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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: WRESTLEMANIA VIII, LAWLER VS. KAUFMAN AND MORE

April 5th

On this day in history in ....

1945 - Sika Anoa'i is born in Leone, American Samoa.

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

1956 - Diamond Dallas Page is born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

1961 - Bobby and Don Fields defeat The Mysterious Medics in Mobile, Alabama for the Gulf Coast NWA Southern Tag Team Title, beginning their fourth reign.

1961 - Skull Murphy defeats Guy Mitchell in Columbus, Georgia to win his third Georgia NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.

1968 - Spoiler #1 (Don Jardine) defeats Fritz Von Erich for the NWA American Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas, ending Von Erich's third reign.

1968 - Harley Race defeats Sonny Myers to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in St. Joseph, Missouri. This ended Myers' 14th and final run with the title.

1974 - Pat Barrett and Tony Kontellis win a tournament in Sydney, Australia for the NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title.

1976 - Big Bad John and Bill Dundee defeat Roger Kirby and David Schultz in Memphis, Tennessee for the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title.

1978 - The Assassin and Ernie Ladd defeat Ray Candy and Steven Little Bear to win the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

1978 - Steve Grey defeats Bobby Ryan in a tournament final for the British Lightweight Title in Blackburn, England.

1980 - Ralph "Ruffy" Silverstein dies at age 66.

1980 - The WWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results:
- Mike Duggan defeated Fred Marzino.
- Pete Doherty defeated Joe Crugnale.
- René Goulet defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Bobby Duncum defeated Dominic DeNucci.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions Ivan Putski and Tito Santana defeated The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) by disqualification after The Wild Samoans attacked guest referee Pat Patterson.
- Larry Zbyszko defeated Bruno Sammartino by disqualification.

1980 - Roger Mason defeats Steve Travis to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1982 - In their famous match at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, Andy Kaufman defeats AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler by disqualification, after Lawler hit Kaufman with a piledriver, a banned move. After the match, Lawler gave Kaufman a second piledriver, with Kaufman being wheeled out on the stretcher.

1984 - Jerry and Ted Oates win their second NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas, defeating The Grapplers (Tony Anthony and Len Denton). This was a rematch from the tournament final a week earlier in which the Grapplers used a loaded boot in winning over the Oates. Marty Jannetty also began his career that night.

1985 - La Fiera defeats Gran Hamada to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1986 - Riki Choshu ends Stan Hansen's second run with the NJPW PWF Heavyweight Title in Yokohama, Japan.

1986 - Chigusa Nagayo defeats Dump Matsumoto for the vacant AJW All Pacific Title in Tokyo, Japan. The title was vacated on December 12 when Devil Masami won the WWWA World Singles Title.

1987 - Stampede Wrestling held a tournament for its International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta. The title was vacated in January after Fumihiro Niikura, who held the title with Hiroshi Hase, went back to Japan in December. The results were:
First round:
- The Cuban Assassin and Ron Starr defeated Ben Bassarab and Johnny Smith.
- Bruce Hart and Brian Pillman defeated Michael Hammer and Beef Wellington.
- Kerry Brown and Duke Meyers defeated Bill Kazmaier and Ron Ritchie to advance to the final match.
Semifinals:
- Bruce Hart and Brian Pillman defeated The Cuban Assassin and Ron Starr.
Finals:
- Bruce Hart and Brian Pillman defeated Kerry Brown and Duke Meyers to win the vacant Stampede International Tag Team Title.

1991 - Bill Dundee wins his second USWA Texas Heavyweight Title from Eric Embry in Dallas, Texas, ending his second reign. At the same event, Jeff Jarrett defeats Tom Prichard for the USWA Heavyweight Title, beginning his fourth reign.

1992 - The WWF held WrestleMania VIII at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, before 62,167 fans. The event got a 2.3 buyrate. WrestleMania VIII, in addition to all the matches, featured the respective WWF television debuts of Lex Luger and Paul Ellering. The results were:
- In a dark match, The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke) defeated The Beverly Brothers (Beau and Blake).
- Shawn Michaels (with Sensational Sherri) pinned Tito Santana with a bodypress after reversing a bodyslam attempt.
- The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) pinned Jake Roberts after a Tombstone Piledriver on the floor.
- Bret Hart pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Roddy Piper to win the title after pushing off the turnbuckle with his foot to roll over Piper's sleeperhold. This began Hart's second reign as Intercontinental Champion.
- The Big Bossman, Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter and Virgil defeated The Mountie, The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) and Repo Man, when Virgil pinned Knobbs after Sags accidentally hit Knobbs with Virgil's protective face mask.
- Randy Savage (with Miss Elizabeth) pinned WWF Champion Ric Flair (with Mr. Perfect) with a roll-up and a handful of tights to win the title, and begin his second reign as WWF Champion.
- Tatanka pinned Rick Martel after a flying crossbody.
- The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Money, Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster (with Jimmy Hart)), after the champions got intentionally counted out. Money, Inc. retained their title.
- Owen Hart pinned Skinner with a roll-up.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Sid Justice (with Harvey Whippleman) by disqualification after Whippleman interfered. After the match, Papa Shango ran in to help Sid assault Hogan. Hogan was rescued by the Ultimate Warrior, making his first appearance since August's SummerSlam.

1992 - Satanico defeats Lizmark for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning and ending both men's fourth reign.

1997 - Carlos Colón wins his 21st WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico, by defeating Jim Steele in a rematch from their March 22 meeting in Yabucoa, when the title was held up.

1999 - The Monday Night War continued, with WWF RAW is WAR beating WCW Monday Nitro, 5.8 to 4.3 in the ratings.

The 306th episode of WWF RAW is WAR was taped on March 30 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. The results:
- Kane and X-Pac defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett (with Debra) to win the title.
- Al Snow defeated Hardcore Holly.
- The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) defeated Edge and Gangrel.
- Ken Shamrock vs. Viscera ended in a no-contest.
- Mankind defeated Val Venis.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust (with The Blue Meanie) fought The Godfather to a double-countout to retain the title.
- Big Show defeated The Rock and Triple H (with Chyna and Shane McMahon) by disqualification in a handicap match.

WCW Monday Nitro's 186th edition was live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The results were:
- Hak (with Chastity) defeated Kendall Windham in a Kendo Stick match.
- Konnan defeated Lizmark, Jr.
- Scott Steiner defeated Meng in a WCW United States Heavyweight Title tournament semifinal match.
- Jim Duggan defeated Lenny Lane.
- Stevie Ray defeated Brian Adams, Horace and Vincent in a battle royal to win leadership of the black and white nWo.
- Raven and Perry Saturn defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr. by disqualification. Kidman and Mysterio retained the title.
- Booker T defeated Chris Jericho in a WCW United States Heavyweight Title tournament semifinal match.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
- Goldberg defeated Diamond Dallas Page, WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan in a four-way match. Flair retained the title.

1999 - Silky Boom Boom defeats Lord Humongous for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Loganville, Georgia.

2002 - Ricky Banderas and Shane the Glamour Boy defeat The Starr Corporation (Chicky Starr and Victor the Bodyguard) to win the IWA World Tag Team Title in Manatí, Puerto Rico, ending the Starr Corporation's fifth reign.

2002 - Bruce and Teddy Hart defeat Apocalypse and Dave Swift in a tournament final for the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta.

2002 - Havoc defeats Seth Knight in a tournament final to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Junior Heavyweight Title in Chehalis, Washington. Tony Kozina had vacated the title earlier in the year.

2002 - OVW held "Spring Breakout", its first-ever event at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. The results:
- Leviathan pinned both Chris Cage and Johnny Jeter in a handicap match.
- Flash Flanagan and Trailer Park Trash defeated Big Bad John (Heidenreich) and Bull Buchanan, when Flanagan pinned Buchanan. The guest referee was Mark Henry.
- The Dogg Pound (Shelton Benjamin and Redd Dogg) and Nidia defeated The Disciples of Synn (Damien and Payne) and Synn, when Nidia pinned Synn.
- Danny Davis and The Lords of the Ring (Rob Conway and Nick Dinsmore) defeated Victoria and OVW Southern Tag Team Champions Doug Basham and Damaja, when Davis pinned Basham.
- David and Ric Flair defeated Sean O'Haire and OVW Heavyweight Champion The Prototype, when the Flairs made their opponents submit with double Figure Four Leglocks.

2003 - The East Coast Wrestling Association held the seventh-annual Super 8 Tournament at Saint Matthews Parish Hall in Wilmington, Delaware. The results were:
- Frankie Kazarian defeated Chris Sabin in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Spanky defeated Chris Cage in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Chance Beckett defeated Sedrick Strong in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Paul London defeated Alex Arion in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- ECWA Tag Team Champion Matt Striker and The S.A.T. (Joél and José Maximo) defeated ECWA Tag Team Champion Ace Darling, Mega and Prince Nana by disqualification.
- Paul London defeated Frankie Kazarian in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match.
- Chance Beckett defeated Spanky in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match.
- ECWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion The Japanese Pool Boy won a 19-man ECWA Summit Battle Royal to earn an immediate ECWA Heavyweight Title match. The other participants were: The Amazing Red, Billy Bax, Cheetah Master, Ace Darling, Mozart Fontaine, Mike Kruel, Joél Maximo, José Maximo, Joey Maxx, Johnny Maxx, Tyler Mayne, Mega, Mr. Ooh La La, Prince Nana, Roughhouse Rivera, Matt Striker, Trinity and Venom.
- ECWA Heavyweight Champion Christopher Daniels defeated ECWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion The Japanese Pool Boy to retain his title.
- Paul London defeated Chance Beckett to win the Super 8 Tournament.

2003 - Ray Gonzalez wins his second IWA World Heavyweight Title from Ricky Banderas in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, ending his fourth reign.

2003 - Billy Kryptonite wins his second Chaotic Wrestling New England Title from Vince Vicallo in Methuen, Massachusetts. At the same event, Luis Ortiz defeats John Walters to win the CW Heavyweight Title, and begin his second reign.

2003 - Papi Cholo defeats The Jett for the NWA Hawaii Junior Heavyweight Title in Kaneohe, Hawaii, ending his second reign. At the same show, Lightning Leni wins the NWA Hawaii Hardcore Title by defeating Sick Dog.

2003 - Ebessan defeats Pero to win the Osaka Pro Wrestling World's Best Attraction Title in Osaka, Japan, beginning his second reign.

2003 - Trik Nasty defeats Max Power and Rocky Reynolds in a three-way match to win the NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Title in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

2003 - Tommy Capone defeats Jeff Daniels in Columbia, Tennessee to become the first NWA Main Event Television Champion.

2006 - K.C. James and Roadkill defeat The Untouchables (Deuce and Domino) for the OVW Southern Tag Team Title in Louisville, Kentucky.

2006 - Handsome Joe and Yasu Urano defeat Shiori Asahi and Makoto Oishi to win the Kaientai Dojo Strongest-K Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

2006 - Mike Lee, Jr. and Mr. X defeat Apple Miyuki and YOSHIYA for the WEW Hardcore Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

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