arizona at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, airs on NBC and earns a 10.0 rating. The results:
- Mr. T defeated Bob Orton, Jr. (with Roddy Piper) by countout in the second round of a boxing match.
- King Kong Bundy (with Bobby Heenan) pinned Steve Gatorwolf after the Avalanche, after the match Bundy said he wanted Hulk Hogan.
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Don Muraco (with Bobby Heenan, subbing for Mr. Fuji, who was sick) by disqualification to retain the title, when Heenan entered the ring to prevent Hogan from pinning Muraco after the legdrop. King Kong Bundy then ran in and attacked Hogan, giving him three Avalanches and two splashes. The British Bulldogs and Pedro Morales made the save.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine (with Johnny V) defeated The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid (with Captain Lou Albano)) to retain the title, when Valentine pinned Dynamite.
- The Junkyard Dog pinned Adrian Adonis (with Jimmy Hart).

1986 - Ben Bassarab and Chris Benoit defeat Wayne Farris (Honky Tonk Man) and Ron Starr to win the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Regina, Saskatchewan, ending Farris and Starr's second reign.

1987 - Bruno Sammartino is inducted into the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1987 - The WWF held an event at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results:
- Paul Roma defeated Tiger Chung Lee.
- The Honky Tonk Man defeated Jerry Allen.
- Steve Lombardi defeated Sivi Afi.
- Dan Spivey defeated Demolition (Ax and Smash) in a handicap match.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) defeated The Killer Bees (B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell).
- Paul Orndorff and WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage defeated Ricky Steamboat and George Steele.

1988 - Rey Misterio defeats Fishman in a tournament final to become the first WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Champion in Tijuana, Mexico.

1989 - Carlos Colón wins his second WWC Television Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico, ending Jason the Terrible's second reign.

1992 - Bam Bam Bigelow and Big Van Vader defeat Hiroshi Hase and Keiji Muto for the IWGP World Tag Team Title in Yokohama, Japan.

1992 - The Heartbreakers (Wendell Cooley and Frankie Lancaster) defeat Rex King and Ricky Santana to win their third WWC World Tag Team Title in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, ending King and Santana's second reign, which lasted just one day.

1992 - Los Misionares de la Muerte (Black Power II, Negro Navarro and El Signo) defeat Los Villanos (I, IV and V) for the UWA World Trios Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1992 - Mascarita Sagrada defeats Espectrito in a tournament final to become the first CMLL World Mini-Estrella Champion.

1993 - The WWF held a live Monday Night RAW at the Manhattan Center in New York City, New York. The results:
- WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Fatu (with Afa) by submission with the Sharpshooter.
- Doink the Clown defeated Koko B. Ware by submission with the Stump Puller.
- Lex Luger pinned P.J. Walker, with his pinky, after the running forearm.
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated Duane Gill and Barry Hardy, when Scott pinned Gill with the Frankensteiner.

1993 - Jeff Jarrett wins his seventh USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Brian Christopher's seventh reign. At the same show, JC Ice defeats Danny Davis in a tournament final to become the first USWA Middleweight Champion.

1993 - Bobby Eaton defeats Tim Horner to win the SMW Television Title in Sevierville, Tennessee.

1996 - The Tennessee Equalizer defeats Eddie Bruiser in Fall Branch, Tennessee to win his second Southern States Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

1997 - La Ley and Ricky Santana defeat The Texas Hangmen (Psycho and Killer) for the WWC World Tag Team Title in Cayey, Puerto Rico, ending the Hangmen's third reign.

1997 - Flash Flanagan and Billy Travis defeat PG-13 (JC Ice and Wolfie D) to win the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending PG-13's 13th reign.

1998 - ECW held the first-annual "Living Dangerously" pay-per-view event at the Convention Center in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
- In a dark match, Sabu (with Bill Alfonso) pinned The Sandman in a Duelling Canes match, after Rob Van Dam interfered and Sabu and RVD double legdropped Sandman through a table on the entrance ramp.
- Chris Chetti and Jerry Lynn defeated The Full-Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers (with Tommy Rich)), when Lynn pinned Smothers with a roll-up after Rich hit Smothers with the Italian flag, intended for Lynn.
- Masato Tanaka, in his ECW debut, pinned Doug Furnas (with Mr. Right; subbing for W*ING Kanemura) after the Roaring elbow.
- Rob Van Dam (with Bill Alfonso) pinned 2 Cold Scorpio with a victory roll.
- New Jack & Spike Dudley defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray & D-Von) (with Big Dick, Sign Guy and Studley Dudley) and Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney in a three-way elimination match. Buh-Buh Ray pinned Mahoney after the 3D, and New Jack pinned D-Von after a chairshot off the top.
- Tommy Dreamer pinned Justin Credible (with Jason Knight and Nicole Bass) after a DDT.
- Bam Bam Bigelow pinned ECW World Television Champion Taz to win the title. Taz had Bigelow locked in the Tazmission, with Bigelow dropping on his back in an attempt to break the hold. Bigelow broke the hold, and the ring. Both men crashed through the wooden ring floor, Taz hit his head on a ring support, which knocked him out. Bigelow climbed out of the hole in the ring, pulled Taz out, and pinned him to win the title in his hometown. During the delay of fixing the ring, ECW aired the Sabu-Sandman match taped before the pay-per-view went live. A match with Al Snow vs. Kronus was to take place next, but was cancelled.
- Al Snow and ECW World Tag Team Champion Lance Storm defeated ECW World Tag Team Champion Chris Candido (with Tammy Sytch) and ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas (with Francine), when Snow pinned Douglas after the Snowplow. Sytch initially came to the ring with Storm and said that she was his surprise partner, but she turned on him. Candido asked Storm what his surprise was then, with Storm simply saying "Head." After the match, as Snow celebrated in the audience, the fans littered the ring with styrofoam heads to close the show.

1998 - Dr. Cerebro defeats Shiima Nobunaga (CIMA) in a tournament final in Naucalpan, Mexico to become the first IWRG Intercontinental Welterweight Champion.

1999 - The Monday Night War continued, with WWF RAW is WAR winning the week with its 6.3 rating on USA Network, beating WCW Monday Nitro's 4.3 on TNT.

The 181st edition of WCW Monday Nitro was live from the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The results:
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman defeated Psychosis to retain the title.
- Rey Mysterio, Jr. defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
- The Cat (with Sonny Onoo) defeated Jerry Flynn.
- Hugh Morrus (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Perry Saturn.
- Chris Benoit defeated Bret Hart by disqualification.
- Goldberg and Rick Steiner defeated Buff Bagwell and WCW World Television Champion Scott Steiner.

The 301st edition of WWF RAW is WAR was live from Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The show featured Jim Ross' return to television after a three-month absence due to Bell's Palsy. The results:
Dark matches:
- Lou Marconi defeated Sean Casey.
- Test vs. The Godfather ended in a no-contest.
RAW:
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Val Venis defeated Goldust (with The Blue Meanie and Ryan Shamrock) and Ken Shamrock to retain the title, when Shamrock and Goldust were both counted out after Goldust kissed Ryan Shamrock and Ken Shamrock attacked Goldust. Billy Gunn attacked Venis after the match.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett (with Debra) fought Triple H and X-Pac to a double-disqualification to retain the title, when everyone began fighting in the ring, with Ivory coming to ringside and disrobing Debra.
- WWF Champion The Rock pinned Road Dogg after the Rock Bottom and Corporate Elbow.
- Droz defeated Steve Blackman in a Kendo Stick match.
- Mankind and The Undertaker were both counted out.
- Ivory defeated Debra by disqualification when Terri Runnels and Jacqueline interfered.
- Steve Austin and Kane (with Chyna) fought to a no-contest when the referee was taken out. If Kane had lost, Chyna and Kane would have been fired from the Corporation.
Shotgun Saturday Night, which aired on March 13:
- Mideon defeated WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Gillberg.
- Too Much (Brian Christopher and Scott Taylor) defeated The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff).
- Viscera defeated Tiger Ali Singh.
Super Astros, which aired on March 14:
- Negro Casas defeated El Bandito.
- Max Mini and Nova defeated Battalion and El Torito.
- Armando Fernandez defeated Funaki.

1999 - Perro Aguayo, Sr. and Perro Aguayo, Jr. defeat El Cobarde and El Cobarde, Jr. for the Mexican National Tag Team Title in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, beginning their second reign.

1999 - Tomohiro Ishii and Yuji Yasuraoka defeat Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa to win the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning their second reign.

2000 - Nanae Takahashi defeats Miyuki Fujii in a tournament final in Fukuoka, Japan for the vacant AJW Singles Title.

2002 - 16,000 fans attended a WWF house show in Yokohama, Japan at the Yokohama Arena. The results were:
- WWF Intercontinental Champion William Regal defeated Edge to retain the title.
- Lita defeated Mighty Molly.
- WWF European Champion Diamond Dallas Page defeated Haku to retain the title.
- Funaki defeated The Hurricane.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Billy and Chuck defeated The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt) to retain the title.
- WWF Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri defeated Billy Kidman to retain the title.
- Big Show and Kane defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von).
- WWF Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho defeated The Rock to retain the title.

2002 - IWA Mid-South held "Spring Heat" at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana. The results were:
- Cash Flo defeated Hy-Zaya.
- Brad Bradley defeated Chuck E. Smooth.
- Ace Steel defeated Vic Capri.
- Trent Baker defeated Chris Hero.
- Colt Cabana defeated Ian Rotten.
- Mitch Page and Rollin' Hardy defeated Todd Morton and Mitch Ryder.
- Axl Rotten defeated Bull Pain in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Rey Misterio, Jr. and IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion CM Punk in a three-way match to win the title.
- Mad Man Pondo and Nate Webb defeated Necro Butcher and Corporal Robinson in a Barbed Wire Boards match.

2002 - Scotty Riggs defeats Dustin Rhodes in Carrollton, Georgia for the Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title, beginning his third reign. At the same show, Glacier and Ron Studd won the TCW Tag Team Title from Southside Trash.

2002 - Majik wins a tournament in Bedworth, England to become the first NWA United Kingdom Junior Heavyweight Champion.

2002 - Prince Aladdin defeats Wrathchild for the NWA Pacific Northwest Hardcore Title in Surrey, British Columbia, ending Wrathchild's second reign.

2003 - Kenta Kobashi defeats Mitsuharu Misawa to win the NOAH GHC Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Misawa's second reign.

2003 - The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) defeat The Shane Twins (Mike and Todd) to win the Independent Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title in Yokohama, Japan, ending the Shanes' fourth reign.

2003 - XPW held the second of two My Bloody Valentine events at North Hills, California's X-Park. The results:
- XPW World Tag Team Champions Youthanazia (Josh and Matt Cross) defeated Team Futura (Jardi Frantz and Bobby Quance) to retain the title.
- Vic Grimes (with Lucy) defeated Salem (with Altar Boy Luke).
- Jonny Storm defeated Altar Boy Luke.
- Jerry Lynn defeated Super Crazy in an XPW European Title Tournament second round match.
- Justice Pain defeated Chris Candido (with Tammy Lynn Sytch).
- Southern Comfort (Chris Hamrick and Tracy Smothers) defeated Mexico's Most Wanted (Damian 666 and Halloween) in a two-out-of-three falls match.
- XPW Television Champion X (Sean Waltman) defeated Juventud Guerrera to retain the title.
- Justin Credible defeated XPW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas by disqualification. Douglas retained the title.
- XPW King of the Deathmatch Champion Supreme defeated Ian Rotten in a No Rope Barbed Wire match to retain the title.

2003 - Salvatore Rinauro defeats Slim J. for the NWA Wildside Junior Heavyweight Title in Cornelia, Georgia.

2003 - Dante and Tim Renesto defeat The Heartbreakers (John Caesar and Larry Valentine) for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Columbia, Tennessee.

2004 - WWE held a live RAW and Sunday Night Heat taping at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. RAW got a 3.8 rating on Spike TV. The results:
Sunday Night Heat:
- Rene Dupree pinned Spike Dudley after reversing the Dudley Dogg into a Death Valley Driver.
- Steven Richards pinned Kyle McNeely after the Stevie-T.
- The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Lance Storm and Val Venis, when D-Von pinned Venis after the 3D. With the win, the Dudleys earned a spot in the Fatal Four-Way World Tag Team Title match at WrestleMania XX.
RAW:
- Lita and WWE Women's Champion Victoria defeated Jazz (with Theodore Long) and Molly Holly, when Victoria blocked a suplex by Molly and reversed it into an inside cradle.
- Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak defeated The Hurricane and Rosey, when Cade pinned Rosey with a roll-up, to earn a spot in the WrestleMania XX Fatal Four-Way World Tag Team Title match.
- Batista and WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels, when Orton pinned Michaels with a roll-up after Michaels and Benoit began fighting.
- World Tag Team Champions Booker T and Rob Van Dam defeated Matt Hardy and Test, when Booker pinned Test after Booker's scissors kick and a Five-Star Frog Splash from RVD.

2005 - At a SmackDown! taping in Albany, New York, Orlando Jordan defeats John Cena to win the WWE United States Title, ending Cena's second reign.

2006 - Brent Albright defeats CM Punk in a tournament final for the OVW Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky, beginning his second reign. The title had been vacated on February 8 by Matt Cappotelli.

2007 - Deep South Wrestling held its weekly television taping at the Deep South Arena in McDonough, Georgia. The show aired on March 11 on Comcast Sports South. The results were:
Dark matches:
- Angel Williams defeated Brooke Adams.
- Kofi Kingston defeated Ace Steel.
- Keith Walker defeated Ray Gordy.
- The Freakin' Deacon and G-Rilla defeated Brian Cage and Bobby Hopkins.
- Heath Miller defeated Shawn Osbourne.
Televised matches:
- Robert Anthony and Johnny Curtis defeated Frankie Coverdale and Keith Walker.
- Eric Perez defeated Afa, Jr.
- Derrick Neikirk defeated Deep South Tag Team Champion Brett Majors.
- Ryan O'Reilly defeated Deep South Heavyweight Champion Bradley Jay to win the title, beginning his second reign and ending Jay's second.

You can write Ryan Martinez at freshprinceofatlanta@gmail.com.

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