This Day In History.... (will be updated daily when possible)

[russell33]

Thanks to pwinsider.com,Dave,Tom, and mike for helping

October 24th

On this day in history in ....

1956 - Mitsuo Surugaumi defeats Michiaki Yoshimura in a tournament final to become the first Japanese Junior Heavyweight Champion in Tokyo, Japan.

1967 - Paul DeMarco and Lorenzo Parente defeat Kurt and Skull Von Stroheim to win the Florida version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.

1970 - Moondog Mayne defeats Mr. Fuji to win his 11th NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title.

1974 - Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens defeat Crusher & Billy Robinson in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to win the AWA World Tag Team Title for their third and final time.

1976 - Alfonso Dantes wins his second NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Guadalajara, Mexico, defeating Carlos Plata.

1979 - Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood win the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Raleigh, North Carolina, ending the second reign of Paul Jones and Baron Von Raschke.

1979 - Bobby Eaton wins his second NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title, ending the fifth reign of Dutch Mantel in Nashville, Tennessee.

1980 - Tiger Jeet Singh scores the biggest win of his career, defeating Antonio Inoki in Okinawa, Japan for the UWA World Heavyweight Title.

1980 - Tony Atlas defeats Dennis Condrey to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia.

1981 - "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal defeats "Playboy" Buddy Rose for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, ending Rose's seventh reign and beginning his second.

1982 - Jumbo Tsuruta defeats Harley Race to win the NWA United National Heavyweight Title for the fifth time in Kitami, Japan.

1983 - Jimmy Garvin defeats Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title in Fort Worth, Texas.

1993 - WCW held their Halloween Havoc Pay-per-view in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Lakefront Arean. Here are the results:
- Ice Train, Charlie Norris & The Shockmaster defeated Harlem Heat & The Equalizer when Shockmaster pinned Kole (Booker T) after giving him a bearhug.
- Paul Orndorff defeated Ricky Steamboat via countout after the Assassin, seconding Orndorff at ringside, headbutted Steamboat with a foreign object.
- WCW Television Champion Steven Regal vs. Davey Boy Smith ended in a time-limit draw just as Smith was covering Regal for the pin after a piledriver.
- United States Champion Dustin Rhodes defeated Steve Austin. Austin pinned Rhodes with his feet on the ropes, but the referee restarted the match, and Rhodes rolled up Austin from behind for the pin as he argued with the referee.
- The Nasty Boys defeated Marcus Bagwell & 2 Cold Scorpio to win the WCW World Tag Team Title when Knobbs pinned Scorpio after Saggs hit him with his boot.
- Sting defeated Sid Vicious when Col. Robert Parker accidentally hit Sid.
- WCW International World Champion Rick Rude defeated Ric Flair via DQ. After both the original referee and second referee Terry Taylor were knocked out, Rude pulled out a foreign object, but Flair got control of it and knocked out Rude. Flair covered Rude, and Taylor counted the pin, but the original referee disqualified Flair for using the foreign object.
- Vader defeated Cactus Jack in a Texas Death match. This was a "Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal" match, where Cactus spun a wheel with various match stipulations to determine what type of match this would be. The finish saw Cactus hit Vader with a DDT after losing a fall, but manager Harley Race zapped Cactus with a taser. When the rest period after the fall ended, Cactus couldn't answer the ten count and Vader was declared the winner.

1994 - The Moondogs (Spot & Rex) defeat the Phantoms for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, starting their second reign.

1998 - A card held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey sees three championships decided. Doug Gilbert wins the NWA National Heavyweight Title from Stevie Richards, starting his second reign. Christopher Daniels and Kevin Quinn defeat Danny Dominion and Ace Steel to become the first NWA Midwest Tag Team Champions, and E.Z. Ryder defeats Paul Atlas to win the revived NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title.

1998 - The Dudley Boys defeat Rob Van Dam & Sabu in Cleveland, Ohio to win their fourth ECW World Tag Team Title.

1999 - WCW held their Halloween Havoc Pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This was the first WCW PPV since the arrival of writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara from the WWF. Here are the results:
- Cruiserweight Champion Disco Inferno defeated Lash LeRoux with the Last Dance (stunner). After the match, LeRoux powerbombed Disco on the title belt.
- Harlem Heat defeated Konnan & Billy Kidman (subbing for Rey Mysterio) and Brian Knobbs & Hugh Morrus in a Falls Count Anywhere, Streetfight, Triangle Match to win the WCW World Tag Team Title. Harlem Heat pinned Knobbs at the same time Kidman pinned Morrus, but the referee ruled that Harlem Heat's pin came first, so they got the belts.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Perry Saturn via DQ when Ric Flair ran in and hit Guerrero with a crowbar. Flair also hit Billy Kidman with a crowbar, and kissed Torrie Wilson, before leaving.
- A backstage brawl saw Bill Goldberg bloody Sid Vicious.
- Jeff Jarrett vs. Buff Bagwell never takes place as Lex Luger tried to hit Jarrett with a guitar, but instead hits Bagwell, knocking him out.
- Brad Armstrong defeated Berlyn when he blocked a neckbreaker by holding onto the top rope and got the pin.
- Rick Steiner defeated Chris Benoit to win the WCW Television Title when Dean Malenko turned on Benoit and hit him with a chair.
- Lex Luger defeated Bret Hart via submission with a single leg Boston crab on Hart's previously injured leg.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting defeated Hulk Hogan in three seconds. Hogan walked to the ring, said something to Sting, then laid down on the mat and let Sting pin him before leaving.
- Bill Goldberg defeated Sid Vicious when the referee stopped the match due to Sid's bleeding. Sid kept wanting to continue, and finally Rick Steiner convinced him to return to the locker room after the referee ended the match.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Ric Flair in a Strap match with a Diamond Cutter. After the match, The Filthy Animals attack Flair and drive off with him in an ambulance.
- Bill Goldberg defeated Sting in three minutes to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title in an impromptu match with a spear and jackhammer. The next night, the title was held up due to this being an unsanctioned match, and due to Sting hitting the referee during the bout.

1999 - Bombero Infernal defeats Mr. Niebla to win the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico.

[hydrophonic]

Nice work.  +1

1974 - Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens defeat Crusher & Billy Robinson in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to win the AWA World Tag Team Title for their third and final time.

Two of the all time greats right there.

1993 - WCW held their Halloween Havoc Pay-per-view in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Lakefront Arean. Here are the results:
- WCW Television Champion Steven Regal vs. Davey Boy Smith ended in a time-limit draw just as Smith was covering Regal for the pin after a piledriver.

I miss that kind of booking.

[russell33]

October 25th

On this day in history in ....

1910 - Henry Ordemann defeats Frank Gotch in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the American Heavyweight Title, ending Gotch's third reign.

1955 - Ronnie Etchison & Ray Stern defeat Gene Kiniski & Lord James Blears to win the Joe Malcewicz-promoted San Francisco version of the NWA World Tag Team Title.

1958 - Jack Dempsey defeats Alan Colbeck in Newcastle, England for the European Welterweight Title.

1961 - Lord James Blears defeats Curtis Iaukea to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1962 - El Rayo de Jalisco defeats Rene Guajardo for the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1966 - José Lothario & Eddie Graham defeat The Infernos (Frankie Cain & Rocky Smith) to win the Florida version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.

1969 - Bronko Lubich & Chris Markoff defeat Ciclon Negro & Sam Steamboat in Tampa, Florida for the NWA Florida Tag Team Title.

1972 - José Lothario defeat Stan Stasiak to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in San Antonio, Texas.

1973 - Mike George & Jim Brunzell defeat The Great Togo & Tokyo Joe for the Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Title.

1974 - Victor Rivera & Dino Bravo defeat Tonny Rocco & Raul Reyes for the vacant NWA Americas Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California.

1976 - Jesse "The Body" Ventura & "Playboy" Buddy Rose defeat Dutch Savage & Jimmy Snuka to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, ending Savage and Snuka's fourth reign.

1978 - Ed Wiskoski & Buddy Rose defeat Dean Ho & Ron Starr to win the Roy Shire-promoted San Francisco version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Sacramento, California.

1980 - Jay Youngblood & Joe Lightfoot defeat Rip Oliver & Fidel Cortez for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.

1981 - Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff win the NWA American Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.

1982 - El Satanico defeats Cesar Curiel to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning his second reign.

1982 - Paul Jones defeats Jack Brisco for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title in Fayetteville, North Carolina, ending Brisco's fourth reign and starting his second.

1982 - In Memphis, Tennessee, The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn & Stan Lane) defeat Koko Ware & Bobby Eaton for the AWA Southern Tag Team Title.

1982 - David Schultz defeats Bob Armstrong in Birmingham, Alabama to win the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title.

1984 - Harley Race wins the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title from Hacksaw Higgins in Kansas City, Kansas, beginning his eighth reign.

1985 - Wayne Farris & Ron Starr defeat Kerry Brown and Hubert Gallant in a tournament final to win the vacant Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

1986 - Don Kent ends the fifth WWC Junior Heavyweight Title reign of Invader III in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

1992 - Dick Murdoch defeats Invader I in Bayamón, Puerto Rico to win the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title.

1992 - WCW Halloween Havoc took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Civic Center. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Erik Watts & Van Hammer defeated Vinnie Vegas & Diamond Dallas Page when Watts pinned Page.
- Tom Zenk, Johnny Gunn & Shane Douglas defeated Arn Anderson, Michael Hayes & Bobby Eaton when Gunn pinned Hayes with a Thesz press.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Brian Pillman after a series of reversals off of a sunset flip by Steamboat.
- Big Van Vader (defending the U.S. title for Rick Rude, who was challenging for the NWA Title that night) defeated Nikita Koloff with a powerbomb.
- NWA/WCW World Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs. Steve Williams & Steve Austin ended in a 30-minute draw. Rhodes had hit a tombstone on Austin and got a two count as time ran out.
- Rick Rude defeated NWA World Champion Masahiro Chono via disqualification due to a referee being hit.
- WCW World Champion Ron Simmons defeated The Barbarian with a powerslam.
- Sting defeated Jake Roberts in a Coal Miner's Glove match. This was a "Spin The Wheel, Make A Deal" match in which Sting spun a wheel to decide what type of match it would be. The match ended when Cactus Jack brought a cobra out for Jake to use, but Sting hit Jake with the glove and the cobra bit Jake's neck while Sting pinned him.

1998 - WCW Halloween Havoc took place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show ran into a problem on many cable systems, as it went longer than usual PPV events, and some systems were not aware that WCW was going long with the event. As a result, the finish of Hogan-Warrior and the Goldberg-DDP match were not seen on some systems. Goldberg-DDP would be shown on Nitro the next night.
- WCW World Television Champion Chris Jericho defeated Raven via submission with the Liontamer.
- Wrath defeated Meng with the Meltdown.
- Disco Inferno defeated Juventud Guerrera with a piledriver to earn a Cruiserweight Title match later in the show.
- Alex Wright defeated Fit Finlay with a neckbreaker.
- Perry Saturn defeated Lodi with a Death Valley Driver.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman defeated Disco Inferno with a shooting star press.
- Rick Steiner defeated The Giant & Scott Steiner (subbing for Scott Hall) to win the WCW World Tag Team Title when he pinned Scott with a top rope bulldog. Rick started the match teaming with Buff Bagwell, but Bagwell turned on him early in the match, leaving Rick to fight alone. As a result of the win, Rick also got a one-on-one, no-DQ match with Scott. Rick would later select Judy Bagwell (Buff's mom) as his tag partner.
- Rick Steiner defeated Scott Steiner in a no-DQ match with a top rope bulldog.
- Scott Hall defeated Kevin Nash via countout when Nash walked out after powerbombing Hall twice and leaving him laying in the ring.
- WCW United States Champion Bret Hart defeated Sting with the Sharpshooter after knocking him out with a baseball bat.
- Hulk Hogan defeated (Ultimate) Warrior after Horace Hogan hit Warrior with a chair.
- WCW World Champion Bill Goldberg defeated Diamond Dallas Page with the Jackhammer.

1999 - Ivory defeated Fabulous Moolah for the WWF Women's Title in Providence, Rhode Island, ending Moolah's seventh (and to date, final) title reign and beginning her second.

1999 - Bret Hart defeats Bill Goldberg for the United States Heavyweight Title in Phoenix, Arizona, ending Goldberg's second run with the title and starting Hart's fourth reign. On the same show, Konnan & Billy Kidman defeat Harlem Heat for the WCW World Tag Team Title, ending Heat's tenth, and final tag title reign.

1999 - Konnan & Billy Kidman defeat Harlem Heat to win the WCW World Tag Team Title in Phoenix, Arizona, ending Harlem Heat's 10th reign.

1999 - Tamon Honda & Masao Inoue defeat Johnny Smith & Maunakea Mossman in a tournament final for the vacant AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Title in Nagaoka, Japan.

2000 - Todd Morton defeats The Suicide Kid to win the held up IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Charlestown, Indiana.

2003 - X #3 defeats Yasu Urano for the UWA World Middleweight Title in Chiba, Japan.

2003 - Eddie Colón defeated José Rivera, Jr. for the WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title in Cidra, Puerto Rico, beginning his second reign and ending Rivera's third.

2003 - Onyx defeats Hotstuff Hernandez for the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Title in Cornelia, Georgia.

2005 - MNM (Joey Mercury & Johnny Nitro) defeat Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich to win their second WWE Tag Team Title in San Francisco, California.

[hydrophonic]

- Sting defeated Jake Roberts in a Coal Miner's Glove match. This was a "Spin The Wheel, Make A Deal" match in which Sting spun a wheel to decide what type of match it would be. The match ended when Cactus Jack brought a cobra out for Jake to use, but Sting hit Jake with the glove and the cobra bit Jake's neck while Sting pinned him.

This is on the Jake Roberts DVD that WWE put out.  Overall, the set is good but this match and a couple others are just BAD.  Legend has it that the wheel wasn't gimmicked, otherwise they wouldn't have gone with the "glove on a pole" match.  All you youngsters who have never seen a Coal Miner's Glove match should be thankful.

[russell33]

Legend has it that the wheel wasn't gimmicked, otherwise they wouldn't have gone with the "glove on a pole" match

yup one of the biggest mistakes of the wcw era. the sting vs roberts fued hit a brick wall that night.

[hydrophonic]

If I have time, I'll watch that match tonight and take some notes.  I don't think I've watched it more than once.

[hydrophonic]

So I watched it.

1992 - WCW Halloween Havoc took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Civic Center. Here are the results:
- Sting defeated Jake Roberts in a Coal Miner's Glove match. This was a "Spin The Wheel, Make A Deal" match in which Sting spun a wheel to decide what type of match it would be. The match ended when Cactus Jack brought a cobra out for Jake to use, but Sting hit Jake with the glove and the cobra bit Jake's neck while Sting pinned him.

Not as weak as I remembered, but not good either.  Roberts is just past his prime and starting to get out of shape, but he is still a MASTER of ring psychology.  Sting isn't good yet and isn't as over with the audience as I expected.  Though, wiki lists the attendance at 7,000 and it's 1992 so it's hard to gauge against the type of audiences that we see now (15 years later).

The main flaws are the stipulation (Coal Miner's Glove) and the finish.  Anytime a match has a bad finish, you'll remember the whole match as being bad.  But really, if this weren't a "weapon on a pole" match and if the finish hadn't involved a cobra this would be an ok match.  Not great, but ok.

One of the best things about the match is the way JR keeps telling us that the match isn't sanctioned by WCW.  On that note, there is something screwy with the audio.  JR is the only commentator that we hear, but it kind of looks like Gary Hart is next to him at ringside.  Listening on headphones, when JR isn't talking the audience mic gets a noticeable bump.  It reminds me of the old WWF footage that they've edited Jesse Ventura's voice out of (though, if you listen on headphones, you can still hear a little bleed over from Gorilla's mic).

I spotted "hat guy" in the front row.

I've never used the "star system", but if russell will keep updating this thread I will review matches that come up.  I'll use  :razorback: s instead of "stars."

Sting v Jake Roberts "Coal Miner's Glove" Halloween Havoc '92 =  :razorback:

[russell33]

October 26th

On this day in history in ....

1897 - Dan McLeod defeats Martin Burns in Chicago, Illinois, to win the American Heavyweight Title.

1942 - Ed Virag defeats John Grandovich to win the NWA (not current NWA) World Heavyweight Title in Wichita, Kansas, beginning his second reign.

1959 - Don and Luke Fields defeat Don and Al Greene for the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Title in Birmingham, Alabama, beginning their second reign.

1960 - Al Hobman defeats John DaSilva for the vacant New Zealand Heavyweight Title in Wellington, New Zealand.

1962 - El Medico II defeats Art Thomas in Houston, Texas to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title.

1964 - Pepper Martin and Luther Lindsay win their second NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, by defeating Pat Patterson and The Hangman.

1964 - Tony Borne defeats Killer Karl Kox for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title in Fort Worth, Texas, ending Kox's second reign and beginning his own third.

1968 - Mitsu Arakawa and Dr. Moto (Tor Kamata) defeat Wilbur Snyder and Pat O'Connor for the WWA Tag Team Title in Elkhart, Indiana, beginning their second reign.

1971 - The Wrestling Pro defeats Ken Lucas for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama, ending Lucas' fourth reign and beginning his own third.

1973 - Enrique Vera defeats Angel Blanco in Mexico City, Mexico for the Mexican National Heavyweight Title.

1976 - Mr. Wrestling II defeats Dick Slater to win his sixth NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Georgia.

1976 - The Executioners (Killer Kowalski & John Studd) were stripped of the WWWF World Tag Team title when they had a third member (Nikolai Volkoff) participate in a title defense against Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy White Wolf in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Strongbow & White Wolf would go on to win the belts in a three team tournament with the Executioners and, ironically, Volkoff & Tor Kamata.

1979 - Chavo Guerrero, Sr. and Al Madril defeat Allen Coage and Victor Rivera for the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.

1979 - Sweet Brown Sugar defeats Ernie Ladd to win the Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Lafayette, Louisiana.

1979 - Tommy Rich defeats Killer Karl Kox for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia.

1980 - Dusty Rhodes defeats Bobby Jaggers for the Florida State Heavyweight Title in Ft. Lauderdale. This was the start of Rhodes' tenth, and final, reign with the belt.

1981 - Dutch Mantel defeats Dream Machine for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1982 - Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeat Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, ending Fuji & Saito's second reign, and starting the second reign for the Strongbows.

1982 - Harley Race defeats Giant Baba for the PWF Heavyweight Title in Obihiro, Japan, ending Baba's second reign.

1983 - The Junkyard Dog defeats Butch Reed for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana. This ended Reed's third reign and began JYD's fourth.

1986 - John Tatum and Jack Victory defeat The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) to win the UWF Tag Team Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1987 - Two title changes take place on an AWA card in Memphis, Tennessee. Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee win their second AWA World Tag Team Title, defeating Hector Guerrero and "Dr. D" David Schultz. Lawler & Dundee had lost the belts only a week earlier.. Also, The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) defeat The RPM's (Mike Davis and Tommy Lane) for the AWA Southern Tag Team Title, ending the RPM's fifth reign.

1987 - Tom Prichard ends Tony Anthony's third NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title reign in Birmingham, Alabama.

1995 - Robby Royce defeats Vance Nevada for the Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

1997 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are the results:
- Yuji Nagata defeated Ultimo Dragon via submission with a Fujiwara armbar.
- Chris Jericho defeated Gedo via submission with a Liontamer.
- Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Eddie Guerrero to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title in a Mask vs. Title match when he reversed a powerbomb into a rana. To read a detailed report on this match, which many consider to be one of the best of the 90's, go to Page 2!
- Alex Wright defeated Steve McMichael when Bill Goldberg came in and laid out McMichael with a jackhammer, then threw Wright on top for the pin.
- Jacqueline defeated Disco Inferno with a cradle.
- United States Champion Curt Hennig defeated Ric Flair via disqualification when Flair hit Hennig with the title belt.
- Lex Luger defeated Scott Hall via submission with the Torture Rack. Larry Zbyszko was the special referee and was attacked by Syxx and Eric Bischoff at the end of the bout.
- Randy Savage defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Death match when Hulk Hogan, in a Sting mask, hit Page with a bat.
- Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan in a non-title steel cage match with a sleeper. After the match, Randy Savage and Hogan beat down Piper.

1998 - Diamond Dallas Page defeats Bret Hart for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title in Phoenix, Arizona, ending Hart's second run with the belt and beginning Page's own second reign.

1999 - Davey Boy Smith defeats D'Lo Brown for the WWF European Heavyweight Title in Springfield, Massachusetts, ending Brown's fourth reign with the belt, and starting Smith's second reign (he was the first European champion ever in 1997).

2001 - World Wrestling All-Stars "Inception" Pay-per-view was held at the Superdome in Sydney, Australia, drawing a crowd of 8,500 fans. It was aired live on Australian Pay-per-view, and was shown in the United States on PPV on January 6, 2002. The feature attraction of the show was a tournament to determine the first WWA heavyweight champion, in which each match had a different stipulation. Here are the results:
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Juventud Guerrera defeated Psicosis in a Ladder match to win the WWA Cruiserweight Title.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Road Dogg defeated Konnan in a Dog Collar match.
- Norman Smiley defeated Devon Storm in a Hardcore match.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Buff Bagwell won a battle royal.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Jeff Jarrett defeated Nathan Jones in a Guitar On A Pole match.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round Two: Road Dogg defeated Lenny Lane and Lodi (subbing for Guerrera) in a Triangle match.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round Two: Jeff Jarrett defeated Buff Bagwell in a Whip Match.
- Vampire Warrior defeated Luna Vachon.
- Aldera James defeated Queen Bee, Violet Terriso, and Shawon Awad (male wrestler Danny Dominion) in a Strip match.
- WWA Title Tournament Final: Jeff Jarrett defeated Road Dogg in a steel cage to become the first World Wrestling All-Stars Heavyweight Champion.

2002 - WWE held their UK-only Pay-per-view, Rebellion, at the Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Bill DeMott defeated Shannon Moore.
- Booker T defeated Matt Hardy.
- Billy Kidman & Torrie Wilson defeated John Cena & Dawn Marie when Kidman pinned Cena.
- Sho Funaki defeated Crash Holly.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble defeated Rey Mysterio and Yoshihiro Tajiri in an Elimination match. Noble eliminated Tajiri first, and Mysterio second.
- D-Von Dudley & Ron Simmons defeated Val Venis & Chuck Palumbo when Simmons pinned Palumbo.
- Rikishi defeated Albert.
- WWE World Tag Team Champions Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit defeated Eddie & Chavo Guerrero when Angle pinned Eddie.
- WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman defeated Edge in a handicap match (with the title on the line) when Lesnar pinned Edge.

2002 - The NWA 54th Anniversary Show was held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Here are the results:
- Jacey North defeated Brother Love.
- Ryan Pisiak defeated Damon Biggs in a Hair vs. Hair match.
- The East Coast Connection defeated Ricky Murdoch and Magnum.
- NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Spyder defeated Paul Tracy.
- NWA Jersey Champion Biggie Biggs defeated Preston Quinn.
- NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Champion Jason Rumble defeated NWA Tri-States Junior Heavyweight Champion Rocky Reynolds.
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Steve DeMarco defeated JP Black in a Texas Death Match.
- NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion Johnny Moss defeated Danny Garnell.
- Char Starr defeated Madison to win the NWA World Women's Title match.
- Jorge Estrada defeated Paul Atlas to win the NWA North American Title.
- Konnan defeated NWA Midwest Champion Danny Dominion in a non-title match.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions Chris Harris & James Storm defeated AJ Styles & Rocky Reynolds.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ron Killings defeated NWA National Champion Hotstuff Hernandez. Only Killings' belt was on the line.

2002 - CM Punk defeats MDogg20 to win his third IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Clarksville, Indiana.

[hydrophonic]

1997 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are the results:
- Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Eddie Guerrero to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title in a Mask vs. Title match when he reversed a powerbomb into a rana. To read a detailed report on this match, which many consider to be one of the best of the 90's, go to Page 2!

This is on the Rey Mysterio DVD that WWE put out.  I just picked it up last night, so I'll try to do a review of this match for tomorrow.

FWIW - The Rey DVD has 29 matches.  16 are pre-WWE and 10 are from WCW PPVs.  Only one is from Mexico and it's from When Worlds Collide, which was made more for US audiences.  There are 4 matches v Eddie and 3 matches v Dean Malenko.  I haven't watched any of it yet, but it looks like a really good set.

[russell33]

October 27th

On this day in history in ....

1950 - Rito Romero wins his third NWA Texas Heavyweight Title, by ending the second reign of Verne Gagne in Houston, Texas.

1960 - Mike DiBiase defeats Pancho Lopez (Lorenzo Parente) to win the Amarillo version of the NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas.

1961 - Sputnik Monroe defeats Dory Dixon to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.

1964 - Fred Blassie & Mr. Moto defeat The Destroyer & Hard Boiled Haggerty for the WWA Tag Team Title in Long Beach, California.

1965 - Danny McShain defeats Dick Dunn for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama, ending Dunn's fourth reign.

1966 - Tony Borne & Mr. Fuji defeat Rene Goulet & Shag Thomas for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.

1967 - The Hangman wins the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title from Sonny Myers in St. Joseph, Missouri, ending Myers' 13th reign.

1971 - Ed Francis defeat Moondog Mayne to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1971 - Sweet Daddy Siki defeats Sam Steamboat for the Hawaii version of the NWA North American Heavyweight Title.

1973 - Dutch Savage & Jimmy Snuka defeat Bull Ramos & Ripper Collins to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.

1973 - Robert Fuller & Bob Armstrong defeat Stan Vachon and Bobby Duncum for the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title.

1977 - Dr. X & Ciclon Negro defeat Porkchop Cash & Ray Candy for the Tri-State version of the NWA United States Tag Team Title.

1978 - Butcher Brannigan & Ox Baker defeat Larry O'Day & Mario Milano to win the NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia.

1978 - TNT defeats El Nazi for the Mexican National Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1978 - Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen defeat Tommy Rich & Mr. Wrestling II for the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia.

1980 - Larry Latham & Bill Irwin defeat Tommy & Eddie Gilbert to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1984 - Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez and Jake Roberts defeat Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich and Bobby Fulton for the Texas (WCCW) version of the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.

1984 - Bruiser Costa & Spider Web defeat Ole Olson & Randy Rich for the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia, Canada.

1986 - Big Bubba (Fred Ottman) defeats Tracy Smothers for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Smothers' second reign.

1987 - Strike Force (Tito Santana & Rick Martel) defeat The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Syracuse, New York. Martel forced Neidhart to submit to a Boston Crab, ironically, the same move Stan Hansen had used to beat Rick Martel for the AWA World Title two years earlier.

1990 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Chicago, Illinois at the UIC Pavilion. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Tim Horner defeated Barry Horowitz.
- In a dark match, Rip Rogers defeated Reno Riggins.
- Tommy Rich & Ricky Morton defeated The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) when Rich pinned Lane after hitting him with a tennis racket while Tracey Smothers & Steve Armstrong distracted the referee and Jim Cornette. This would be the last Midnight Express match in WCW.
- Terry Taylor defeated Bill Irwin.
- Brad Armstrong defeated JW Storm.
- The Master Blasters defeated Tracey Smothers & Steve Armstrong.
- The Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) defeated Chris & Mark Youngblood when Hayes pinned Chris with a DDT.
- United States Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated The Nasty Boys when Scott pinned Knobbs with a Frankensteiner.
- Junkyard Dog defeated Moondog Rex with a powerslam.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions Doom vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson ended in a double countout with all four men fighting on the floor.
- Stan Hansen defeated Lex Luger to win the United States Title. Danny Spivey came to ringside and tried to toss Hansen a bullrope, but Luger blocked it. Luger then went for a clothesline, Hansen ducked, and Hansen hit Luger with a lariat for the clean pin.
- NWA World Champion Sting defeated Sid Vicious. During the match, Sting and Vicious fought to the back, and when they returned to the ring, "Sting" went for a slam, and Sid fell on top for the pin. However, the real Sting ran from the locker room, a piece of rope around his waist, and pinned Sid with a Stinger Splash. During the brawl in the back, the Four Horsemen had tied up Sting and sent Barry Windham, dressed as Sting, to the ring for Sid to pin. However, Sting "got loose" in time to save the day.

1991 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the UTC Arena. Here are the results:
- El Gigante, Sting, Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Abdullah the Butcher, The Diamond Stud, Cactus Jack & Big Van Vader in a Chamber Of Horrors cage match. The match ended when Sting was put in an electric chair and Cactus Jack went to hit the switch, but Sting pulled Abdullah The Butcher into the chair, resulting in him getting zapped.
- Big Josh & PN News defeated The Halloween Creatures (Joey Maggs & Johnny Rich under masks) when News pinned one of the Creatures with a splash.
- Bobby Eaton defeated Terrance Taylor with an Alabama Jam.
- Johnny B. Badd defeated Jimmy Garvin with a knockout punch after Teddy Long distracted the referee while Garvin had Badd pinned with a DDT.
- WCW Television Champion Steve Austin vs. Dustin Rhodes ended in a 15-minute draw. Rhodes hit a top rope bulldog, but time ran out before he could make the pin.
- Bill Kazmeier defeated Oz (Kevin Nash) via submission in three minutes with a backbreaker.
- Van Hammer defeated Doug Somers in less than two minutes with a slingshot suplex.
- Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton to win a tournament to become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion with a flying bodypress.
- The Halloween Phantom defeated Tom Zenk in less than two minutes with a neckbreaker. Later in the show, Paul E. Dangerously, who was fired as an announcer, revealed that he still had a manager's license in WCW, and unmasked the Phantom as his first charge.... Rick Rude.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko defeated U.S. Tag Team Champions Todd Champion & Firebreaker Chip when Anderson pinned Chip with a spinebuster.
- WCW World Champion Lex Luger defeated Ron Simmons in a two out of three falls match. Simmons pinned Luger to win the first fall with a spinebuster. Simmons was disqualified in the second fall for throwing Luger over the top rope. Luger pinned Simmons to win the third fall, and the match, with a piledriver after Simmons missed a charge in the corner and hit the ringpost.

1992 - Shawn Michaels defeats Davey Boy Smith for the WWF Intercontinental Title in Terra Haute, Indiana. This would mark the first major singles title victory for the 'Heartbreak Kid'.

1992 - Shawn Michaels defeats Davey Boy Smith in Terre Haute, Indiana for the WWF Intercontinental Title.

1996 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Here are the results:
In matches held on "The Main Event":
- Jim Powers defeated Pat Tanaka.
- Psicosis & Juventud Guerrera defeated Damien & Halloween.
In matches held on the Pay-per-view:
- Dean Malenko defeated Rey Mysterio, Jr. to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title by reversing a top rope rana into a powerbomb.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Eddie Guerrero with a Diamond Cutter to keep the "Lord Of The Ring" ring.
- The Giant defeated Jeff Jarrett via disqualification when Ric Flair ran in and hit The Giant with a low blow.
- Syxx defeated Chris Jericho with a leg lariat. The story of the match was that referee Nick Patrick (who was about to turn heel) gave Jericho a fast count.
- Lex Luger defeated Arn Anderson via submission with a torture rack after hitting him with a chair.
- Steve McMichael & Chris Benoit defeated The Faces Of Fear when Benoit pinned Meng after McMichael hit him with a steel briefcase.
- Kevin Nash & Scott Hall defeated Harlem Heat to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship when Nash hit Stevie Ray in the head with Col. Rob Parker's cane.
- WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Savage after Ted DiBiase and The Giant beat up Savage on the floor. After the match, Roddy Piper came out (his WCW debut) and confronted Hogan. The two had what many feel was a great promo exchange over who was truly responsible for wrestling's popularity, with Piper telling Hogan "Do you think they (the fans) would have cheered for you, if they didn't hate me?".

2000 - Akua & Kaimana are awarded the newly revived NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Kalihi, Hawaii.

2001 - Apolo defeats Glamour Boy Shane for the IWA Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

2002 - The Great Muta defeats Genichiro Tenryu for the AJPW Triple Crown Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning Muta's second reign.

2003 - WWE Raw from Fayetteville, North Carolina saw Rob Van Dam win his fourth Intercontinental Title and Chris Jericho win his sixth Intercontinental Title, all in one night.

2004 - Fergal Devitt defeats Dru Onyx to win the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Title in Cardiff, Wales, England.

[russell33]

October 28th

On this day in history in ....

1989 - The first WCW Halloween Havoc Pay-per-view was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Civic Center. Here are the results:
- Tom Zenk defeated Mike Rotunda by rolling through a cross bodyblock into a pin.
- The Samoan Swat Team (Samu, Fatu & Samoan Savage) defeated The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) & Steve Williams when Savage pinned Lane after knocking him into manager Jim Cornette during a brawl with everyone fighting at once.
- Tommy Rich defeated The Cuban Assassin with a Thesz Press.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions The Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes) defeated The Dynamic Dudes (Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace) when Garvin pinned Douglas. The Dudes were going for a double suplex when Hayes hooked Ace's leg from the outside, and Garvin fell on top of Douglas for the pin. Interesting to note that the Philadelphia crowd loudly supported the heel Freebirds, and booed the babyface Dudes.
- Doom (Butch Reed & Ron Simmons, under masks) defeated Rick & Scott Steiner when Reed pinned Rick after headbutting him with a foreign object in his mask.
- NWA United States Champion Lex Luger defeated Brian Pillman when he caught a flying bodypress and dropped Pillman across the ropes (Hot Shot/Stun Gun) for the pin.
- The Road Warriors defeated The Skyscrapers (Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey) via disqualification when manager Teddy Long interfered.
- Ric Flair & Sting (seconded by Ole Anderson) defeated The Great Muta & Terry Funk (seconded by Gary Hart) in a Thunderdome cage match. The Thunderdome was a cage that covered the ringside area as well as the ring, and had "electrified" fencing at the top to prevent people from leaving. The cage was decorated with "spooky" items, including a rope, which Sting swung around on. Part of the cage actually caught on fire when it was being lowered on the ring, as a fabric decoration brushed against the ring lights (referee Tommy Young patted it out with his bare hands, burning himself). Bruno Sammartino was the guest referee, but the rules stipulated that the match would only end when one of the seconds tossed in the towel. The match ended when Anderson punched Hart, and Hart's towel flew into the ring, ending the bout.

1995 - Jesse James Armstrong & Tracey Smothers defeated PG-13 for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending PG-13's ninth reign with the belts.

1995 - ECW ran in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the ECW Arena with a show that would become as famous for what happened at the end of the night as what occurred during the show. Here are the results:
- Axl Rotten defeated Dudley Dudley. After the match, Bubba Ray & Big Dick Dudley attacked Axl.
- The Pitbulls defeated Tony Stetson & Don E. Allen. Jason came to the ring after the match and told the Pitbulls he was wrong to turn on them. This was just a set-up for the Eliminators to attack them. Taz & Rick Steiner made the save.
- Rey Mysterio, Jr. & Konnan defeated Psicosis & La Parka via countout after hitting stereo topes.
- Beulah's Box (an interview segment hosted by Beulah) saw Bill Alfonso attack Tod Gordon, and Beulah ended up beating on Alfonso for ruining her segment.
- Johnny Grunge defeated Stevie Richards in a "Raggedy Ass Ho (Loser Wears A Dress) match" with a reverse DDT. Jason volunteered to wear the dress for Richards, and seemed to enjoy it, when 911 came out and chokeslammed him.
- Mikey Whipwreck defeated The Sandman in a Ladder match to win the ECW World Title. Prior to the bout, Steve Austin came to the ring, and said he wanted a title match with whoever won. He then took Woman, Sandman's manager away from ringside. Whipwreck pinned Sandman with a flying bodypress with the ladder (ECW ladder matches ended with pinfalls, the ladder was simply "in play") and the locker room emptied to celebrate with Whipwreck.
- JT Smith defeated El Puerto Ricano after a Hotshot. The Sandman, enraged over his title loss, came to the ring after the match and beat up both men.
- Hack Myers vs. Dances with Dudley ended in a no-contest when The Sandman beat both of them up.
- ECW Television Champion 2 Cold Scorpio defeated Flyboy Rocco Rock. Rock had caught his shorts on fire after missing a dive onto two tables, the bottom of which was on fire. Scorpio helped Rocco put the flames out, but then turned on him and hit a clothesline for the pin. Due to pre-match stipulations, Scorpio won the ECW World Tag Team Title from Public Enemy and chose Sandman (who came out to fight with Johnny Grunge) as his partner.
- Tommy Dreamer defeated Cactus Jack with a DDT. Cactus walked out of the match at one point, until Terry Funk insulted him and his family on the microphone until he returned to the ring. Post match, Raven DDT'd Dreamer and Cactus DDT'd the referee. Funk tried to make the save with a flaming branding iron, but Raven and Cactus stopped him.

[russell33]

October 29th

On this day in history in ....

1946 - Antonio Cortez defeats The Cardiff Giant for the Florida Heavyweight Title (became Southern Heavyweight Title during his reign) in Tampa, Florida.

1953 - Pepper Gomez & Johnny Demchuck win their second Northwest Tag Team Title from Doc Gallagher & Ivan Kameroff in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

1955 - Don McIntyre defeats Fred Blassie in Atlanta, Georgia to win the Georgia version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title, beginning his 11th reign and ending Blassie's second.

1959 - John Smith & Tosh Togo defeat Don & Bobby Fields in a tournament final for the Gulf Coast version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama.

1966 - Both World Wrestling Association championships change hands when Hard Boiled Haggerty & El Shereef defeat Pedro Morales & Luis Hernandez to win the WWA Tag Team Title, and Mark Lewin defeats Lou Thesz for the WWA Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California.

1967 - Rock Rogowski (Ole Anderson) defeats Bob Orton, Sr. for the AWA Midwest Heavyweight Title in Omaha, Nebraska.

1970 - Tony Borne & Moondog Mayne begin their ninth reign as NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champions, after defeating Mr. Fuji & Haru Sasaki, ending their second reign.

1972 - In Detroit, Michigan, Pampero Firpo wins the Detroit version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title from Bobo Brazil, ending Brazil's fourth reign and beginning his own second.

1974 - Dan Kroffat & Wayne Bridges defeat Gene Kiniski & Dutch Savage for the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

1975 - Killer Karl Kox defeats Dick Murdoch to win the Tri-State version of the NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana.

1975 - Ken Lucas wins his sixth NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama, defeating Bill Malone.

1976 - Kintaro Ohki & Kim Duk defeat Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta for the NWA International Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

1976 - The Destroyer defeats Abdullah the Butcher for the PWF United States Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning his fourth reign.

1976 - John Quinn & Kurt Von Hess defeat Don Leo Jonathan & John Anson to win the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

1977 - Black Gordman & Goliath win their 14th NWA Americas Tag Team Title by defeating Victor Rivera and Texas Red.

1981 - Robert Fuller & Jos LeDuc defeat Jimmy Golden & Mongolian Stomper for the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Title in Montgomery, Alabama, to begin their second reign.

1985 - Rayo de Jalisco & Tony Benetto defeat Sangre Chicana & Cien Caras to win the Mexican National Tag Team Title.

1988 - The Cuban Commandos (Jerry Morrow & Cuban Assassin) defeat Chris Benoit & Lance Idol for the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

1988 - The Road Warriors defeat The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) for the NWA World Tag Team Title in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Warriors had just turned heel by beating up Sting following a six-man tag team match two nights earlier. Incredibly, this marked the one and only time Hawk & Animal would hold the NWA World Tag Team Title.

1990 - Eddie Gilbert defeats Jeff Jarrett for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending the first of an eventual ten reigns with the belt for Jarrett.

1992 - Rey Misterio, Jr. defeats Fantasma de la Quebrada to win the Mexican National Welterweight Title in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

1993 - The Great Sasuke defeats Battle Ranger Z to become the first FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Champion in Tokyo, Japan.

1994 - Mr. Pogo & The Gladiator defeat Atsushi Ohnita & Mr. Gannosuke for to win the vacant FMW World Brass Knuckles Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

1995 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Here are the results:
In matches held on TBS' The Main Event:
- Eddie Guerrero defeated The Disco Inferno.
- Paul Orndorff defeated The Renegade.
- Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko defeated Steven Regal & Bobby Eaton when Benoit pinned Regal.
- Craig Pittman defeated VK Wallstreet.
In matches shown on the Pay-per-view:
- Johnny B. Badd defeated Diamond Dallas Page to win the WCW Television Title when Maxx Muscle and DDP collided.
- Randy Savage defeated Zodiac (Brutus Beefcake) with a top rope elbowsmash.
- Kurasawa defeated Road Warrior Hawk with a suplex.
- Sabu defeated Mr. JL (Jerry Lynn) with an Arabian Press. After the match, The Sheik threw a fireball at JL.
- Lex Luger defeated Meng via DQ when Kevin Sullivan interfered.
- Sting & Ric Flair defeated Brian Pillman & Arn Anderson via DQ when Flair turned on Sting and joined the other Horsemen in beating him down.
- Hulk Hogan defeated The Giant (Big Show) in a Monster Truck competition. This was actually taped the previous night on the roof of nearby Cobo Hall. After ramming monster trucks for a while, the two started brawling, and Hogan knocked The Giant "off the roof" of Cobo Hall. For the next 10 minutes, the announcers acted as if he had really plunged to his death.
- Randy Savage defeated Lex Luger with a top rope elbowsmash after Luger collided with Jimmy Hart.
- The Giant (and it was never explained how he survived the fall without even a scratch) defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan via DQ when The Yeti (Ron Reis dressed as a Mummy) came in and helped beat down Hogan. It was revealed the next night that the title changed hands due to a contract clause Hogan's former manager, Jimmy Hart, had written in stating that the belt could change hands on a DQ.

1995 - Tracy Smothers & Jesse James Armstrong defeat PG-13 (J.C. Ice and Wolfie D.) in Memphis, Tennessee, to win the USWA Tag Team Title, ending PG-13's ninth reign.

1996 - Genichiro Tenryu, Nobutaka Araya and Ultimo Dragon defeat Hiromichi Fuyuki, Youji Anjoh and Bam Bam Bigelow in Osaka, Japan, to win the WAR World Six-Man Tag Team Title.

1996 - Ric Hogan defeats Brian Christopher for the USWA Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Christopher's 22nd reign.

1999 - Vince Kaplack defeats Chris Hero for the vacant NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1999 - Andy Anderson defeats Dusty Dotson to win the vacant NWA Wildside Junior Heavyweight Title in Loganville, Georgia.

1999 - Pro Wrestling eXpress sees two titles switch in North Versailles, Pennsylvania. Brian Anthony defeats Bubba the Bulldog for his second PWX Heavyweight Title, and J.B. Destiny defeats Boomer Payne to win the PWX Television Title, beginning his second reign and ending Payne's second.

2000 - WCW Halloween Havoc (which turned out to be the last Halloween Havoc) was held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Here are the results:
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire defeated Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Disco Inferno & Alex Wright in a Triangle match when O'Haire pinned Disco after a Seanton Bomb.
- WCW Hardcore Champion Reno defeated AWOL with the Roll Of The Dice.
- Lt. Loco (Chavo Guerrero) & Cpl. Cajun (Lash LeRoux) defeated Sean Stasiak & Chuck Palumbo when Loco pinned Stasiak. Palumbo went to superkick Cajun, missed and hit Stasiak, and Stasiak fell into a tornado DDT by Loco for the pin.
- Konnan & Tygress defeated Shane Douglas & Torrie Wilson when Konnan pinned Douglas.
- Buff Bagwell defeated David Flair in a First Blood "DNA" match. Bagwell busted open Flair with a chair for the win. Post-match, Lex Luger turned on Bagwell, and busted him open. David Flair collected some of the blood off of Bagwell to do a DNA test and find out if Bagwell was the father of Stacy Keibler's unborn child. Seriously.
- Mike Sanders defeated Ernest Miller via countout in a Kickboxing match when Miller started fighting with Shane Douglas on the floor. As a result, Sanders became the new Commissioner of WCW.
- Mike Awesome defeated Vampiro with a top rope Awesome Bomb.
- General Rection (Bill DeMott/Hugh Morrus) defeated Lance Storm & Hacksaw Duggan in a handicap match to win the WCW U.S. Title, which Storm held, when he pinned Duggan with a moonsault.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated Sting after Sting was hit twice with guitars, once by a fake Sting, and once by Jarrett.
- WCW World Champion Booker T defeated Scott Steiner via DQ when Steiner hit Booker T with a lead pipe.
- Bill Goldberg defeated Kronik (Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke) in a handicap match, pinning both men in less than four minutes. He speared Clarke through a table and pinned him, then gave Adams a spear and Jackhammer to pin him.

2000 - Genichiro Tenryu defeats Toshiaki Kawada in a tournament final for the vacant AJPW Triple Crown Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning his second reign.

2000 - Glamour Boy Shane defeats Gran Apolo, Miguel Perez, Jr. and Ricky Banderas to become the first IWA Heavyweight Champion in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. On the same card, Sean Hill wins his third IWA Junior Heavyweight Title, defeating champion Juventud Guerrera, Paparazzi and Andres Borges.

2000 - The Dupps (Jack & Bo Dupp) defeat The Mean Street Posse (Rodney & Joey Abs) for the MCW Southern Tag Team Title in Jonesboro, Arkansas, ending the Posse's second reign.

2000 - Paul Diamond defeats Robby Royce for the CWF Heavyweight Title in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada, ending Royce's fourth reign.

2000 - Super Hentai wins the PWL Three Rivers Title in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, his second, by defeating Boomer Payne.

2001 - Keiji Mutoh & Taiyo Kea defeat Tatsumi Fujinami & Osamu Nishimura for the IWGP Tag Team Title in Fukuoka, Japan.

2001 - Aja Kong wins her second AAAW Singles Title in Nagoya, Japan, defeating Mayumi Ozaki.

2001 - Disturbing Behavior (Jeff Daniels & Tim Renesto) defeat Sudden Impact (Chris Gatlin & Steve Lane) for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Columbia, Tennessee, ending Sudden Impact's third reign.

2001 - Reggie Gallagher & Jamal Jones defeat The River City Rebels (Bobby Collins & The Bullet) for the CWF Tag Team Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2003 - In Cincinnati, Ohio, the HWA Cruiserweight Title changes hands twice in the same night when Rory Fox defeats El Temor (champion Quinten Lee under a masked) for his fifth reign, however, Lee wins the title back from Fox, beginning his second reign.

2005 - Mohammed Yone & Takeshi Morishima defeat Minoru Suzuki & Naomichi Marufuji to win the NOAH GHC Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.

2005 - Cremator defeats Moondog Manson to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Hardcore Title in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, ending Manson's seventh reign.
2006 - World Wrestling Entertainment confirmed  that ECW house shows would be discontinued with the brand touring in conjunction with Smackdown as of December 2006.  ECW house shows had slowly been taken off the schedule and canceled leading to this announcement.

[hydrophonic]

1997 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are the results:
- Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Eddie Guerrero to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title in a Mask vs. Title match when he reversed a powerbomb into a rana. To read a detailed report on this match, which many consider to be one of the best of the 90's, go to Page 2!

This is on the Rey Mysterio DVD that WWE put out.  I just picked it up last night, so I'll try to do a review of this match for tomorrow.

There is no way that I'm going to do this match justice, so I'll make it brief.

This is a VERY solid match.  Rey is still a luchador and Eddie is REALLY on top of his game.  Eddie dominates nearly all of the action (as he should) with Rey only getting in a could of high spots.  For the most part, Eddie stays a step ahead of Rey's mulit-step lucha moves and cuts Mysterio down before he can connect.  I really like the psychology here and I totally mark out for Eddie every time I watch the match.  Eddie hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker that really snaps and combos an abdominal stretch into a pump handle back breaker that also looks very good (and Rey sells both of them REALLY well).

Rey only lands a handful of offense moves, but among them are a springboard-back flip-DDT and an over the top rope somersault into a huracanrana on the floor.

Really fun match.  The only real flaw is the 4 man announce team.  Tony Shiavone is the worst wrestling announcer of all time.  Seriously, he makes early 90s Vince McMahon sound like Gordon Solie.  Also, the audience is mostly indifferent.

Eddie Guerrero (C) v Rey Mysterio Jr for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship at Halloween Havoc '97 =  :razorback: :razorback: :razorback: 1/2

+1 to russell for keeping this updated.  I have all the matches below and will try to get comments up soon.  I have a lot of work to do, but it'll be fun.

1991 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the UTC Arena. Here are the results:
- Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton to win a tournament to become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion with a flying bodypress.

1996 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Here are the results:
- Dean Malenko defeated Rey Mysterio, Jr. to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title by reversing a top rope rana into a powerbomb.

1989 - The first WCW Halloween Havoc Pay-per-view was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Civic Center. Here are the results:
- NWA United States Champion Lex Luger defeated Brian Pillman when he caught a flying bodypress and dropped Pillman across the ropes (Hot Shot/Stun Gun) for the pin.

1988 - The Road Warriors defeat The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) for the NWA World Tag Team Title in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Warriors had just turned heel by beating up Sting following a six-man tag team match two nights earlier. Incredibly, this marked the one and only time Hawk & Animal would hold the NWA World Tag Team Title.

[hydrophonic]

Watched two last night.  Not much to see.  One thing that these two matches drives home is that the WWF never cornered the market on body builders that can't wrestle.

1988 - The Road Warriors defeat The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) for the NWA World Tag Team Title in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Warriors had just turned heel by beating up Sting following a six-man tag team match two nights earlier. Incredibly, this marked the one and only time Hawk & Animal would hold the NWA World Tag Team Title.

I guess the main reason to watch this is to see the Road Warriors work heel and the Midnight Express work face.  It's just odd.  At one point, the crowd cheers a Jim Cornette tennis racket shot.  The match isn't anything special, but I do like the booking.  Check it out:

Before the match starts, Paul Ellering takes a shot at Jim Cornette and Stan Lane jumps in to make the save.  The 1988 audience wouldn't have forgotten Ellering's wrestling career yet, so seeing him be able to stand toe to toe with Stan Lane wouldn't have been much of a stretch.  Meanwhile, on the other side of the ring the Warriors have isolated Bobby Eaton and give him a severe beat down.  Eaton eventually gets color.

Once the bell rings, it's the Warriors v Lane.  JR reminds us that this is what the Warriors did to Sting and Luger and that this "is the way they want it, 2 on 1."  Outside the ring, Eaton can barely stand and Cornette keeps trying to convince him to get to the back and seek out medical treatment.  Beautiful Bobby fights him off and JR sells his "tremendous heart."  Eaton makes a blind tag and when he comes in it looks like a hot tag.  That only last a minute or less, Animal hits a clotheline and gets the pin for the win.  The finish is really unexpected, especially 19 years later when NOBODY books that way.  The same set up results in a face win 99+% of the time on today's major wrestling cards.

Other than the booking, this is just a run of the mill Road Warriors match.

The Midnight Express (C) v The Road Warriors for the NWA World Tag Team Championship =  :razorback: 1/2

1989 - The first WCW Halloween Havoc Pay-per-view was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Civic Center. Here are the results:
- NWA United States Champion Lex Luger defeated Brian Pillman when he caught a flying bodypress and dropped Pillman across the ropes (Hot Shot/Stun Gun) for the pin.

I never liked Luger, but it's obvious that he really works hard to keep up the pace that Pillman sets.  Luger needs several rest periods, but Pillman uses so many arm drags that a standing arm bar looks like wrestling and not resting.

Luger can't wrestle, we all know that.  What's surprising about this match is that he doesn't even use any power moves.  As best I can remember, all of his offense is of the brawling variety - with one exception, a vertical suplex late in the match.  He DOES do a fantastic job of working the crowd though.

Pillman is fun to watch, even though he hasn't really hit his stride yet.  I really did get a kick out of watching Luger try to cut this pace.

Lex Luger (C) v Brian Pillman for the NWA US Championship at Halloween Havoc '89 =  :razorback: :razorback:

[russell33]

October 30th

On this day in history in ....

1969 - Antonio Inoki & Michiaki defeat Buddy Austin & Mr. Atomic to win back the JWA All Asian Tag Team Championship in Gifu, Japan. The belts had been held up following an earlier match between the two teams on October 10th. This would be Inoki's last title in the JWA, as he would was fired from in December of 1971 while still holding the tag titles. Reportedly, Inoki was planning a coup against JWA management. Inoki would go on to form New Japan Pro Wrestling three months later.

1978 - Ric Flair & Big John Studd defeat Paul Jones & Ricky Steamboat in Greenville, South Carolina to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title.

1986 - Ashura Hara & Super Strong Machine (Junji Hirata) defeat Takashi Ishikawa & Mighty Inoue to win the All Japan All Asian Tag Team Title in Aomori, Japan.

1987 - The Original Midnight Express, Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose, managed by Paul E. Dangerously, defeat Bill Dundee & Jerry Lawler for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Whitewater, Wisconsin, ending Lawler & Dundee's second reign after only four days. All totaled, Lawler & Dundee's two reigns, both taking place in October of 1987, added up to twelve days.

2001 - Two titles changed hands at the WWF Smackdown taping in Cincinnati, Ohio. Christian defeated Bradshaw to win the WWF European Title, and Booker T & Test defeated Chris Jericho & The Rock to win the WWF World Tag Team Title.

[hydrophonic]

Thank goodness the 30th is a light day.

I'll try to watch these tonight.

1991 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the UTC Arena. Here are the results:
- Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton to win a tournament to become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion with a flying bodypress.

1996 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Here are the results:
- Dean Malenko defeated Rey Mysterio, Jr. to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title by reversing a top rope rana into a powerbomb.

[hydrophonic]

I watched Malenko v Mysterio last night, but it's so good that I want to watch it again before posting thoughts.

1991 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the UTC Arena. Here are the results:
- Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton to win a tournament to become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion with a flying bodypress.

Another dud.

Ricky Morton takes a page out of John Robert Star's book and becomes "Richard" for his heel turn.  Seeing him work as a heel is probably the most interesting part of this match.  The guys work VERY slow and everything seems off.  Even little things like running the ropes just looks wrong.  Irish Whips into the turnbuckle are more reminiscent of a Divas match than for a junior heavyweight title match.  To make matters worse, neither man does much selling.  So the spots are too slow and the selling is too quick.

Brian Pillman v Richard Morton for the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship at Halloween Havoc '91 =  :razorback:

[russell33]

October 31st

On this day in history in ....

1979 - Giant Baba defeats Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Title in Nagoya, Japan, ending Race's third reign with the belt, and starting Baba's second run as champion.

1989 - WWF's Saturday Night's Main Event was taped in Topeka, Kansas at the Kansas Coliseum. The show aired on NBC on November 25, 1989, doing a 8.7 rating. Interesting to note, by the time the show aired, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson were already gone from the company (Anderson wrestled his last match at Survivor Series a few days before the SNME broadcast and went to WCW, Blanchard was suspended on November 2nd for failing a cocaine test). Here are the results from the show:
- The Ultimate Warrior defeated Andre The Giant via disqualification.
- Lanny Poffo defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via countout. After the match, Mr. Perfect destroyed the WWF Title belt with a hammer.
- Dusty Rhodes defeated Big Bossman.
- Mr. Perfect defeated Red Rooster.
- The Rockers (Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels) defeated The Brain Busters (Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson) in a three falls match. Jannetty pinned Blanchard in the first fall, Blanchard pinned Michaels in the second fall, and Michaels pinned Anderson in the third and final fall. This would be the last match Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson ever wrestled together as a tag team.

1997 - Joe Rules wins a battle royal in Bayonne, New Jersey, to become the first Jersey All-Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, then loses the belt on the same night to Pitbull #2.

1998 - Mitsuharu Misawa defeats Kenta Kobashi for the All Japan Triple Crown in Tokyo, Japan. With this win, Misawa tied Stan Hansen's record for most Triple Crown title reigns at four (Misawa would go on to have five, which has since been tied by Toshiaki Kawada).

2000 - Ivory defeats champion Lita, Trish Stratus and Jacqueline for the WWF Women's Title in Rochester, New York, in a four way match. This would begin Ivory's third (and to date, final) run with the belt.

2005 - Former Intercontinental Champion Christian quits World Wrestling Entertainent, becoming (arguably) the first major star to make the decision to leave WWE for TNA.  Christian would fulfill his remaining appearance (the Taboo Tuesday PPV) before leaving WWE.

2005 - On an edition of Raw from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California, WWE made a huge change to the Taboo Tuesday PPV. Steve Austin, scheduled to wrestle Jonathan Coachman at the event with the stipulation that Jim Ross would be rehired as the announcer on Raw if Austin won, had balked at WWE's plans for the event (they wanted Coachman to defeat Austin in Austin's first match in years).  During Raw, Vince McMahon announced that Austin was in "an accident" and that Coachman would now face someone from Smackdown instead (with the Jim Ross stipulation being forgotten). Out came Smackdown's Sho Funaki, who was then beat up by Goldust (making his return to WWE after two years).  Coach then called out anyone from Smackdown, and World Champion Batista came out, but was attacked by Vader (making his return to WWE after seven years).  This would set up Coach, with Vader & Goldust, vs. Batista at Taboo Tuesday, hardly a substitute for Steve Austin's return to wrestling.

[hydrophonic]

1998 - Mitsuharu Misawa defeats Kenta Kobashi for the All Japan Triple Crown in Tokyo, Japan. With this win, Misawa tied Stan Hansen's record for most Triple Crown title reigns at four (Misawa would go on to have five, which has since been tied by Toshiaki Kawada).

The Observer gave this one 5 stars.

I looked on YouTube and don't think this match is posted.  This one could be it, but I'm not sure.

Kenta in orange, Mitsuharu in green.
[youtube=425,350]DO3WreFTf9g[/youtube]

[hydrophonic]

Now that I've watched it, that definitely IS NOT the same match.

[russell33]

November 1st

On this day in history in ....

1949 - NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown is injured in an automobile accident, forcing him to retire. He is stripped of the title, and it is awarded to National Wrestling Association Champion Lou Thesz, who Brown was scheduled to wrestle in a unification match later that month.

1980 - Roddy Piper defeats Paul Jones in a tournament final for the Mid-Atlantic Title in Richmond, Virginia.

1981 - Ted DiBiase defeats Paul Orndorff in Louisiana to win the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title for the second time.

1981 - Dory Funk Jr. defeats Bruiser Brody in Tokyo, Japan to win the NWA International Heavyweight Title for the third time.

1985 - WWF wrestler Rick McGraw passed away of a heart attack at the age of 30. There were rumors of steroid abuse being the cause of the heart attack, but it was never confirmed. There was also a ridiculous rumor that McGraw died of injuries suffered in a match with Roddy Piper that was televised the weekend of his death.

1986 - During a WWF event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Don Muraco came to the ring for his match wearing a kilt and with Roddy Piper's music playing.  Piper then hit the ring, and went on to defeat Muraco with a rollup after Muraco accidentally collided with his manager, Mr. Fuji.

1990 - At Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan, Jushin Liger defeats Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title for the third time. Also on the show, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Riki Choshu defeats Shinya Hashimoto, Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki defeat Keiji Mutoh & Masahiro Chono, and Shiro Koshinaka defeated Seiji Aoyagi in a "wrestler vs. karate" match.

1997 - WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart gives his notice to the World Wrestling Federation and signs a contract with World Championship Wrestling. A confidentiality agreement is made to keep word of Hart's decision a secret until after the Survivor Series Pay-per-view on November 10th in Montreal.

1998 - ECW held their November To Remember Pay-per-view in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Lakefront Arena. Here are the results:
- Terry Funk came out at the start of the show, upset that Tommy Dreamer did not come to him when he needed a tag team partner for the show.
- The Blue Meanie & Super Nova defeated Danny Doring & Roadkill when Meanie pinned Doring after the Blue Light Special (DDT/powerbomb combo). Terry Funk interfered during and after the match, and had to be dragged off be security.
- Tommy Rogers defeated Tracey Smothers with a Tomikaze. This match saw interference from Tommy Rich & Little Guido (on Smothers' behalf) and Chris Chetti (on Rogers' behalf) and resulted in Ulf Hermann and Mabel (as new members of the FBI) interfering as well. Spike Dudley then entered, and defeated Ulf and Mabel with an Acid Drop in an impromptu match.
- Lance Storm defeated Jerry Lynn. Mikey Whipwreck and Tammy Lynn Sytch were the special referees. The finish of the match (which also saw interference from Tammy Lynn Bytch aka Dawn Marie) was that Lynn had hit Mikey earlier in the bout, so when Lynn had Storm pinned with a small package, Mikey turned them over and counted the pin for Storm.
- Masato Tanaka & Balls Mahoney defeated D-Von & Buh Buh Ray Dudley to win the ECW World Tag Team Title when Balls pinned D-Von and Tanaka pinned Buh Buh after Sabu & Rob Van Dam had interfered, putting the Dudleys through tables.
- Jake Roberts & Tommy Dreamer defeated Justin Credible & Jack Victory when Dreamer and Roberts pinned Credible after a DDT on a ladder. The match saw interference from Rod Price, Nicole Bass and Jason, who more or less substituted for Victory when he was hurt early in the match. After the match, Terry Funk came out to confront Dreamer, and when Dreamer wouldn't fight him, Funk beat him up. Unfortunately, Funk would contract Hepatitis a short time later, and the Funk-Dreamer storyline would never reach a climax.
- Sabu, Rob Van Dam & Taz defeated Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Candido & Shane Douglas when Sabu pinned Douglas. The finish of the match saw Taz holding Shane in the Tazmission, but Sabu came off the top rope with a chairshot so that he could get the pin on Douglas.

1998 - WWF taped the first episode of their short-lived lucha libre show, Super Astros, at the Frank Irwin Center in Austin, Texas.  Matches saw Armando Fernandez defeat Scott (Scotty 2 Hotty) Taylor, El Merenguero defeat Christopher Martinez, and El Hijo Del Santo defeat Super Loco.

2003 - Jay & Mark Briscoe defeat Special K (Izzy & Dixie) in Elizabeth, New Jersey to win the Ring Of Honor Tag Team Championship.

2005 - WWE held their Taboo Tuesday Pay-per-view, headlined by John Cena vs. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels (who was selected for the match over Big Show and Kane) and Ric Flair vs. Triple H in a steel cage match. 

2006 - WWE officially releases Psicosis, who had not wrestled on WWE shows for several months, and had recently made headlines for allegedly stealing a car in Mexico

[russell33]

November 2nd
On this day in history in ....

1992 - Jerry Lawler defeats Todd Champion in Memphis, Tennessee for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title, starting Lawler's 13th reign with the belt.

1998 - In Houston, Texas, Vince McMahon creates the WWF "Hardcore Championship" and awards it to Mankind (Mick Foley). Ironically, Mankind would hold the title for less than a month, and never win it back. Despite this, the Hardcore Title is often associated with Foley.

1999 - Mankind & Al Snow defeat Hardcore & Crash Holly for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2000 - The WWF released the following regarding the Owen Hart lawsuit:

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. Announces Settlement in Owen Hart Case

STAMFORD, Conn.--Nov. 2, 2000--World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWF) announced today that it has agreed to a settlement in a previously disclosed lawsuit filed by the members of the family of Owen Hart, a professional wrestler, whose accidental death occurred while performing under contract with the Company. Under the terms of the agreement, the WWFE will receive a full release from any further liability in the case.

`It has always been our intention to settle this case and we tried to do what we felt was in the best interest for all those involved, particularly for the family of Owen Hart,'' said Linda McMahon, CEO.

As a result of the settlement, the WWFE will take a charge of $7 million which is net of its insurance recoveries and will retain the right to pursue contribution and indemnity from the companies that manufactured and sold the equipment involved in the accident. The charge will be recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended October 27, 2000.

That was the ending to one of the most tragic stories in the history of wrestling. Kansas City Circuit Judge Douglas Long. Jr. approved the settlement, and the family of Owen Hart received $18 million dollars for the loss of Owen Hart on May 23, 1999 when his harness at the Kemper Arena malfunctioned and he fell to his death during the Over The Edge pay-per-view. The WWF told stockholders that they would pay $7million of the payment, and they wanted the rigging and harness companies to pay the other half. One of the companies, Amspec, Inc., filed for bankruptcy right before the judgment, possibly in anticipation of the payment.

Owen's wife, Martha, received $10 million. Their children, Oje, 8, and Athena, 5, received $3 million each. Stu and Helen Hart, Owen's parents, each received $1 million. After the hearing, Martha took her children to the Kemper Arena to see where Owen died. Martha announced that she was using $2 million of the money to start the Owen Hart Foundation to help the less fortunate.

Perhaps the saddest part of the story is how the Hart family, once thought to be a very tight unit, was now in shambles. Bret and Keith Hart sided with Martha, Stu and Helen, while sisters Diana and Ellie did not. Of course, their respective husbands, Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart signed contracts with the WWF after the incident. Martha had some stinging comments about the situation after the settlement in the Calgary Sun.

"This is not a close-knit family and I'm not part of it anymore -- we carry the same last name but that's as far as it goes. They betrayed Owen by working against me and his children and I will never consider myself, or my children, a part of that family anymore. I will respect Owen's parents and I will stay in touch with a select few of them but people need to know that Owen was a white sheep in a black family."

2004 - At the Smackdown taping in St. Louis, Missouri, Kurt Angle made a challenge to the current crop of WWE Tough Enough contestants, one that nearly ended in disaster.  Here is the report from that show:

We then went to the ring, where Al Snow had all the contestants assembled.  Kurt Angle was then brought to the ring. Angle went down the line, asking each contestant their name, then insulting them while getting into their face. When he got in the face of Nick, he asked him to turn his eyes away, and when he wouldn't, he shoved him.  Angle seemed to take great pleasure in ripping into Dan R. (the smartass) and Dan P. (the MMA fighter).  Some of the contestants cracked smiles and laughed during the segment, and Angle would yell at them and shove them to shut them up. Angle talked about what it takes to succeed in wrestling, and told the contestants that he hated them, since they were getting a chance to win a million dollars.  Angle (who was wearing his amateur wrestling shoes) did some squat thrusts (squat into pushup and back to standing position).  Angle then told the group they would be doing squat thrusts, and whoever did the most without messing up would win a special prize. While Angle berated the group, last week's segment with the Big Show was recapped. After the recap, Angle brought two referees to watch the group and eliminate whoever messed up. Ryan appeared to be able to do them much faster than the rest. Justice was eliminated first, then one by one they gave out, including Ryan. The last two were Daniel Puder and Chris Nawrocki, with Nawrocki winning.  Nawrocki was then told his special prize was his first match ever ... right now with Kurt Angle. Apparently, this was shoot-style wrestling, using "professional wrestling rules".

Kurt Angle vs. Chris Nawrocki. Angle took Nawrocki down with a front facelock, but Nawrocki grabbed the ropes.  Angle then reapplied the hold, and easily took Nawrocki down for a pin. Winner: Kurt Angle.

Angle then asked the other contestants if anyone else wanted to take him on. Daniel Puder volunteered. 

Kurt Angle vs. Daniel Puder. They grappled, and Puder went for an arm, but Angle backed him into the ropes.  As they came off, Angle grabbed a front facelock, but Puder got away.  The crowd was chanting "UFC" for Puder (who, while he does have a MMA background, never actually fought in UFC).  They locked up again, and went to the mat. Angle was on top, and Puder went for a keylock, but his shoulders were down, so he was pinned (although it appeared his shoulder was up). Winner: Kurt Angle.

Puder reached out for a handshake, but Angle got in his face, and the two were talking nose to nose. You couldn't make out what they said, other than Angle saying "Now get out of my face" at the end.  Tazz said Angle was telling him that you have to stay off your back in a wrestling contest, although that obviously was not what was being said.  Angle then told all the contestants that as far as he was concerned, none of them were Tough Enough. 

In truth, replays of the "match" showed that Puder had Angle's arm locked up and was probably moments away from submitting Angle when referee Earl Hebner counted a fast pin on Puder, who obviously didn't have his shoulders down.  Angle was embarrassed, Puder gained a measure of popularity (that he still plays off of to this day), and many experts wondered what the hell WWE was thinking when they came up with the idea for the segment.

[hydrophonic]

I forgot I had this one.

1995 - ECW ran in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the ECW Arena with a show that would become as famous for what happened at the end of the night as what occurred during the show. Here are the results:
- Mikey Whipwreck defeated The Sandman in a Ladder match to win the ECW World Title. Prior to the bout, Steve Austin came to the ring, and said he wanted a title match with whoever won. He then took Woman, Sandman's manager away from ringside. Whipwreck pinned Sandman with a flying bodypress with the ladder (ECW ladder matches ended with pinfalls, the ladder was simply "in play") and the locker room emptied to celebrate with Whipwreck.

I don't understand how this is a "Ladder Match", but whatever.

There is one good looking spot that goes like this:  Sandman and Whipwreck have been brawling in the crowd.  Sandman puts the ladder across the guardrail, with the top (skinny part) on the audience side of the rail with Whipwreck.  Sandman then returns to the ring, runs the ropes to the near side and leaps over the far side.  On his way to the floor he hits the ladder which shoots up into Whipwreck's face.  Thankfully, you can see the ladder lower a little bit as Sandman is going over the ropes, indicating that Whipwreck had grabbed it and was holding it up to his face.  It's a nice spot and I'm glad that it appears to be a little safer than most of the garbage ECW does...  er, did.

Austin's promo before the match is the only reason to see this (which is one of the extras on the "Rise and Fall of ECW" DVD).

Sandman (C) v Mikey Whipwreck in a Ladder Match for the ECW World Title = 3/4  :razorback:

1998 - ECW held their November To Remember Pay-per-view in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Lakefront Arena. Here are the results:
- Jake Roberts & Tommy Dreamer defeated Justin Credible & Jack Victory when Dreamer and Roberts pinned Credible after a DDT on a ladder. The match saw interference from Rod Price, Nicole Bass and Jason, who more or less substituted for Victory when he was hurt early in the match. After the match, Terry Funk came out to confront Dreamer, and when Dreamer wouldn't fight him, Funk beat him up. Unfortunately, Funk would contract Hepatitis a short time later, and the Funk-Dreamer storyline would never reach a climax.

Even though this is on the Jake Roberts DVD I had never watched this before.  There is more interference than what is listed above.  Here is everything I got out of watching this:

- It's kind of cool to see the One Man Gang.
- Jake Roberts is smart enough to stay on the mat or get out of the ring when New Jack is around.
- Roberts hits one DDT and it's on Nicole Bass (who looks more like Dee Snyder than ever before or after).

Tommy Dreamer & Jake Roberts v Justin Credible & Jack Victory = 1/4  :razorback:

I just saved you 15 minutes.  Over the weekend I'll transcribe Austin's promo from Sandman v Whipwreck and save you another 10 minutes.

[russell33]

November 3rd

On this day in history in ....

1939 - Steve Casey defeats Ed Don George for the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title in Buffalo, New York, ending George's third and final reign with the belt, and starting Casey's third reign.

1981 - The Spoiler defeats Charlie Cook for the Florida State Heavyweight Title in Tampa, ending Cook's second reign, and starting the third and final reign for the Spoiler. The Spoiler had last held the title over three years earlier.

1997 - The Monday Night Wars continued, with WCW Monday Nitro on TNT doing a 4.0 rating to WWF's 2.6 for Monday Night Raw on USA. The interesting story of the night was Perry Saturn making his Nitro debut and defeating Disco Inferno via submission to win the WCW Television Title. Saturn, who had just recovered from a broken leg, made the jump from ECW, breaking up The Eliminators tag team with John Kronus.

Here are the results from Raw that night: Mr. Aguila (Essa Rios) defeated Super Loco (Super Crazy). ... Kane defeated Ahmed Johnson. ...Marc Mero defeated Savio Vega. ...Vader defeated Davey Boy Smith in a Dog Collar match. ... The New Age Outlaws defeated Los Boriquas. ... Ken Shamrock defeated European Champion Shawn Michaels via disqualification.

Here are the results from Nitro: Eddie Guerrero & Dean Malenko defeated Rey Mysterio Jr. & Steven Regal when Malenko forced Mysterio to tap out to the Texas Cloverleaf. ...Dave Finlay pinned David Taylor with a tombstone piledriver. ...Yuji Nagata defeated Psychosis with the Nagata Lock...Perry Saturn defeated Disco Inferno to win the World Television Title with the Rings Of Saturn. ... Chris Jericho pinned Scott Hall with a cradle. Hall was going for the Outsider's Edge and yelling at announcer Larry Zbyszko when Jericho floated over him for the pin. ...The Giant interfered and cleared out a Lucha Libre battle royal. ... Ric Flair defeated Alex Wright with a figure four leglock. ... Ray Traylor pinned Steve McMichael with a side slam. ...WCW World Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers defeated Public Enemy in a Philly Street Fight when Scott pinned Rocco Rock after he missed Rick Steiner while trying to put him through a table. ... Lex Luger defeated Curt Hennig by disqualification when Ric Flair interfered.

1998 - Jesse "The Body" Ventura, running as an Independent candidate on the Reform Party ticket, defeats Democrat Hubert Humphrey III and Republican Norm Coleman to become the Governor of Minnesota. Ventura, who would later change his nickname to "The Mind" made headlines nationwide with his victory, telling supporters "We shocked the world."

1998 - During a Raw taping at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas, Mankind makes the first defense of the WWF Hardcore Title by pinning Ken Shamrock on the rampway after help from Vince McMahon, Big Bossman, Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson. Also on the taping, William Regal defeated Golga of the Oddities and during the match unmasked him, revealing John Tenta. However, the unmasking was accidental, so the match never aired on the show.

[russell33]

November 4th

On this day in history in ....

1980 - Dory Funk, Jr. defeats Dusty Rhodes for the Florida State Heavyweight Title in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, ending Rhodes' tenth, and final, run with the belt.

1982 - Greg Valentine defeats Wahoo McDaniel for the NWA U.S. Heavyweight Title in Norfolk, Virginia, ending Wahoo's third title reign, and starting the second run with the strap for Valentine.

1988 - They Live, the John Carpenter directed Sci-Fi movie featuring Roddy Piper in his first starring role in a feature film, is released. The movie would gross $4,827,903 during it's first three days in theaters, finishing number one for the weekend.

1991 - Tom Prichard defeats Eric Embry for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Embry's second title reign and starting the second for Prichard. On the same show, Doug Masters & Bart Sawyer defeat Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller for the USWA Tag Team Title, ending their third, and final, reign.

1994 - At an ECW television taping in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, 2 Cold Scorpio defeats Jason for the ECW World Television Title, only to lose it later that night to Dean Malenko (who was managed by Jason).

2001 - WWF Rebellion, a UK-Only Pay-per-view, was held at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Chuck Palumbo & Billy Gunn defeated Lance Storm & Justin Credible.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Edge defeated Christian in a steel cage match.
- Scotty 2 Hotty defeated Hurricane Helms.
- The Big Show defeated Diamond Dallas Page.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz defeated The Acolytes and The Hardy Boyz in an elimination match. Matt pinned Faarooq to eliminate the Acolytes, and the Dudleys pinned Matt to eliminate the Hardys.
- William Regal defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri.
- WCW World Champion Chris Jericho defeated Kurt Angle.
- Torrie Wilson & Lita defeated Stacy Keibler & Mighty Molly (Holly).
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion Steve Austin defeated The Rock.

2002 - Batista made his televised Raw debut at a show from the Fleetcenter in Boston, Masachusetts, defeating Justin Credible with a powerbomb.

[russell33]

November 5th

On this day in history in ....

1990 - Terry Funk defeats Jerry Lawler for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's seventh reign with the belt.
1994 - ECW held their "November To Remember" card in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the ECW Arena. Here are the results:

- The show opened with a local guitar player doing the national anthem, only to mess up, and then get chokeslammed by 911. Timekeeper Rocky Musciano was then chokeslammed as well.

- JT Smith defeated Hack Myers with a Northern Lights Suplex.

- The Pitbulls defeated The Bad Breed (Ian & Axl Rotten) when Ian was pinned after a superbomb.

- 2 Cold Scorpio defeated Mr. Hughes (subbing for Matt Borne) with a 450 Splash.

- Tommy Dreamer defeated Tommy Cairo in a violent bloody brawl when the referee declared that Cairo was unable to continue.

- ECW Champion Shane Douglas defeated Ron Simmons with a crucifix. Post-match, 2 Cold Scorpio and Simmons beat down Douglas, with Scorpio giving him a moonsault.

- The Sandman, who was "blinded" during a match with Tommy Dreamer, was supposed to have a retirement ceremony next. As part of the build to this moment, Sandman's manager, Woman, had dumped him (saying he was useless now), and had promised to reveal her new charge at this event. At the same time, Dreamer announced that he was devoting his career to the Sandman, which is why he destroyed Sandman's enemy, Cairo, earlier in the show. This angle is considered to be one of the greatest in ECW history.

Sandman came to the ring in a suit, with dark glasses and tape over his eyes. ECW Commissioner Tod Gordon helped him into the ring, and got emotional on the microphone, saying Sandman was his best friend. Peaches (Sandman's former valet/real life wife) came out and told the Sandman that she had "changed" (she had breast implants). Sandman said he didn't care if she was fat (remember, he's blind), he wanted to get back together.

Woman then came to the ring, and knocked out Peaches with a cane. She was threatening to hit Sandman when Tommy Dreamer came to the ring to stop her. As Dreamer was stopping Woman, Sandman knocked out Gordon and ripped off his glasses and bandages. Sandman jumped Dreamer and beat him down, whipping him with his belt. Woman then announced that her charge was ... The Sandman. Woman and Sandman left together. having tricked everyone, including getting Dreamer to destroy Cairo for them.

- Shane Douglas was interviewed, with a phone in his hand, and announced that he had called in a partner to face Ron Simmons & 2 Cold Scorpio at the next ECW Arena show. He revealed that the partner would be "Stunning" Steve Austin (however, when the show happened, Brian Pillman ended up taking Austin's place).

- ECW World Television Champion Dean Malenko defeated Tazmaniac (Tazz) after knocking him out with an ether-soaked towel.

- The Public Enemy defeated Cactus Jack & Mikey Whipwreck in a Brawl Games match to win the ECW World Tag Team Title. The rules stipulated that when one wrestler couldn't answer a 10 count, the other opposing team would be given baseball bats to use. Cactus accidentally DDT'd Mikey, and when he couldn't respond to the ten count, Public Enemy were given bats. During the match, Rocco Rock went to dive off the top stage onto Mikey Whipwreck, who was on top of two tables, but Sabu interfered, shoving Rock off the stage and through the tables. Cactus then elbowdropped Rock through a table from off the stage. Whipwreck was eventually pinned by Grunge after a top rope shot with the bat. Later that night, Cactus announced that he was bringing in Kevin Sullivan to face The Public Enemy at the next ECW Arena event.

- The main event was scheduled to be Chris Benoit vs. Sabu. However, less than two minutes into the match, Sabu took a high backdrop from Benoit and came right down on his head, breaking his neck. The match was stopped, and Sabu had to be helped to the back. 2 Cold Scorpio came out and fought Benoit in an impromptu match, ending in a double countout. The footage of Benoit dropping Sabu on his head was replayed numerous times on ECW television, and resulted in Benoit gaining the "Crippler" nickname.

2000 - ECW held their final "November To Remember" PPV card in Villa Park, Illinois at the Odeum. Here are the results:
- Simon Diamond & Johnny Swinger defeated Christian York & Joey Matthews when Swinger pinned York after a Problem Solver.
- Kid Kash defeated CW Anderson with a tornado DDT.
- Danny Doring, Roadkill & Spike Dudley defeated EZ Money, Julio Dinero & Chris Hamrick when Spike hit the Acid Drop on Hamrick.
- Nova defeated Chris Chetti in a Loser Leaves ECW match with a Kryptonite Krunch off the top rope.
- Balls Mahoney & Chilly Willy defeated Da Baldies (Tony DeVito & Angel) in a Flaming Tables match.
- ECW Television Champion Rhino defeated New Jack after a gore through a table.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions Little Guido & Tony Mamaluke defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri & Super Crazy. Crazy replaced Mikey Whipwreck, who was injured during the match.
- Steve Corino won a "Double Jeopardy" match to win the ECW World Heavyweight Title. The rules were that two separate matches (Steve Corino vs. The Sandman and champion Jerry Lynn vs. Justin Credible) would take place in the ring at the same time. You could fight anyone you wanted, but could only score a pinfall on your opponent. The winners of those two matches would then face each other. Corino pinned Sandman with the Old School Expulsion at the same time Credible pinned Lynn with That's Incredible. Corino then defeated Credible with a superkick to win the title.

2001 - During an edition of Raw at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island, Test defeats Edge for the WWF Intercontinental Title, ending Edge's third title reign. On the same show, the Rock defeats Chris Jericho for the WCW World Heavyweight Title.

2002 - Edge & Rey Mysterio defeat Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit for the WWE (Smackdown) Tag Team Title in Manchester, New Hampshire.

[hydrophonic]

Good stuff russell.  I didn't get a chance to watch any wrestling this weekend, but I'll try to post Austin's promo (10/26) and notes from Malenko v Mysterio (10/27) tomorrow or Wednesday.

I really need to stay current.  Toward the end of the month there will be a ton of Starrcade matches that I've got on DVD.

[russell33]

November 6th

On this day in history in ....

1989 - Jerry Lawler defeats The Soultaker (Papa Shango/Kama/Godfather) for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee to begin his third reign (of an eventual 27) as champion.

1994 - AAA hold their one (and to date only) North American Pay-per-view event, "When Worlds Collide". The show was held in conjunction with the IWC promotion, and was advertised on WCW broadcasts in the weeks leading to the event. Hosted in English by Mike Tenay & Chris Cruise (there was also a Spanish language version available), it allowed Lucha Libre it's first chance to impress a wider audience in the U.S. To date, some feel that this is the best PPV, bout for bout, ever. The event was held in Los Angeles, California at the Sports Arena, drawing a live crowd of 13,000. Here are the results:
- Mascarita Sagrada & Octagoncito defeated Espectrito & Jerrito Estrada when Sagrada pinned Espectrito with a moonsault.
- Fuerza Guerrera, Madonna's Boyfriend (Louie Spicolli), & Psicosis defeated Rey Misterio Jr., Heavy Metal, & Latin Lover when Guerrera forced Metal to submit to a reverse hammerlock.
- Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit), 2 Cold Scorpio & Tito Santana defeated Jerry Estrada, La Parka & Blue Panther when Pegasus pinned Panther with a rana.
- Octagon & El Hijo del Santo defeated Love Machine (Art Barr) & Eddy Guerrero in three falls in a Mask vs. Hair match. The rules of the match (which were pretty much unheard of on U.S. shows) was that each fall was essentially an elimination match, not ending until both members of a team had been eliminated.
* In the first fall, Guerrero pinned Santo at the 3:38 mark with a rana, and Love Machine pinned Octagon with a frog splash at the 4:04 mark.
* In the second fall, Guerrero pinned Santo with a top rope rana, Octagon pinned Guerrero with a rana at the 8:49 mark, and Octagon forced Machine to submit with an Octopus at the 8:58 mark.
* In the final fall, Love Machine pinned Octagon at the 14:16 mark with a tombstone piledriver.  Octagon was then taken from the ring on a stretcher.  Santo pinned Machine at the 16:53 mark after Blue Panther ran in and gave Barr a tombstone piledriver, and Santo pinned Guerrero at the 19:20 mark by reversing a dragon suplex attempt into a forward rollup to win the match. As a result, Love Machine and Guerrero had their heads shaved. Sadly, this would be Art Barr's last match, as he passed away a short time later. Many feel, to this day, that this is one of the best matches to ever air on PPV.
- Perro Aguayo defeated Konnan in a Steel Cage match by escaping the cage after a double footstomp. The match saw interference from Eddie Guerrero and Madonna's Boyfriend (for Konnan) and The Dynamite Brothers (for Aguayo).

1995 - Ahmed Johnson defeats Jerry Lawler for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee to end Lawler's 21st reign with the belt.

1998 - The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh & D-Von, now known as Team 3D) defeat Masato Tanaka & Balls Mahoney for the ECW World Tag Team Title in New York, starting their fifth title reign, and breaking the record for most ECW Tag Title reigns (Public Enemy had four).  The Dudleys would eventually hold the championship on eight separate occasions.

2000 - Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather defeat The Hardy Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Title in Houston, Texas, ending their third title reign.

2000 - Crowbar defeats Reno for the WCW Hardcore Title in Chicago, Illinois.

2002 - Jerry Lynn defeats AJ Styles for the NWA:TNA X Division Title in Nashville, Tennessee, ending Styles' second reign and starting Lynn's second run with the title.

2005 - Joey Styles makes his debut as Raw Play-by-play announcer during an edition of the show from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Unfortunately, he and color commentators Jonathan Coachman and Jerry Lawler kept referring to the upcoming Survivor Series as the 21st annual event, when in truth it was going to be the 19th edition of the PPV

[hydrophonic]

1994 - AAA hold their one (and to date only) North American Pay-per-view event, "When Worlds Collide". The show was held in conjunction with the IWC promotion, and was advertised on WCW broadcasts in the weeks leading to the event. Hosted in English by Mike Tenay & Chris Cruise (there was also a Spanish language version available), it allowed Lucha Libre it's first chance to impress a wider audience in the U.S. To date, some feel that this is the best PPV, bout for bout, ever.

This has been on my list of shows to buy for SO long.  The only source I've ever found for it is purodvd.com.  I'm pretty sure it's mastered from a VHS tape.  I guess I'm holding out for an official release, but the odds of getting one are pretty small.  I mean, the show is now 13 years old.

Here are the results:
- Fuerza Guerrera, Madonna's Boyfriend (Louie Spicolli), & Psicosis defeated Rey Misterio Jr., Heavy Metal, & Latin Lover when Guerrera forced Metal to submit to a reverse hammerlock.

This is on the Rey DVD that WWE just put out.  Maybe I'll take some notes on it, but probably not.  I'll probably pick up the DVD-R in the next year and just do a review of the show this time next year.

I think I'll finally be able to do a write up on Malenko v Mysterio tonight.

[russell33]

November 7th

On this day in history in ....

1901 - Tom Jenkins defeats Don McLeod to win the American Heavyweight Title.

1968 - Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes defeat Tommy & Terry Martin to win the NWA North American Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas.

1984 - Bill Dundee defeats Adrian Street in Shreveport, Louisiana to win the Mid-South Wrestling Association Television Title.

1985 - WWF's first full fledged Pay-per-view, The Wrestling Classic, was held at the Rosemont Horizon in Illinois. While Wrestlemania and Wrestlemania 2 had been available in a few markets (in most cases test markets for PPV), the majority of their penetration was via closed-circuit television, which had been used for many years in wrestling. This was the start of WWF (now WWE) changing the way wrestling is presented, with Pay-per-view events eventually becoming an integral part of wrestling. Here are the results of the show, which was built around a one-night tournament.
First Round:
- Adrian Adonis defeated Cpl. Kirschner with a DDT.
- Dynamite Kid defeated Nikolai Volkoff when he dropkicked Volkoff from the top rope as Volkoff finished singing the Russian national anthem and pinned him in less than ten seconds.
- Randy Savage defeated Ivan Putski by cradling him and putting his feet on the ropes for leverage.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Davey Boy Smith when Smith missed a dropkick and crotched himself on the top rope, and was unable to continue.
- Junkyard Dog defeated The Iron Sheik with a headbutt in under two minutes.
- Moondog Spot defeated Terry Funk via countout in less than 30 seconds. Funk claimed he didn't want to wrestle Spot, and convinced Spot they should just go to the back and both be counted out. Spot agreed, then Funk hit him in the aisle and tried to run back into the ring. Spot stopped him on the floor, and Funk lifted him for a slam, but Spot floated over him, onto the ring apron, and rolled into the ring as the referee reached ten, giving Spot the countout win.
- Tito Santana defeated Magnificent Muraco. Muraco scored a pin, but Santana's foot was on the ropes, which the referee saw as he counted three. Santana then rolled up Muraco for the pin.
- Paul Orndorff defeated Cowboy Bob Orton via DQ when Orton hit Orndorff with his cast.
Quarterfinals:
- Dynamite Kid defeated Adrian Adonis after ramming Adonis into Jimmy Hart, and Hart's megaphone, as Hart was on the apron trying to help Adonis.
- Randy Savage defeated Ricky Steamboat when Savage hit Steamboat with a foreign object as Steamboat went for a back suplex.
- Junkyard Dog defeated Moondog Spot in under a minute. They started fighting before a referee even got to the ring for the match, so JYD counted his own pin on Spot after a headbutt.
- Tito Santana vs. Paul Orndorff ended in a double countout as the two brawled outside the ring.
Semifinals:
- Randy Savage defeated Dynamite Kid when Dynamite hit a top rope superplex, but Savage swung his legs up from the mat as Dynamite rolled over, getting the pin with a small package.
- Junkyard Dog received a bye to the finals.
Finals:
- Junkyard Dog defeated Randy Savage via countout to win the Wrestling Classic tournament after hitting some headbutts and throwing Savage to the floor.
- In a non-tournament match, WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Roddy Piper via disqualification when Bob Orton interfered. Paul Orndorff made the save.

1997 - Buddy Landell defeats Bull Pain in Lexington, Kentucky to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title

[hydrophonic]

1985 - WWF's first full fledged Pay-per-view, The Wrestling Classic, was held at the Rosemont Horizon in Illinois. While Wrestlemania and Wrestlemania 2 had been available in a few markets (in most cases test markets for PPV), the majority of their penetration was via closed-circuit television, which had been used for many years in wrestling. This was the start of WWF (now WWE) changing the way wrestling is presented, with Pay-per-view events eventually becoming an integral part of wrestling.

Just to be clear, The Wrestling Classic took place between WM1 & WM2.

Here are the results of the show, which was built around a one-night tournament.
First Round:
- Junkyard Dog defeated Randy Savage via countout to win the Wrestling Classic tournament after hitting some headbutts and throwing Savage to the floor.

Add this to my list.

[hydrophonic]

I forgot I had this one.

1995 - ECW ran in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the ECW Arena with a show that would become as famous for what happened at the end of the night as what occurred during the show. Here are the results:
- Mikey Whipwreck defeated The Sandman in a Ladder match to win the ECW World Title. Prior to the bout, Steve Austin came to the ring, and said he wanted a title match with whoever won. He then took Woman, Sandman's manager away from ringside. Whipwreck pinned Sandman with a flying bodypress with the ladder (ECW ladder matches ended with pinfalls, the ladder was simply "in play") and the locker room emptied to celebrate with Whipwreck.

I don't understand how this is a "Ladder Match", but whatever.

There is one good looking spot that goes like this:  Sandman and Whipwreck have been brawling in the crowd.  Sandman puts the ladder across the guardrail, with the top (skinny part) on the audience side of the rail with Whipwreck.  Sandman then returns to the ring, runs the ropes to the near side and leaps over the far side.  On his way to the floor he hits the ladder which shoots up into Whipwreck's face.  Thankfully, you can see the ladder lower a little bit as Sandman is going over the ropes, indicating that Whipwreck had grabbed it and was holding it up to his face.  It's a nice spot and I'm glad that it appears to be a little safer than most of the garbage ECW does...  er, did.

Austin's promo before the match is the only reason to see this (which is one of the extras on the "Rise and Fall of ECW" DVD).

Sandman (C) v Mikey Whipwreck in a Ladder Match for the ECW World Title = 3/4  :razorback:

Over the weekend I'll transcribe Austin's promo from Sandman v Whipwreck and save you another 10 minutes.

Well, I found this.  Embedding is disabled, so you'll have to follow the link.  It's just Austin's promo, so it really will save you 10 minutes or so (and save me about 20 minutes typing it out).  Give it a look, it's worth seeing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Llo7XiX3dAU

[russell33]

November 8th

On this day in history in ....

1975 - Nick Bockwinkel defeats Verne Gagne for the AWA World Heavyweight Title, ending Gagne's ninth reign, in St. Paul, Minnesota. This was Bockwinkel's first reign, and lasted well over four years.

1980 - Tony Garea & Rick Martel defeat The Samoans for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ending the second reign for Afa & Sika.

1993 - Brian Christopher & Jeff Jarrett defeat Rex Hargrove & Koko B. Ware for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, starting their second reign. They had lost the belts to Hargrove & Ware only seven days earlier.

1997 - ECW ran at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the following results:
- Chris Candido & Lance Storm defeated Tommy Rogers & Jerry Lynn.
- Mikey Whipwreck defeated Spike Dudley.
- Al Snow defeated Paul Diamond.
- Axl Rotten defeated D-Von Dudley, John Kronus and Tracy Smothers in a Four Way Dance.
- Justin Credible defeated Chris Chetti.
- Blue Meanie defeated Jason Knight.
- ECW World Champion Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Shane Douglas.
- Taz & Tommy Dreamer defeated Sabu & Rob Van Dam.

1997 - Bull Pain defeats Buddy Landell in Bardstown, Kentucky to win back the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title, which Landel had won the night before.

1999 - The New Age Outlaws defeat Mankind & Al Snow for the WWF World Tag Team Title in State College, Pennsylvania. This would be the fifth, and final tag title reign for Billy Gunn & Road Dogg.

1999 - Scott Hall defeats Bret Hart, Sid Vicious & Goldberg for the vacant WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title in a Ladder match in Indianapolis, Indiana, starting his second title reign.

2003 - In a battle of WWE announcers, Jerry Lawler defeats Al Snow in Secaucus, New Jersey to win the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

2003 - Kid Kruel defeats Christopher Daniels in Wilmington, Delaware to win the ECWA Heavyweight Title.

2005 - At a Smackdown taping in Indianapolis, Indiana, Eddie Guerrero defeated Ken Kennedy via disqualification when Guerrero tricked referee Charles Robinson into thinking that Kennedy had used a chair. As a result of the win, Guerrero had earned a spot on the Smackdown team for the Raw vs. Smackdown match at Survivor Series. Sadly, this would be Eddie Guerrero's last match, and would be broadcast just two days before his death.

[hydrophonic]

1991 - 1996 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Here are the results:
- Dean Malenko defeated Rey Mysterio, Jr. to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title by reversing a top rope rana into a powerbomb.

I've finally accepted that I'm never going to make the time to say everything I want about this match.  What it really boils down to is this:

I really, REALLY like to watch Dean Malenko work a match.  He and Mysterio are a good pair and fun to watch.  There are 3 Mysterio v Malenko matches on Rey's DVD and they're all pretty great.

There are a couple of small flaws, the worst of which is the 4 man announce team.  Shivone sucks, Rhodes and Hennan put themselves above the match, but Tennay is still pretty good.  It's really sad what Mike Tennay has become in TNA.  Other than that, there is a small bit about a mask that Malenko stole from Mysterio that IMO breaks the flow of an otherwise good match.

Rey Mysterio (C) v Dean Malenko for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship at Halloween Havoc '96 =  :razorback: :razorback: :razorback: 1/2

1985 - WWF's first full fledged Pay-per-view, The Wrestling Classic, was held at the Rosemont Horizon in Illinois. While Wrestlemania and Wrestlemania 2 had been available in a few markets (in most cases test markets for PPV), the majority of their penetration was via closed-circuit television, which had been used for many years in wrestling. This was the start of WWF (now WWE) changing the way wrestling is presented, with Pay-per-view events eventually becoming an integral part of wrestling. Here are the results of the show, which was built around a one-night tournament.
Finals:
- Junkyard Dog defeated Randy Savage via countout to win the Wrestling Classic tournament after hitting some headbutts and throwing Savage to the floor.

This is on WWE's "Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80s" DVD.  While it's a really good set, there are a few matches where Jesse Ventura's commentary has been deleted.  It's just awkward.

JYD is moving pretty slow here and unfortunately is working as a WWF cartoon character.  He just isn't the same guy that so many of us watched in Mid South.  Savage works REALLY hard to...  er...  throw the dog a bone, but that doesn't make it a good match.

JYD v Randy Savage in the finals of the Wrestling Classic =  :razorback:

[russell33]

November 9th

On this day in history in ....

1933 - Otis Clingman defeats Thor Jenson for the Pacific Coast Middleweight Title in Eugene, Oregon.

1937 - Earl McCready defeats George Walker in Wellington, New Zealand to become undisputed New Zealand Wrestling Union British Empire Heavyweight Champion.

1937 - Billy Weidner defeats The Great Mephisto in Dayton, Ohio to win his second Midwest Wrestling Association Light Heavyweight Title, this also ended the second reign for Mephisto.

1949 - Bobby Managoff defeats Jack Claybourne for the Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1950 - Billy Goelz defeats Gypsy Joe to win the Wisconsin Junior Heavyweight Title in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1952 - Lucky Simunovich and Gino Garibaldi defeat Bob Langevin and Rom Rice for the vacant Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1956 - Lou Thesz defeats Whipper Billy Watson to win his second NWA World Heavyweight Title as well as, to this day, the final totally Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship in St. Louis, Missouri.

1957 - Ivan Bornov and The Great Malenko defeat Frankie Talaber and Leon Graham for the MWA Ohio Tag Team Title in Columbus, Ohio, ending Talaber and Graham's second reign.

1961 - Lord James Blears and Neff Maivia defeat Shoulders Newman and Ted Travis for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii, then lose the belts right back to Newman and Travis.

1962 - Fred Blassie begins his second reign as the recognized World Heavyweight Champion in the state of Georgia, defeating Jake Smith in Atlanta in a rematch from their meeting two weeks earlier for the title, also in Atlanta, the title had been immediately held up following the prior match.

1964 - Terry Garvin and Chin Lee are awarded the Gulf Coast version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title, when the previous champions, The Corsicans (Joe and Jean) leave the territory two weeks earlier.

1968 - Kintaro Ohki defeats Buddy Austin for the vacant All-Asia Heavyweight Title in Seoul, South Korea. The title had been vacant since late 1963, following the death of then-champion Rikidozan.

1970 - Don Leo Jonathan and Steven Little Bear defeat Chati Yokouchi and Yasu Fuji in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title.

1973 - Wahoo McDaniel defeats Strong Kobayashi for the IWA (Japan) World Heavyweight Title in Wakayama, Japan.

1973 - Chris Colt and Bobby Mayne (Bobby Jaggers) defeat Tito Montez and Kurt Von Steiger to win the NWA Western States Tag Team Title in Phoenix, Arizona.

1975 - Terry Funk defeats Paul Jones in a tournament final for the vacant NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Greensboro, North Carolina. The title was vacated due to champion Johnny Valentine suffering career-ending injuries in a plane crash on October 4th also involving Ric Flair, Tim Woods and Bob Bruggers.

1976 - The Spoiler defeats Bill Watts for the Mid-South version of the NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana, ending Watts' fourth reign and starting Spoiler's second.

1981 - Yukari Ohmori and Mimi Hagiwara defeat Nancy Kumi and Ayumi Hori to win the World Women's Wrestling Association Tag Team Title in Obuyama, Japan.

1985 - Dutch Mantel defeats Phil Hickerson for the Continental Wrestling Association International Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This ended Hickerson's third reign and began Mantel's second.

1985 - Bobby Jaggers defeats Ricky Vaughn (Lance Von Erich) for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title in Portland, Oregon, his third title win.

1986 - On a card promoted by Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, two titles change hands. Bill Irwin and Leroy Brown defeat John Tatum and Jack Victory to win the UWF Tag Team Title, and Savannah Jack defeats Buddy Roberts for the UWF Television Title.

1986 - Invader III wins the WWC Junior Heavyweight Title for the sixth time, defeating Don Kent in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

1987 - Jeff Jarrett defeats Jimmy Jack Funk to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning Jarrett's fifth reign.

1991 - Eric Embry defeats Tom Prichard for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, starting his third run with the belt and ending Prichard's second reign.

1996 - Lance Storm and Yuji Yasuraoka win their second WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title from Jushin Liger and El Samurai in Tokyo, Japan.

1996 - The Bruise Brothers defeat Brian Christopher & Wolfie D for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee to start their fifth reign with the belts.

1997 - Arguably the most talked about match in the history of professional wrestling takes place at the WWF Survivor Series Pay-per-view in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart, who had already signed with WCW, was double-crossed in the finish of his main event match with Shawn Michaels.

Bret Hart had signed a lucrative 20-year contract with the WWF the year before, but Vince McMahon later told him he would be unable to fulfill the terms of the deal, and for Bret to negotiate a contract with WCW. Bret did, and gave notice to WWF. As part of the agreement, WCW would not mention Hart's signing until after the Survivor Series PPV, as Hart did not want his highly anticipated match with Shawn Michaels ruined. Still, word leaked out leading into the event.

During a meeting on the afternoon of November 9th, McMahon and Hart met to discuss a finish for the Survivor Series match. McMahon wanted the belt off of Hart, fearing WCW would announce the next night on Nitro that they had signed away the WWF Champion. Hart did not want to do the job to Michaels in Montreal for a number of reasons (including personal animosity and Michaels unwillingness to do a job for Bret following Wrestlemania 12, amongst others). Hart was open to losing the belt the next night on Raw, or at Madison Square Garden later that week. McMahon and Hart agreed to a DQ finish, and that Hart would come out on Raw the next night and surrender the title, giving a farewell speech to his WWF fans and putting over the company on his way out.

Hart and Michaels put together their match with Pat Patterson. The planned finish (suggested by Patterson) was for referee Earl Hebner to be knocked out. Michaels would put Hart in a Sharpshooter, but Hart would then reverse it. Michaels would tap out, but the referee would be down and not see it. Hart would release the hold to check on the ref, then Michaels would hit him with Sweet Chin Music. A second referee would come down to count, but Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart would run down and pull the second referee from the ring, eventually leading to a disqualification finish.

Bret Hart was actually warned by Vader prior to the match to watch for a double cross, and not allow himself to be placed in submission holds or positions where he couldn't get his shoulders off the mat. Hart, who personally made sure close friend Earl Hebner was the assigned referee for the match, was not worried about a double cross.

During the match, Hebner was bumped, and Michaels placed Hart in the Sharpshooter. However, Hebner got up, instead of staying "knocked out". Hebner called for the bell, with Vince McMahon (who was at ringside due to a planned earlier portion of the match where McMahon and agents were trying to get the action back into the ring during a brawl on the floor), screamed at the timekeeper to ring the bell. Hart was reversing the hold at the time this happened, and he and Michaels crumbled to the mat, with Michaels (who later admitted to being in on it) acting angry.

Earl Hebner immediately exited the ring, and ran out of the building into a waiting car. He would fly home immediately, and not appear at Raw the next night. Hart spat right in Vince McMahon's face. McMahon screamed at Michaels to take the belt and leave. Michaels, with Gerald Brisco ushering him out, took the belt, and held it up as he left (presumably under orders from Brisco). The PPV went off the air at that point. McMahon, with Pat Patterson and security surrounding him, left ringside. Bret Hart smashed several TV monitors, and Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart (who never got their cue to come in for the finish) came to the ring and calmed him down. Hart then spelled out "WCW" with his fingers to the fans before leaving the ring.

Backstage, McMahon locked himself in his office. Hart confronted Michaels, who insisted he knew nothing about it, and that he wasn't going to keep the belt. Hart gave Michaels the benefit of a doubt, and said Michaels would have his chance to prove himself by not bringing the belt out on Raw the next night. The rest of the locker room was angry, feeling McMahon lied and screwed with someone who had been with the company for over a decade, and did a lot for the WWF.

McMahon would not open his door for anyone, until The Undertaker, after putting together what had happened, pounded on his door and demanded that McMahon speak to him. Reportedly, Undertaker, the recognized leader of the locker room, told McMahon, very adamantly, that he needed to apologize to Bret Hart right then and there. McMahon went to Hart's dressing room with Sgt. Slaughter, Gerald Brisco and several others. Vince attempted to apologize, justifying his actions by saying that he couldn't take the chance of Eric Bischoff announcing the next night that WCW had signed the WWF Champion. Hart said he was going to shower, and if Vince was still there when he got dressed he would "knock him out". Hart called McMahon a liar, and when McMahon said this was the first time he lied to him, Hart rattled off a list of lies from McMahon. After Hart got dressed, he told McMahon twice more to leave, and when he didn't, a scuffle broke out and Hart knocked McMahon to the ground with a punch. Shane McMahon tried to attack Bret, and ended up in a scuffle with Davey Boy Smith, who pulled Shane off of Bret's back. As McMahon was dragged out of the dressing room, Sgt. Slaughter reportedly accidentally stepped on Vince's ankle.

Most in WWE management insisted they knew nothing about a screwjob. Many wrestlers stated they would not go to Raw the next night because of the screwjob, but with the exception of Hart's relatives (Owen, Smith, Neidhart), Mick Foley was the only wrestler to carry through on his protest. The next night on WCW Nitro, the NWO came to the ring waving Canadian flags, and sang "Oh, Canada". Michaels, despite his promise to Bret not to, came to the ring with the WWF Title belt and poked fun at Hart.

Here are the results from the rest of the PPV:
- Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, Henry Godwin, & Phineas Godwin defeated The Headbangers & The New Blackjacks in an elimination match. Gunn & Road Dogg were the survivors.
- The Truth Commission defeated DOA in an elimination match. The Interrogator was the sole survivor.
- Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart, Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon defeated Vader, Steve Blackman, Goldust & Marc Mero in an elimination match. Smith was the sole survivor.
- Kane defeated Mankind with a tombstone.  This was Kane's first televised match.
- Ken Shamrock, Ahmed Johnson & The Legion Of Doom defeated the Nation of Domination in an elimination match. Shamrock was the sole survivor.
- Steve Austin defeated Owen Hart with a stunner to win the WWF Intercontinental Title.

2001 - 2-Dope defeats Marcus Jordan for the Maryland Championship Wrestling RAGE Television Title in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.

2002 - Apolo defeats Rey Fenix to win the IWA (Puerto Rico) Heavyweight Title in Cayey, Puerto Rico, beginning his sixth reign with the belt.

2002 - Chet Jablonski defeats Matt Stryker for the HWA Heavyweight Title in Batavia, Ohio.

2002 - Whiplash defeats Justin Valentine, Zero-X and Benin to become the first Alabama Pro Wrestling (later NWA Xtreme) Junior Heavyweight Champion in Childersburg, Alabama.

2002 - C.J. Sensation defeats Lance Dayton in McKeesport, Pennsylvania to win the NWA East X Division Title.

2003 - Momoe Nakanishi defeats Mariko Yoshida in a tournament final in Tokyo, Japan to become the first AtoZ World Champion.

2005 - CM Punk defeats Ken Doane for the OVW Television Title in Louisville, Kentucky

[hydrophonic]

1997 - Arguably the most talked about match in the history of professional wrestling takes place at the WWF Survivor Series Pay-per-view in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart, who had already signed with WCW, was double-crossed in the finish of his main event match with Shawn Michaels.

I know everybody has seen it, but just in case:

Just the finish
[youtube=425,350]AgUy5H6snfM[/youtube]

Full match - part 1 (embedding disabled)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gLDr537htQ

Full match - part 2 (embedding disabled)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6gsb2h5o-Q

Full match - part 3 (embedding disabled)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFawmDOm3yQ

Full match - part 4 (embedding disabled) - just the finish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmHQq-N4EZs

Backstage - from Wrestling With Shadows
[youtube=425,350]Petx8MpTGjo[/youtube]

[russell33]

man i remember this night like it was yesterday. also if you havent seen the bret hart documentary "wrestling with shadows" i would highly recommend it. gives alot more in sight leading up to the match and shows that vince gave his word to bret several times.