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This Day in Pro-Wrestling History
Before we get into daily events from the history of professional wrestling, let’s first get into when pro-wrestling got its start and changes that occurred that got us to where we are today.
Beginnings
Versions of wrestling as a sport have been around since the mid-1800’s, with exhibitions of strongman competitions as the predecessors to professional wrestling. Beginning in the early 20th century, the art of performance wrestling which typically involved a level of kayfabe and match-fixing became popular.
The First Golden Age of Wrestling
The first Golden Age of wrestling occurred just after World War II in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. The resurgence of wrestling was helped by the world-wide popularity of Gorgeous George with his flamboyant and charismatic character.
Second Golden Age
After a decline in popularity again in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, the second golden age was sparked. Through the use of cable television, pro-wrestling could become a household event. Personalities such as Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and Andre the Giant helped propel pro-wrestling in this second golden age. And, with the introduction to television audiences, wrestling was mixed with celebrity appearance, making it a mainstay in pop culture.
December 18
(Wrestler) “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is born in Austin, TX (1964) and Trish Stratus is born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (1976)
(Match) Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to defeat Big Show(c) for the WWE Championship at Tables, Ladders, and Charis (2011)
December 11
(Wrestler) Rey Mysterio was born (1974) in Chula Vista, California (619 area code)
September 27
(Wrestler) Jason Jordan was born in Chicago, Illinois (1988), but where was Kurt Angle?
September 22
(Wrestler/Event) On Raw, Mark Henry defeats Tommy Dreamer in 55 seconds in a hardcore match. Shout-out to Busted Open!
June 11
(Wrestler/Event) At the end of taping Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon enters him limousine and it immediately blows up, leaving Vince presumed dead (2007)
May 28
(Wrestler) Seth Rollins was born in Buffalo, Iowa (1986)
(Fun Fact) I share a birthday with Seth Rollins!
May 23
(Wrestler) Owen Hart was tragically taken from this earth after suffering injuries from a fall due to an equipment malfunction (1999)
April 1
(Event) WrestleMania 28, WrestleMania 23, WrestleMania 17, and WrestleMania 6
- Interestingly, at WrestleMania 6, Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart defeated Boris Zhukov and Nikolai Volkoff in 19 seconds
- Even more surprising, at WrestleMania 28, Sheamus defeated Daniel Bryan in only 18 seconds, and it was for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (source: profightdb.com)
(Wrestler) Randy Orton was born in Knoxville, TN (1980)
March 20
(Wrestler) Daniel Bryan is cleared to return to in-ring competition (2018)
March 15
(Match) On WCW Monday Nitro, Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash defeated Goldberg and Ric Flair (1999)
March 10
Raw is War debuted (1997)
March 4
(Wrestler) The Undertaker returns to Raw (2013)
(Match) Bruno Sammartino fought Nikolai Volkoff for the WWWF Championship. The match lasted 53 minutes and ended in a draw. It was stopped due to the Madison Square Garden’s 11PM curfew (1974)
February 27
(Match) Triple H vs. Cactus Jack (2000)
- Mick Foley had wanted to headline WrestleMania. It was his lifelong dream, and he knew he could accomplish this dream if he became the WWE Champion. At the 2000 Royal Rumble, he had the opportunity to become Champion but lost to Triple H in a Street Fight. The next night on RAW, Triple H granted Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) one last chance and granted him the opportunity to set the match. The only condition: Foley had to put his career on the line. Foley agreed, and elected to a Hell in a Cell match.
- When the cell was lowered, Cactus Jack found that instead of a single chain and padlock (as is common on Hell in a Cell) there were more than a dozen securing the door. Announcers speculated that this was the work of McMahon and Triple H to prevent Cactus Jack from fulfilling his promise of jumping off the cage and onto Triple H. The match continued, both competitors utilizing the cell to their advantages, and at one point or another, blood was drawn when Cactus Jack dragged Triple H’s face across the cell walls. In the end, Triple H delivered a pedigree to Cactus Jack, ending Foley’s career…or so we thought.
- Triple H was to defend his Title against the Big Show at WrestleMania 2000 but Mr. McMahon decided that The Rock should be in the match, making it a Triple Threat. Linda McMahon took it further and added Mick Foley to the match, making it a Four-Way Elimination Match. In the end, Triple H retained the WWE Championship and Mick Foley did not compete in a ring for almost 4 years (Reference: 100 Greatest Matches, WWE).
February 25
(Match) First ever Women’s Elimination Chamber match (2018)
(Wrestler) Ric Flair was born in Memphis, TN (1949)
August 29
(Match) Undertaker v. Undertaker (1994)
