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5/24 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: BATISTA QUITS WWE, OLE ANDERSON STABBED BY FAN, VON ERICH LOSES NWA WORLD TITLE, OPRAH WINFREY DEBUTS AT WWF ANNOUNCER, OWEN HART MEMORIAL RAW, EL GIGANTE WANTS THE BELT, RACE BEATS FUNK AND MORE

May 24th
On this day in history in ....

1962 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Greensboro, NC at the Greensboro Coliseum:

John Smith & Ivan Kameroff defeated Tony Baillargeon & Maurice LaPointe
Ray Villmer defeated Pancho Villa
Abe Jacobs & Haystacks Calhoun defeated Swede Hanson & Gypsy Joe
Johnny Valentine defeated Johnny Weaver
Rip Hawk defeated George Becker in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match

1963 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Hans Mortier in the main event of a WWWF card in New Haven, CT.

-Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Pete Doherty.
-Johnny Rodz defeated Sylvano Sousa.
-Bobby Duncum defeated Dominic Denucci.
-Tor Kamata defeated Frank Savage.
-WWF Intercontinental champion Ken Patera fought Ivan Putski to a double disqualification.
-Rick McGraw pinned Jose Estrada.

1981 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Hampton, VA with the following results:
Ric Flair defeated Ken Patera
Paul Jones & Wahoo McDaniel defeated Gene & Ole Anderson via DQ
Ivan Koloff defeated Masked Superstar
Greg Valentine and Jay Youngblood went to a double DQ
Jimmy Valiant defeated Johnny Weaver
Mike Davis defeated Jim Nelson
Scott McGhee defeated Ricky Ferrara

1981 - A card promoted by the Tunney family at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto saw the following results:
Angelo Mosca beat Roddy Piper by DQ
Ray Stevens beat Dewey Robertson
Mr. Fuji beat George Wells
Tony Parisi & Bruno Sammartino Jr. beat Swede Hanson & Kurt Von Hess
Charlie Fulton beat Frank Monte
Frankie Laine beat Abe Jacobs
Billy Red Lyons bear Nick DeCarlo

1982 - Mid-South Wrestling ran Memphis, TN at the Mid-South Coliseum, featuring the following results:
Roy Rogers beat The Invader.
King Cobra beat The Angel.
Ron Bass pinned Bobby Fulton.
The Iron Sheik beat Joe Stark.
Stan Lane beat The Monk in a "street fight" match.
Dennis Condrey & Norvell Austin beat Steve Keirn & Bill Dundee in a "hospital elimination" match to win the Southern Tag Title.
Bobby Eaton pinned Dutch Mantel to win the Mid-America Title.
Jerry Lawler pinned Kendo Nagasaki in a "no DQ" match to win the Southern Title.
 

1997 - ECW ran Monaca, PA at the Golden Dome, drawing 1,926 fans featuring:

1998 - WWF ran Halifax, Nova Scotia at the Forum, drawing 5,128 fans with the following results:
-The Headbangers defeated Mark Henry & Kama.
-WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku pinned Brian Christopher.
-Jeff Jarrett pinned Steve Blackman after Tennessee Lee prevented a superplex and held Blackman's legs down during the cover.
-Bradshaw pinned Marc Mero with the Clothesline from Hell.
-WWF European Champion Triple H pinned Owen Hart after Chyna interfered and hit a low blow as Hart had the champion in the Sharpshooter.
-Kurrgan defeated D-Lo Brown with the claw.
-Skull & 8-Ball defeated the Quebecars with a backdrop / neckbreaker combo.
-WWF champion Steve Austin, Farooq, & The Undertaker defeated Kane & WWF Tag Team Champions the Road Dogg & Billy Gunn after Austin hit the Stunner on Road Dogg; Dude Love was the guest time keeper.

1998 - ECW ran Monaca, PA featuring the following results:
Lance Storm beat Mike Lozansky.
Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney beat The FBI, Tracy Smothers & Little Guido.
Ulf Hermann beat John Kronus.
Taz beat Chris Chetti.
Chris Candido beat Al Snow.
ECW Wiorld TV Champ Rob Van Dam beat Jerry Lynn.
Sabu beat Mikey Whipwreck.
The Dudley Boyz, Buh Buh Ray, D-Von, & Big Dick Dudley beat Spike Dudley & Tommy Dreamer & Sandman.

XPW ran its “Cold Day in Hell” reunion show Saturday night in Los Angeles . While fine for nostalgia, the show was pretty weak in terms of both work rate and production, and the organizers are going to have to do some pretty heavy editing before releasing this show on DVD and pay-per-view, both of which are in the plans.

The event started with a two-hour fanfest inside the arena, which was actually a basketball gym on the property of the Northrup Grumman corporation. Although the fanfest was advertised as both an autograph session and Q&A, only the former turned out to be true – there was no Q&A, although I suppose if you wanted to ask a question to one of the wrestlers while receiving a $10 autograph (on top of the $20 admission price), you could. Some wrestlers, including Vampiro and Kaos, did not appear to be charging for autographs and photos. One fan asked Vampiro and Kaos to pose for a photo together, but not wanting to break kayfabe (they faced each other at the show), Vampiro refused.  

There was some confusion regarding when the fanfest was supposed to end and the show itself was to begin. Eventually the doors opened at 7:20 p.m., only 10 minutes before the scheduled start of the show. By the time people were seated and the event was getting under way, it was already 8:15. Two guards were wearing Atlas Security shirts. The rest were just wearing generic “Security” shirts.  

“Cold Day In Hell” started with a Dynamite D Memorial battle royal. The first participant was introduced to the crowd, but then everyone else just started walking down the aisle without any intros. By the way, there was a simple stage at the top of a small ramp. The building also featured large-screen projections, but for some reason, none of the live action was shown all night.  

The battle royal featured several Latino wrestlers working a cholo gimmick, probably to try and pop the local crowd. The crowd favorite, though, was a skinny Asian wrestler whom everyone tried to eliminate. When he was finally thrown over, the building erupted in boos. The eventual winner, Carnage, won by setting on fire his taped hand, then punching his final opponent over the top rope.  He gave his winner's trophy to D's mother, who was in the crowd.

Up next was the Miss Xtreme competition, which didn’t seem to have any clear rules. Even though the XPW web site advertised eight contestants, five girls came out, and were asked to perform an “extreme talent.” The first girl gave someone a lap dance; the second one took off her top to reveal nothing but an “X” taped across each of her breasts. The third contestant claimed to be able to chug a beer, but ended up choking on it, much to the dismay of the fans. The fourth girl wore a schoolgirl outfit, and truly went extreme by having a male companion pull up her skirt and spank her repeatedly with a glove wrapped in barbed wire. The girl was noticeably bleeding from her upper legs for the remainder of the segment. Finally, the fifth contestant tried to cut a heel promo about how she didn’t have to do any stunts in order to impress anyone, and proceeded to attack the other girls.  

It was now 8:40, and it looks like this is where the main card started. Kris Kloss came out and introduced the first match, which was Kaos against Vampiro. Kaos cut a promo saying that, in the old days of XPW, this was the point in the show where Shane Douglas would come out and start complaining. He then put himself over for a while, until Vampiro emerged with no music or intro. The match started, and after several minutes of exchanging chops and punches, Vampiro cracked a package of fluorescent light bulbs over Kaos’ back. With blood running down Kaos’ back, and shattered glass all over the mat, the two brawled out into the crowd, with Kaos eventually going through a table. After probably about 10-15 minutes of slow, plodding action featuring lots of overly deliberate action, Kaos won with a clean pin.  

The next wrestler to come out (no pun intended) was Angel – or, as he refers to himself, Angel the Hardcore Homo. Angel announced that it was his birthday, and led the crowd in singing to him. His scheduled opponent, GQ Money, said he couldn’t wrestle due to injury, but said he’d left several birthday gifts on the stage for Angel. One of them literally blew up in Angel’s face, and a second wrestler – Brawlin’ Bo Cooper – came out to start beating Angel down. The match then got confusing, as Cooper and Money both spent time wrestling Angel one on one. Angel ended up doing lots of openly gay spots, including exposing his rear end and delivering both a bronco buster and stinkface. After being chased to the back, Money later re-emerged as a disguised cameraman, spitting a fireball into Angel’s face to get the win. Afterward, as Money and Cooper beat Angel down, Kraq ran out to make the save.  

J. Love was out next, and was complaining that the ring was a mess (there was still lots of broken glass). Love yelled for someone to come clean the ring, and Leroy showed up with a broom. As he cleaned up, Love cut a promo on Pogo the Clown, who showed up and went after Leroy. Several “fans,” all of whom were coincidentally wearing T-shirts from a local wrestling school, ran in and attacked Pogo, who in turn ran through them all. Love got back on the mic and said she had someone else who would take care of Pogo. Sandman emerged from the audience, kendo stick in hand, and went to work on Pogo. The bell rang, so apparently this was now an official match. The two beat each other up for a while, before Love came in and blasted Pogo several times with the cane. Sandman hit him with a side Russian leg sweep and got the pin. Afterward, Sandman celebrated with a case of Budweiser. “Enter Sandman” did not play in the building.  

Terry Funk came out next, and was set to guest-referee the co-main event. Funk told the crowd that Sabu, who had been scheduled, had suffered a cracked vertebra in his neck, so Funk would not allow him to compete. Sabu then walked toward the ring, but was escorted back by security. Funk announced there would be a replacement, who turned out to be a guy named Concussion. He was to team with Homeless Jimmy against Raven and White Trash Johnny Webb.  

Raven was great on the mic, running down Funk and then actually doing live commentary while standing on the ring apron. At one point, once he started to wrestle, Raven attacked Funk, bloodying his forehead. During the match, Sabu again tried to enter the ring, only to be escorted out again. The match turned into a really good and fun plunder bout, including a great table spot outside, before Homeless Jimmy pinned Webb with a DDT onto a chair.  

The next bout was a six-man tag, featuring Team Revolution Pro (Ron Rivera, Disco Machine and Joey Ryan) against Team XPW (Jardi Franz, Vinnie Massaro and…special surprise guest X-Pac). Pac got a good pop, and came out to the DX music. He’s also developed quite a gut. The match was OK, and ended when the Vince McMahon impostor, Mr. McPhenom and former ECW star CW Anderson, who attacked X-Pac on the floor. Disco Machine won for his team by pinfall, but afterward X-Pac laid out Anderson, then gave McPhenom an X-Factor. It was a play off of the ECW-XPW brawl at Heatwave.  X-Pac then got on the mic and said that he is back from the dead, then told us that he’s got two words for us.

 The next bout was a three-way bout between Luke Hawx, Scorpio Sky and Jack Evans. From a workrate perspective, this was a really entertaining bout. It was exciting and well paced, with some really good, athletic work. This was the best match of the night, by far. Hawx picked up the win.  

The Westside NGZ, who were advertised as wrestling the reunited Gangstas, started off by taking on another team instead. This bout ran for several long, boring minutes, with the crowd crapping all over the weak action. Finally, the Gangstas’ music hit, and New Jack and Mustafa hit the ring with a trash can full of weapons. They cleaned house on the Westside NGZ, and that was it for the “match.” The tag team that had been wrestling the Westside NGZ tried to praise the Gangstas, but Jack and Mustafa then turned on them, and beat the guys down, both inside and outside the ring, for probably at least 10 minutes. New Jack used a fork on his opponent. The brawl spilled way into the back of the crowd, making it hard for 90 percent of the audience to see what was happening, but when it was all over, New Jack came back to the ring bleeding a gusher. He then started into an endless promo about the team’s history and how they refused to sell out to the bigger organizations. Jack ripped into both Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman.    He closed by announcing he was done in the ring and to watch your cable TV screens to see him soon.  He was referring to some sort of reality series that Big Vision is shopping around.

The final match advertised for the evening was a no-ropes barbed-wire death match between Supreme and the Necro Butcher.  They had Beds of Light Tubes and Mouse Traps.  If you liked blood and violence, this was for you as both took insane amounts of punishment and the crowd loved it.

Overall, the work was slow, the pacing was off, and the crowd wasn’t even that hot. To his credit, Sabu actually showed up for the event, and of course he should protect his health, but the crowd was more than a little disappointed to have him advertised to compete, only to not wrestle after all.  XPW actually received word a week ago and was originally going to change the match listing, but Sabu demanded they let him feel it out and see if he could work.  As it turned out, he couldn't.

It’s not clear whether XPW intended for “Cold Day In Hell” to be a one-night-only thing, as was advertised on the event poster, or whether the promotion actually plans to start running shows again. Unless XPW can somehow make this event look good on camera, it’s hard to imagine that this was the event the company needed to put itself back on the map.

Notes: Mikey Whipwreck was booked a surprise but no showed.  XPW attempted to reach him, only to find his cell phone disconnected...The entire show was shot in HD and is planned as Big Vision Entertainment's first-ever Blu-Ray DVD release....The one and only Atlas Security was in the house.

2011 - WWE broadcast NXT.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We are live from Spokane, Washington and your announcers are William ‘Anyone have a Swiss Army Knife’ Regal and Todd ‘I was not driving the car that hit Big Show’ Grisham.

We will have a No Disqualification Match between Titus O’Neil and Darren Young tonight.

Todd asks Regal for his thoughts on Jacob Novak being eliminated last week.

Byron Saxton interrupts Regal’s comments about the No Disqualification Match and he makes his way to the ring.

Byron says that he has been doing a lot of thinking and he has come to the realization that he does not need his pro Yoshi Tatsu. Yoshi might be loved for his child-like attitude, but the fans can relate with him. Byron says that he cannot relate to someone who lets him get passed by because of a Diva. Byron says that he is infatuated with taking control of his career and winning NXT all by himself. Byron says that he is emancipating himself from Yoshi Tatsu and he is declaring his independence.

Byron says that he is bigger than the rookies and pros on this show and he wants to be called ‘Big League’ Byron Saxton.

Maryse makes her way out and she wants Byron to wait a minute. Maryse ask Byron if he know who she is. She is host of the show. Maryse reminds Byron that he is a rookie and he doesn’t make the rules. He listens. Maryse wants to know if Byron can understand her. Maryse welcome everyone to NXT. She says that Yoshi Tatsu will be teaming with Byron Saxton.

Byron interrupts and tells Maryse that he is Big League.

Maryse tells Byron to shut up and she say that he would be selling popcorn in the stand if it wasn’t for this show.

She says that Byron and Yoshi will face Tyson Kidd and Lucky Cannon in a match.

Maryse reminds Byron that next week there will be another elimination.

Lucky kisses Maryse on his way to the ring. Then Yoshi looks at Maryse but he is not as interested in her any more.

Match Number One: Lucky Cannon and Tyson Kidd versus Yoshi Tatsu and ‘Big League’ Byron Saxton

Lucky and Yoshi start things off and Yoshi with a rolling hammer lock into a near fall. Yoshi with another near fall on a rollup. Lucky with a kick and side head lock. Kidd tags in and he punches Yoshi and chokes him. Kidd with a kick to the ribs and then he chokes Yoshi on the apron. Cannon kicks Yoshi while Kidd was with the referee. Kidd sends Yoshi into the turnbuckles and then he kicks Yoshi.

Kidd with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Yoshi. Yoshi goes up top but Lucky gets in Yoshi’s face and Yoshi kicks Cannon off the apron. Kidd pushes Yoshi off the turnbuckles and Cannon kicks him on the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Cannon with an elbow to Yoshi’s back. Cannon runs Yoshi into the corner and then Kidd tags back in and Kidd works on the arm as well as Cannon. Kidd with an arm wringer and then he puts Yoshi in a key lock. Kidd returns to the key lock as he keeps Yoshi on the mat. Kidd turns it into an arm bar. Yoshi with punches followed by an arm drag and a rollup for a near fall.

Kidd with a knee and he tags Cannon back in. Cannon with a forearm and kick. Cannon uses the ropes to add extra pressure to the arm. Cannon sends Yoshi into the mat and gets a near fall. Cannon with a boot to the injured arm. Cannon with a top wrist lock on Yoshi but Yoshi with punches and a kick. Yoshi with chops but Cannon with a kick and then he puts Yoshi on the top turnbuckle. Cannon punches Yoshi and he tries for a superplex but Yoshi pushes him off. Yoshi hits the spinning heel kick and both men are down.

Saxton wants the tag but he pulls his arm away when Yoshi makes it to his corner. Saxton stands on the steps. Kidd misses a charge into the corner and Yoshi with chops to Kidd. Yoshi with kicks to Kidd and he follows it with a running knee into the corner followed by a heel kick for a near fall.

Saxton tags himself in and he tells Yoshi to watch but Yoshi pushes Byron and Kidd puts Saxton in the Sharpshooter and Saxton wants Yoshi to help but he won’t get in there to help him. Saxton taps out.

Winners: Lucky Cannon and Tyson Kidd

After the match, Yoshi returns to the ring and Saxton yells at him. Saxton tells Yoshi that he has ruined his career. Saxton pushes Yoshi but Yoshi kicks Saxton in the head.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for the Raw Rebound.

Todd says that they hope to have info on Big Show’s condition on Friday night.

We take a look at the situation between Darren Young, Hornswoggle, Titus O’Neil, and Chavo Guerrero.

Matt Striker is with Chavo Guerrero and Darren Young. Matt asks Darren why he is choosing this way to make an impact. Darren says that it isn’t deplorable, it is downright genius. Two weeks ago, he did the impossible and made it possible when he beat Titus O’Neill twice. Chavo says that there is a method to his madness and Darren is the frontrunner to win NXT because they are exploiting Titus’ weaknesses. Chavo says that he is going to watch the No Disqualification Match very closely.

JTG comes out to the ring and William Regal is wondering why we are still seeing him because his rookie was eliminated.

We see the footage from last week’s Talent Show between Conor O’Brian and Jacob Novak.

Match Number Two: JTG versus Conor O’Brian with Vladimir Kozlov

They lock up and Conor with a side head lock and shoulder tackle and gets a near fall. Conor with a front face lock followed by an English uppercut and kicks in the corner. Conor with a short arm clothesline and he gets a near fall. JTG rolls to the apron but JTG pulls Conor to the floor and Conor lands awkwardly on the floor.

JTG with a baseball slide to O’Brian and he goes into the ringside barrier. JTG sends Conor back into the ring and he gets a near fall. JTG punches Conor while Kozlov watches from the apron. JTG gets a near fall and then he punches Conor and connects with a knee drop and gets a near fall.

Conor punches JTG but JTG with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. JTG tells Regal that he is a real pro and he gets a near fall on Conor. JTG with knees to the back and then he works on Conor’s back. JTG with a side head lock but Conor gets out of the hold. Conor with punches followed by a clothesline and back elbow. JTG with an Irish whip and a running elbow into the corner. JTG with an X Factor and then he gets in Kozlov’s face and looks at Regal at the announce table. Conor with an inside cradle for the three count.

Winner: Conor O’Brian

After the match, JTG drop kicks Conor into Kozlov and then he attacks O’Brian but Kozlov gets back into the ring and he JTG a head butt to the sternum and JTG goes to the floor.

Titus O’Neil is in his locker room and he is looking for Hornswoggle. He says that it is going to be okay. We see Hornswoggle in a piece of luggage. Titus says that Hornswoggle doesn’t have to worry about Darren or Chavo. He tells Hornswoggle to watch what he does to Darren on the monitor.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Todd reminds us that the polls open at Noon Eastern.

Match Number Three: Darren Young with Chavo Guerrero versus Titus O’Neil in a No Disqualification Match

Young runs away from Titus and they go to the floor. Young runs into a boot after coming off the ropes. Titus with an Irish whip or two and Young goes down hard. Chavo tries to distract Titus but it doesn’t work. Titus calls Darren a bully and then he misses a short arm clothesline. Young with an English uppercut but Titus with an abdominal stretch. Titus with forearms across the upper chest and then he sends Darren to the mat. Young with a knee and punch.

Young with a back elbow and punch to Titus. Young sends Titus into the turnbuckles. Titus with an Irish whip that sends Young over the top rope to the floor. Titus goes out after Young and he sends Darren into the announce table. Titus slams Young’s head into the announce table and then he kicks Young in the chest. He calls Darren a bully and sends him back into the ring.

Titus barks on the floor and when the referee was not looking, Chavo hits Titus in the ribs as we go to commercial.

We are back and Young sends Titus into the apron and then he hot shots Titus on the apron. We see highlights of Young hitting a running knee that sends Titus to the floor.

They return to the ring and Young kicks Titus and then he connects with forearms across the chest. Young with a reverse chin lock while we see Hornswoggle grimacing in his travel bag.

Young with a forearm across the back and then he chokes Titus in the ropes. Chavo with a kick to Titus and Young gets a near fall. Young with a knee to the head and he chokes Titus in the ropes. Young misses a splash into the ropes when Titus moves out of the way.

Young is brought back into the ring from the apron and Titus with clotheslines to Young followed by a barking shoulder breaker for a near fall. Chavo breaks up the cover and Chavo punches Titus. Chavo tells Young something and Chavo gets a chain. Hornswoggle has had enough and he puts on the face paint and he makes his way to the ring.

Chavo hits Titus with the chain while Darren holds him. Chavo wraps the chain around his fist but Hornswoggle comes into the ring. Titus with a double clothesline and then Young uses Hornswoggle as a battering ram on Chavo and Young. O’Neil hits Clash of Titus and then Hornswoggle goes up top for the frog splash and Titus gets the three count.

Winner: Titus O’Neil

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