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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: ECW DOUBLE TABLES, TEAM ANGLE WINS GOLD AND MORE

By Ryan Martinez on 2008-02-04 08:00:00

February 4th

On this day in history in ....

1938 - Jack Ross defeats Raoul Lopez in Augusta, Georgia to win the Georgia Southern Lightweight Title for the sixth time.

1940 - Tarzan Lopez defeats Octavio Gaona in Mexico City, Mexico for the World Middleweight Title.

1950 - The Demon defeats Tom Marshall in Akron, Ohio for the Jack Pfeffer-promoted version of the World Heavyweight Title, beginning his third reign.

1957 - Baron Von Hecsy defeats George Pencheff to win the Australian Heavyweight Title in Adelaide, Australia, ending Pencheff's second reign.

1961 - Dr. X (Bill Miller) defeats Don Leo Jonathan in Omaha, Nebraska for the Omaha version of the World Heavyweight Title for the second time.

1964 - Ulises defeats Chanoc to win the Mexican National Lightweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1965 - Gene Kiniski and Waldo Von Erich defeat Jerry and Luke Graham for the WWWF United States Tag Team Title in Washington, DC.

1966 - Al Costello and Louie Tillet defeat The Mysterious Medics in a tournament final to win the vacant Georgia NWA World Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia.

1969 - Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki defeat Danny Hodge and Wilbur Snyder to win the NWA International Tag Team Title in Sapporo, Japan, beginning their third reign.

1969 - Hans Mortier defeats The Gladiator (Rick Hunter) to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.

1970 - Ripper Collins wins his fourth NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii, ending The Missing Link's second reign.

1972 - Art Thomas defeats Baron Von Raschke for the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan, ending Raschke's second reign.

1975 - Bobby Fields and Bob Kelly win their second NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama, defeating The Hell's Angels.

1976 - Thunderbolt Patterson defeats Frank Goodish (Bruiser Brody) for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title in Miami, Florida.

1977 - Chavo Guerrero wins his eighth NWA Americas Heavyweight Title from Dory Funk, Jr. in Los Angeles, California.

1977 - Ted Oates defeats Bob (Sgt.) Slaughter for the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in St. Joseph, Missouri.

1978 - Invader I and José Rivera defeat The Kangaroos (Al Costello and Don Kent) to win the held up WWC World Tag Team Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The title had been held up after their match on January 14 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. At that same event, Dick Steinborn defeats Joe Novak for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title.

1979 - Gran Hamada defeats Cesar Valentino for the UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico. At the same event, El Gran Markus defeats TNT to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.

1979 - The WWC North American Tag Team Title is vacated in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, when champions Pierre and Rick Martel lose a loser-leaves-town match to Invaders I and II.

1979 - Bob Armstrong and Ken Lucas defeat Jerry Blackwell and The Invader (Bob Orton, Jr.) to win the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Title in Knoxville, Tennessee.

1980 - Bob Brown wins the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title for the 10th time, from The Assassin (Jody Hamilton) in Kansas City, Kansas.

1982 - Chris Sabin is born in Pinckney, Michigan.

1985 - Rip Oliver defeats Buck Zumhofe to win the vacant World Class Television Title in Fort Worth, Texas.

1987 - Ron Fuller defeats Kevin Sullivan in a phantom match in Houston, Texas for the NWA Southeast Continental Heavyweight Title, ending Sullivan's second reign and beginning Fuller's second.

1989 - TNT (Savio Vega) defeats Sika in a tournament final to win the vacant WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The title was vacated on January 6 when champion Hercules Ayala lost a loser-leaves-town match to Carlos Colón.

1990 - Whipper Billy Watson, who was the top star for years in Maple Leaf Wrestling, died at age 74 in Orlando, Florida after suffering a heart attack. Watson, who was born William Potts, won the World Heavyweight Title in 1956, as well as nearly every title there was in Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto.

1990 - The Mercenaries (Cuban Assassin and Ron Starr) defeat Chris and Mark Youngblood for the WWC World Tag Team Title in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, ending the Youngbloods' sixth reign.

1991 - Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Lawler defeat The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) to win the held up USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee. The title was held up after their match the previous week in Memphis.

1994 - Jerrito Estrada defeats Mascarita Sagrada to win the Mexican National Mini-Estralla Title in Cuernavaca, Mexico, ending Sagrada's second reign.

1995 - ECW held "Double Tables" at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Jason the Terrible and The Pitbulls defeated Hack Meyers and The Young Dragons, when Jason pinned Meyers.
- Tommy Dreamer pinned Stevie Richards.
- Mikey Whipwreck pinned Paul Lauria (with Jason Knight) with a backslide.
- Ian Rotten pinned Axl Rotten with a roll-up.
- Chris Benoit pinned Al Snow after a dragon suplex.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas pinned Tully Blanchard to retain the title.
- Cactus Jack defeated The Sandman in a Texas Death match after a DDT on the floor. Sandman was legitimately knocked out from the blow.
- Sabu and The Tazmaniac defeat ECW World Tag Team Champions The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) in a Double Tables match to win the title, ending Public Enemy's second reign.

1995 - Smoky Mountain Wrestling held an event in Barbourville, Kentucky at Knox County High School. The results:
- D'Lo Brown defeated The Nightmare (Ted Allen).
- Boo Bradley (Balls Mahoney) defeated Chris Candido in a "loser eats dog food" match.
- Unabomb (Kane) defeated Ricky Morton.
- SMW Television Champion Buddy Landel defeated The Dirty White Boy in a no disqualification match.
- The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustapha Saed) defeated Bob Armstrong and Tracy Smothers.

1998 - Gene Austin defeats The Canadian Destoyer to win the Southern Michigan Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Michigan Center, Michigan, beginning his second reign. SMCW became an NWA member during his reign, on May 1, and the title was renamed the NWA Michigan Heavyweight Titke.

2000 - ECW held an event at the Jacksonville Convention Center in Jacksonville, Florida. The results:
- The Dupps (Bo and Jack) defeated H.C. Loc and The Prodigy.
- Kid Kash defeated Simon Diamond.
- Spike Dudley defeated Mikey Whipwreck.
- C.W. Anderson and Erik Watts defeated Chris Chetti and Nova.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Mike Awesome defeated Little Guido to retain the title.
- Balls Mahoney and Masato Tanaka defeated Da Baldies (Angel and Vic Grimes).
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Impact Players (Justin Credible and Lance Storm) defeated Danny Doring and Roadkill to retain the title.
- Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Super Crazy in a Japanese Death match.
- Tommy Dreamer and Dusty Rhodes defeated Steve Corino and Jack Victory in a Street Fight.

2000 - Johnny Devine and Greg Pawluk defeat Tiger Mahatma Khan and Dick Raines in a tournament final to win the vacant Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta. Devine and Pawluk became the first champions after Bruce and Ross Hart's 1999 reopening of Stampede Wrestling, and the first to hold the title since Stampede first closed in December 1989.

2000 - Harry Palmer wins his third IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title in Charlestown, Indiana, ending J Prodigy's second reign.

2001 - The WWF Hardcore Title changes hands three times at a house show in Columbia, South Carolina. K-Kwik won his second title, ending Raven's third reign. K-Kwik then lost the title to Crash Holly, beginning his 14th reign. Raven won it back though, beginning his fourth reign. The same title changes happened the previous night in Greensboro, North Carolina as well.

2001 - Women of Wrestling held its only pay-per-view event, "Unleashed" in Los Angeles, California at the Great Western Forum. The event only mustered a dismal 0.03 buyrate, or about 12,000 buys. The results were:
- Randi Rah-Rah pinned Jacqueline Hyde.
- Farrah and Paradise and The Beach Patrol (Sandy and Summer) ended in a draw after a double-pin.
- Tanja the Warrior Woman pinned Jane Bond.
- Nikki Law pinned Heather Steele.
- Boom Boom and Caliente beat Jade and Lotus, when Boom Boom pinned Jade.
- Bronco Billie pinned The Disciplinarian.
- Roxy vs. Slam Dunk ended in a double-disqualification.
- Riot pinned Wendi Wheels in a hardcore match.
- Jungle Grrrl pinned Becky the Farmer's Daughter.
- Caged Heat (Delta and Loca) defeated Harley's Angels (Easy Ryder and Thug), when Loca pinned Ryder to become the first WOW Tag Team Champions.
- Terri Gold pinned WOW Champion Danger to win the title, beginning her second reign.
- Patti Pizzazz and Lana Starr and beat Ice Cold and Poison in a Hair vs. Hair match.
- Thug pinned Selina Majors in a Steel Cage match.

2002 - The WWF held a live RAW and taped the weekend's edition of Jakked at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. RAW got a 4.5 rating on TNN. The results were:
- In a dark match, Rico Constantino and Randy Orton defeated Brock Lesnar and Ron Waterman, when Orton pinned Waterman after a flying crossbody off the top. All four men were developmental talent in OVW at the time. Lesnar, Rico and Orton would make their respective television debuts on March 18 (Lesnar F5s Rikishi on RAW), March 19 (Rico debuts as Billy and Chuck's stylist on SmackDown!) and April 23 (Orton defeats Hardcore Holly on SmackDown!). Waterman never made it to television.
Jakked:
- Christian defeated The Hurricane.
- Albert and Scotty 2 Hotty defeated Funaki and Crash Holly.
- WWF Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri defeated Jason Partain to retain the title.
RAW:
- Triple H defeated Booker T by disqualifcation after Kurt Angle interfered and hit the Angle Slam on Triple H.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Bubba Ray Dudley (with D-Von Dudley and Stacy Keibler).
- WWF Tag Team Champions Spike Dudley and Tazz defeats Billy and Chuck and The A.P.A. (Bradshaw and Faarooq) in a Triple Threat Elimination match to retain the title. Spike pinned Billy after the Dudley Dog to win the match, after Billy and Chuck eliminated The A.P.A.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion William Regal defeated Rikishi by disqualification to retain the title after Edge interfered to prevent Regal from using his brass knuckles.
- Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley told her husband Triple H that next week they would renew their wedding vows, with HHH refusing. Stephanie said that HHH had to do it, because she was pregnant. Triple H smiled and picked Stephanie up and gave her a kiss.
- Jazz defeated WWF Women's Champion Trish Stratus to win the title.
- The Undertaker and WWF Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho defeated Steve Austin and The Rock, when Jericho pinned Rock after Undertaker hit Rock in the head with a lead pipe.

2002 - FMW held a pay-per-view event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results were:
- Biomonster DNA and Leatherface defeated Happy Ikeda, Satoshi Makita, Sun Paul and Yoshito Sasaki, when Leatherface pinned Paul.
- Shinjuku Shark beat Nihei Assassin.
- Onryo defeated Nosawa.
- Sanshiro Takagi defeated DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion Chocoball Mukai to win the title, beginning his second reign.
- Goemon, Kintaro Kanemura and Mammoth Sasaki beat Vic Grimes, Mitsunobu Kikuzawa and Paul LeDuc, when Sasaki pinned Kikuzawa.
- Kodo Fuyuki and The Sandman defeated Tetsuhiro Kuroda and Sabu, when Fuyuki pinned Kuroda, to win the vacant WEW Tag Team Title.

2003 - WWE taped the February 6 SmackDown! and February 8 Velocity at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SmackDown! got a 3.3 rating on UPN and Velocity on Spike TV got a 0.8 rating. The results:
Velocity:
- Nunzio defeated Funaki.
- John Cena defeated Bryan Danielson.
- Bill DeMott defeated Phil Brown.
- Edge defeated A-Train.
SmackDown!:
- Rey Mysterio defeated Jamie Noble (with Nidia).
- Rikishi defeated Nunzio.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman defeated Matt Hardy (with Shannon Moore) in a non-title match.
- Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero) to win the title.
- A-Train defeated Shannon Moore).
- WWE Champion Kurt Angle defeated Chris Benoit to retain the title.

2004 - TNA held its 80th weekly pay-per-view event live from the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. The results were:
Dark matches:
- The 3Live Kru (BG James, Ron Killings and Konnan) defeated Ryan Boz, Brad Bradley and ?.
- Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger defeated Johnny Curtis and Kevin Matthews.
- Shane Douglas and Michael Shane defeated Big Bully Douglas and Bart Sawyer.
- America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) defeated Delirious and Shadow).
Pay-per-view matches:
- The Insane Clown Posse (Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J) defeated Glen Gilberti and David Young, when Shaggy pinned Young.
- Sonny Siaki defeated Kid Kash.
- Abyss defeated El León (Apolo) by disqualification.
- The Gathering (CM Punk and Julio Dinero (with James Mitchell)) defeated Terry Funk and The Sandman, when Dinero pinned Sandman.
- A.J. Styles, fighting on his own since his partner Abyss didn't show up for the match, defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Red Shirt Security (Joe Legend and Kevin Northcutt) to win the title for he and Abyss. The title would be vacated a month later when the team broke up.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett defeated Dustin Rhodes to retain the title.

2004 - El Zorro wins his second Mexican National Heavyweight Title in Veracruz, Mexico, defeating Pirata Morgan.

2005 - WWE tapes the February 7 edition of RAW and the weekend's edition of WWE.com Heat at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. RAW earned a 3.7 rating on Spike TV. The results:
Heat:
- Muhammad Hassan (with Daivari) defeated Rhyno.
- Gene Snitsky defeated The Hurricane.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin defeated Val Venis to retain the title.
RAW:
- Chris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho by submission with the Crippler Crossface.
- Batista pinned Maven in just 33 seconds.
- Tajiri and William Regal defeated World Tag Team Champions La Résistance (Rob Conway and Sylvain Grenier) to win the title, when Tajiri got the pin after using his green mist.
- Shawn Michaels pinned Ric Flair after the Sweet Chin Music.
- Randy Orton pinned Tyson Tomko.
- World Heavyweight Champion Triple H pinned Edge after the Pedigree to retain the title.

2005 - IWA Mid-South held the Indiana State Heavyweight Title Tournament at the National Guard Armory in Valparaiso, Indiana. The event featured an eight-man tournament to crown the first-ever NWA Indiana State Heavyweight Champion. The results were:
- In a first round match, IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion Trik Davis defeated NWA Midwest Tag Team Champion Eric Priest.
- In a first round match, Ian Rotten defeated Josh Abercrombie.
- In a first round match, Alex Shelley defeated Petey Williams.
- In a first round match, Brandon Thomaselli defeated NWA Midwest X Division Champion Matt Sydal.
- IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Champion Delirious defeated NWA Iowa Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Jacobs in a Steel Cage match to retain the title.
- Samoa Joe defeated IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion Brad Bradley.
- In a semifinal match, IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion Trik Davis defeated Ian Rotten.
- In a semifinal match, Brandon Thomaselli defeated Alex Shelley.
- Danny Daniels defeated IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion CM Punk to win the title. This ended Punk's fifth reign.
- In the tournament final match, Brandon Thomaselli defeated IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion Trik Davis to become the first NWA Indiana State Heavyweight Champion.

2005 - Gino Martino defeats Apocalypse for the NWA New England Heavyweight Title in Sanford, Maine. As a result, Martino's NWA New England Colonial Heavyweight Title, which he held since November 20, was vacated.

2005 - Damian Wayne defeats Preston Quinn to win the vacant NWA Virginia Heavyweight Title in Richmond, Virginia.

2006 - The WWC held La Hora de la Verdad (The Hour of Truth) III at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The event featured a tournament for the WWC World Tag Team Title, which had been vacated on November 5, when champions Derrick King and Stan Lee left the promotion. The results:
- In a first round match, Los Adorables (Love and Rick Adonis) defeated D'Jour (Dave and David D'Jour).
- In a first round match, Ash and Bison defeated Brent Dail and New Demolition X.
- In a first round match, Los Nenes de las Nenas (Chris Joel and Alex Montalvo) defeated El Bandido and Chicky Starr.
- In a first round match, The Market Crashers (Dow Jones and NASDAQ) defeated Los Broncos (El Bronco I and El Bronco II).
- Abyss and Black Pain fought to a double-countout.
- In a semifinal match, Los Nenes de las Nenas defeated Los Adorables.
- In a semifinal match, The Market Crashers defeated Ash and Bison.
- Amenazá Bryan defeated WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion Glamour Boy Shane to win the title. This ended Shane's second reign and began Bryan's second reign.
- In the tournament final match, Los Nenes de las Nenas defeated The Market Crashers to win the vacant WWC World Tag Team Title. This began their third reign.
- Abbad defeated WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion Julio Estrada in a Barbed Wire match to win the title, beginning his second reign.

2006 - The Ultimate Fighting Championship held UFC 57: Couture vs. Liddell 3 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center im Las Vegas, Nevada. The results were:
Preliminary bouts:
- Keith Jardine defeated Mike Whitehead by unanimous decision in a light heavyweight bout.
- Jeff Monson defeated Branden Lee Hinkle by referee stoppage (North/South choke) at 4:35 of round one in a heavyweight bout.
- Paul Buentello defeated Gilbert Aldana by TKO (strikes) at 2:27 of round two in a heavyweight bout.
- Alessio Sakara defeated Elvis Sinosic by unanimous decision in a light heavyweight bout.
Pay-per-view bouts:
- Joe Riggs defeated Nate Diaz by unanimous decision in a welterweight bout.
- Renato Sobral defeated Mike Van Arsdale by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:21 of round one in a light heavyweight bout. With this win, Sobral became #1 contender for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
- In a major upset, Marcio Cruz defeated Frank Mir by TKO (strikes) at 4:10 of round one in a heavyweight bout. This was Mir's first fight back after his motorcycle accident.
- Brandon Vera defeated Justin Eilers by knockout (kick and knee) at 1:25 of round one in a heavyweight bout.
- UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell defeated Randy Couture by knockout (punch) at 1:28 in round two to retain the title. This was the third in the Liddell-Couture trilogy. Randy Couture announced his retirement immediately after the fight. Couture would return to the UFC in March 2007 at UFC 68.

2006 - Chris Stevens defeats John Bogie for the vacant Great Championship Wrestling Television Title in Columbus, Georgia.

2006 - Aika defeats Misae Genki to win the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Genki's fourth reign.

2006 - Jaysin Strife defeats Matt Sydal for the NWA Midwest X Division Title in Lawrence, Kansas, ending Sydal's second reign.

2007 - The first-ever Italian Championship Wrestling Italian Lightweight Champion is crowned in Pavia, Italy, as Crazy G. defeats Ape Atomica, Payday Patterson, Psycho Mike, Raid and Red Devil in a six-way elimination match.

You can write Ryan Martinez at freshprinceofatlanta@gmail.com.

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