July 27th – On This Day In Wrestling History
1978 – WWWF Champion Bob Backlund wrestled to a draw with Antonio Inoki in Tokyo, Japan. The match was a 2 out of 3 falls match with each man winning one fall and the 60 minute time limit expiring before the third fall could be decided.
1998 – WWE taped the first ever episode of Sunday Night Heat at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The taping marked the first time Shane McMahon was identified by name on WWE programming as he served as the colour commentator for the show.
2000 – One of the wrestling industry’s pioneering play-by-play announcers Gordon Solie passed away aged 71 in New Port Richey, Florida as a result of throat cancer. Solie worked for various promotions throughout his career including Georgia Championship Wrestling, and WCW. Jim Ross paid tribute to Solie when Ross inducted him in the 2008 WWE Hall of Class. Ross cites Solie as being the most significant influence on his career as an announcer.
2001 – Rhonda Singh who was most notable for portraying the character of Bertha Faye in the WWF Women’s division in the mid-90s passed away aged 40 in Calgary from a heart-attack. Singh competed in Japan in the late 80s under the name of Monster Ripper, and returned to her native Canada working for Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling where she became the promotion’s first Women’s Champion. In the WWF Singh defeated the WWF Women’s Champion Alundra Blazye for her title at Summerslam in Pittsburgh in 1995. After leaving the WWF Singh worked with WCW to help generate interest in their Women’s division. During her time in the WWF Singh developed a close friendship with a fellow Canadian competitor, Owen Hart.
2002 – In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Low Ki became the first ever Ring Of Honor Champion as a result of winning a four-way 60 minute Iron Man match against Doug Williams, Spanky and Christopher Daniels.
2003 – WWE’s Vengeance PPV took place at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. In the main event, Kurt Angle defeated Brock Lesnar and The Big Show in a triple threat match to win the WWE Championship. Earlier in the show, Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit in the final of a tournament to determine the first United States Champion under the WWE banner.
2004 – At a Smackdown taping in Cincinnati, Ohio, two titles changed hands. Booker T became the new United States Champion after winning an eight man elimination match also featuring Rob Van Dam, John Cena, Billy Gunn, Kenzo Suzuki, Luther Reigns, Rene Dupree and Charlie Haas. Additionally, Spike Dudley beat Rey Mysterio for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
2010 – At a TNA Impact taping at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Hamada and Taylor Wilde won the Knockouts Tag Team Championship from Lacey Von Erich and Velvet Sky.
2015 – TNA Impact Taping – King Of the Mountain titleAt a TNA Impact taping at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, The King Of The Mountain championship was won by P.J Black in a KOTM match against Bobby Lashley, Robbie E, Chris Mordetzky and Eric Young.
Notable Wrestling Birthdays:
- Nick Jackson (1989)
- Dolph Ziggler (1980)
- Shannon Moore (1979)
- Triple H (1969)
- Matt ‘Doink The Clown’ Borne (1957)
- Greg Gagne (1948)