August 2nd
On this day in history in ....
1962 - Almost a year before their famous WWF World Title match, Bruno Sammartino defeats Buddy Rogers for the NWA World Heavyweight Title in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. However, Sammartino refused to accept the championship since Rogers was injured, and the title remained with Rogers.
1975 - Jose Rivera & Ciclon defeated Pierre & Michael Martel in Caguas, Puerto Rico for the WWC North American Tag Team Title.
1977 - Antonio Inoki defeats kickboxer Eddie Everett in Tokyo, Japan at Budokan Hall in the fifth round of a Wrestler vs. Kickboxer match via knockout.
1984 - New Japan Pro Wrestling ran Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan, with Antonio Inoki defeating Riki Choshu in a highly anticipated singles match.
1985 - Harley Race defeats Jerry Blackwell in St. Louis, Missouri for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title. This marked the record setting seventh and final Missouri Title run for Race. The belt would be vacated when Jim Crockett Promotions purchased the Missouri territory.
1991 - Takako Inoue & Mariko Yoshida defeats Esther & Cynthia Moreno for the All Japan Women's Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1992 - Ron Simmons defeats Big Van Vader in Baltimore, Maryland to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title.
1993 - Luna Vachon defeats Miss Texas (Jacqueline) in Memphis, Tennessee for the USWA Heavyweight Title, ending Miss Texas' fifth and final run with the belt.
1996 - Guerrero de la Muerte defeats Mascara Magica in Mexico City, Mexico to win the CMLL World Welterweight Title.
1998 - ECW holds their Heatwave Pay-per-view in the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. ECW World Champion Shane Douglas, out of action with an arm injury, did color commentary with announcer Joey Styles for the show. Here are the results of the show:
- In a dark match, Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten defeated the FBI (Tracey Smothers & Little Guido).
- Justin Credible defeated Jerry Lynn.
- Chris Candido defeated Lance Storm.
- Masato Tanaka defeated Mike Awesome.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions Sabu & Rob Van Dam defeated Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki when Sabu pinned Shinzaki.
- FTW Champion Taz defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via submission in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
- Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, & Spike Dudley defeated Buh Buh Ray, D-Von, & Big Dick Dudley.
1999 - The Monday Night Wars continued, with WWF getting the win this week. WWF Monday Night Raw, headlined by Steve Austin vs. Undertaker in a no-contest, D'Lo Brown defeating Jeff Jarrett for the Intercontinental Title, and Edge defeating Gangrel in a Bloodbath match, earned a 5.9 rating. WCW Monday Nitro, headlined by Chris Benoit defeating Dallas Page, Vampiro defeating Eddie Guerrero, and Sting & Bill Goldberg defeating Rick Steiner & Sid Vicious via DQ did a 3.1.
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