PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

 
 

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: MONDAY NITRO DEBUTS, GOTCH VS. HACKENSCHMIDT II, MACHO KING OF THE RING AND MORE

By Ryan Martinez on 2009-09-04 08:00:00
September 4th

On this day in history in ....

1902 - Georg Hackenschmidt defeats Tom Cannon for the European Greco-Roman Heavyweight Title in Liverpool, England, ending Cannon's second reign.

1911 - In their second meeting, Frank Gotch defeats Georg Hackenschmidt in two straight falls to retain the World Heavyweight Title before 30,000 at Chicago's Comiskey Park.

1941 - George Wagner (Gorgeous George) defeats Billy McEuin for the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Title in Eugene, Oregon, ending McEuin's second reign.

1942 - Jerry Jarrett is born in Nashville, Tennessee.

1944 - Bill Ludwig defeats Billy Williams to win the Florida Junior Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.

1951 - Ray Gunkel defeats Duke Keomuka for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas.

1958 - Mario Galento to win the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

1963 - Georgia Championship Wrestling held a 12-man tournament in Columbus, Georgia to determine the first Georgia NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Champion. The results:
First round:
- Joe McCarthy defeated Randy Curtis.
- George Wolfe defeated Red Dugan.
- Honey Boy Hannigan defeated Rocky Stone
- Chris Averoff defeated The Green Hornet.
- Steve Dalton defeated Dick Barkley.
- Marco Polo defeated Ken Fryer.
Quarterfinals:
- Joe McCarthy defeated George Wolfe.
- Chris Averoff defeated Honey Boy Hannigan.
- Marco Polo defeated Steve Dalton to advance to the final.
Semifinal:
- Joe McCarthy defeated Chris Averoff.
Final:
- Joe McCarthy defeated Marco Polo to become the first Georgia NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Champion.

1964 - Dick the Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder defeat Angelo Poffo and Nicoli Volkoff to become the first two-time WWA World Tag Team Champions.

1968 - Bob Kelly defeats Bobby Fields to win the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, ending Fields' second reign.

1969 - Bob Kelly defeats The Blue Yankee for the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to begin Fields' third reign.

1970 - Buddy Colt defeats Nick Bockwinkel for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia, ending Bockwinkel's second reign.

1970 - Bobby and Jerry Christy win their fourth Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, defeating Bud and Ray Osborne.

1972 - Jerry Brisco defeats Rip Hawk for the NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Title in Greenville, South Carolina. This began Brisco's second reign and ended Hawk's third.

1972 - Bob Brown and John Quinn defeat Steven Little Bear and Dutch Savage for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in New Westminster, British Columbia, to end Steven and Savage's second reign and begin Brown and Quinn's third.

1976 - Dusty Rhodes defeats Ric Flair in Richmond, Virginia to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title. However, the title change was nullified because Rhodes had his feet on the ropes during the pin.

1978 - David and Kevin Von Erich defeat Bruiser Brody and Gino Hernandez to win the NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas to begin their second reign.

1980 - Giant Baba defeats Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Title in Saga, Japan, ending Race's fourth reign and beginning Baba's third.

1980 - Roddy Piper defeats Buddy Rose to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, to end Rose's second reign and begin Piper's second reign.

1987 - The WWF held its third-annual "King of the Ring" event at the Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The results were:
First round:
- Haku (with Tama) pinned Brutus Beefcake with a roll-up after Tama distracted Beefcake.
- Rick Martel pinned Dan Spivey with a small package.
- King Kong Bundy defeated The One Man Gang by countout.
- Special Delivery Jones pinned Sika with a small package.
- Danny Davis (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Tito Santana by countout.
- The Junkyard Dog pinned Tama with a cradle.
- Jim Brunzell pinned Ron Bass after a dropkick.
- Randy Savage pinned Nikolai Volkoff after a flying elbowdrop.
Quarterfinals:
- Haku and Rick Martel fought to a 15-minute time-limit draw, with neither man advancing.
- King Kong Bundy pinned Special Delivery Jones after an elbowdrop to advance to the final.
- Danny Davis (with Jimmy Hart) defeated The Junkyard Dog by countout.
- Randy Savage pinned Jim Brunzell after a flying elbowdrop.
Semifinal:
- Randy Savage defeated Danny Davis after a flying elbowdrop.
Non-tournament:
- Jake Roberts defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) by disqualification, after Honky hit Roberts with Hart's megaphone. Honky retained the title.
Final:
- Randy Savage defeated King Kong Bundy after a flying elbowdrop to win the King of the Ring tournament.

1989 - Cuchillo defeats Yoshihiro Asai (Ultimo Dragon) for the UWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1989 - Texas Dirt (Dutch Mantel) defeats Black Bart to win the CWA Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning his second reign.

1990 - Danny Collins defeats Richie Brooks for the British Heavy-Middleweight Title in Croydon, England, to begin his second reign.

1991 - Alex Porteau ends Ricky Santana's third WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title reign in Cataño, Puerto Rico.

1992 - Bestia Salvaje defeat El Dandy for the CMLL World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1994 - Pierroth, Jr. defeats Vampiro in Monterrey, Mexico to win the Federación Internacional de Lucha Libre Heavyweight Title.

1995 - "WCW Monday Nitro" debuts on TNT, live from the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The show got a 2.9 rating. "WWF Monday Night RAW" did not air on USA due to U.S. Open tennis coverage. The results were:
- The American Males (Mark Bagwell and Scott Riggs) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater (with Col. Robert Parker).
- Brian Pillman defeated Jushin Liger.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Sting defeated Ric Flair by disqualification to retain the title. During this match, Lex Luger made his surprise return to WCW. He signed with the company after working for the WWF without a contract for several weeks. In fact, Luger had just wrestled for the WWF the night before in Saint John, New Brunswick.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Big Bubba Rogers to retain the title.

1996 - Vance Nevada wins his fourth Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from J.T. Atlas.

1997 - IWA Mid-South held an event in Louisville, Kentucky. The results:
- Reckless Youth defeated The American Kickboxer to win the vacant IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title.
- Mad Man Pondo defeated Ox Harley in a Make a Wish match.
- Blaze defeated Salvatore Sincere.
- The Misfits (Derek Domino and Harley Lewis) defeated IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions The War Machines (#1 and #2) to win the title.
- Pitbull #2 defeated J.R. Ryder.
- The Tower of Doom defeated Twiggy Ramirez.
- NWA World Women's Champion Sherri Martel defeated Debbie Combs in a Dog Collar match to retain the title.
- The Vampire Warrior defeated Ian Rotten.
- IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion Bull Pain defeated Tracy Smothers to retain the title.

1998 - Adam Pearce defeats Billy Joe Eaton in West Allis, Wisconsin to win the Mid American Wrestling Heayweight Title, ending Eaton's third reign.

1999 - Blade Boudreaux becomes the first two-time NWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Brownsville, Tennessee, by defeating Don Bass.

2000 - The Monday Night War celebrated its fifth birthday, and the WWF won the night. "RAW is WAR"'s 4.22 rating (hours of 4.20 and 4.23) beat out "WCW Monday Nitro"'s 3.62 rating (hours of 3.20 and 4.04).

"Nitro" was live from Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. The results:
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Juventud Guerrera and Rey Misterio, Jr. (with Disco Inferno, Konnan and Tygress) defeated The Insane Clown Posse (Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J), when Misterio pinned Violent J, to retain the title.
- Sting defeated The Great Muta and Vampiro in a War Games Qualifying Handicap match, by pinned Sting after the Scorpion Death Drop.
- Booker T pinned Stevie Ray after a Book End in a War Games Qualifying match.
- Kronik (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) defeated Ernest Miller (with Ms. Jones) in a War Games Qualifying Handicap match after the High Times.
- Goldberg pinned Shane Douglas (with Torrie Wilson) after the Jackhammer in a War Games Qualifying match.
- The Natural Born Thrillers (Mark Jindrak, Sean O'Haire, Chuck Palumbo, Reno, Mike Sanders and Shawn Stasiak) defeated Big Vito in a Handicap match, when Sanders got the pin after O'Haire hit a Seanton Bomb.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Kevin Nash defeated Brian Adams, Booker T, Goldberg, Heavy D, Ernest Miller, Vince Russo and Scott Steiner in a War Games match to retain the title.

"RAW is WAR" was live from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The results were:
- Kane defeated Chris Benoit by disqualification after Benoit hit Kane with a chair. The match was to decide the #1 contender to the WWF Title at "Unforgiven".
- The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated The A.P.A. (Bradshaw and Faarooq) (with Kaientai (Taka Michinoku and Funaki)) in a Tables match, when Bubba Ray powerbombed Bradshaw backwards through a table as he tried to superplex D-Von through it.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Kurt Angle and WWF Intercontinental Champion Chyna by disqualification, by pinning Chyna, to win the title. Angle had hit Chyna with the belt and run off, with Guerrero appearing to give chase. He checked on the unconscious Chyna, picking her up off her back and holding her, before leaning back down on top of her for the win. This ended Chyna's third reign.
- Triple H pinned Test (with Albert and Trish Stratus) after the Pedigree.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Steve Blackman pinned The Big Bossman after a superkick to retain the title.
- Road Dogg and Val Venis defeated The Right to Censor (Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather (with Steven Richards)), when Road Dogg pinned Goodfather after a flying forearm.
- Chris Jericho and Jerry Lawler defeated Naked Mideon and Tazz, when Lawler pinned Tazz with a roll-up.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Edge and Christian defeated The Undertaker and WWF Champion The Rock, when Rock was pinned after a Conchairto, to retain the title.

2001 - The WWF held a special live edition of "SmackDown!" on UPN from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, which got a 3.4 rating. The results:
- The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt (with Lita)) defeated Justin Credible and Raven (with Terri) after Jeff pinned Credible after the Swanton and the Twist of Fate from Matt. Lita gave Terri a Twist of Fate of her own after the match.
- WWF and WCW Tag Team Champion The Undertaker fought Steven Richards to a no-contest, after Taker followed Richards up the aisle and punched him out. We then saw the WWF debut of Kronik, as Brian Adams appeared and kicked over The Undertaker's motorcycle, with Taker attacking Adams for the deed, before Bryan Clark attacking Taker from behind. Both men beat Taker down in the ring before hitting the High Times.
- Test pinned Billy Gunn after a big boot.
- The Big Show defeated WWF European Champion The Hurricane by disqualification when Lance Storm interfered and dropkicked Show when he was about to chokeslam Hurricane. Big Show chokeslammed both men afterwards.
- Booker T (with Shane McMahon), The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and Rhyno defeated The A.P.A. (Bradshaw and Faarooq), Chris Jericho and WCW Champion The Rock, when Booker pinned Jericho after Rhyno hit the Gore on him while he had Shane McMahon in the Walls of Jericho.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam pinned WWF Champion Steve Austin with a roll-up after Austin was distracted by Kurt Angle's entrance music and pyro.

2004 - Nuevo Gran Apolo defeats Ray Gonzalez for the IWA World Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This began Apolo's eighth reign and ended Gonzalez's third.

2004 - PWG held "The Next Show" at the Hollywood-Los Feliz Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, California. The results were:
- The First Family (Brad Bradley and Babi Slymm (with C. Edward Vander Pyle)) defeated Human Tornado and Supa Badd.
- Chris Bosh defeated Hook Bomberry and Quicksilver in a three-way match.
- Charles Mercury and Top Gun Talwar defeated S.B.S. (Disco Machine and Excalibur).
- The American Dragon defeated The UK Kid.
- The Dangerous Players (Puma, Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero) defeated B-Boy, Christopher Daniels and Bobby Quance.
- Super Dragon defeated Chris Hero.
- Samoa Joe defeated PWG Champion Frankie Kazarian by disqualification. Kazarian retained the title.
- PWG Tag Team Champion Scott Lost defeated PWG Tag Team Champion Joey Ryan in a Ladder match to gain sole possession of the title.

2004 - Steve Madison wins his second NWA Florida Heavyweight Title from Todd Shane in Clearwater, Florida. At the same event, Scoot Andrews defeats Lex Lovett for the vacant NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.

2004 - Jason Cross defeats Onyx in Cornelia, Georgia to win the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Title, to begin his second reign.

2004 - The Psycho defeats Brother Love for the NWA Mississippi Junior Heavyweight Title in Magee, Mississippi, ending and beginning both men's third reign.

2005 - PWG held the second of two events of its first-annual "Battle of Los Angeles" at the Hollywood-Los Feliz Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles, California. The show featured the final three rounds of the 16-man Battle of Los Angeles tournament. The results:
Non-tournament:
- Hook Bomberry, T.J. Perkins (with Ed Powers) and Chris Sabin defeated Disco Machine, Excalibur and Ronin.
Quarterfinals:
- Quicksilver defeated Rocky Romero.
- Chris Bosh defeated James Gibson.
- Bryan Danielson defeated Christopher Daniels.
- A.J. Styles defeated PWG Champion Kevin Steen.
Non-tournament:
- Samoa Joe and NOSAWA defeated Kikutaro and Top Gun Talwar.
Semifinals:
- Chris Bosh defeated Quicksilver.
- A.J. Styles defeated Bryan Danielson.
Non-tournament:
- Jack Evans, PWG Tag Team Champion El Generico, Frankie Kazarian and Super Dragon defeated Scott Lost, Ricky Reyes, Davey Richards and Joey Ryan.
Final:
- Chris Bosh defeated A.J. Styles to win the Battle of Los Angeles.

2007 - Boso Boy Raito defeats Shiori Asahi for the UWA World Middleweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning his second reign. At the same show, Ryota Chikuzen and KAZMA win the Kaientai Dojo STRONGEST-K Tag Team Title from MIYAWAKI and Naoki Tanizaki.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!