Wrestling History

July 6th – On This Day In Wrestling History

July 6th - On This Day In Wrestling History

1985 – At a house show in Baltimore, Maryland, Tito Santana defeated Greg Valentine inside a steel cage to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship for the second time. This was also the first time a WWF championship changed hands in a steel cage match.

1985 – In Charlotte, North Carolina, NWA presented the first ever Great American Bash event. On the show:

  • Jimmy Valiant defeated Paul Jones in a Dog Collar match.
  • Manny Fernandez, Sam Houston, and Buzz Tyler defeated Billy Graham, Konga the Barbarian and Abdullah the Butcher in a 6-Person Tag Team match.
  • Ron Bass fought Buddy Landell to a draw
  • Ole and Arn Anderson retained the NWA National Tag Team Championship titles against Buzz Sawyer and Dick Slater.
  • The Russian Team (Krusher Khruschev and Ivan Koloff) fought The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) to a double disqualification in an NWA/AWA World Tag Team Championship unification match.
  • Magnum T. A. defeated Kamala by disqualification to retain the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship.
  • Ric Flair defeated Nikita Koloff to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
  • Dusty Rhodes defeated Tully Blanchard in a steel cage match to win the NWA World Television Championship. With the win, Rhodes gained the services of Baby Doll for 30 days which started her face turn as she became a full-time valet for Rhodes and his partner, Magnum T.A.

1997 – WAR 5th Anniversary Show was held at the New Sumo Hall – Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. On the show Koki Kitahara, Lance Storm, Nobutaka Araya defeated the team of Koji Kitao, Nobukazu Hirai, Tommy Dreamer to win the WAR Six Man Tag Team Titles.

1997 – On Day 12 of NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo, Japan, El Samurai became the new J-Crown Champion after beating Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger.

1997 – WWF In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede was held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in front of 12,151 fans and would go on to be named the ‘Best Major Wrestling Card of 1997’ as voted by Wrestling Observer Newsletter. On the PPV:

  • In the “Free for All” preshow match, The Godwinns defeated The Blackjacks (Blackjack Bradshaw and Blackjack Windham).
  • Mankind and Hunter Hearst Helmsley fought to a double countout.
  • The Great Sasuke defeated TAKA Michinoku with a Tiger Suplex to get the pin. This was the WWF debut for both wrestlers.
  • The Undertaker defeated Vader to retain the WWF Championship, with ‘Taker hitting Vader with a Chokeslam and a Tombstone.
  • The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith, and Brian Pillman) defeated Team USA (Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, Hawk, and Animal) with Owen Hart getting the roll-up pin on Austin.

1998 – WCW Monday Nitro was at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia, in front of over 41,000 fans. In the main event, and in his hometown, United States Champion Goldberg pinned Hulk Hogan clean in the middle of the ring following a Spear and a Jackhammer to become the WCW Heavyweight champion and extend his legendary unbeaten streak.

2004 – At a taping of WWE Smackdown! in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Billy Kidman and Paul London defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) to win the WWE Tag Team Championship belts.

2007 – At the OVW Summer Sizzler Series show at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, Cody Runnels beat Shawn Spears to take the OVW Television Title.

2007 – AJPW/NOSAWA Bom-Ba-Ye 4: If Rongai Laughs, Then So Shall Shin-Kiba was held at the Shin-Kiba 1st RING, Tokyo, Japan. In the opening match of the show Kiku Angle outlasted both Josh Kintaro and Muscle Lesnar in a Three-Way match to win the NGF Heavyweight Title.

2007 – Day One of NJPW 35th Anniversary Tour: Circuit ’07 New Japan Soul: CTU Farewell Tour took place in the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Ryusuke Taguchi became the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion when he defeated Minoru.

2008 – Two titles changed hands at ‘PWG: Life During Wartime’ at the American Legion Post #308 in Reseda, California. Firstly, Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black took the PWG Tag Team Titles from El Generico and Roderick Strong, and then in the main event Chris Hero beat Human Tornado in a Guerilla Warfare Steel Cage match to become the PWG Champion.

2012 – EWF EWF/AWS ‘United Forces 4’ was held at the Knights Of Columbus Hall in Covina, California. On the show Al Katrazz beat Johnny Goodtime for the AWS Heavyweight Championship, and then in the main event Joey Ryan defeated both Mike Maze and Brandon Gatson in a Triple Threat match to win the EWF Heavyweight Championship.

2013 – At APW Gym Wars in Hayward, California, Drake Younger pinned Timothy Thatcher to become the APW Worldwide Internet Title holder.

2018 – APW/PWR King of Indies 2018 was held at the Pacelli Gym in Daly City, California. Reno Scum (Adam Thornstowe and Luster The Legend) defeated Reno Over Everything (Karl Fredericks and Styker) to take the APW Tag Team Championship belts.

2019 – At Impact/ROW Deep Impact held at the World Gym Arena in Texas City, Texas, Brenden Steen won a 12-Way Elimination Scramble match to become the Reality Of Wrestling Television Champion. Also in the match were Ayden Cristiano, Bryan Keith, Cameron Cole, Dave Crist, Ethan Page, Isaiah, Jake Crist, Josh Alexander, Madman Fulton, Will Lockhart, and Willie Mack.

2019 – MLW Kings of Colosseum took place at the Cicero Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. Jacob Fatu defeated Tom Lawlor to win the MLW World Heavyweight Title, and the later in the show The Dynasty (MJF and Richard Holliday) beat The Hart Foundation (Brian Pillman Jr. and Teddy Hart) for the MLW Tag Team belts in a ladder match.

2019 – Avery Taylor defeated Natalia Markov at ACW/WWN Pride in New Port Richey, Florida, to become the new ACW Women’s Champion.

Notable Wrestling Birthdays:

  • Lars Sullivan (1988)
  • Buffalo (1974)
  • Leatherface (1964)
  • Vincent J. McMahon (1914)