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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: MOTHER NATURE KNOCKS OUT A WWF PPV, NWA CREATES PHANTOM TITLE CHANGE AND MORE

May 26th

On this day in history in ....

1950 - Gorgeous George defeats Don Eagle for the AWA (Boston) World Heavyweight Title in Chicago, Illinois.

1959 - The Corsicans (Joe and Jean) defeat Angelo Martinelli and Luis Hernandez for the vacant NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas. 

1961 - Duke Keomuka & Tony Martin defeat Rito Romero & Dory Dixon for the Texas version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Houston, Texas.

1964 - Jackie & Don Fargo defeat Tojo Yamamoto & Alex Perez to win the Mid-America version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee, ending and beginning each team's respective second and third reigns. 

1966 - Killer Karl Kox & Joe Carrolo defeat Michiaki Yoshimura & Giant Baba to win the vacant JWA All Asia Tag Team Title in Sendai, Japan.

1967 - Michiaki Yoshimura & Antonio Inoki defeat Waldo Von Erich & Ike Eakins for the vacant JWA All Asia Tag Team Title in Sapporo, Japan. 

1967 - Al Costello & Karl Von Brauner defeat Bill Miller and Bobo Brazil to win the Detroit version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Dayton, Ohio.

1968 - Tiger Jeet Singh & Bull Curry defeat Whipper Billy Watson & Bulldog Brower for the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario. 

1973 - Dory Funk, Jr. & Terry Funk defeat Killer Karl Krupp and Karl Von Steiger to win the NWA International Tag Team Title in Amarillo, Texas.

1973 - Black Gordman and Goliath win their second NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas, defeating José Lothario and Ivan Putski. 

1975 - Karl Von Steiger & Otto Von Heller defeat George Gulas & Jerry Jarrett for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title.

1978 - Black Gordman & Hector Guerrero defeat Ron Bass & Roddy Piper to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title. 

1979 - The WWF ran an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Johnny Rivera fought Mr. X to a draw.
- Dominic DeNucci defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Nikolai Volkoff defeated Frank Williams. 
- Bulldog Brower defeated Special Delivery Jones.
- WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated Greg Valentine when guest referee Haystacks Calhoun stopped the match due to Valentine's bleeding.
- Hussein Arab defeated Jose Estrada. 
- WWF Tag Team Champions Johnny & Jerry Valiant defeated Steve Travis & Gorilla Monsoon when Johnny pinned Travis.
- Tito Santana defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- WWF North American Heavyweight Champion Ted DiBiase fought Jimmy Valiant to a curfew draw. 

1983 - Chavo Guerrero defeats Ultra Seven in a tournament final for the vacant NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title in Tenryu, Japan, beginning his third reign.

1983 - Bob Brown & Buzz Tyler won a tournament final for the vacant NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas. 

1985 - In Orlando, Florida, Hercules Hernandez defeats Brian Blair to win the Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.

1987 - The Rock N' Roll Express defeat Manny Fernandez & Rick Rude for the NWA World Tag Team Title... or do they? Rude and Fernandez were the reigning champions, when Rude left for the WWF. On some of the NWA syndicated TV shows, it was announced that Rude was injured, and being replaced on the championship team by Ivan Koloff. However, Fernandez then left the NWA, so a "phantom" title change was created. The NWA claimed on television that the Rock N' Roll Express won the belts in Spokane, Washington on this date from Rude & Fernandez, and then aired footage of "the match". In truth, they just aired the ending of an old match where the Rock N' Roll Express won and claimed it was the title change. 

1989 - Eric Embry defeats Super Zodiac (Gary Young) to win the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, beginning Embry's second reign. 

1990 - Pierroth, Jr. & Besita Salvaje defeat Angel Azteca & Atlantis for the Mexico National Tag Team Title in Puebla, Mexico.

1996 - The worst technical disaster in wrestling Pay-per-view history took place at the WWF In Your House VIII: "Beware Of Dog" event in Florence, South Carolina. After the opening match of Marc Mero defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley, a massive thunderstorm knocked out power to the building, and fans across the country got to watch a blue screen for the next hour or so, with Vince McMahon briefly appearing (thanks to an emergency generator) to explain the situation. The power was restored in time to show the main event, which saw WWF Champion Shawn Michaels battle Davey Boy Smith to a no-contest. WWF, at great expense, held a "make up" Pay-per-view two days later, holding the other three advertised matches live and re-airing the Mero-HHH and HBK-Smith matches. It should be noted that the live crowd were treated to matches during the blackout, with emergency lights used to light the building. 
Here are the results of the show: 
- The Smoking Gunns defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Godwinns to win the championship.  This match aired on the Free-For-All.
- Bob Holly defeated Isaac Yankem.  This match aired on the Free-For-All. 
- Marc Mero defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley by blocking a Pedigree and catapulting Helmsley over the turnbuckles and into the ringpost.
- Savio Vega defeated Steve Austin in a strap match.  This match was only seen in the arena due to the power outage.
- Yokozuna defeated Vader.  This match was only seen in the arena due to the power outage.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust defeated The Undertaker.  This match was only seen in the arena due to the power outage.
- Jake Roberts defeated Justin Bradshaw. This match was only seen in the arena due to the power outage, and was never scheduled for the PPV.
- WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels vs. Davey Boy Smith ended in a double pin after Shawn Michaels gave Smith a German suplex, and both men had their shoulders on the mat for the three count. 
- Ahmed Johnson defeated Jerry Lawler.  This match took place after the PPV had ended.
- Ultimate Warrior defeated Owen Hart.  This match took place after the PPV had ended. 

1997 - Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin defeat Owen Hart and The British Bulldog to win the WWF Tag Team Titles at RAW is WAR in Evansville, Indiana.

2000 - The Necro Butcher defeats Canyon for the vacant NWA Texas Hardcore Title in North Richland Hills, Texas, beginning his third reign. Also, at the same show, Rodney Begnaud (Rodney Mack) defeats Mike Fox to win his third NWA Texas Heavyweight Title. 

2001 - The Messiah defeats New Jack for the XPW Heavyweight Title.

2002 - Homicide defeats Dixie for the Jersey All Pro Heavyweight Title. 

2002 - Rob Van Dam defeats Eddie Guerrero in a Ladder match to win the WWE Intercontinental Title on an edition of RAW in Edmonton, Alberta, the match is infamous for an incident where Guerrero was knocked off the ladder by a fan who charged the ring. 

2006 - WWE revives Extreme Championship Wrestling as its third brand, complementing RAW and SmackDown. 

2006 - Bobby Lashley defeats John "Bradshaw" Layfield for the WWE United States Title at a SmackDown taping in Bakersfield, California.

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