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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: THE END OF THE MONDAY NIGHT WAR

March 26th

On this day in history in ....

1945 - Dick Trout defeats Danny McShain for the World Light Heavyweight Title in Hollywood, California, ending McShain's fourth reign and beginning Trout's second.

1945 - George Dussette defeats Gust Johnson to win the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Title.

1949 - Buck Weaver defeats Ben Sherman for the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Title.

1951 - Andy Tremaine defeats Frank Stojack to win the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Title in Portland, Oregon, ending Stojack's third reign.

1956 - Bull Curry wins his fourth NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title in Fort Worth, Texas by defeating Don Evans.

1957 - Fred Blassie defeats Mike Clancy for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee, but the title was immediately held up.

1962 - Hard Boiled Haggerty and Gene Kiniski defeat Mr. Kleen and Whipper Billy Watson for the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1966 - Chris and Ken Lucas are awarded their fourth Gulf Coast NWA Southern Tag Team Title. Don Carson and Mazie York had held the title since February 11, but the title was vacated on February 23 after Carson broke his leg.

1970 - Gene and Ole Anderson defeat George Becker and Johnny Weaver to win the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title in Greensboro, North Carolina, ending Becker and Weaver's second reign.

1971 - Antonio Inoki defeats John Tolos for the NWA United National Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California, ending Tolos' second reign.

1973 - Jerry Lawler and Jim White defeat Jackie Fargo and Jerry Jarrett in a Hair vs. Title match in Memphis, Tennessee to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title.

1976 - The Great Kojika and Motoshi Okuma defeat two Korean wrestlers in Seoul, South Korea to win the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Title.

1977 - Ken Medlin defeats Mike Dallas to win the Australian Light Heavyweight Title in Melbourne, Australia, beginning his second reign.

1977 - The Medics win the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title for the third time, defeating Tony Rocco and Bob Sweetan in Shreveport, Louisiana.

1978 - Jack Brisco wins the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title for the fifth time, ending Bob Roop's second reign in Orlando, Florida.

1978 - Baron Von Raschke defeats Johnny Weaver in Greensboro, North Carolina to win the NWA Television Title, beginning his second reign.

1978 - Dutch Mantel defeats Randy Savage for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1980 - Don Muraco wins the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title from Manny Fernandex in Miami, Florida.

1981 - Perro Aguayo defeats Gran Hamada in a tournament final in Shimizu, Japan to become the first WWF Light Heavyweight Champion.

1984 - Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich defeat The Pretty Young Things (Norvell Austin and Sweet Brown Sugar) to win the vacant AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1984 - Johnny Rich defeats Rip Rogers for the Southeast NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama, ending Rogers' second reign.

1986 - Tui Selinga defeats Jerry Lawler in Honolulu, Hawaii to win the NWA Polynesian Pacific Heavyweight Title.

1987 - Akira Maeda and Nobuhiko Takada defeat Shiro Koshinaka and Keiji Muto for the IWGP Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.

1987 - Masakre and MS-1 defeat Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000 for the Mexican National Tag Team Title in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

1988 - Avalanche (P.N. News) and Mike Golden defeat The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll and Scott Peterson) to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon.

1991 - The Texas Hangmen (Killer and Psycho) defeat Eddie Gilbert (subbing for Jerry Lawler) and Jeff Jarrett to win the USWA Tag Team Title in Louisville, Kentucky.

1993 - Canek and Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeat Canadian Vampire Casanova (Vampiro) and Pierrorth, Jr. in the final of a best-of-three match series in Mexico City, Mexico to become the first CMLL World Tag Team Champions.

1993 - Ultimo Dragon wins his third UWA World Middleweight Title from Negro Casas in Mexico City.

1994 - ECW held Ultimate Jeopardy at the Valley Forge Music Center in Devon, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Crash the Terminator (Bill DeMott) defeated The Pitbull.
- 911 defeated Don E. Allen, Blue Mask (Chad Austin) and Hack Myers in a handicap match.
- ECW Television Champion J.T. Smith defeated Rockin' Rebel.
- The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don) defeated Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka).
- Tommy Cairo defeated The Sandman.
- Jimmy Snuka defeated Tommy Dreamer in a steel cage match.
- Shane Douglas, Mr. Hughes and The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated ECW Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk, Road Warrior Hawk, Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac in a War Games match, when Douglas pinned Funk after suffocating him with a plastic bag. Due to pre-match stiupulations, Douglas won the title, beginning his second reign.

1994 - Octagóncito defeats Jerrito Estrada for the Mexican National Mini-Estralla Title in Merida, Mexico.

1995 - Gedo defeats Lion Heart (Chris Jericho) in a tournament final to become the first WAR International Junior Heavyweight Champion in Tokyo, Japan.

1995 - All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling held the third annual Wrestling Queendom event at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The results:
- AJW Tag Team Champion Rie Tamada pinned Kumiko Maekawa.
- Chaparita Asari pinned AJW Junior Champion Candy Okutsu to win the title, beginning her second reign.
- Kaoru Ito and Noriko Tsunada fought to a draw in a Shootboxing match after five rounds.
- Lady Apache and Jaguar Yokota defeated Felina and AJW Tag Team Champion Mariko Yoshida in a Lucha Libre rules (elimination) match. Apache pinned Felina, Yoshida pinned Apache, and Yokota pinned Yoshida.
- UWA World Women's Tag Team Champions Etsuko Mita and Mimi Shimoda defeated Suzuka Minami and Tomoko Watanabe, when Mita pinned Minami to retain the title.
- Saki Hasegawa pinned Bison Kimura.
- Toshiyo Yamada defeated Reggie Bennett and WWWA World Tag Team Champion Takako Inoue in a three-way match to win the vacant AJW All Pacific Title, beginning her second reign. The winner of the match was the first to defeat the other two opponents. Inoue pinned Yamada, Bennett made Inoue submit, Yamada pinned Bennett, and Yamada pinned Inoue.
- Yumiko Hotta defeated Lioness Asuka by knockout in an "Ultimate fight" match.
- WWF Women's Champion Bull Nakano defeated WWWA World Tag Team Champion Kyoko Inoue to retain her title.
- Manami Toyota pinned WWWA World Singles Champion Aja Kong to win the title.

1999 - Steven Dunn wins the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title from Brian Adias in North Richland Hills, Texas, ending Adias' second reign.

1999 - Biohazard and Juggernaut defeat The Glamour Order of Discipline (Johnny Canuck and Michelle Starr) for the ECCW/NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in New Westminster, British Columbia, ending their third reign.

2000 - Titan defeats Rex King to win the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

2001 - The five-and-a-half year long Monday Night War officially ended. The World Wrestling Federation had purchased World Championship Wrestling from AOL-Time Warner on March 23 and this night saw the final edition of WCW Monday Nitro on TNT, which got a 3.0 rating live from Panama City Beach, Florida. WWF RAW is WAR was live at Cleveland, Ohio's Gund Arena and got a 4.7 rating live on TNN.

The 286th and final Nitro began at 8:00pm with Vince McMahon standing in front of the RAW is WAR interview set in Cleveland, and announcing that he had bought WCW. McMahon said that the very fate of WCW was in his hands. Ric Flair came out in Panama City and cut an immensely emotional promo on McMahon and the buyout, saying that no matter what Vince did, and no matter what he "held in his hands" he couldn't truly hold in his hands the history and legacy of WCW, nor any of the WCW wrestlers' livelihoods. He also challenged to a match, his "greatest opponent" in WCW, Sting. The final WCW Monday Nitro's results were:
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Booker T pinned WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner (with Midajah) after the Book End to retain the United States title and win the World title. This began Booker's fourth WCW World Title reign.
- The Filthy Animals (Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio, Jr.) defeated 3 Count (Evan Karagias and Shannon Moore) and The Jung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi and Yang), when Misterio pinned Moore after a guillotine legdrop. The win earned Kidman and Misterio a shot at the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Title later in the night.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Shane Helms pinned Chavo Guerrero, Jr. after the Vertebreaker to retain the title.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo defeated Team Canada (Mike Awesome and Lance Storm), when O
Haire pinned Awesome after the Seanton Bomb, to retain the title.
- Shawn Stasiak (with Stacy Keibler) pinned Bam Bam Bigelow after a reverse neckbreaker, after Keibler pulled Stasiak out of Bigelow's attempted Greetings from Asbury Park. If Stasiak had lost the match, he would have had to get a tattoo.
- The Filthy Animals (Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio, Jr.) defeated WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Kid Romeo and Elix Skipper, when Kidman pinned Skipper after the Kid Krusher, to win the title.
- Sting defeated Ric Flair by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. After the match, Flair and Sting hugged and shared an emotional moment together, which was then cut off by Vince McMahon's entrance in Cleveland.
- McMahon actually did the entrance twice, because the first time wasn't seen on TNT, only on TNN. It was now time for Vince McMahon's simulcast address of the acquisition of WCW. It certainly was surreal to see the WWF logo in the left corner and the WCW Monday Nitro logo on the right. Vince said that his effort and his money was the sole reason why he won the Monday Night War, and that the only way to beat a billionare like Ted Turner was to become one yourself. He said he would sign the contract and make the deal official when Ted Turner personally delivered the contract on the coming Sunday at WrestleMania X-Seven in Houston. McMahon said he could put WCW on the shelf, and then began polling the audience on their approval of several WCW talent, including Scott Steiner, Booker T, Buff Bagwell, Sting and Goldberg, and after asking the question, "How appropriate is it that WCW's last broadcast is in a beer hall?", said he would look every WCW wrestler in the face and fire them. "WCW is buried. WCW will remain buried." Vince closed by saying anyone who would try to compete with him would also be buried." The fans began to chant negatively at Vince, with him threatening to walk out, before being interrupted by Shane McMahon's entrance music. Shane was coming to the ring, not in Cleveland, but in Panama City. Shane said the deal was already final, and the signature did say McMahon, but it was Shane McMahon, not Vince. Shane told his father that WCW would beat Vince again, just like he would at WrestleMania. The WCW "Copyright 2001" banner appeared on screen as Vince looked dumbfounded in the ring in Cleveland, as Shane smiled in the ring in Florida. Nitro closed, with of all things, RAW advertising the main event for the show later, Steve Austin and The Rock vs. Kane and The Undertaker, and a commercial for WrestleMania. At around 10:00pm, WCW was officially over.

WWF RAW is WAR's results from Cleveland were:
Dark matches:
- Steve Bradley defeated Chad Collier.
- Scott Vick defeated B.J. Payne.
- Chris Chetti defeated Johnny Swinger.
- William Regal defeated Crash Holly via submission.
Jakked:
- Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn defeated Mark Benarucci and Rudy Rude.
- Billy Gunn pinned Larry Destiny after the One and Only.
- Essa Rios pinned Ken Anderson after a moonsault.
- K-Kwik pinned Funaki (with Taka Michinoku) after the Hat Rack Crack.
RAW is WAR:
- Tazz defeated Val Venis in a Lumberjack match.
- William Regal defeated Crash Holly (with Molly Holly) by disqualification.
- Chris Benoit and The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt (with Lita)) defeated Kurt Angle, Christian and Edge, when Benoit made Christian submit with the Crippler Crossface.
- X-Pac (with Albert) pinned WWF European Champion Test after Albert interfered and hit Test with a Baldo Bomb. Eddie Guerrero was the guest referee, and he also attacked Test after the match.
- Big Show defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho.
- Steve Austin (with Debra) and WWF Champion The Rock defeated Kane and The Undertaker.

2001 - Zak Mason defeats Joel Davis for the NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Title in Somerville, Massachusetts.

2002 - The First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hosts a WWF SmackDown! and Sunday Night Heat taping. The results were:
Dark matches:
- Crash Holly and Billy Kidman defeated Hugh Morrus and Perry Saturn.
- Mr. Perfect defeated Randy Orton.
Sunday Night Heat:
- WWF Women's Champion Jazz defeated Molly Holly by submission with an STF.
- Lance Storm pinned Scotty 2 Hotty after a superkick.
- Edge pinned Goldust after a spear.
- WWF European Champion William Regal pinned WWF Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri after a double underhook powerbomb.
SmackDown!:
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Booker T by disqualification when Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came from out of the crowd and Lesnar gave Page and F5.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Billy and Chuck (with Rico) defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von), when Chuck pinned Bubba Ray after Billy gave Bubba Ray a Fameasser behind the referee's back. After the match, the Dudleys gave Chuck a 3D and then hit the Wazzup on Billy, before hugging in the ring. This was their last match together at the time as they were heading to seperate brands as a result of the WWE Draft.
- Hulk Hogan, Kane and The Rock defeated The nWo (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and X-Pac), when Kane pinned X-Pac after a chokeslam.
- Chris Jericho defeated Matt Hardy by submission with the Walls of Jericho.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Test after reversing a powerbomb into a sunset flip.
- Raven pinned WWF Hardcore Champion Maven to win the title after the Evenflow DDT.
- Kurt Angle and Vince McMahon defeated Ric Flair and WWF Undisputed Champion Triple H, when McMahon pinned Flair after The Undertaker interfered and kicked Flair in the face while he was trying to put the Figure Four Leglock on McMahon.

2004 - Rick Steiner defeats Takeshi Morishima in Chariton, Iowa to win the World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

2004 - Apocalypse and Harry Smith defeat Johnny Devine and Dave Swift in a tournament final for the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta.

2004 - Rick Michaels defeats Jason Blackmon in Cornelia, Georgia to win his second NWA Wildside United States Heavyweight Title.

2005 - Jack Evans and Teddy Hart defeat The Strong Style Thugs (B-Boy and Homicide) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to win the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title. Homicide wouldn't be without gold for long, as he defeated Jay Lethal later in the night to win his sixth JAPW Heavyweight Title. The title was vacated that night when Dan Maff retired.

2005 - El Dandy defeats L.A. Park in Acapulco, Mexico for the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.

2005 - Amanezá Bryan defeats Eric Alexander to win the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

2005 - Southside Trash (Big Daddy and Rowdy) defeat Sean Evans and Sonny Siaki in a tournament final in Columbus, Georgia for the vacant Georgia Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title.

2005 - The Twin Terrors (Koko and Razz Mansour) defeat Aftershock in a tournament final for the vacant NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Montreal, Quebec.

2005 - Slim J. wins his second NWA Wildside Junior Heavyweight Title from Fast Eddie in a three-way match also including Jay Fury in Cornelia, Georgia. At the same event, Iceberg and Tank win their second NWA Wildside Tag Team Title from Pomp and Circumstance (Ace Rockwell and Shaun Tempers). Also, Rainman ends Onyx's second NWA Wildside Heavyweight Title reign.

2005 - Danny Daniels defeats Ryan Boz in a tournament final to become the first NWA Heartland State Heavyweight Champion in Streamwood, Illinois.

2006 - Two NWA Cyberspace titles change hands in Dover, New Jersey. The S.A.T. (Joél and José Maximo) defeat champions All Money is Legal (Kayotic Kid & Luda Kash) and Archadia & Grim Reefer in a three-way match to win the NWA Cyberspace Tag Team Title. Bobby Roode won the NWA Cyberspace Heavyweight Title in a four-way match over Matt Bentley, Rodney Mack and Mana. That title was vacated by Abyss on March 1, and Roode's NWA Cyberspace Internet Title was vacated as a result of his winning the Heavyweight title. Roode had held that one since March 18, when he won it from Josh Daniels.

2006 - Three of the four Championship Pro Wrestling (now NWA Oregon) titles change hands in Milwaukie, Oregon. George Michael wins his second CPW Heavyweight Title from C.W. Bergstrom, The Cascadian Colossus takes the CPW Television Title from Dr. Kliever, and Critter defeats Kevin Brandt and champion Cedric in a three-way match for the CPW Hardcore Title. CPW became NWA Oregon on July 6.

2006 - Danny Doring and Danny Jaxx defeat champions The James Gang (B.G. and Kip James), The Holy Rollers (Earl the Pearl and Rich Myers) and The Slackers (Chad and Dino) for the Maryland Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Dundalk, Maryland. At the same event, Julio Dinero defeats Genesis in a tournament final to win the MCW Heavyweight Title.

2006 - Nightmare wins the NWA Hawaii Junior Heavyweight Title for the second time, defeating The Filipino Crippler in Wahiawa, Hawaii.

2006 - Shawn Cook wins the Central Wrestling Federation (now NWA Indiana) Heavyweight Title from P.T. Hussla in Lafayette, Indiana, beginning his second reign.

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