PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

10/17 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: SHANE MCMAHON EXITS WWE, JEFF JARRETT'S FINAL WWF APPEARANCE, FORBES ESTIMATES WWF'S WORTH AND MORE

October 17th

On this day in history in ....

1961 - Jackie Fargo & Lester Welch defeat Great Mephisto & Dante to win the Southern Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee.

1961 - Mr. M defeats Hard Boiled Haggerty in Minneapolis, Minnesota to win the AWA United States Heavyweight Title. He would be the final champion, as the title was abandoned a few months later.

1982 - Bret Hart defeats Bad News Allen (later Bad News Brown in WWF) to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title for the fifth time in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

1982 - Jimmy Valiant defeated Ivan Koloff in Toronto, Canada to win the NWA Television Title.

1985 - Sherri Martel defeats Candi Devine in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to win the AWA Women's World Title for the second time.

1988 - Forbes Magazine reports that the World Wrestling Federation (then a privately owned company) was worth $100 million. At the same time, word begins to circulate that Ted Turner would be purchasing Jim Crockett Promotions, a purchase that will be completed the following month, when Turner purchases the company and renames it World Championship Wrestling.

1991 - Tatsumi Fujinami & Big Van Vader defeat Riki Choshu & Masa Saito to win the Super Grade Tag League tournament in Tokyo, Japan.

1992 - Todd Champion defeats Butch Reed for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title in Cleveland, Ohio.

1999 - WWF held their No Mercy Pay-per-view at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Here are the results:
- The Godfather defeated Mideon after hitting the Ho Train.
- The Fabulous Moolah defeated Ivory to win the WWF Women's Title and become a seven time Women's Champion.
- Hardcore & Crash Holly defeated The New Age Outlaws via disqualification.
- Chyna defeated Jeff Jarrett in a Good Housekeeping match to win the Intercontinental Title. The rules of the match stated that household objects could be used in the match. Jarrett beat Chyna after hitting her with the Intercontinental Title belt, but the match was ordered to continue, since the belt was not considered a household object. The match was restarted, and Chyna defeated Jarrett after hitting him with a guitar. This was Jarrett's final WWF match, as his contract had already expired, and he was heading to WCW. WWF and Jarrett came to an agreement for him to make this final appearance and drop the title. WWF's side of the story was that Jarrett "held them up" for money, while Jarrett's version was that he simply wanted PPV bonuses he was due for past shows up front (PPV bonuses are usually paid several months after the event, once revenues have been collected).
- The Rock defeated Davey Boy Smith with a Rock Bottom and People's Elbow.
- Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Edge & Christian in a Ladder match, winning $100,000 and the managerial services of Terri Runnels.
- The Rock issued a challenge to the winner of the main event, then was attacked by Triple H.
- Val Venis defeated Mankind with a testicular claw.
- X-Pac defeated Faarooq, Kane and Bradshaw in a Four Corners match. Kane eliminated Bradshaw with a chokeslam, X-Pac eliminated Kane with a spin kick off the top rope, and X-Pac pinned Faarooq with an X-Factor to win the match.
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeated Steve Austin in an Anything Goes match, when Rock, while going after Triple H, accidentally caused Austin to be hit with a sledgehammer.

2000 - BJ Payne & Flash Flanagan defeat the Disciples Of Synn (Slash & Damian) to win the OVW Tag Team Title in Louisville, Kentucky.

2005 - During an edition of Raw from the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, Stone Cold Steven Austin appeared and demanded that Vince McMahon come to the ring to address the firing of Jim Ross as the play-by-play announcer on Raw.  Stephanie McMahon came out instead, and told Austin that if he defeated Ross' replacement, Jonathan Coachman, at Taboo Tuesday, Ross would get his job back.  The match would never happen, as Austin would (again) walk out on WWE when he didn't like the planned storyline for the match.

2006 - WWE broadcast ECW.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

Last week we saw ECW take strip poker to the "extreme" and we got to see digitized women rolling around on the floor "naked" while an exhibitionist covered her breasts.  What is next for ECW as we approach the Cyber Sunday pay per view for the Big Show to face John Cena and King Booker; and December to Dismember?  Will Matt Striker be able to defeat Sandman in a Singapore Cane on a Pole Match?  Will Kelly continue to chase CM Punk and how will Mike Knox react to that?  

We are live on tape from Jacksonville, Florida and your announcers are Tazz and Joey Styles Styles.

We are told that tonight will be the rematch from the RVD/Big Show match from July as we see highlights of the match.

We see highlights from Big Show's match from three weeks ago against Sandman when Striker took away his Singapore cane.  Then we see highlights from two weeks ago when Big Show helped Matt Striker defeat Sandman.

Match Number One:  Matt Striker versus Sandman in a Singapore Cane on a Pole Match

Striker goes for the turnbuckle with the cane, but Sandman stops him and he chops Striker.  Striker chops Sandman and he goes for the turnbuckle again.  Striker works on Sandman's leg before he goes to the turnbuckle one more time.  Striker punches Sandman while Sandman continues to stop him.  Striker returns to the knee as he weakens Sandman's leg, but Sandman gets back up and he punches Striker.  Striker dives at the knee and then he goes up to the second turnbuckle and tries for an elbow to the knee, but Sandman moves.  Sandman climbs the turnbuckle and he tries to go up the pole, but Striker stops him.  Striker sends Sandman to the mat and he gets the cane.  Striker hits Sandman in the head with the cane twice.  Sandman ducks the next attempt and he hits Striker with the cane three times and Striker is bleeding.  Sandman misses when Striker goes outside the ring.  Striker is not happy to see his own blood as he goes to the back and he is counted out.  We go to commercial.

Winner:  Sandman (by count out)

We are back with footage of fan comments about The Marine.  

Match Number Two:  CM Punk versus Rene Dupree

Dupree slaps Punk before the bell and he retreats to the ropes and apron to avoid Punk.  Dupree drops Punk across the top rope and then he punches Punk.  Dupree with a flying back elbow for a two count and punches.  Dupree with an Irish whip and clothesline as Punk comes out of the corner.  Dupree with a neck vice and a back elbow for a two count.  Dupree slams Punk twice and then he tries for a power slam but Punk escapes the hold and he punches Dupree followed by a jumping leg lariat.  Punk with a series of slaps, a round kick, and uranage.  Punk applies the Anaconda Vice and Dupree taps.

Winner:  CM Punk

After the match, Mike Knox tries to attack Punk, but Punk stops Knox before he can get into the ring.  Punk wants Knox to come into the ring, but Knox goes to the back.

Rebecca DiPietro is with Rob Van Dam and she asks Van Dam about his match with Big Show.  Van Dam says that this is his one and only rematch and he has been waiting for it.  Van Dam says that he has been working his way from the bottom.  Van Dam says that he is the best in ECW.  He says that he has what it takes to slay the dragon.  If he only has one chance, that is the only chance that he is going to need to prove that he can beat the Big Show.  Eventually Show will have to put his title on the line against him.  We go to commercial.

We are back and Test is on the mic in the ring.  He tells everyone to feast their eyes on the Impact Player of ECW.  He is the most ruthless competitor that ECW has ever seen.  He says that everyone might remember the match between Bob Holly and Rob Van Dam and we see footage of Holly lacerating his back on the table.  Test talks about the next week when Holly put his hands on the man who hired him, the man who inspires him. . . Paul Heyman.  What is a ruthless man to do in that situation?  We see Test attack Bob Holly two weeks ago.  Test says that when Bob Holly comes back, he will make an example of him because his ruthlessness has no bounds.

Balls Mahoney comes out and he says that Test knows that Bob Holly is medically suspended, but if Test wants some competition, he is challenging Test.

Test tells Mahoney that he would love to fight him, but not tonight.

Match Number Three:  Test versus Balls Mahoney

Mahoney punches Test and then he Irish whips Test followed by a running clothesline into the corner.  Mahoney with another Irish whip but Test moves when Mahoney charges.  Test with kicks to Mahoney's head and then he sends Mahoney shoulder first into the ring post two times.  Test slams Mahoney's arm into the ring apron and then he puts Mahoney in a key lock but Mahoney will not tap.  Mahoney punches Test and then he Irish whips Test, but Test with a boot and then he drops down with Mahoney's arm dropped on his shoulder and then he returns to the arm.  Test with a knee and Irish whip.  Test charges into a back elbow and Mahoney with two clotheslines.  Mahoney with a series of jabs and a sit out spinebuster for a two count.  Balls with more jabs but he misses the roundhouse punch and Test with a running big boot.  Test with a TKO for the three count.  We go to commercial.

Winner:  Test

Match Number Four:  Shannon Moore versus Sabu

Sabu dives at Moore, but Moore moves out of the way.  Moore misses a dive at Sabu, but Sabu moves and he hits a leg drop.  Sabu punches Moore after trying to apply the camel clutch.  Sabu with a spin kick for a near fall.  Moore with forearms to Sabu but Sabu with an Irish whip and a springboard clothesline.  Moore goes outside the ring but Sabu with a somersault pescado.  Moore returns to the ring and Sabu with an Irish whip and a clothesline for a two count.  Moore with a moonsault for a two count and then he works on Sabu's arm with an arm bar.  Sabu gets back to his feet and he punches Moore.  Moore with a back elbow and then he goes up top but he misses a corkscrew splash from the turnbuckles.  Sabu with a slingshot leg drop for the three count.

Winner:  Sabu

Rebecca DiPietro is in the back with Big Show.  Show says that this is a beautiful day and a grand day for Rob Van Dam.  He thinks that he is walking into the ring with the ECW Champion, but he is stepping into the ring with the Champion of Champions.  He will prove it at Cyber Sunday.  He threw Cena and Booker around the ring and that was only the beginning.  He will show that he is the most dominant giant in the business.  He says that there is only one person for Van Dam to thank and that is Big Show.  He says that he is not ducking Rob Van Dam.  Tonight, Van Dam steps in the ring with the Champion of Champions and the Giant of Giants.  If Van Dam can win this non-title match, he will get a title match.  Tonight, Van Dam's dreams stop.  We go to commercial.

Match Number Five:  Big Show versus Rob Van Dam in a non-title match

Van Dam gets in Show's face and Show pie faces Van Dam.  Van Dam with punches and kicks and then he hits a drop kick to Show's knee.  Van Dam with more punches and kicks, but Show with a big boot as Van Dam comes off the ropes.  Van Dam goes to the apron and he punches Show and drops Show on the top rope.  Van Dam hits a somersault senton from the top turnbuckle for a near fall.  Show drops Van Dam on the top rope and Van Dam rolls outside the ring.  We go to commercial.

We are back and Show with a head butt that sends Van Dam to the mat.  Show with elbow drops and a lazy cover for a two count.  Show with a chop in the corner and Van Dam goes down.  Show chokes Van Dam in the ropes as the referee warns him.  Van Dam with the Shhhh chop in the corner as he stalks Van Dam.  Van Dam with elbows and punches but Show with a clothesline for a two count.  Show slaps Van Dam but Van Dam punches back and he hits a jumping spin kick.  Show grabs Van Dam by the throat for a choke slam but Van Dam with a kick and then he hits a side kick from the top turnbuckle and Show goes down.  Van Dam hits Rolling Thunder for a two count and Show with an emphatic kick out.  Van Dam punches Show and Show responds with a spear for a two count.  Show pulls Van Dam towards the corner and Show goes up for the Vader splash from the second turnbuckle, but Van Dam rolls out of the way.  Van Dam with a running spin kick into the corner but Show catches him.  Show with a clothesline that sends Van Dam into the turnbuckles.  Show with a splash that accidentally takes out the referee.  Van Dam counters a choke slam with a DDT.  Van Dam goes up top and he sets up for the Five Star Frog Splash but Test comes out and he knocks Van Dam off the turnbuckles.  Test kicks Van Dam and then he goes for a chair and he jams it into Van Dam's ribs.  Bob Holly comes out and he drills Test with the chair.  Show grabs Holly, but Holly hits Show twice with the chair and Van Dam hits the Five Star Frog Splash and he gets the three count.  We go to credits.

Winner:  Rob Van Dam

2007 - The Atlanta-Journal Constitution ran an article noting that in the wake of the Benoit family tragedy, the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission was seeking to oversee professional wrestling.  "I'm going to make sure we have a way to protect folks in Georgia from the shenanigans of the WWE, " said Commission board member Cary Ichter, who was also representing Chris Benoit's father, Michael, legally at the time.  WWE Attorney Jerry McDevitt commented on Ichter's plans, stating, "Gee, surprise, surprise.  Wonder why he's doing that?"  WWE is the lone sports-entertainment entity that runs in Georgia that is currently exempt from the Commission due to a rule that exempts organizations with total assets over $25 million.  Ichter was seeking to close that loophole in the State's rules.  In the end, there was no change.

2007 - Booker T departed WWE, issuing the following statement on his official website:

We want to begin by thanking the many wonderful WWE fans that we have had the privilege of entertaining over the last eight years. Sharmell and I have enjoyed the opportunity to put smiles on your faces night after night. We also want to thank everyone in the wrestling community for their support of our very own P.W.A. (Pro Wrestling Alliance). The dream of bringing professional wrestling back to my home town of Houston, Texas is coming to fruition, and we have you to thank for it.

I want to address something that has been on my mind for quite some time now in regards to my recent suspension from WWE. I want to state for the record that I was not taking any illegal substance, or anything outside of my physician's care, and that the suspension was unwarranted. However, rather than fight the suspension or publicly voice my discontent, I used this recent hiatus to rest, work with the P.W.A., and reflect on the direction of my career as a professional wrestler. I also, for the record, have never at any time ordered anything from "Signature Pharmacy". This allegation is upsetting, and the careless and slanderous reporting of this matter is currently being addressed by my legal counsel.

I would like to also address any possible rumors or misinformation regarding our release from WWE. I had been unhappy for quite some time with the direction that the Company was going in. In fact, I asked for my release back in July for that very reason. However, after further contemplation, I decided to continue on with WWE because of my passion for this industry and my desire to entertain the fans. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that my unhappiness with my work environment was beginning to take a great toll on other aspects of my life.

I knew that it was time to make some extremely tough decisions. Therefore, in the interest of my mental, physical, and spiritual well being, I along with my wife, asked for our release from World Wrestling Entertainment for the second time within months. We were graciously granted our release and we have since amicably parted ways.

While the business relationship between ourselves and the WWE has ended, we will continue to be i involved in Professional Wrestling. We hope that our loyal fans will follow us as we make this transition.

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, and we will see you soon!

Booker T. and Sharmell

2008 - In an interview with the Daily Star in the UK, Ric Flair claimed that his son Reid was a year away from making his WWE debut.  To this day, it hasn't happened.

2008 - WWE issued the following:

WWE is saddened to learn of the death of one of its former announcers, Jack Reynolds. Reynolds passed away on Oct. 16.
 
Reynolds joined WWE’s broadcast team in the early 1980s, and assumed the role of play-by-play announcer for the then-All-Star Wrestling telecasts, teaming up with Canadian football legend-turned-wrestler Angelo “King Kong” Mosca, and later Jesse “The Body” Ventura. And it was Reynolds and Ventura who became the original hosts of Prime Time Wrestling when it debuted in 1985 on USA Network.
 
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Jack Reynolds.
 
2009 - WWE announced that Shane McMahon had resigned from the company.

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!

• Tweet