August 18th
On this day in history in ....
1944 - Lou Thesz becomes the first two-time Texas Heavyweight Champion,
defeating Ernie Dusek in Houston, Texas.
1949 - Dave Levin defeats George Bollas in Toledo, Ohio for the Jack Pfeffer-promoted
World Heavyweight Title, to begin his third reign.
1951 - Frenchy Roy defeats Dale Haddock in Oregon to win the Pacific Coast
Junior Heavyweight Title.
1960 - Ilio DiPaolo and Whipper Billy Watson defeat Doc and Mike Gallagher in
Toronto, Ontario to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Title for the third time.
1962 - During a title defense against Bobo Brazil in Newark, New Jersey, NWA
World Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers claimed he had a groin injury. The match
was stopped and Brazil was declared the winner, but he refused to accept the
victory. It was announced on September 6 that Bobo Brazil was the new NWA World
Heavyweight Champion, after a doctor found nothing wrong with Rogers. Rogers won
the title back from Brazil on October 30 in Toledo, Ohio, but this title change
is not recognized by the NWA.
1970 - Bill Dromo and Alberto Torres defeat Buddy Colt and Karl Von Stroheim in
Macon, Georgia for the NWA Macon Tag Team Title.
1971 - Rip Tyler defeats Ken Lucas in the finals of a 17-man tag team match in
Mobile, Alabama to win the vacant City of Mobile Heavyweight Title.
1978 - Mil Máscaras defeats The Destroyer in Kagoshima, Japan to win the AJPW
PWF United States Heavyweight Title, ending Destroyer's fourth reign.
1978 - The Mongolian Stomper wins his seventh NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title
in Knoxville, Tennessee, by ending Robert Fuller's fourth reign.
1979 - The WWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The
results were:
- Steve King defeated Joe Mascara.
- Bulldog Brower defeated Pete Sanchez.
- Ted DiBiase defeated Moose Monroe
- Special Delivry Jones defeated The Columbian Jaguar.
- Chief Jay Strongbow and Greg Valentine fought to a double countout in an
Indian Strap match.
- Tito Santana defeated Gypsy Rodriguez.
- André the Giant defeated WWF Tag Team Champion Jerry Valiant.
- WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated WWF Tag Team Champion Johnny
Valiant to retain the title.
1982 - Mike Sharpe defeats Killer Khan for the Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight
Title in Shreveport, Louisiana, beginning his second reign.
1984 - The WWF held an event at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The
results:
- Susan Starr defeated Peggy Lee.
- Special Delivery Jones defeated René Goulet.
- David Schultz defeated Rick McGraw.
- Big John Studd defeated Terry Daniels.
- Kamala defeated B. Brian Blair.
- Mr. Fuji defeated Tiger Chung Lee.
- Rocky Johnson and Bob Orton, Jr. fought to a draw.
- Jesse Ventura defeated Ivan Putski by disqualification.
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Orndorff by countout to retain the
title.
1984 - Tom Prichard and Brett Sawyer win their second NWA Pacific Northwest Tag
Team Title in Portland, Oregon, by defeating Mr. Ebony (Tom Jones) and Mike
Miller.
1984 - Gran Cochise defeats Satánico for the NWA World Middleweight Title in
Mexico City, Mexico, to end Satánico's fourth reign.
1984 - Módulo wins a tournament for the vacant Mexican National Lightweight
Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
1985 - The WWF held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The
results were:
- Adrian Adonis pinned Lanny Poffo after a DDT.
- Dino Bravo pinned Richard Charland after a back suplex.
- Randy Savage pinned Bob Marcus after a flying elbowdrop.
- King Kong Bundy pinned José Luis Rivera after the Avalanche.
- Cousin Junior (with Hillbilly Jim) pinned Tito Senza after a mule kick.
- Rick McGraw pinned Ted Grizzly.
- Uncle Elmer (with Cousin Junior and Hillbilly Jim) pinned Tiger Chung Lee
after a legdrop.
- André the Giant defeated Big John Studd (with Bobby Heenan) by
disqualification when King Kong Bundy interfered when André was about to cut
Studd's hair after slamming him. Bundy and Studd beat down André, with Bundy
splashing André four times.
- The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) defeated The Killer Bees (B.
Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell), when Neidhart pinned Blair after Bret hit Blair
with a foreign object while Blair had Neidhart in a sleeper. Neidhart fell back
on Blair for the pin.
- The Junkyard Dog fought Terry Funk to a double countout.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Don Muraco by disqualification.
1988 - Leo Burke defeats Rip Rogers for the Grand Prix Wrestling International
Heavyweight Title in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to begin his third reign.
1989 - Sumo Hara (Tatsumi Kitahara) and Benkei (Kensuke) Sasaki defeat Bob and
Kerry Brown for the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta.
1989 - Eric Embry defeats P.Y. Chu-Hi in Dallas, Texas to win his third USWA
Texas Heavyweight Title.
1990 - The WWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The
results:
- The Brooklyn Brawler defeated José Luis Rivera (subbing for Shane Douglas).
- Buddy Rose defeated Pez Whatley.
- Hercules defeated Pete Doherty (subbing for Hillbilly Jim).
- Jimmy Snuka defeated Iron Mike Sharpe (subbing for Rick Martel).
- Nikolai Volkoff defeated Boris Zhukov.
- Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire (with Miss Elizabeth) defeated Randy Savage and
Sensational Queen Sherri (with Brother Love) in a Mixed Tag Team match, when
Sapphire pinned Sherri after Elizabeth hit Sherri with a purse.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition (Ax, Crush and Smash) defeated Jim Duggan
and The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), when Ax pinned Bret.
1991 - Cien Caras defeats Konnan for the CMLL World Heavyweight Title in
Monterrey, Mexico.
1991 - Kyoko Inoue defeats Aja Kong to win the second-annual AJW Japan Grand
Prix Tournament.
1993 - WCW held its 24th "Clash of the Champions" event at the Ocean
Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, which got a 3.8 rating live on TBS. The
results were:
- Arn Anderson and Paul Roma defeated NWA and WCW World Tag Team Champions Steve
Austin and Lord Steven Regal (subbing for the injured Brian Pillman) (with Sir
William), when Anderson pinned Austin after he collided with Sir William on the
apron, to win the titles.
- 2 Cold Scorpio pinned Bobby Eaton (subbing for Lord Steven Regal) with a 450
splash.
- Johnny B. Badd pinned Maxx Payne after moving out of the way of a splash from
the middle turnbuckle.
- Ricky Steamboat pinned NWA and WCW World Television Champion Paul Orndorff by
reversing a bodyslam into an inside cradle to win the titles. This began
Steamboat's second NWA reign.
- Sting and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated The Colossal Kongs
(Awesome and King (with Harley Race)), when Sting pinned Awesome after a splash
off the top rope.
- Dustin Rhodes and mystery partner Road Warrior Hawk (with Road Warrior Animal)
defeated The Equalizer (Dave Sullivan) and Rick Rude, when Rhodes pinned
Equalizer after Hawk hit a shoulderblock off the top on Rude behind the
referee's back.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader (with Harley Race) pinned Davey
Boy Smith, after Race tripped Smith while he had Vader up for a suplex, to
retain the title.
1994 - Super Vader defeats Nobuhiko Takada by knockout in the finals of the Best
of the World Tournament in Tokyo, Japan to win the UWFI Heavyweight Title.
1996 - The WWF held the ninth-annual "SummerSlam" pay-per-view at Gund
Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The show got an 0.58 buyrate. The results were:
- In a match airing on the Free for All, Steve Austin pinned Yokozuna after the
top rope broke loose from the turnbuckle as Yokozuna was attempting the Banzai
Drop, causing Yokozuna to fall.
- Owen Hart defeated Savio Vega by TKO with the Sharpshooter after hitting Vega
with his cast.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart (with Sunny))
defeated The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip), The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas (with
Hillbilly Jim)) and The New Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy) in a Fatal
Four-Way Elimination match to retain the title. Billy pinned Zip, Henry pinned
Jannetty after a Slop Drop and Billy pinned Phineas.
- Sycho Sid pinned The British Bulldog after a powerbomb.
- Goldust (with Marlena) pinned Marc Mero (with Sable) after the Curtain Call.
- Jerry Lawler pinned Jake Roberts with a roll-up after hitting him in the
throat with a bottle of Jim Beam. Before the match, Lawler was making several
crude remarks towards Roberts, mostly about his past alcoholism. Lawler wore a
Baltimore Ravens jersey to anger the Cleveland fans, as their beloved Browns had
just relocated to Baltimore. Lawler poured alcohol down Roberts' throat after
the match, and recent WWE-signee Mark Henry, who was on guest commentary, made
the save.
- Mankind defeated The Undertaker in a Boiler Room Brawl, after Paul Bearer
turned on Undertaker and hit him in the head with the urn, and gave it to
Mankind. The winner was the first to take possession of the urn.
- WWF Champion Shawn Michaels (with Jose Lothario) defeated Vader (with Jim
Cornette) to retain the title. Vader had originally won the match twice, first
by countout and then disqualification, but because titles can only change hands
by pin or submission, Cornette demanded the match restart both times. WWF
President Gorilla Monsoon allowed this with Michaels' agreement.
1996 - Super Delfin defeats El Pantera to win the UWF Super Welterweight Title
in AAomori, Japan. This began Delfin's fourth reign and ended Pantera's third.
1997 - Jeep Swenson dies of heart failure in Los Angeles, California at 40 years
old.
1997 - WCW won this week of the Monday Night War, as "Monday Nitro"'s
4.03 (hours of 3.72 and 4.34) rating beat out "WWF RAW is WAR"'s 3.18
(hours of 2.93 and 3.42) rating.
"WCW Monday Nitro"'s 101st episode was live from the Jefferson Civic
Center in Birmingham, Alabama. The results were:
- Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) defeated Vicious and Delicious (Buff
Bagwell and Scott Norton) by disqualification.
- The Barbarian defeated Mortis.
- Stevie Richards defeated Scotty Riggs.
- Chris Benoit and Steve McMichael defeated Eddie Guerrero and Jeff Jarrett.
- Ric Flair defeated Syxx by disqualification.
- WCW World Television Champion Ultimo Dragon defeated La Parka to retain the
title.
- Curt Hennig defeated The Giant by countout
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Lex Luger and Diamond Dallas Page defeated The
Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) by disqualification to retain the title.
The 223rd edition of "WWF RAW is WAR" was live from Convention Hall in
Atlantic City, New Jersey. The results:
- WWF European Champion The British Bulldog and Owen Hart defeated The Legion Of
Doom (Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior Hawk).
- Flash Funk defeated Brian Christopher.
- "Double J" Jesse James defeated Brian Pillman by disqualification.
- The Patriot defeated Vader.
- Mankind and The Undertaker defeated D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple
H (with Chyna and Rick Rude)) by disqualification.
1998 - Maryland Championship Wrestling wrestler Shane Shamrock is shot and
killed during an altercation with police officers. As a result of his death, the
MCW Light Heavyweight Title, which he held at the time, was retired. Each year,
MCW holds the Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup tournament in his honor.
1998 - Terry Garvin dies at age 61.
1998 - The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeat Jimmy Cicero and Julio Sanchez
in a tournament final in Baltimore, Maryland to become the first Maryland
Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions.
2000 - Cibernético defeats Héctor Garza in Querétaro, Mexico for the AAA
version of the IWC World Heavyweight Title. This ended Garza's second reign.
2000 - Lady Apache is stripped of the CMLL World Women's Title after jumping to
AAA, ending her second reign.
2000 - Dino Bambino defeats Corporal Robinson for the Mid American Wrestling
Heavyweight Title in West Allis, Wisconsin, ending Robinson's second reign.
2000 - Wesley Jenkins defeats Brother Love to win the NWA Mississippi Junior
Heavyweight Title in Greenville, Mississippi. At the same show, The New Texas
Outlaws (Ricky Murdock and Austin Rhodes) defeat Mark Southern and Joey Venture
to win their second NWA Mid-South Tag Team Title.
2000 - Pokerface wins his second NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in
Dyersburg, Tennessee by defeating Kilo.
2001 - Shane the Glamour Boy wins the IWA World Hardcore Title from the New
York-Rican Baldie in Levittown, Puerto Rico, ending the Baldie's fifth reign.
2001 - Super Gladiador defeats El Nene in Cidra, Puerto Rico for the WWC
Hardcore Title.
2001 - Race Steele wins his fourth Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight
Title in Dayton, Ohio, defeating Nick Dinsmore.
2001 - In a two-fall double-title Three Way Dance match at Jersey All Pro
Wrestling's "The Hit Squad's Revenge: The Body Count Continues" in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Homicide wins the JAPW Heavyweight Title and Xavier
wins the JAPW Light Heavyweight Title from Low Ki. This began Homicide's third
reign as Heavyweight champion. At the same show, J.T. Jobber and Mikey Whipwreck
defeated Da Hit Squad (Mafia and Monsta Mack) for the JAPW Tag Team Title,
ending Da Hit Squad's third reign.
2001 - Kid Cupid becomes the first NWA/Pro Wrestling eXpress No Barriers
Champion in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He defeated Dash Bennett, Kid Ego, Ed
Logan, Daron Smythe and Sean Styles. At the same show, J-Ru and Tommy Brown
defeat Boomer Payne in a Handicap match to win the NWA/PWX Tag Team Title.
2002 - The WWF Hardcore Title has its final title changes before its August 26
retirement. In Evansville, Indiana at a house show, Shawn Stasiak ends Tommy
Dreamer's 12th reign and begins his 15th. Stasiak then dropped the title to
Steven Richards, beginning his 22nd reign. Richards then lost the title back to
Dreamer, beginning his 13th reign.
2002 - Seiji Yamakawa defeats Kintaro Kanemura to win the BJW World Extreme Cup
tournament in Kanagawa, Japan. At the same event, Daisuke Sekimoto wins the BJW
Deathmatch Heavyweight Title from Daikokubo Benkei.
2002 - Sachie Abe and KAZUKI win their second JDStar TWF Tag Team Title in
Tokyo, Japan in a tournament final over Hiroyo Muto and Ranmaru.
2002 - Just one day after winning the title from them, Kamikaze and Tenacious Z
(Zach Gowen) lose the Independent Wrestling Revolution Tag Team Title back to
Truth Martini and Anthony Rivera in Detroit, Michigan, to begin Martini and
Rivera's second reign.
2003 - WWE held the 534th edition of "RAW" live from Van Andel Arena
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which got a 4.0 rating on Spike TV. The results:
- WWE Women's Champion Molly Holly defeated Trish Stratus by disqualification to
retain the title.
- Test defeated Scott Steiner (with Stacy Keibler) to earn the managerial
services of Keibler.
- Chris Jericho defeated Kevin Nash in a Hair vs. Hair match.
- Rosey (with The Hurricane) defeated Rodney Mack (with Theodore Long).
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Christian fought Rob Van Dam to a no-contest to
retain the title.
- Goldberg defeated Randy Orton (with Ric Flair and World Heavyweight Champion
Triple H). Steve Austin was the guest referee.
2005 - CZW wrestler Chri$ Ca$h, is killed in a motorcycle accident in Glassboro,
New Jersey at just 23 years old.
2006 - "Frontiers Of Hono(u)r II", a event pitting wrestlers from the
Frontier Wrestling Alliance, International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom and
Ring of Honor, is held at the White Oak Leisure Centre in Swanley, England. The
results were:
- Ashley Reed (IPW:UK) defeated Aviv Mayaan (FWA), Jimmy Rave (ROH), Paul
Robinson (IPW:UK), Mark Sloan (FWA) and B.J. Whitmer (ROH) in a six-way Scramble
match.
- Nigel McGuinness (ROH) defeated J.C. Thunder (IPW:UK) in a World of Sports
match, 2-0.
- James Tighe and Doug Williams (FWA) defeated ROH World Tag Team Champions
Generation Next (Austin Aries and Roderick Strong) and IPW:UK Tag Team Champions
The Untouchables (Dave Moralez and Jack Storm) in a Triple Threat match.
- Matt Sydal (IPW:UK) defeated Davey Richards (ROH).
- Darren Burridge (FWA) defeated Colt Cabana (ROH).
- The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) (ROH) defeated Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm (FWA).
- ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson defeated FWA British Heavyweight Champion
Robbie Brookside and IPW:UK Champion Martin Stone in a Three-Way Dance.
2006 - Eden Black defeats Jetta and Sweet Saraya in a Triple Threat match at
"Summer Brawl" in Waterlooville, England to win the vacant Real
Quality Wrestling Women's Title.
2007 - Chessman defeats El Zorro in Salamanca, Mexico to end Zorro's fifth UWA
World Light Heavyweight Title reign.
2007 - Rico Suave defeats Crazy Rudy in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico for the WWC
Television Title.
2007 - Hiram Tua and Carlitos defeat The Starr Revolution Corporation (Diabólico
and Diamante) in a Ladder and Penalty Box match to win the IWA World Tag Team
Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. At the same event, Big Vito defeats El Bacano
for the vacant IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title.
2007 - Ice defeats Kyle O'Reilly for the NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title
in Vancouver, British Columbia.
2007 - Antonio Honda and Prince Togo defeat Tomomitsu Matsunaga and Michael
Nakazawa to win the Dramatic Dream Team KO-D Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.
2007 - Shatter defeats Ace Rockwell for the NWA Anarchy Heavyweight Title in
Cornelia, Georgia.
2007 - Brian Fury defeats DC Dillinger in a Steel Cage match to win the New
England Championship Wrestling Triple Crown Title.
2007 - Kevin Knight defeats Travis Blake in West Paterson, New Jersey to win the
Independent Wrestling Federation American Title.
2007 - Puck defeats Psycho Mike in Aosta, Italy for the Italian Championship
Wrestling Italian Lightweight Title.
2007 - Rico Moon and Manson defeat Pretty Boy Floyd and Diamond Dog (subbing for
Bonez the Cutthroat) to win the NWA South Atlantic Tag Team Title in Orlando,
Florida.
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