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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: BARELY LEGAL, WWF VS. WCW FOR THE ECW TITLE, 'THE BODY' BEATS THE WWF, WWA ERUPTION AND MORE

By Buck Woodward on 2008-04-13 08:54:29


April 13th

On this day in history in ....

1960 - Hard Boiled Haggerty and Butcher Vachon defeat Lord James Blears and Herb Freeman to win the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1963 - Kay Noble defeats Kathy Starr for the vacant AWA World Women's Title in St. Paul, Minnesota.

1964 - Robert "Mo" Horne is born in Harlem, New York.

1964 - Enrique Torres and Bearcat Wright defeat Don Leo Jonathan and Kinji Shibuya for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1965 - Karl and Kurt Von Brauner defeat Jackie Fargo and Mario Milano for the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee, beginning their fifth reign.

1970 - Gene Kiniski defeats Mark Lewin to win the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1970 - Albert Wall defeats Steve Veidor for the vacant British Heavyweight Title in Nottingham, England, ending Wall's second reign.

1970 - Bob Geigel and The Stomper defeat Killer and K.O. Kox for the Central States NWA North American Tag Team Title in St. Joseph, Missouri.

1971 - Jack and Jerry Brisco defeat Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida, beginning the Briscos' second reign.

1974 - Championship Wrestling from Florida held an event at the Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Florida. The results:
- Phil Mercado and Angelo Poffo fought to a draw.
- The Great Mephisto defeated Rick Oliver.
- NWA Florida Tag Team Champions Jack and Jerry Brisco defeated Hans Schroder and Crusher Verdu to retain the title.
- Dutch Mantel and Skip Young fought to a draw.
- Ivan Koloff defeated Haystacks Calhoun.
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Buddy Wolf defeated Jos LeDuc to retain the title.
- Ox Baker and Ernie Ladd fought to a double-disqualification.

1974 - Ripper Collins defeats Jimmy Snuka to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, ending Snuka's second reign and beginning Collins' third.

1977 - Bruiser Brody defeats Fritz Von Erich for the NWA American Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, just one night after Von Erich beat Brody for the title. This began Brody's second reign and ended Von Erich's 14th.

1977 - Roddy Piper defeats Chavo Guerrero to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title.

1980 - Ole Anderson defeats Killer Karl Kox in Knoxville, Tennessee for the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title, ending Kox's third reign.

1980 - Gringo defeats Signo to win the UWA World Welterweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico. At the same show, Antonio Inoki defeats Tiger Jeet Singh for the UWA World Heavyweight Title.

1983 - Terry Allen and Brad Armstrong defeat The Fabulous Kangaroos (Johnny Heffernan anad Don Kent) to win the NWA Florida Global Tag Team Title in Miami, Florida, ending the Kangaroos' fourth reign. Also at that show, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair fought Barry Windham to a draw to retain his title.

1983 - Ted DiBiase and Mr. Olympia defeat Tiger Conway, Jr. and Mr. Wrestling II for the Mid-South Tag Team Title in Shreveport, Louisiana.

1983 - Satánico defeats Jalisco to win the NWA World Middleweight Title, to begin Satánico's third reign.

1985 - Mike Dupree and Sonny Myers defeat Rick Davis and Tim Patterson to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia.

1985 - Mega Maharishi (Ed Wiskoski) and Kendo Nagasaki defeat Don Running Bear and Billy Two Eagles for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon.

1987 - Richard Charland and Chuck Simms defeat Dan Kroffat and Armand Rougeau for the International Wrestling International Tag Team Title in Montreal, Quebec.

1988 - Invader III defeats Tony Falk in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico to win his seventh WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title.

1989 - Devil Masami and Maiko Tsurugo defeat Miss A and Harley Saito for the JWP Pacific Coast Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

1990 - The U.S./Japan Wrestling Summit was held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, before 53,742 fans. This was a joint event featuring talent from All Japan and the WWF. The results were:
- Doug Furnas, Dan Kroffat (Phil LaFon) and Joe Malenko defeated Samson Fuyuki, Toshiaki Kawada and Tatsumi Kitihara, when Kroffat pinned Kitihara.
- Jushin Liger pinned Akira Nogami.
- Tito Santana and Jimmy Snuka defeated Masa Fuchi and Kenta Kobashi, when Snuka pinned Fuchi.
- Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa) and Bret Hart fought to a 20-minute draw.
- The Great Kabuki pinned Greg Valentine.
- Jake Roberts pinned The Big Bossman.
- IWGP Tag Team Champions Shinya Hashimoto and Masa Saito defeated Masa Chono and Riki Choshu, when Saito pinned Chono, to retain the title.
- Haku and Jumbo Tsuruta defeated Rick Martel and Mr. Perfect, when Tsuruta pinned Martel.
- Genichiro Tenryu pinned Randy Savage
- WWF Champion Ultimate Warrior pinned Ted DiBiase to retain the title.
- André the Giant and Giant Baba defeated Demolition (Ax and Smash) when André pinned Smash.
- Hulk Hogan pinned Stan Hansen.

1991 - El Egipcio defeats Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. to the Mexican National Heavyweight Title in Puebla, Puebla, ending Jalisco's second reign.

1992 - Lauren Davenport defeats Miss Texas for the USWA Women's Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1994 - Jesse Ventura was awarded $809,958 in video tape royalties and $8,625 in merchandising royalties by a St. Paul, Minnesota court stemming from a lawsuit against the WWF. Ventura had argued he wasn't compensated for the use of his likeness in 90 WWF home videos when other performers, such as Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Mr. T, and Cyndi Lauper, had been. Ventura had also never signed any contract indemnifying the WWF from paying him for his commentary work. As a result of this, many matches featuring Ventura's commentary, as well as during his tenure in WCW, was edited out of several later home video releases.

1994 - Diesel defeats Razor Ramon to win the WWF Intercontinental Title at a WWF Superstars taping in Rochester, New York. The match aired on April 30.

1996 - Mike Kelly defeats Scott Stevens in Warren, Michigan to become the first Championship Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion.

1997 - ECW's very first pay-per-view event, Barely Legal, takes place before 1,170 fans at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show got a 0.2 buyrate. This event almost didn't take place, at least on pay-per-view, due to the infamous . The results were:
Dark matches:
- Louie Spicolli pinned Balls Mahoney.
- Chris Chetti and J.T. Smith defeated The F.B.I. (Little Guido and Tommy Rich).
Pay-per-view matches:
- The Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) defeated ECW World Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von), when Saturn pinned Buh Buh after a Total Elimination, to win the title.
- Rob Van Dam (subbing for the injured Chris Candido) pinned Lance Storm, after a Vandaminator and a standing Moonsault Splash. After the match, RVD cut a promo stating that he was a far better caliber wrestler than being a replacement for someone who was injured, and hinted that he might jump to the WWF or WCW.
- Gran Hamada, The Great Sasuke and Masato Yakushiji (subbing for the injured Gran Naniwa) defeated bWo Japan (Taka Michinoku, Terry Boy, and Dick Togo), when Sasuke pinned Michinoku after a Tiger suplex.
- ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas pinned Pitbull #2 after a belly-to-belly suplex to retain the title.
- Taz defeated Sabu by making him pass out with the Tazmission.
- Terry Funk defeated The Sandman and Stevie Richards (with The bWo) in a three-way dance to earn an immediate ECW World Heavyweight Title match. Funk and Sandman simultaneously pinned Richards after a double powerbomb. Funk pinned Sandman with a moonsault after Richards gave Sandman a Stevie-Kick with a trash can.
- Terry Funk pinned ECW World Heavyweight Champion Raven with a roll-up, after Tommy Dreamer DDT'd Raven, to win the title. This ended Raven's second reign and began Funk's second.

1999 - Ghost Face (Tarzan Goto) defeats Doug Gilbert for the IWA Japan World Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning his second reign.

2000 - A bizarre and improbable match took place at the Murat Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, as WWF-contracted wrestler Tazz defeated WCW-contracted wrestler Mike Awesome by submission with the Tazzmission, after a DDT from Tommy Dreamer while the referee was knocked out, to win the ECW World Heavyweight Title. Awesome had jumped to WCW while still champion, after not re-signing with ECW because he was owed money by Paul Heyman, and would not re-sign until paid said money. As they had in the past, but this time for an entirely different purpose, the WWF and ECW teamed up to make this match take place to get the title off Awesome. Tazz choked out Awesome, who then left the same way he entered, through the crowd with WCW's head of security Doug Dillenger, and Tazz had won his second ECW World Title, becoming the second consecutive wrestler not working for ECW to hold the company's top title. The match aired the following night on ECW on TNN.

2000 - The Outlaws (Ricky James and Bobby Lee) defeat The Scufflin' Hillbillies (Maynard R. Neck and Big Chuck Wagon) to win the NWA Michigan Tag Team Title in Burton, Michigan. This began and ended both teams' second reigns.

2001 - Bruce Hart defeats Principal Richard Pound for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta.

2001 - Steve Corino defeats Rodney Begnaud (Rodney Mack) for the vacant NWA North American Heavyweight Title in North Richland Hills, Texas. The title had been vacated when Mike Rapada won the NWA World Heavyweight Title in September. At that same show, The Black Attack (Mike Anthony and Al Jackson) defeat The Blackbird Posse (Larry Green and Chris Young) to win the NWA Texas Tag Team Title, beginning and ending both teams' second reigns.

2002 - World Wrestling All-Stars held its Eruption pay-per-view at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. The results:
- A.J. Styles pinned Nova to advance to the WWA International Cruiserweight Title match later on.
- Jerry Lynn pinned Chucky Chaos to advance to the WWA International Cruiserweight Title match later on.
- Teo pinned Puppet in a hardcore midgets match.
- Brian Christopher and Ernest Miller defeated Buff Bagwell and Stevie Ray, when Christopher pinned Bagwell.
- Alan Funk pinned Pierre Oullette.
- A.J. Styles pinned Jerry Lynn to win the vacant WWA International Cruiserweight Title. The title had been vacated in March when then-champion Eddie Guerrero returned to the WWF.
- Sabu pinned Devon Storm in a steel cage match.
- Midajah defeated Queen Bee in a evening gown match.
- Scott Steiner defeated WWA World Heavyweight Champion Nathan Jones by submission to win the title.

2002 - The WWF Hardcore Title changes hands four times at a house show in Odessa, Texas. William Regal won the title from Bubba Ray Dudley, ending Bubba Ray's fifth reign and beginning Regal's fifth. Spike Dudley began his fourth reign as Hardcore Champion by defeating Regal. Spike then lost the title to Goldust, his sixth title win. Bubba Ray Dudley left with the title though, beating Goldust, and beginning his sixth reign. This was the fourth straight house show that this same sequence of title changes occurred.

2002 - Genichiro Tenryu wins his third AJPW Triple Crown Title in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Toshiaki Kawada. The title had been vacated on March 28 due to Kawada being injured. At that same event, Kendo Kashin won the vacant AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Masanobu Fuchi, and Arashi and Nobutaka Araya defeat Mitsuya Nagai and Shigeo Okumura for the vacant AJPW All Asia Tag Team Title.

2002 - Carly Colón defeats Vampiro to win his fifth WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. This was a rematch of their March 30 match in Caguas.

2002 - In Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Nuevo Gran Apolo defeats Savio Vega for the IWA World Heavyweight Title, beginning his fourth reign. At the same event, The Starr Corporation (Chicky Starr and Victor the Bodyguard) defeat Ricky Banderas and Shane the Glamour Boy to win their sixth IWA World Tag Team Title, and Super Crazy wins his second IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title by forfeit due to El Lobo being injured.

2003 - Josh Daniels and Matt Striker defeat Chi Chi Cruz and Rapid Fire Maldanado in a tournament final for the Premier Wrestling Federation Universal Tag Team Title in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka had vacated the title to focus on defending their NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title in ZERO-ONE.

2003 - O.K. Revolution defeats Yoshihiro Sakai to win the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Sakai's third reign.

2003 - Mike Pleazing defeats Steve White for the Ultimate NWA Heavyweight Title in Hanceville, Alabama.

2004 - New York Rosenfeld defeats Matt Lyder for the Israeli Pro Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title in Netanya, Israel. His reign was short-lived though, as Rosenfeld lost the title to Gery Roif that same day, beginning Roif's second reign.

2005 - Matt Morgan defeats Elijah Burke to win the OVW Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky, beginning Morgan's second reign.

2007 - Johnny Swinger defeats Lee Condry for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Columbia, Tennessee.

2007 - New Japan Pro Wrestling holds the fifth and final event of their 35th anniversary tour at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan, which aired live on pay-per-view. The results were:
- El Samurai and Yujiro defeated Mitsuhide Hirasawa and Taichi Ishikari.
- BxB Hulk, Jushin Liger and Milano Collection A.T. defeated Wataru Inoue, Koji Kanemoto and Tetsuya Naito.
- Riki Choshu and Takashi Iizuka defeated Tomoaki Honma and Toru Yano.
- Manabu Nakanishi defeated Orlando Jordan.
- Black Strong Machine and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Tomohiro Ishii and Togi Makabe.
- Dragon Gate I-J Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Gedo and Jado defeated Yasushi Kanda and Masaaki Mochizuki to retain the title.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Minoru defeated Ryusuke Taguchi to retain the title.
- IWGP Tag Team Champions Giant Bernard and Travis Tomko defeated Shiro Koshinaka and Hiroyoshi Tenzan to retain the title.
- Yuji Nagata defeated IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the title, beginning his second reign.

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