Wrestling History

April 24th – On This Day In Wrestling History

April 24th - On This Day In Wrestling History

Our full On This Day In Wrestling History section can be found here.

1983 – Five days after defeating Nick Bockwinkel to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, Hulk Hogan is stripped of the title as a result of his use of an illegal object to get the win.

1984 – AWA Super Sunday was held in St. Paul, Minnesota in front of 20,000 fans. The event featured several competitors and talent who are now part of various wrestling Hall of Fames in particular with the WWE. Nick Bockwinkel retained the AWA World Heavyweight Title against Hulk Hogan. Lord James Blears was the Special Guest Referee for the match. Hogan appeared to have won the title however the decision was reversed.

1989 – Big Van Vader defeated Shinya Hashimoto to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at NJPW Super Power Clash in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. On the same show, Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger makes his NJPW debut.

1991 – The second WWF UK Rampage event took place at the London Arena and was shown exclusively on Sky Movies Plus in the UK. In the main event Hulk Hogan retained the WWF Championship against Sgt. Slaughter. Also, The Rockers with Andre The Giant in their corner defeated The Orient Express with Mr Fuji, The British Bulldog pinned The Bezerker and Jake “The Snake” Roberts was disqualified in his match against Earthquake.

1994 – At a WCW Saturday Night taping in Atlanta, Georgia, Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. The title had previously been upheld after a double pin in a match between the two at Spring Stampede.

1995 – Diesel retained the WWF Championship against Bam Bam Bigelow on a live edition of WWF Monday Night Raw from Omaha, Nebraska. Afterwards, Bigelow was fired from the Million Dollar Corporation which prompted final face run in the company.

2000 – Diamond Dallas Page defeated Jeff Jarrett for the WCW World Heavyweight Title in a Steel Cage match on WCW Monday Nitro from Rochester, New York.

2001 – At the WWF SmackDown taping in Denver, Colorado Matt Hardy defeated Eddie Guerrero for the WWF European Title.

2001 – Johnny Valentine passed away aged 72 in River Oaks, Texas. He was the father of long time WWF performer Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine. He held several titles including the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, and had long rivalries with Bobo Brazil, Buddy Rogers, Harley Race, and many others. Valentine suffered a broken back in a plane crash in 1975, and retired from wrestling, and worked as a kayfabe manager for the rest of his career.

2005 – TNA Lockdown took place in Orlando, Florida and was the first professional wrestling event where each match was held inside as a steel cage. In the main event A.J. Styles defeated Abyss in the main event.

2009 – In the main event of ‘ROH: A Cut Above’ in Dayton, Ohio Jerry Lynn retained the ROH World Heavyweight Title against Roderick Strong.

2018 – At the Impact Wrestling Impact/Xplosion tapings in Orlando Austin Aires defeated Pentagon Jr for the Impact Wrestling World Title. the match did not air on TV until May 31st.

Notable Wrestling Birthdays: