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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: THE BEST BASH EVER, THE BRAWL TO SETTLE IT ALL AND MORE

July 23rd

On this day in history in ....

1984 - WWF held "The Brawl To End It All" match between Wendi Richter, accompanied by Cyndi Lauper, and WWF Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah, managed by Capt. Lou Albano. This was the first major event in the "Rock N' Wrestling Connection", and the bout, held at New York's Madison Square Garden, was aired live on MTV, drawing a 9.0 rating. Here is the full card (only the main event was shown on MTV):
- Paul Orndorff defeated Chief Jay Strongbow.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch defeated Sgt. Slaughter & Terry Daniels.
- Bob Backlund defeated Butcher Vachon via submission.
- Tito Santana vs. Cowboy Bob Orton, Jr. went to a time-limit draw.
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Greg Valentine.
- WWF Martial Arts Champion Antonio Inoki defeated Charlie Fulton.
- The Iron Sheik defeated Tony Garea.
- Samoan Sika defeated Ron Shaw.
- Samoan Afa defeated Rene Goulet.
- Antonio Inoki won a 20-man battle royal.
- Wendi Richter defeated The Fabulous Moolah to win the WWF Women's Title.

1989 - WCW held their Great American Bash Pay-per-view at the Baltimore Arena, in Baltimore, Maryland. The show, which was headlined by Ric Flair's return to action against Terry Funk after several months on the sidelines selling a neck injury suffered at the hands of Funk, is generally considered the first "successful" PPV from a financial standpoint in WCW history. It was also a critical success, with many saying it was the best Bash card ever. Here are the results:

- Sid Vicious & Danny Spivey won a two-ring 13-man "King Of The Hill" battle royal. Vicious won in ring one, and Spivey won in ring two, and the two were then supposed to face off, but manager Teddy Long instead said that his team would split the money, and he took the "King Of The Hill" crown.

- Brian Pillman defeated Bill Irwin with a top rope flying bodypress, jumping from the ropes of one ring to hit the move in the other ring.

- The Skyscrapers (Spivey & Vicious) defeated The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace & Shane Douglas) when Sid pinned Ace after a powerbomb.

- Jim Cornette defeated Paul E. Dangerously in a Tuxedo match when Cornette kicked powder in the face of Dangerously (that Paul was about to throw) and ripped off his tuxedo.

- Rick & Scott Steiner (in Scott's PPV debut) defeated Mike Rotunda & Kevin Sullivan in a Texas Tornado match when both Steiners pinned Sullivan. Sullivan was going for a slam on Rick when Scott hit them with a top rope bodypress, and the Steiners stayed on top of Sullivan for the pin.

- NWA Television Champion Sting defeated The Great Muta when he pinned him with a belly-to-back suplex. However, replays would show Muta's shoulder up, and Sting's shoulders down, so the TV title would be held up pending a rematch (which Muta would win).

- NWA United States Champion Lex Luger defeated Ricky Steamboat via DQ. This was supposed to be a no-disqualification match, but Luger refused to wrestle unless the rules were changed. Steamboat agreed, and during the match, Luger grabbed a chair. Steamboat took it away and hit Luger with it, and was disqualified.

- The Road Warriors, The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) & Steve Williams defeated The Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin, Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy) & The Samoan Swat Team in a Wargames match when Hawk forced Garvin to submit to a Hangman.

- NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Terry Funk. Flair was going for a figure-four, when Funk reversed it into a small package, but Flair reversed to small package back, ending up on top for the three count. Post-match, a wild brawl ensued with Flair, Funk, The Great Muta and Sting.

2000 - WWF held their Fully Loaded Pay-per-view in Dallas, Texas at Reunion Arena (which in the 80's was a major venue for World Class Championship Wrestling).  Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:

Thumb's up! WWF bounced back from their King of the Ring slump with a strong PPV effort for Fully Loaded (7/23 from Reunion Arena in Dallas). After the first several matches the show was beginning to look as if it might be mediocre, but the upper card was great and turned things around 100%. The one complaint that might be heard is that in all three matches where mid-card guys were being elevated to main event status, the established star went over. That is standard WWF operating procedure, and just as Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Rock had to job to Steve Austin in the beginning, the same will be true for Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and Kurt Angle in their feuds. It's really no different in concept that the many jobs Kenta Kobashi did for Mitsuharu Misawa in All Japan before finally getting the big win, or years ago when guys like Jack Brisco had to chase after the World Title for a year or more before getting the win. Commentary on the show from Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler was very good.

THE HARDY BOYZ & LITA defeated TEST & ALBERT & TRISH STRATUS in 13:10. Matt Hardy and Albert started off. They messed up one spot and then Matt took a bad looking bump to the floor. Matt hit a legdrop off the second rope on Test. Jeff did a somersault legdrop and hit a plancha. Matt scored a quick two count on Test with an inside cradle but Test came back and nearly took Matt's head off with a boot to the face. Trish accidentally slapped Test. Lita tagged in but Trish tagged out. The Hardys & Lita did an innovative triple suplex spot. The heels got heat on Jeff and he took some scary bumps. Test powerbombed him but missed the elbow off the top. Jeff kicked Test in the chops and hot tagged Matt. There were a series of near falls, followed by Matt hitting the twist of fate on Albert, which looked like it hurt. Lita hit a cross body to the floor on Albert and hit Test with a DDT and a huracanrana. Lita is a little fireball and I'd like to see her in Japan with some of the girls like Chikayo Nagashima. They could turn her into a great worker. Albert walloped Lita and Test slammed her, so with Lita down, Trish wanted in. She bulldogged Lita and scored a two but Lita recovered and superplexed and moonsaulted Trish for the pin. This got great heat. Afterward, Test & Albert beat up the Hardys and Trish whipped Lita with a strap across her back, which they sold as being bruised from the bump through the table on Nitro. A good opener, but it was followed by three straight matches with no heat.

Edge told Mick Foley that Christian was suffering from food poisoning and they couldn't defend their World Tag Titles. Mick was skeptical but Edge told him to get an EMT if he didn't believe him.

Undertaker arrived on his motorcycle and spotted Kurt Angle. He chased Angle through the building on the motorcycle but Angle escaped.

TAZZ beat AL SNOW in 5:19. Snow got the upper hand early and Tazz bailed out. Snow scored two with a powerbomb. They may be trying to build Snow up a little as Lawler kept admitting that he was impressed by Snow's performance here. Snow got several twos, including one following a moonsault but there was zero heat. Snow brought Head in but Tazz caught him with a chop block. Snow threw two kicks but Tazz blocked a third and choked Snow out with the Tazzmission.

Foley brought an EMT to Edge & Christian's locker room. Christian was in the bathroom and making sounds like he was throwing up. Foley said he must really be sick and apologized for doubting him and cancelled their title defense.

HHH & Stephanie were relaxing in their locker room. Flowers kept being delivered for her and HHH asked who was sending them. Steph didn't know and said she thought HHH had sent them. HHH said he was going to send her flowers but hadn't sent these particular flowers.

PERRY SATURN defeated EDDIE GUERRERO in 8:09 to capture the European Title. Chyna came out looking pissed and slugged Saturn. She chased Terri down but Saturn saved her and Terri fled to the back. Eddie and Saturn brawled to the ring to start the match. The match was technically okay but had no crowd heat. Saturn bumped out and Chyna lariated him for a spin bump. Eddie hit a cross body and a huracanrana. Saturn hit a powerbomb. Eddie hit a Tornado DDT and Saturn came up juicing. Saturn went for a moonsault but Eddie rolled clear. Saturn then rolled clear on Eddie's frog splash attempt. Eddie knocked Saturn off the apron. Chyna went after him but he threw her across the announcers' desk. With the ref distracted, Terri came back out and kicked Eddie in the crotch and Saturn pinned him with the elbow off the top.

Foley sneaked back into Edge & Christian's locker room and found them celebrating the cancellation of their match. Christian tried to act sick again and ran into the bathroom stall and was "throwing up" but Foley looked over the top and saw that Christian had a bucket of water which he was pouring into the toilet to make the sound effects. Foley reversed his decision and said the match was back on.

Undertaker was being interviewed. There was a monitor nearby and on it he saw Angle getting on his motorcycle. He went after Angle again but Angle fled.

THE ACOLYTES defeated EDGE & CHRISTIAN by DQ in the WWF World Tag Title match in 5:31. Edge said that Christian really was sick because being in Dallas is enough to make anyone sick and that if JFK hadn't been assassinated there, he'd have committed suicide. That was pretty tasteless. Bradshaw put Dallas over for all the Cowboys' Superbowl wins and also mentioned Dick Murdoch, Bruiser Brody, the Von Erichs, and the Freebirds. He said the Acolytes would make Edge & Christian their personal bitches. This got a pop but the match itself had no heat and ended lamely. Basically, they brawled for a few minutes. These teams aren't exactly designed to work well together. Bradshaw got tied up in the wrong corner but eventually hot tagged Faarooq. Edge dragged Bradshaw out and rammed his head into the timekeeper's head. Faarooq hit a killer bodyslam on Christian but Edge hit Faarooq with the ring bell for the weak DQ to save the titles.

They did a promo from WWF New York (I'm getting tired of these) where Big Bossman carded a guy at the bar.

HHH was still wanting to know who sent all the flowers. He found a card among them and it wished Stephanie and "her man" well and was signed "It's true, it's true". HHH became furious and wanted to know why Kurt Angle was sending her flowers. Steph didn't know so HHH said he'd find out himself and stormed off looking for Angle.

Meanwhile, Undertaker was still chasing Angle, but Angle ambushed him and hit him in the knee with a wrench.

VAL VENIS defeated RIKISHI in a cage match in 14:09 to retain the IC Title. A good match which helped revive the show. Val tried to climb out immediately but Rikishi pulled him down. Rikishi pounded Val down and tried to climb out but came back down himself when he saw Val trying to escape through the door. Val rammed Rikishi into the cage. Rikishi came back but Val used a low blow to keep Rikishi's ass from being rubbed in his face. Val threw a great lariat and Rikishi spin bumped, which was cool. Val scored two with an elbow off the top. Rikishi got crotched trying to climb out. Val juiced after being rammed into the cage. Rikishi put Val down with a Samoan drop and an ass drop. Rikishi started out the door but Trish slammed in on his head. Lita ran out with a strap and whipped Trish up the ramp to the back. The ref took a bump when Val tried to climb out but was pulled back down. Rikishi then climbed the cage, but instead of climbing down the other side, he did an amazing splash like Jimmy Snuka years ago from the top onto Val. Actually, it was more comparable to Aja Kong than Jimmy Snuka. The spot deservedly got a huge pop, as it was amazing from a guy that big. Rikishi started out the door again but this time Tazz ran out and KO'ed Rikishi with a TV camera (same as when Val won the belt on Smackdown) and Val crawled on top for the pin.

They aired a SummerSlam promo with Chyna and some of the other girls on a beach and Lawler said there would be puppies, cats, and beavers at the show.

Undertaker was still stalking Angle. He passed one of those workplace "accident free" signs (you know, where it says this workplace has been such-and-such number of days accident free) and he erased the number.

HHH went to the room where the flowers had been originating, assuming it was Angle's locker room. It turned out to be Chris Jericho's. Jericho was waiting for him and left him laying, so this was a cool trick ambush.

Shane McMahon got in the ring wearing a Rock T-shirt. He challenged Rock to a match. Rock came out but didn't get in the ring since he suspected it was a trap. Rock called Shane a pussy. Chris Benoit then appeared on the Titantron. He was in Rock's locker room and began ripping up Rock's expensive silk shirts and other clothes. Rock ran back there but Benoit was gone and his wardrobe was in tatters.

UNDERTAKER defeated KURT ANGLE in 7:35. This one had surprisingly little heat. UT really can't do much in the ring anymore. Angle arrived with a wrench but UT nailed him and they brawled. UT pounded Angle down and would have pinned him twice but each time lifted him up by the hair. UT said "f*** you" to the ref, which Ross apologized for. Angle bumped out but managed to retrieve the wrench, which he used on UT's bad knee again. Angle worked on the knee, again to no heat. UT did the traditional babyface comeback and won with a chokeslam and the Last Ride (powerbomb), which did get a pop.

HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY defeated CHRIS JERICHO in the "Last Man Standing" match in 23:09. Jericho, whose ribs were taped to sell the beating on RAW, attacked HHH and dropkicked him out. He followed up with a springboard dropkick and an elbow off the top. HHH dropped Jericho across the rail and on the stairs on his bad ribs. HHH unwrapped Jericho's bandages and choked him with them. Stephanie slapped Jericho. HHH suplexed Jericho on the ramp. Stephanie had a big smile on her face when HHH was on offense. Jericho hit a spinkick and went for the lionsault but HHH got his knees up and Jericho landed on them with his injured ribs. Jericho went down in pain but beat the count and got up at nine. Jericho did a crotch chop to show he was still alive. HHH Pedigreed him but Jericho again got up at nine. HHH hit Jericho with a chair across the back. The ref and HHH struggled over the chair, allowing Jericho to get it. He hit HHH with a hard chairshot and HHH juiced a fountain. Jericho bulldogged HHH on the chair and threw him from the ring. HHH recovered and was about to Pedigree Jericho on the stairs but Jericho backdropped him. Each man hit the other with a monitor and both went down for a nine count. Back in the ring, Jericho hooked the Walls submission. HHH tapped but it didn't count, as you could only win by the ten count. Stephanie went in and Jericho put her in the Walls but HHH made the save. HHH swung a sledgehammer (which he got from under the ring) at Jericho but hit the post. Jericho got the hammer and hit HHH in the stomach with it. HHH recovered yet again and suplexed Jericho through the announcers' desk, which JR sold big. Both went down but HHH barely beat the count and got up at nine. Very dramatic ending with Stephanie in tears wiping the blood off HHH. A great match!

ROCK beat CHRIS BENOIT in a total match time of 22:05 to retain the WWF World Title. Benoit came out wearing the tattered remains of one of Rock's silk shirts. Shane distracted Rock and Benoit attacked. Rock rallied and pounded Benoit down. Rock chased Shane, which enabled Benoit to recover. Shane took a bump off the apron. The crowd was into this match, as they were the previous one. Rock went for a crossface but Benoit escaped. Benoit pounded Rock down for some near falls. He hit Rock with the title belt but still only got two. Rock scored two with a powerslam. Benoit hooked the sharpshooter and JR mentioned that he was trained in the Hart dungeon. Rock escaped the hold. Shane pulled down the ropes and Rock bumped over. Rock and Benoit brawled on the floor. Back inside, Rock locked the figure four but Benoit made the ropes. They went out again and brawled through the crowd. They returned to the ring and traded pin attempts. Benoit hit the flying head butt and both went down. Rock hit a spinebuster and the People's Elbow and would have scored the pin but Shane distracted the ref. Benoit scored two with a superplex. Benoit brought in a chair but the ref, Earl Hebner, took it and threw it down. Shane got it and laid Hebner out from behind. By the time Hebner revived, Rock had gotten the chair and was chasing Shane with it so Hebner thought it was Rock who hit him. Rock put the crossface on Benoit and he tapped. Hebner signaled for the bell and it looked as if Rock had won but instead Hebner DQ'ed Rock for supposedly using the chair and since the special rules allowed the title to change on a DQ, Benoit was declared the champion at 19:26. Rock tried to protest but Shane juiced him with a chair. Mick Foley then emerged to a big pop and said Rock had not used the chair and ordered the match restarted. Benoit was furious but had no choice but to get back in the ring. He hit Rock with the multiple suplexes and hooked the crossface but Rock made the ropes. Rock then won with a Rock Bottom out of nowhere for the pin at 2:39 into the restart period. The ending was a little "gimmicky" but it was a very good main event to finish the show with two hot matches.

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