Wrestling History

July 4th – On This Day In Wrestling History

July 4th - On This Day In Wrestling History

1983 – ‘WCCW Independence Day Star Wars’ was held in Fort Worth, Texas. On the show David Von Erich defeated Jimmy Garvin to become the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion.

1984 – ‘WCCW Independence Day Star Wars’ was held in Fort Worth, Texas. In the opening match Iceman King Parsons defeated Bill Irwin in a singles match to win the WCCW American Tag Team Titles for himself and Buck Zumhoffe.

1986 – ‘WCWA Independence Day Star Wars’ was held in Dallas, Texas. On the show Buzz Sawyer defeated Brian Adias for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship, Abdullah The Butcher won the WCCW Brass Knuckles Title in a match against The Great Kabuki, and then later in the show Chris Adams beat Rick Rude for the WCCW World Heavyweight Title.

1987 – ‘NWA: The Great American Bash’ was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia and is notable for the debut of the WarGames match, created by Dusty Rhodes. The match, inspired by the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, usually involves two teams of wrestlers that enter a steel cage that surrounds two rings. Two start off inside the structure with alternating team mates allowed in at certain intervals and is won by a single pinfall or submission. In the main event of the show The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk), Nikita Koloff, Dusty Rhodes, and Paul Ellering defeated The Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard, and JJ Dillon) in a WarGames match.

1993 – Lex Luger arrived by helicopter and landed aboard the USS Intrepid battleship in New York City. The reason? He was answering the challenge set by the 627 pound Yokozuna, that no one could Bodyslam him. Wrestlers and sports stars alike lined up to lift the big man. Rick and Scott Steiner, Tatanka, Crush, Randy Savage, as well as NBA player Scott Burrell, Bill Fralic of the Detroit Lions and Joe Morris and Peter Taglianetti of the Pittsburgh Penguins all tried and failed. Just as it looked like Yoko had the challenge won, Luger arrived decked out in the Stars and Stripes, hit Yoko with his (steel plate infused) forearm, hoisted him up and SLAMMED him to the canvas. USA!

1997 – APW Catfight was held in Hayward, California. In the main event Michael Modest defeated Donovan Morgan to take the APW Universal Heavyweight Championship.

1997 – At CMLL Super Viernes in Mexico City, Mexico, Felino beat El Hijo Del Santo in a Two Out Of Three Falls match to win the WWA World Welterwight Title.

2000 – WWF Smackdown! was taped at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida. Val Venis became the Intercontinental Champion when he defeated Rikishi.

2005 – Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels defeated Carlito and Kurt Angle in the main event of WWE Monday Night Raw in Sacramento, California. Following the match Michaels hit Hogan with Sweet Chin Music to turn heel and set up what would become the infamous ‘Icon Versus Icon’ match at that years SummerSlam.

2006 – In the main event of the WWE ECW show The Big Show defeated Rob Van Dam to become the ECW Champion and the first person to have held the WWF, WCW, and ECW World Championship titles.

2010 – Day Nine of AJPW Crossover was held in Osaka, Japan. In the penultimate match of the night Akebono and Taiyo Kea beat Ryota Hama and Suwama to win the AJPW World Tag Team Titles.

2014 – NJPW Kizuna Road Day Four was in Tokyo, Japan. In the main event of the show KUSHIDA won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title when he beat Kota Ibushi.

2015 – WWE Beast In The East was held in at the New Sumo Hall in Tokyo, which marked the first time a WWE event aired live from Japan. On the show:

  • Chris Jericho defeated Neville by submission.
  • Nikki Bella defeated Paige and Tamina in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE Divas Championship when she pinned Tamina.
  • Brock Lesnar defeated Kofi Kingston in less that three minutes.
  • Finn Bálor defeated Kevin Owens to win the NXT Championship, the first time the NXT Championship changed hands on a main roster show.
  • In the main event of the show John Cena and Dolph Ziggler defeated Kane and King Barrett, with Cena getting the pin on Kane after hitting him with an Attitude Adjustment.

2017 – Bar Wrestling 2: Independents Day was held at the American Legion Post #241 in Baldwin Park, California. On the show Joey Ryan defeated Laura James to win the DDT Iron Man Heavy Metal Title.

Notable Wrestling Birthdays:

  • Alpha Kevin (1990)
  • Joey Janela (1989)
  • Barry Windham (1960)