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3/3 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: ED 'STRANGLER' LEWIS WINS WORLD TITLE NUMBER FOUR

By Mike Johnson on 2014-03-03 07:00:00

March 3rd

On this day in history in ....

1914 - Alex Stewart defeats Jack Forbes to become the first Canadian Featherweight Champion in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

1922 - Ed "Strangler" Lewis wins his fourth World Heavyweight Title, by defeating Stanislaus Zbyszko in Wichita, Kansas, ending Zbyszko's second reign.

1938 - Vic Christy defeats Yvon Robért for the Montreal and Toronto World Heavyweight Titles in Toronto, Ontario.

1944 - Dean Detton wins the San Francisco Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title for the third time, by defeating The Green Panther (Pat Fraley).

1949 - Fred Atkins defeats Whipper Billy Watson to win the Toronto NWA British Empire Heavyweight Title in Toronto, Ontario, ending Watson's seventh reign.

1953 - Fred Blassie and Miguel Lopez defeat Ali Bey and Danny Plechas in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Rocky Mountain Tag Team Title.

1955 - Lloyd Antonation and Curly Gagnon defeat Bobo Bryce and Al Corbett in Winnipeg, Manitoba to become the first Manitoba Tag Team Champions.

1964 - Bob Ellis defeats Bob Orton to win the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.

1966 - Paul Jones defeats Stan Stasiak for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title.

1970 - Bob Orton defeats The Missouri Mauler for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida. This began Orton's fourth reign and ended the Mauler's sixth.

1973 - Gene and Ole Anderson defeat Art Nielson and Johnny Weaver to win the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This began the Andersons' third reign and ended Nielson and Weaver's second reign. At the same event, Jerry Brisco wins his third NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Title, ending Rip Hawk's fourth reign.

1973 - Great Kojika and Gentetsu Matsuoka defeat Killer Karl Krupp and Kurt Von Steiger to win the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan. The title was vacated on January 30, when Michiaki Yoshimura retired. He had held the title with Seiji Sakaguchi.

1975 - Ormand Malumba and Guy Mitchell defeat Gene Kiniski and Mr. Saito to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1976 - Rocky Johnson and José Lothario defeat Killer Tim Brooks and Stan Hansen for the NWA Texas Tag Team Title.

1979 - Carlos Colón defeats Gorilla Monsoon in Bayamón, Puerto Rico to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title. This ended Monsoon's second reign and began Colón's seventh.

1979 - Ron Starr defeats Roddy Piper for the vacant San Francisco NWA United States Heavyweight Title in San Francisco, California.

1980 - Steve Keirn defeats Bugsy McGraw to win the NWA Florida Television Title in West Palm Beach, Florida, ending McGraw's second reign.

1980 - Eddie and Tommy Gilbert defeat Steve Lawler and Siegfried Steinke for the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The title was renamed simply the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Title that same year.

1983 - Kim Duk and Yasu Fuji defeat Bob Brown and Buzz Tyler for the NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas.

1983 - Espectro, Jr. defeats Lizmark to win Mexican National Middleweight Title in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

1986 - Tom Prichard defeats Tim Horner for the Southeast NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama, ending Horner's second reign.

1986 - Abdul Khadafy (Danny Miller) defeats Rick Casey (Wendell Cooley) to win the AWA International Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1986 - Kung Fu defeats Rocky Morton for the British Heavy Middleweight Title in Bradford, England.

1987 - Fuji Yamada (Jushin Liger) defeats Mark Rocco for the World Heavy Middleweight Title in Croydon, England.

1989 - Beauty and The Beast (The Beast and Terrence Garvin) defeat Chris Adams and Jeff Jarrett in a tournament final for the vacant USWA Texas Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas.

1991 - The WWF held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results were:
- Jimmy Snuka defeated The Brooklyn Brawler.
- The Barbarian defeated Koko B. Ware.
- The Big Bossman defeated Haku.
- The British Bulldog defeated The Warlord.
- The Orient Express (Kato and Tanaka) defeated The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke).
- The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) defeated Power and Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma).
- Jake Roberts defeated Rick Martel.
- Kerry Von Erich defeated Ted DiBiase.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Earthquake in a stretcher match.

1991 - Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit) defeats Villano III to win the WWF World Light Heavyweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico, ending Villano III's fifth reign.

1991 - Scott Hall defeats Miguel Pérez, Jr. for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, ending Pérez's second reign.

1993 - Paul Orndorff defeated Erik Watts in a tournament final in Macon, Georgia to win the WCW World Television Title. The match aired on the April 3 edition of Worldwide. The title was vacated in November when The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) left WCW for the WWF. Scott had won the title in September from Ricky Steamboat.

1993 - Mano Negra defeats Atlantis to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Acapulco, Mexico, ending Atlantis' third reign.

1995 - Greg Valentine defeats Tito Santana for the International World Class Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.

1995 - Silver King and El Texano defeat the Headhunters to win the IWA Japan World Tag Team Title in Hiroshima, Japan.

1995 - SATO defeats Super Delfin for the UWF Super Welterweight Title in Osaka, Japan.

1997 - The Monday Night War continued, with WCW Monday Nitro defeating WWF Monday Night RAW, 3.4 to 1.9 in the ratings.

The 77th edition of WCW Monday Nitro was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia and was the final WCW event to be held there. The Omni was demolished later in the year, and Philips Arena was built in its place and opened in 1999. The show results were:
- In a dark match, Ernest Miller pinned Yugi Nagata after a kick off the ropes.
- Konnan and Hugh Morrus defeated Jeff Jarrett and Steve McMichael (with Debra), when Konnan pinned McMichael after Jarrett accidentally hit McMichael with McMichael's steel briefcase.
- Diamond Dallas Page pinned Rick Fuller after the Diamond Cutter.
- Juventud Guerrera pinned Ray Mendoza, Jr. with the 450° Splash.
- Dean Malenko pinned Mike Enos with a small package.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Ultimo Dragon with a crossbody to retain the title.
- Scotty Riggs defeated Michael Wallstreet by disqualification, when Buff Bagwell interfered.
- Rey Misterio, Jr. pinned Mr. JL (Jerry Lynn) with a hurricanrana.
- The Giant and Lex Luger vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) ended in a no-contest when the nWo interfered.

The 199th edition of WWF Monday Night RAW was taped on February 26 at Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany. This was the last episode before the name change to RAW is WAR. The results:
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Bret Hart by disqualification after Hart pushed the referee after he put Helmsley in a Tree of Woe in the corner. After the match, Chyna came into the ring and challenged Hart to fight her, with officials holding her back.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia defeated Vader (with Paul Bearer) by disqualification after Mankind interfered and hit Rocky with Paul Bearer's urn.
- The Sultan defeated Flash Funk by submission with the Camel Clutch.
- WWF Champion Sycho Sid pinned Mankind (with Paul Bearer) after a powerbomb.
- In a tournament final, WWF Tag Team Champion The British Bulldog pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Owen Hart after reversing a victory roll, to become the first WWF European Champion. The tournament took place over seven German events in seven days, in Aschaffenburg, Chemnitz, Dresden, Cologne, Oberhausen, Hamburg and ended at the RAW taping in Berlin. The other participants were: Flash Funk, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Bret Hart, Rocky Maivia, Mankind and Vader. Owen defeated Funk and his brother Bret, and Bulldog defeated Mankind and Vader on their respective roads to the finals.

2000 - Convict #00187 defeats Necro Butcher to win the NWA Texas Hardcore Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.

2001 - El Bronco defeats Jerry Flynn for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico, beginning his second reign. At the same event, Rico Suave and Eddie Watts defeat Thunder and Lightning to win the WWC World Tag Team Title, ending Thunder and Lightning's second reign.

2001 - Pete Gas defeats Steve Bradley to win the Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Bradley's fourth reign.

2001 - Tannie Mouse and Yuki Miyazaki defeat Acute Sae and Yoshiko Tamura to become the first NEO Itabashi Tag Team Champions in Tokyo, Japan.

2001 - Madd Maxx defeats Jeff Justice in Graham, North Carolina for the Carolina Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title.

2002 - Milano Collection A.T. defeats Masato Yoshino in the finals of the Toryumon 2000 Project Strongest League to become the first NWA International Light Heavyweight Champion.

2002 - The W*INGer defeats Trent Acid to win the BJW Junior Heavyweight Title in Yokohama, Japan, beginning his second reign.

2003 - WWE held the 510th edition of RAW live from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, which got a 4.5 rating on TNN. The results were:
Sunday Night Heat:
- World Tag Team Champion Lance Storm defeated Maven by submission with the Sharpshooter.
- The Hurricane pinned Steven Richards (with Victoria) after the Vertebreaker.
RAW:
- Christian pinned Jeff Hardy after the Unprettier.
- Chief Morley pinned Spike Dudley after the Money Shot. If Spike had won the match, the Dudley Boyz would have been reinstated.
- Jacqueline and Trish Stratus defeated Jazz and WWE Women's Champion Victoria (with Steven Richards), when Trish pinned Victoria with a roll-up after reversing a sunset flip.
- Chris Jericho (with Christian) pinned Test (with Stacy Keibler) after a sleeper slam.
- Booker T pinned Scott Steiner with a roll-up out of the corner.
- Kane and Rob Van Dam defeated Tommy Dreamer and Al Snow in a Hardcore match, when RVD pinned both Dreamer and Snow after the Five-Star Frog Splash.

2004 - TNA held its 83rd weekly pay-per-view event at the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. The results:
Dark matches:
- B.G. James pinned John Saxon.
- Trinity pinned ODB.
- El Leon defeated Mike Youngblood.
- Don Harris and Chris Vaughn defeated Jason Porcaro and Ty Smiley.
Pay-per-view matches:
- Chris Harris pinned Kevin Northcutt.
- D'Lo Brown, Simon Diamond, Ron Killings, Konnan and Sonny Siaki defeated Glenn Gilberti, Kid Kash, Michael Shane, Johnny Swinger and David Young, when Diamond pinned Young.
- Frankie Kazarian pinned Jerry Lynn.
- Sonjay Dutt, TNA X Division Champion Chris Sabin and Elix Skipper defeated Ebessan, Kuishinbo Kamen and NOSAWA, when Skipper pinned NOSAWA.
- Abyss and A.J. Styles fought to a no-contest in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
- Chris Harris pinned Shane Douglas.

2004 - OVW held its weekly television taping at Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, the show airing on March 6. The results:
- Adrenaline (Chris Cage and Tank Toland) defeated OVW Southern Tag Team Champions The Jersey Shore Crew (Aaron Stevens and Nova (with Trudi DeNucci)) to win the title, beginning their second reign.
- Jillian Hall defeated Ivory.
- The Troubleshooters (Brent Albright and Chris Masters) defeated Seth Skyfire and Standing Thunder (Wavell Starr).
- Matt Cappotelli defeated John Hennigan by disqualification.
- Matt Morgan and Sean O'Haire defeated Inspector Impact (Matt Wiese) and John Laurinaitis.
- John Cena defeated Hardcore Holly.
- Doug Basham, The Damaja and Johnny Jeter (with Alexis Laree) defeated Mark Magnus and The Lords of the Ring (Rob Conway and OVW Heavyweight Champion Nick Dinsmore) (with Nikita).

2007 - Scotty Mac ends Moondog Manson's eighth reign as NWA Pacific Northwest Hardcore Champion in Vancouver, British Columbia.

2009 - In an interview with  The UK Mirror, actor and early Wrestlemania headliner Mr. T commented that he turned down an invitation to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame because of the induction of another celebrity, Pete Rose, ahead of him.

"WWE asked me to be in the Hall of Fame and I turned it down. You know why? They put Pete Rose in the wrestling Hall of Fame. This guy can't even get into his own Hall of Fame.  After they put Rose in they came and asked me and I said "You don't insult me! You don't put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame before me! I ain’t going to be a part of that.  They put him in and he only did one WrestleMania, and he didn't even wrestle."

For the record, Pete Rose actually appeared at Wrestlemanias 14-16, one more than T, doing a bit with Kane each year that led to Rose taking some sort of bump. 

2009 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

and Jack Swagger where Swagger was able to get the victory over the man who was on ‘hiatus’ for the last three years.

We are live on tape from Boston, Massachusetts and your announcers are Matt ‘Good Will’ Striker and Todd ‘Vintage Triple Crown’ Grisham.

Match Number One: Kane versus The Boogeyman
Boogeyman shimmies as Kane wants some worms. Boogeyman gives them to Kane but it was a trap and Kane with an uppercut. Kane puts Boogey in the corner and then he punches him followed by a snap mare and drop kick for a near fall. Kane with a slam and then he goes to the top turnbuckle but Boogeyman moves on the clothesline. Boogeyman with a splash into the corner but he runs into a big boot from Kane. Kane kicks Boogeyman out of the ring but Boogeyman drops Kane on the top rope and into the turnbuckles. Boogeyman comes off the top turnbuckle and Kane catches him by the throat and hits the choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Kane

We go to commercial.

Match Number Two: Mark Henry with Tony Atlas versus Santino Marella with Beth Phoenix and Rosa Mendez in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Before the match, he points out that Mark is the World’s Strongest Man, but the women do not worship his body. Santino says that the women go crazy for him. Santino says that he could have been Mr. Italy or a lifeguard on Baywatch. Santino says that nobody can save Henry.

Santino runs into Henry and Santino goes down and he goes down hard. Santino rolls to the floor and Henry goes out after him. Santino with forearms to Henry but he tries for a cross body but he bounces off Henry. Santino with punches and he tries for another cross body but Henry catches him and hits the World’s Strongest Slam.
Winner: Mark Henry

We are back and Evan Bourne has another video package hyping his return.

It is time for The Dirty Awards with the hosts Miz and John Morrison.

It is time for a look back and the official announcement that instead of sending Triple H to jail, Randy Orton is going to wrestle Triple H at Wrestlemania.

Did you know that people buy a lot of WWE DVDs?

Match Number Three: Alicia Fox with DJ Gabriel versus Natalya with Tyson Kidd
They lock up and Natalya throws Alicia to the mat and then hits a waist lock take down. Alicia with a side head lock take down. Natalya with a side head lock and Alicia with a drop kick and Natalya retreats to the ropes. Natalya with a kick and forearm. Natalya with a slam and punches. Natalya with a kick to the midsection and a forearm to the back. Natalya with an abdominal stretch. Alicia escapes the hold but Natalya with a slap. Alicia avoids a charge into the corner and gets a near fall with a sunset flip. Alicia with a clothesline and rollup but Natalya kicks out. Alicia with a kick to the midsection but he falls victim to the Sharpshooter and Alicia taps.
Winner: Natalya

After the match Tyson Kidd attacks DJ Gabriel but Gabriel drops Kidd on the top rope and hits a European uppercut that sends Kidd to the floor.

It is time to take a look at the movie that will lead to Orange Sash . . . 12 Rounds starring John Cena as a man whose wife is kidnapped and he must save her.

Did you know that Bill Watts is going to be in the Hall of Fame? If you watched Raw, you would already know.

Match Number Four: Jack Swagger, John Morrison, and The Miz versus Tommy Dreamer, Christian, and Fit Finlay with Hornswoggle
Dreamer and Swagger start things off and he tags in Miz before they lock up. They lock up and Miz with knees and punches. Dreamer blocks a hip toss and hits a neck breaker. Dreamer sends Miz into a boot from Finlay. Finlay with a short arm clothesline and boot to the hand. Finlay with a near fall and he returns to the arm. Miz sends Finlay into the turnbuckles and Finlay rolls to the floor. Miz tries for a baseball slide and Finlay pulls out the ring skirt and Miz falls into it. Finlay throws Hornswoggle into Miz and Morrison and we go to commercial.

We are back and Finlay with a boot to Miz’s solar plexus. Christian tags in and he kicks Miz. Miz with a kick to Christian but Christian with a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Christian with a drop toe hold and Dreamer tags in and hits an elbow drop. Miz with a forearm to the back and Morrison tags in. Dreamer with a hip toss and power slam for a near fall. Dreamer goes to the turnbuckles but Morrison with a spin kick that knocks Dreamer to the floor. Swagger rolls Dreamer into the ring and Morrison punches him. Swagger tags in and he kicks Dreamer and hits an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Swagger with a front face lock and forearms to the back. Miz tags in and he kicks and punches Dreamer. The ref keeps Christian and Finlay in the corner as Miz gets a near fall. Dreamer with elbows in the corner but Miz drives Dreamer into the turnbuckles for a near fall. Morrison tags in and they hit a double back body drop. Morrison with a series of boots to the chest. Swagger is tagged back in and he kicks Dreamer. Dreamer with elbows and a sunset flip for a near fall. Swagger with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Swagger tries for the Vader Splash but Dreamer gets his knees up and both men are down. Morrison tags in and he keeps Dreamer from making the tag but Christian is finally tagged in. Christian punches Morrison and hits a back body drop. Morrison with a forearm and then Christian is send towards his corner and he inadvertently elbows Finlay off the apron. Christian sets for the inverted DDT but Miz tries to interfere but Christian hits the move before Miz shows up. Morrison floats over but Christian kicks Morrison and hits a sunset flip for a two count. Morrison tries for Moonlight Drive but Christian gets out of the hold and he tries for the Unprettier but Morrison breaks up the hold. Christian hits the Tornado DDT and he knocks Swagger down with a forearm. Dreamer pulls Swagger off the apron. Christian with the diving head butt to Morrison but Miz breaks up the cover. Finlay clothesline Miz over the top rope to the floor. Swagger makes the blind tag and Christian hits the Unprettier, but Swagger hits the Doctor Bomb for the three count.
Winner: Jack Swagger, John Morrison, and the Miz

2010 - Ring of Honor announced that Kevin Kelly would be joining the company as an announcer.

2011 - Brian McCarthy, 32, of Deer Park, Texas was arrested and charged with illegally distributing pirated broadcasts of TV shows, films, sports programming and PPV events, including WWE PPVs, according to a press release issued by

The release reads:

HSI agents arrest website operator that illegally streamed copyrighted sporting events

NEW YORK March 3, 2011 -- The operator of a website that illegally streamed live, copyrighted sporting events on the Internet was arrested this morning by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Bryan McCarthy, 32, of Deer Park, Texas, was taken into custody at his home and is charged with one count of criminal infringement of a copyright. He was the operator of channelsurfing.net, which was seized by federal authorities on Feb. 1, 2011, as part of an ongoing HSI investigation into websites that illegally streamed copyrighted sporting telecasts and pay-per-view events.

The investigation into McCarthy revealed that he made more than $90,000 in profits from online merchants who paid him to advertise on the website. Since the seizure of the site, it has received more than 1.3 million hits.

"Today's arrest is another step forward in the ongoing investigation by New York HSI Agents into copyright infringement and theft of intellectual property rights," said James T. Hayes, special agent in charge of HSI in New York. "We will continue to investigate illegal streaming of programming on the Internet in an effort to preserve legitimate and creative business interests and deter others from engaging in online piracy."

"Brian McCarthy allegedly sought to profit by intercepting and then streaming live sporting events, hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to make a quick buck through what is little more than high-tech thievery," said Preet Bhara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. "This arrest sends a clear message that this office, working with its partners at HSI, will vigorously protect valuable intellectual property rights through arrests and domain name seizures."

According to the criminal complaint unsealed Thursday in federal court and the seizure affidavit, channelsurfing.net was an online portal to pirated telecasts of sporting events of the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). All of these organizations hold the copyrights to the televised broadcasts of their respective sporting events.

Visitors to channelsurfing.net would simply click on one of a number of links to begin the process of downloading or streaming an illegal broadcast of a sporting event. During the investigation, HSI agents downloaded portions of live copyrighted telecasts of various sporting events. The website also contained links to various live television channels as well.

McCarthy registered the channelsurfing.net domain name in December 2005 and operated the website until the time of its seizure out of his home in Texas. At the time it was seized, channelsurfing.net was one of the most popular of the websites that streamed illegal content.

If convicted on the charge of criminal infringement of a copyright, McCarthy faces a maximum of five years in prison. This case is being handled by the Southern District of New York's Complex Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Frey is in charge of the prosecution.

The charge contained in the complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

2011 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling.  Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:

Welcome to the TNA Impact Report here on PWInsider.com, as we're NOT live from Fayetteville, North Carolina!

Dixie Carter starts the show in the ring, emotionally thanking the fans who have reached out to her online with their moral support. The support over the last few weeks has meant the world to her, but she's here tonight to share the outcome of the legal proceedings that started last November. While things didn't go as she had hoped, she can promise us-

Immortal's music hits, and Eric Bischoff comes out with his crew. Bischoff mockingly wipes tears from his eye and says that he agreed to let her come out here but it wasn't to do her PR stuff and Twitterize the fans. Before they see her go, Bischoff just wants to say that he respects her and has learned a lot from her, and even though she's a woman in a man's world, she has one massive set of balls. Flair gets in Dixie's face and asks if she's understands that she's in Flair Country, and if she had taken his room key that night in Orlando, they would have avoided all this. Instead, she texts, tweets, emails, and voicemails because she thinks the fans are going to love her. Flair says to do the jet flying and limousine riding, a chick needs money and that's what Flair wants because whoever has the most toys wins the game. He tells her there's a Holiday Inn right down the road, then introduces the legend and the man who makes everything go...Hulk Hogan! Hulk shows up to work for the first time in three months and triumphantly strolls to the ring to give Dixie a piece of his mind. He says that maybe he's all amped up because of the electricity in this building or his adrenal glands are pumping so fast that he's not thinking straight, but he was in the courtroom with Dixie today and he now controls 100% of TNA, from the ring to HIS office in Nashville, he makes all the decisions. As for Dixie, she's just unemployed. Somewhere along the way, Dixie became delusional, and people call him an egomaniac but nobody became a bigger fan of themselves than she did. He and Eric used her to get back on top of the wrestling business and somewhere along the way, she forgot what her place in TNA is, was, and always will be: she supplies the money, period. It was never about them being partners, it was always about Hulk and his real partner Eric Bischoff using her to get back on top of the wrestling business and they used her and her whole family because she's a weak woman. All she has left is her dignity, and they're fixin' to take that too, but she has one thing left, and that's all the fans out there. But the fans that love her don't have much to say about it because he runs this company 100% right now and that's all there is to the story.

Fortune's music hits, and they come out to the top of the ramp. AJ Styles tells Immortal they can do this the easy way or the hard way, and Fortune likes doing it the hard way, but there's a woman in the ring, and Kazarian says they weren't talking about Bischoff. AJ says they're talking about Dixie Carter, a woman they care about because she gave them an opportunity and brought them to FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA! AJ has Dixie leave the ring and he walks her up the ramp as Robert Roode tells Hogan that he can't believe that he was the reason he became a pro wrestler, but there's an old saying that you should never meet your idols because they're just going to let you down, and that statement couldn't be more true. Flair tells Roode that he can kiss his ass and Hogan's and he can keep walking, so Roode says that instead of kissing his ass, maybe they should kick it. Fortune rushes the ring, but is held back by security and we're at commercial.

We go backstage to Immortal laughing at their moral and legal victory over Dixie Carter, and they run into Bart Scott from the New York Jets. He high fives the entire group and starts to walk off with Matt Hardy, but they run into Dixie and Fortune and start shooting their mouth off at Dixie, leading to a fight between AJ and Kazarian brawling with Matt Hardy and Bart Scott. Indestructible Security Inc pulls them apart as Jeff and Karen Jarrett, totally oblivious to the anarchy around them, stroll through with big smiles on their faces on their way to renew their vows.

We go to a video package recapping the history of the Jeff Jarrett-Kurt Angle feud leading into tonight, where Kurt will give his former wife away to Jarrett in their unholy ceremony.

We go backstage to Eric Bischoff bitching to Hulk Hogan about a network guy telling him that Jeff Hardy's going to defend the TNA World Title tonight without telling him who it was going to be against. Hogan says it's okay because he's in charge and not to assume anything about tonight, because anything can and will happen in this business.

We're off to the ring for our first match...

TNA World Tag Team Title Match: Beer Money vs Gunner & Murphy

Gunner & Murphy didn't get an entrance here. They attack Beer Money on their way into the ring and toss Robert Roode to the floor, then double team James Storm. Murphy rakes Storm's eyes across the top rope and then they tag in and out while working storm over. Storm boots Gunner in the face and clotheslines Murphy and makes the hot tag to Roode, who comes in and cleans house on Gunner. Roode with a big backdrop on Gunner and then starts unloading on Murphy and kills him with a clothesline. Roode goes for a uranage but Gunner blocks, so Roode hits a spinebuster instead and gets 2. Murphy boots Roode in the face and holds him for Gunner, but Roode ducks and Gunner nails Murphy, then gets superkicked by Storm and then Beer Money hit a double suplex on Murphy and give Gunner the DWI for the win.

Winners: Beer Money

Ink Inc come out after the match and Shannon Moore welcomes them to North Cackalacky. Moore says these are his people, this is his house, and (holding up the book) this is his Book of DILLIGAF, and the Book of DILLIGAF says that Ink Inc are going to be challenging Beer Money for the title at the next PPV. Storm says they'll give them their title shot because they're the best team in the business today, and he's sorry about their damn luck.

We go backstage to the Jarretts as Karen talks about her 10 foot wedding cake. Eric Young is taking a dump behind them, and he says that he's known Jeff a long time and wants to be his best man, but the best Jeff will give him is ring bearer.

We head out to the parking lot as Angelina, formerly from the Jersey Shore, gets out of a limo.

We go backstage to Kurt Angle arriving at the building with his son who he failed to win custody of against Jeff Jarrett at the last PPV. I love TNA's continuity.

Time for our next match...

Sarita vs Velvet Sky, Velvet will retire if she loses

Velvet looks angry and Sarita tries to calm her down, but Velvet grabs her by the hair and clotheslines her, then reverses a suplex attempt to a pinning combination for 2. Velvet dodges a dropkick and gets a wheelbarrow armdrag and a springboard bulldog. Rosita tries to interfere, but Angelina runs in and neutralizes her. Earl Hebner tosses both of them out, and Sarita comes from behind and gets several inverted DDT/kneedrops and sets for the Tiger Driver, but Velvet escapes and hits the DDT for the win.

Winner: Velvet Sky

We all knew that was coming. Velvet barely has a moment to celebrate her win before the Shorre comes down with Angelina. Cookie reminds them that they beat her down 4-on-1 last time, but this time she got Angelina, the real star of Jersey Shore, and she's got a message for them to deliver to J WOWW. Angelina tells everyone to shut up and calls the Beautiful People sluts, then tells them to get J WOWW here to face her in the ring Jersey Shore style. Velvet tells her that if she's got something to say to J WOWW then she can say it to her face. Velvet goes to leave but Angelina kicks her in the butt, so Velvet goes after her but Sarita nails Velvet from behind and leaves with Angelina and the Shore. Angelina gets a mic and says that if they want a fight, to show up next week and they'll have themselves a six way. I assume she meant six woman tag, but I guess it was deliberately phrased.

Ken Anderson is backstage saying his head's in the ring because he's getting a title shot tonight. The network knows they made a mistake when they gave Rob Van Dam his title shot, and they know that he's where the ratings are and he's going to go out there tonight and get his title back. His final words for Jeff Hardy are that nice guys do finish last and sometimes good things do happen to good people...and assholes.

Eric Young finds Orlando Jordan backstage as he's modeling his new I <3 Tag Teaming t-shirt and tells him that he's going to be Jeff Jarrett's best man and ring bearer. Suddenly he realizes he doesn't have the ring and accuses OJ of stealing it. Young takes OJ down with a fireman's carry and OJ tells him to check his shoe since that's where he puts all his other valuables. Young checks the shoe and, sure enough, there it is.

We go to Jeff Jarrett backstage getting dressed for the ceremony, and Ric Flair comes in to hang out. Jeff says that Flair's the expert on honeymoons, but he's got a great honeymoon lined up because he's taking Karen and the kids to the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios. Flair says he should just bring his mother-in-law and kill himself, but Jeff says Flair doesn't understand what the whole relationship's about.

We go back to Kurt Angle, who is taping up his fists while his son watches. Some mysterious person leads the boy away as Kurt finishes taping his fists, and we're at commercial.

We come back to Hogan backstage on the phone discussing tonight's title match with the network. He said he doesn't care about Hardy defending the title tonight, it's just the mystery of who he's wrestling, and he tells them it's okay to give the fans a mystery, but not to keep things from people you're in business with. The network apparently won't budge, and Hogan hangs up with an unsatisfied look on his face.

Okay, it's time for the renewal of vows, and we kick it off with Eric Young, with a big ridiculous smile on his face, coming out with the ring as Orlando Jordan is wearing a dress and will apparently be the flower girl. Jeff Jarrett comes out to a round of boos, but doesn't make it halfway down the ramp before Kurt Angle comes sprinting out and nails him from behind, beats him all the way up the ramp, and repeatedly drills Jarrett in the face. Jarrett stumbles to keep his balance and not fall on the cake, but Angle clotheslines him and points at the cake, but Karen Jarrett comes running out from the back and grabs Kurt from behind, then slaps Kurt in the face. Kurt responds by grabbing her and JAMMING her face into the cake. Kurt licks the cake off his taped fist with a big smile on his face as Karen throws a fit with cake all over her face.

Back to Hogan, as he is now joined by Hogan, who says that one thing the network can't control is that he's a fighting champion and he'll have to defend the title tonight. Hardy says okay, but Hogan says he just can't get the network to tell him who Hardy will be wrestling, and they think some big surprise will get them ratings. Hogan says he thinks of Hardy as his son and would tell him if he knew, but Hardy's got the get his head straight and do it tonight because he's the leader of the pack.

We go backstage as the Jarretts are flipping out at Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair over what just happened, and they tell Bischoff that the renewal of vows had better happen tonight, then they storm out the door. Hogan comes in and they powwow about what's going to happen tonight with Hardy and have nothing important to add.

Back to the ring...

Rob Terry vs Scott Steiner

Terry attacks Steiner before the bell and beats him down, but Steiner catches him with a back elbow and a T-Bone Suplex, then clotheslines Terry to the floor. Steiner goes out after him and tries to ram Terry into the ringpost, but Terry blocks and rams Steiner into the post instead, then picks him up and rams his back into the post again. Terry tosses Steiner back into the ring and puts the boots to him, then hits a British Bulldog-style powerslam for 2. Terry whips Steiner to the ropes, but Steiner gets the boot up on the charge and plants Terry with a belly to belly suplex. Steiner hits a Flatliner and runs Terry over with a Steinerline, then drops the elbow and does pushups at 2. Steiner puts Terry on top and hits a top rope fallaway slam, then finishes with the Steiner Recliner.

Winner: Scott Steiner

We go backstage to Angle as he's taking his tape off and Ric Flair walks in with Bart Scott. Angle says he's a big fan, but Scott blows him off and Flair says that he thinks Angle took the torch from him, but if he tries to interfere in tonight's wedding ceremony, he's going to have a problem and his name is Bart Scott.

We come back as Mike Tenay and Taz are sitting with Joe Warren, former All American wrestler from the University Of Michigan, who is now competing in MMA and won the World Featherweight Title in some company I've never heard of. He pimps the TV show he's on, and will be doing commentary on the next match, which is up now...

Hernandez vs Matt Morgan

Yeah, I can see what an amateur wrestler can add to this match. Hernandez tries to jump Morgan on his way in the ring, but Morgan nails him with a clothesline and stomps away at him in the corner. Morgan charges Hernandez in the corner and hits a side suplex for 2, and Hernandez bails to the floor. Hernandez tries to take a walk, but Morgan goes out after him and takes him back to ringside and launches him back into the ring. Hernandez begs for mercy, but Morgan just kicks him in the face and tries to slam him, but Hernandez slips out the back, takes his t-shirt off, and tries to toss Morgan with it, but Morgan blocks and uses the t-shirt to toss Hernandez clear across the ring and Hernandez crashes into the turnbuckles. Morgan with the machine gun elbows and then he clotheslines Hernandez back out to the floor. Morgan goes after him and Hernandez begs off again, but Tullys him into the stairs and then repeatedly rams him face first into the steps until the referee has had enough and calls for the bell.

Winner: Matt Morgan by DQ

Hernandez cockily struts back up the ramp as Morgan lays bleeding on the floor.

We go backstage to Hulk Hogan as he's begging someone at the network to find out who Jeff Hardy's wrestling tonight, then he tells the mystery cameraman to send Anderson in. Anderson walks in and Hogan tells him he hates him, but he has good news and bad news. The good news is Hogan sees him and smells money, but the bad news is that he doesn't get a title shot tonight. Anderson asks why he keeps screwing with him, but Hogan says they're in the same boat because neither of them know what's going on. Anderson says he doesn't care about Hogan or Immortal, but because of Hogan and his buddies, he doesn't have his TNA World Title anymore. Anderson tells Hogan that he never thought he'd tell Hogan this, but he's disgusted by him. Anderson walks out and Hogan says to tell him next time he slams a 700 pound giant.

Okay, we're going to try this vow renewal thing again, so we get Eric Young and Orlando Jordan come back out again, followed by Jeff Jarrett, and finally Karen is walked out to the ring by Kurt, who has a big scary smile on his face as he leads his ex-wife to the ring/altar. He hands Karen over to Jeff and gives Jeff a nice pat on the back, then steps off to the side to enjoy the ceremony with a big smile on his face. The Jarretts renew their vows to the overwhelming boos of the crowd, then read bonus vows that they prepared especially for this occasion. Jeff says that now Karen is married to a real man and not a gutless excuse for a man, and he'll forever treat her like the princess he is, and she will not be unappreciated by a man who didn't deserve her in the first place. All the gold medals in the world couldn't symbolize his love for her, and she truly is the wind beneath his wings. Karen says this is a little overwhelming, but she'll do her best: Jeff is right, he is a real man and not like another man because from the moment they fell in love, he made her his first priority unlike another man. He made sure that whatever the princess wanted, she made sure she got it, and every night before they go to bed, he makes sure his princess goes to bed happy. He's not selfish and makes sure the princess is taken care of...unlike another man. Also, Jeff is an amazing father because no matter how many days he's on the road or how tired and beat up he is, he walks through the door with a smile on his face and wants to know what they've been doing. Bottom line: Jeff Jarrett completes her. Eric Young gets the rings out of his shoe and they do the exchange (the crowd is booing the hell out of this), then the minister announces on the behalf of the State of North Carolina and Department Of Motor Vehicles, he pronounces them man and wife. Jeff kisses the bride and then Kurt asks the minister if they're done, and the minister says they are, so Kurt tips over the podium and retrieves an ax from underneath and destroys the wedding set as the Jarretts head for higher ground. Eric Bischoff comes out with Bart Scott and sends him after Kurt Angle. Scott heads to the ring and shoves Angle, then does it again. Angle says he doesn't want any trouble and tries to leave, but Scott piefaces him so Angle takes him down and hooks the ankle lock, and Scott taps as Indestructible Security Inc quickly jumps in and drags Angle off of Bart Scott.

Jeff Hardy is backstage saying that it's okay that the network won't let him know who he's facing because this is his home state and he's going to walk out the TNA World Champion. We go out to the parking lot as a mysterious boot steps out of a limo...and we'll find out who it belongs to next!

We're back, and it's main event time...but who is Jeff Hardy's opponent? Yeah, you have to have been living under a rock not to know by now.

TNA World Title Match: Jeff Hardy vs Sting

They lead off with a repeat of the 3-3-11 graphic and then Sting makes his way to the ring. Jeff Hardy is visibly upset, and Sting goes right after him and tries for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Hardy bails to the floor. Hardy slides back in and suckerpunches Sting and rams him into the corner and puts the boots to him, but Sting blocks a vertical suplex, picks the legs, and locks in the Scorpion Deathlock. He's got Hardy right in the middle of the ring and Hardy hangs on and gets to the ropes and rolls out to the floor. Sting goes after him and suplexes him on the ramp, then takes him back to ringside and rams him into the guardrail and tries for a Stinger Splash, but Hardy moves and Sting cracks his ribs on the barricade. Hardy capitalizes by ramming Sting to the ring steps and tosses him back in the ring, hitting a legdrop and then going for the Twist of Hate, but Sting breaks free and no-sells Hardy's offense and starts firing back, hitting a bulldog and the Scorpion Deathdrop for 2. Hardy dodges the Stinger Splash and goes for the Whisper In The Wind, but Sting nails him and hits a top rope Scorpion Deathdrop and then drags him out to the middle of the ring for another Scorpion Deathdrop and covers for the win.

Winner and new TNA World Champion: Sting

The new champion holds the belt high as Jeff Hardy crawls to the back and we fade to black.

2012 - Former WWF, WCW, ECW and All Japan Pro Wrestling star Doug Furnas passed away.

2013 - Richard "Dirty Dick" Slater was arrested by Pinellas Park, FL Police on a charge of failure to appear in court on a petit theft charge.  He was scheduled to appear in court on 2/25 after being arrested on the petit theft charge on 2/5, but did not do so.  A warrant was issued for his arrest and he is being held in the Pinellas County Jail on a bond of $2,026.  The arrest was Slater's fifth in Pinellas County since 2007.

2013 - The Simpsons aired an episode, titled "Gorgeous Grandpa", where it was revealed that Grandpa Simpson had a former life as a professional wrestler, Gorgeous Godfrey, who was a feared villain. It turns out that Mr. Burns was a huge fan and convinces Grandpa to return to the ring.

 

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