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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: THE NWO COMES TO A FINAL END

By Buck Woodward on 2010-07-08 08:00:00
July 8th

On this day in history in ....

1991 - The Barroom Brawlers defeat Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1996 - Rey Mysterio, Jr. defeats Dean Malenko for the WCW Cruiserweight Title in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at Disney/MGM studios. This was first of eight title reigns with the belt for Rey in WCW and WWE.

2002 - During the end of a 10 man match on Raw, Kevin Nash, in his first match back after months of recovering from a biceps injury, suffered an injury to his left quadriceps muscle. Nash tripped over Booker T's foot after Nash hit a big boot to the face on Booker. After he hit the boot, Nash was running across the ring to hit Bubba Ray Dudley, who was on the apron. Because he had tripped on Booker's foot, he landed awkwardly on his left leg. He immediately fell to the ground and screamed loudly. He laid on the apron as Earl Hebner gave a signal to the back that Nash was legitimately hurt while Bubba Ray Dudley broke kayfabe and went over to check on Nash. They went to the finish of the match and after it ended, Nash was helped to the back by Big Show and a WWE employee.

Backstage after the show, Nash was in serious pain. He flew to Birmingham, AL first thing the next day to meet with Dr. James Andrews and have an MRI on his injured quad muscle. After that, it was decided that surgery was needed, putting Nash on the shelf. The truly sad thing about the injury is that Nash didn't even know that he would be wrestling that night until he got to the building. He was scheduled to return to action that coming weekend at the house shows, but when he arrived at Raw, he found out that he was booked on that night's show. He didn't even have his gear with him and they had to have it sent to Raw.  As a result of his injury, WWE decided to let go of the NWO concept, which had already been weakened by Hulk Hogan's face turn and Scott Hall's departure.

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