1933 – In Harlan, Iowa; Earl Wampler beat Joe Dusek 2 falls to 1
1946 – Ted Cox defeated Dave Levin in Houston to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title.
1960 – In Minneapolis, Minnesota; Verne Gagne was awarded the first ever AWA World Heavyweight Champion. Pat O’Connor, the defending NWA World Heavyweight Champion, was given 90 days to defend against number one contender Gagne in a match to determine the AWA World Champion. The match never happened, and Gagne was given the title. AWA Tag Team Champions Tiny Mills & Stan Kowalski went to a no contest Verne Gagne & Joe Scarpello. Also, Gene Kiniski beat Man Mountain Campbell, Bob Geigel beat George Grant and Len Montana beat John Swenski. Attendance was 6,213. This was the first AWA event promoted by Verne Gagne.
1973 – In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Superstar Billy Graham. (After the match, Graham along with Ivan Koloff attacked Gagne and Verne ended up being stretchered out of the Arena). Also, AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Red Bastien & Wahoo McDaniel in 2 out of 3 falls. US Women’s Champion Betty Niccoli beat Jean Antone, Billy Robinson beat Larry Heiniemi, Geoff Portz beat Vic Rossitani, Greg Gagne beat Bill Crouch and George Gordienko beat Moose Morowski. Attendance was 7,946
1974 – Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Super A (Austin Idol) in a mask vs. mask match in Atlanta, Georgia.
1975 – In Chicago, Illinois; Dick the Bruiser & the Crusher beat Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens to win the AWA tag team title, Jimmy Valiant & Johnny Valiant drew Wilbur Snyder & Billy Robinson, Ox Baker beat Ivan Putski, Rene Goulet beat Jim Brunzell, Soldier Lebeouf beat Bobby Bold Eagle and Chuck O’Connor (Big John Studd) beat Bill White. Attendance was 12,000 (sellout)
1985 – In East Rutherford, NJ at the Meadowlands; In a Jim Crocket Promotions/AWA Star Wars event; Sgt. Slaughter beat NWA Champion Ric Flair dq, Paul Ellering & Road Warriors beat Fabulous Freebirds Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts dq, AWA Champion Rick Martel beat Larry Zbyszko, Greg Gagne & Curt Hennig beat Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens, Steve Regal beat Buck Zumhofe, Brad Rheingans beat Boris Zhukov dq and Baron Von Raschke beat Davey G. Attendance was 7,000
1988 – In Louisville, Kentucky; AWA Champion Jerry Lawler beat Kerry Von Erich and the RPMs beat Scott Steiner & Billy Travis. Attendance was 2,000
1992 – The Great Muta (Keiji Mutoh) defeated Riki Choshu in Fukuoka, Japan to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title.
1993 – Jimmy Del Ray defeated Ricky Morton to win the vacant Smokey Mountain Wrestling “Beat The Champ” Television Title.
2003 – Justin Credible defeated Terry Funk for the 3PW Heavyweight Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2009 – Samoa Joe defeated Homicide to win the TNA X-Division Title at the Hard Justice PPV in Orlando, Florida. Also, Kurt Angle retained the TNA Championship over Sting and Matt Morgan.
1941 – In Kansas City at Memorial Hall; World Heavyweight Champion Lee Wykoff beat Bobby Bruns in 2 out of 3 falls, In a Texas rules match, Ray Eckert beat Carl Von Herbert
1947 – In Kansas City, Kansas; Cardiff Giant beat Warren Bockwinkel 2 falls to 1; Sockeye Jack McDonald beat Tug Carlson, Wally Dusek beat Carlos Rodriquez and Sailor Fred Blassie drew Finice Hall
1964 – In Denver, Colorado; Mad Dog Vachon beat Jack Pesek and The Crusher beat Wilbur Snyder.
1967 – In Davenport, Iowa; in a Loser Leaves Town match; The Crusher beat Johnny Powers, Mighty Igor Vodik (sub Earl Maynard) beat Larry Hennig and Rene Goulet & Igor Vodik & Al Kashey (sub Earl Maynard) beat Steve Druk & Harley Race & Larry Hennig
1970 – In Chicago, Illinois at Comiskey Park (former home of the Chicago White Sox); AWA Tag Team Champions Mad Dog Vachon & Butcher Vachon beat Dick the Bruiser & the Crusher in 2 of three falls in a steel cage match; AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Baron Von Raschke in 2 of 3 falls (Raschke was billed as the undefeated challenger); Dr X beat Paul Diamond, Ernie Ladd no contest Blackjack Lanza, Wilbur Snyder beat Mitsu Arakawa, Pepper Gomez beat Double X (XX unmasked), Dr Big Bill Miller ddq Bobo Brazil, Larry Hennig beat Red Bastien and Jean Antone & Lucille Dupree beat Linda Klein & Betty Niccoli. Attendance was 21,000.
1973 – Buddy Colt won a one night tournament to become the Macon Heavyweight Title in Macon, Georgia.
1975 – In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Billy Robinson beat AWA Champion Verne Gagne on a 2nd fall dq, Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens & Baron Von Raschke beat Gene Kiniski & Jos Leduc (sub Dusty Rhodes) & Ivan Putski in 2 out of 3 falls, Pampero Firpo beat Buddy Wolff, Jimmy Valiant & Johnny Valiant beat Bull Bullinski & Khosrow Vaziri (Iron Sheik) and Greg Gagne beat Bobby Jones. Attendance was 6,138
1981 – In Houston, Texas; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Wahoo McDaniel in 2 out of 3 falls; Southwest Tag Team Champions Gino Hernandez & Tully Blanchard vs Mil Mascaras & Manny Fernandez, Dick Slater vs Tom Prichard and Scott Casey vs Buck Robley
1982 -In Houston, Texas; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Dick Slater, In a Piledriver match, Bob Sweetan beat Jerry Lawler, Mongolian Stomper beat Terry Funk and Junkyard Dog & Ernie Ladd beat Tully Blanchard & Gino Hernandez
1984 – In Québec City; Abdullah the Butcher ddq Jos Leduc, AWA Champion Rick Martel beat Nick Bockwinkel, Dino Bravo beat King Tonga dq, Rick Valentine & Sailor White beat Raymond & Jacques Rougeau to win International Tag Team Title, Richard Charland & Frenchie Martin & Mad Dog Lefebvre beat Gino Brito Jr. & Armand Rougeau & Domenic DeNucci, Bob De La Serra beat Tony Ricco, Henri Cardinal beat Tito Senza and Denis Goulet drew Rocky De La Serra. Attendance was 11,200; Dr. Tom Prichard and Brett Sawyer defeated Mike Miller and Mr Ebony (Tom Jones) to win the Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1999 – Balls Mahoney & Spike Dudley defeated Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley in Toledo, Ohio to win the ECW World Tag Team Championship
1999 – In Sturgis, South Dakota; Harlem Heat defeated Kanyon & Bam Bam Bigelow to win the WCW World Tag Team Title at the Road Wild PPV. Also, WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Kevin Nash in a retirement match and WCW United States Champion Chris Benoit defeated Diamond Dallas Page
2000 – Rey Mysterio & Juventud Guerrera won the WCW World Tag Team Championship from Vampiro & The Great Muta.
2011 – At the SummerSlam PPV; Randy Orton defeated Christian in a no holds match to win the World Title; CM Punk defeated John Cena to unify the WWE Title. Immediately after the match, Alberto Del Rio cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase and defeated CM Punk to win the WWE Title.
1944 – Lou Thesz defeated Ernie Dusek to win the Texas Heavyweight Champion in Houston, Texas.
1949 – Dave Levin defeated George Bollas in Toledo, Ohio for the Jack Pfeffer-promoted World Heavyweight Title
1951 – Frenchy Roy defeated Dale Haddock in Oregon to win the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Title.
1960 – Ilio DiPaolo and Whipper Billy Watson defeated Doc and Mike Gallagher in Toronto, Ontario to win the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Title
1970 – Bill Dromo and Alberto Torres defeated Buddy Colt and Karl Von Stroheim in Macon, Georgia for the NWA Macon Tag Team Title; In Kansas City; in an Elimination Match; The Viking & Steve Bolus & Dale Mann defeated Roger Kirby & Boris Kosloff & Oki Shikina and Danny Little Bear & Rufus R. Jones defeated Baron Von Raschke & Harley Race via DQ in three falls
1971 – Rip Tyler defeated Ken Lucas in the finals of a 17-man tag team match in Mobile, Alabama to win the vacant City of Mobile Heavyweight Title.
1973 – In Davenport, Iowa at John O’Donnell Stadium; AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Nick Bockwinkel, Superstar Billy Graham & Ivan Koloff beat Wahoo McDaniel & Billy Red Cloud, Billy Robinson beat Ray Stevens, Reggie Parks drew Geoff Portz and Greg Gagne beat Vic Rossitani
1976 – Dick Slater defeated the Spoiler in Atlanta, Georgia to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title.
1977 – In Omaha, Nebraska; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel went to a time limit, 60 minute draw with Billy Robinson, Greg Gagne beat Bobby Heenan, The Crusher ddq Super Destroyer, Angelo Mosca beat Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund drew Roger Kirby. Attendance 5,683
1978 – In Toronto, Ontario, Canada at Maple Leaf Gardens; in a Cage match; WWWF Champion Bob Backlund beat Superstar Billy Graham, AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens by countout, Gorilla Monsoon beat Dominic Denucci, Waldo Von Erich beat Steve Bolus, Super Destroyer beat Verne Gagne, The Wildman drew Nick DeCarlo and Billy Red Lyons & Dewey Robertson beat Mad Dog Vachon & Chris Tolos by dq; Mil Máscaras defeated The Destroyer in Kagoshima, Japan to win the AJPW PWF United States Heavyweight Title; The Mongolian Stomper defeated Robert Fuller to win the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title in Knoxville, Tennessee
1981 – In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura, Brad Rheingans beat Jerry Blackwell, Sheik Adnan beat Tito Santana, Billy Robinson beat Ray Stevens, Handicap Match, Hulk Hogan beat Dave Muir & Dave Kochen & Fred Peloquin and Evan Johnson drew Ed Boulder. Attendance was 3,700
1982 – Mike Sharpe defeated Killer Khan for the Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana
1984 – Tom Prichard and Brett Sawyer won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon, by defeating Mr. Ebony (Tom Jones) and Mike Miller.
1988 – Leo Burke defeated Rip Rogers for the Grand Prix Wrestling International Heavyweight Title in Halifax, Nova Scotia
1989 – Sumo Hara (Tatsumi Kitahara) and Benkei (Kensuke) Sasaki defeatedBob and Kerry Brown for the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta; Eric Embry defeated P.Y. Chu-Hi in Dallas, Texas to win the USWA Texas Heavyweight Title.
1993 – Arn Anderson and Paul Roma defeated NWA and WCW World Tag Team Champions Steve Austin and Lord Steven Regal (subbing for the injured Brian Pillman), with Sir William (Bill Dundee) to win the titles in Daytona Beach, Florida. Also, Ricky Steamboat pinned WCW World Television Champion Paul Orndorff to win the title and Big Van Vader pinned Davey Boy Smith to retain the WCW World Title.
1994 – Super Vader defeated Nobuhiko Takada by knockout in the finals of the Best of the World Tournament in Tokyo, Japan to win the UWFI Heavyweight Title.
1998 – The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeat Jimmy Cicero and Julio Sanchez in a tournament final in Baltimore, Maryland to become the first Maryland Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions.
2011 – Mexican America defeated Beer Money to win the TNA World Tag Team Title, and AJ Styles defeated Rob Van Dam by dq during an edition of Impact in Orlando, FL
Here is the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio mailbag where we post some of the questions asked during weekly Observer audio shows. Want to know if something’s been asked? These will be a good place to start. If you want to hear more questions and insight from Observer audio several times a week, subscribe now!
To what extent does Paul Heyman have his promos scripted for him?
DM: They’re all scripted, but he has the right to…he works with the scriptwriters on his promo number one, so he has input on them, and number two, he doesn’t follow the script word-for-word at times. He’ll come up with things, and it’s fine because they know he’s got the instinct. Him, Jericho, John Cena, Triple H obviously, those kind of guys. They veer from the script. You obviously can tell with Cena because of all of the ad-lib stuff he does.
When Roddy Piper first came to WWF (in) 1984, much of his act as a heel was probably considered racially insensitive by modern audiences (DM: Absolutely, and gay-bashing (and) racial bashing). Looking back on that on that era, the heel side in general was characterized by using race to get heat like Don Muraco, Mr. Fuji, Iron Sheik, David Schultz, among others. Why was this done, and did WWF ever get a backlash from the public?
DM: I can’t say they ever got a significant backlash for anything like that. It was a different time. They were very much under the radar. Jesse (Ventura) got minor (backlash) for calling Koko Ware “buckwheat” when he ran for governor, but he still won the election. A lot of that wouldn’t fly today.
MS: (Inaudible) and it came from the territorial days about getting heat, and it’s why there are a lot of people that look at wrestling as the lowest common denominator thing because there would be heels going to the lowest common denominator to get the heat, and you can go back and hear things come out of Stan Frazier’s mouth in Memphis and even watched just Memphis throughout the 80s at a time where other people were turning away from it. It was just a different place down there, and it was still acceptable to hit people with certain things verbally, and they did it, but if you think about like Eddie Murphy was the biggest comedian of that time…you know, I guess it’s the other F word that you can’t say anymore when it comes to gay people. I think he had two tracks on both Raw and Delirious. He had “(F******) Revisted” when it was just a different time, and I’m not saying that it was accepted at all mainstream or anything like that, but it was a lot looser back then in all aspects of everything, and it’s good that times…
DM: It depended on who you were. If you were a politician, you (would) be dead.
MS: Oh, absolutely. That’s still the way…
DM: Look at Jimmy the Greek.
MS: Yes. “Blacks are bred to be the better athlete.”
DM: And he didn’t even use negative words. He just said that blacks were bred to be the better athlete, and he was dust, and we never saw him again.
MS: No, and did you see the 30 for 30 (ESPN) did on him?
DM: No, I did not.
MS: It’s fantastic. It actually is really, really good, but boy, it tells that story, and he was abandoned (quickly), and there was nothing left of him, and he died penniless in Vegas, and it was a sad situation, and you’re absolutely right, that was the case. Wrestling, too, was as big as it was; again, I know this is no excuse, but times were just different.
DM: You know, what’s funny was you didn’t need it because…
MS: And Heenan was still doing it in the 90s, too. Not to jump in there too, but it was like when Chavo was fighting Eddie, and it’s just like (inaudible) and their mama’s so upset that beans are burning and someone’s stealing the tires off the house.
DM: Yeah, well you could say (that about) the whole lie, cheat, steal thing and Cryme Tyme too, and that was was a lot later than that even, but…
MS: Well, Hunter at WrestleMania (19).
DM: Booker and Hunter, yeah. The thing that was weird was that I grew up here, and…it’s weird because in Los Angeles, John Tolos was very strong on race-baiting, but it wasn’t like verbiage that would get anyone in trouble. His race-baiting would be he would come out, eat tacos, and spit them all over the ring saying, “This food is horrible!” like that. I don’t remember swimming across the border stuff or anything like that. I mean, they probably did it. Up here, we never did anything. I just remember that when Ed Wiscoski made a remark about George Wells, who was a black wrestler who was actually from Oakland. He was a Canadian football star and a very good athlete, but anyway, and he made a remark about “He reminds me of a porter at the airport,” and that was the closest thing to a racial thing, and I just thought it was in the worst taste possible, because we went ten years before that without anything close to that happening here. I can’t remember anyone…
MS: If that’s the case, he had to (have blown) your mind then when he came out as Col. DeBeers in the NWA. That was to me, even though there was a lot of race on commentary with Ventura and stuff like that, and they were using the localized promos, that for some reason was so stark compared to…
DM: Yeah, but that was a groundbreaking thing that was also a big failure, because I remember AWA attendance just dropping like crazy when he would do that stuff. And he got tremendous heat in the buildings, but it was like that…you know what’s funny is the term “X-Pac heat,” and then people (say), “Oh, there’s no such thing as X-Pac heat,” and it’s like there is X-Pac heat, but I’m not sure X-Pac ever got it (laughs). I would watch him, and I never sensed…
MS: People wanted him to F off, not really go away.
DM: I never saw a situation where I watched Sean Waltman as a heel where it was “turn the channel off.” Now, was it necessarily always money-drawing heat? Maybe not, but was it negative? I never felt it was. People would say it, (but) I never felt it was. But Ed Wiskoski as Col. DeBeers, New Jack in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, without a doubt. There’s not even an argument that exists, and those are the prime examples that those were characters who got tremendous heat, but they kept people from going to the matches. I mean, absolutely.
MS: If you want to go talk about a different age too, even though a lot of the times it would be on at midnight, (ESPN would replay) Legends of World Class and AWA during the day at four o’clock. Col. DeBeers-forget about like I think it was Fargo who had the swastika tattoo, and again, just something that was an oversight-but Col. DeBeers on ESPN doing that schtick, busting Snuka open, can you imagine that on ESPN now?
DM: Oh, never. Yeah, it was just a different time.
Do you think Diesel’s WWF Title reign would’ve been more profitable if his win wasn’t at a house show?
DM: No. Absolutely makes no difference whatsoever. It was going to be exactly the same either way.
Dave has mentioned (that) WWE freaked out over Cena’s merchandise sales going down post-Kevin Owens loss, which is why they rushed to get his win back so quickly. I don’t understand; if Cena’s merchandise went down, didn’t Owens’ merchandise go way up to compensate?
DM: Owens sells a lot of t-shirts. The merchandise business for the quarter wasn’t bad, but the attendance figures are bad, so you can take it either way. Bad may be too strong, but they’re down ten percent, which is a legitimate drop.
It’s never easy to say goodbye especially when it comes to a legend like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper who we learned had left for the big ring nearly two weeks ago.
As I did with Dusty Rhodes in June, I asked for your favorite Piper matches and moments to compile them in one place. This final part features an amazing list of YouTube matches and promos in addition to a smorgasbord of your other favorite matches. This is a great companion to the other two parts of this series which you can find here and here.
Cue the bagpipes!
The Build & Execution of Wrestlemania I
Jon Southerland
Just wanted to share my thought’s on my personal favorite match of the greatest of all time, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. I’ve been a wrestling fan for about 35 years since I was 10 years old. Piper had been my absolute favorite of all time from the very first time I saw him on WWF television in the early 80s. Piper was just as much the reason for the mainstream success and national expansion of the then WWF into mainstream pop culture of the time. Just as much as Vince and Hogan were with getting the credit of taking the company and getting it noticed on a national basis, Piper was just as responsible for this success as well.
Every hero needs a great villain, and Hogan had the best villain he could ever hope to get in Roddy Piper. My personal favorite match was the main event of the first WrestleMania and the hot build to that match and everything that it entailed. The success of the main event, the success of WrestleMania, would not have been as big as it was if not for the involvement of Roddy Piper. That main event tag match in MSG with Hogan and Mr T battling Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff was absolute magic, and every main stream outlet and celebrity was involved.
The build for that main event started a little earlier during the MTV Rock N Wrestling connection feud between Wendi Richter, Cyndi Lauper, Fabulous Moolah, and Lou Albano. The Piper’s Pit segments were directly responsible for the build up of that match when then later concluded with the main event of WrestleMania. Piper carried that main event tag match on his back. Mr T was not trained to wrestle, Hogan is not very good at carrying a match. So that left the workload primarily on Roddy Piper to sell the match and Paul Orndorff as the workhouse powerhouse and of course with the “Ace” Cowboy Bob Orton in their corner as well.
The build to the match was amazing, with all the vignettes with Piper as the absolute antagonist going after Hogan, Cyndi Lauper, Mr T, and even smashing one of Cyndi Lauper’s gold records over the head of Lou Albano in the middle of the ring in all of the build up to the match. Everyone had an easy job. Just let Piper do his thing and follow his lead. Everything he did was so groundbreaking for it’s time. He sold that entire match and everyone from all walks of life in the entertainment world was watching.
It was the transition of pro wrestling to sports entertainment in its formative years, but nobody really coined that term as of yet; an amazing tag team match that even included Muhammed Ali as the special ref, Billy Martin as the ring announcer, and Liberace as the the timekeeper. Piper was the main who built and sold everything for that main event match. From his appearances on Wrestling TNT at the time, his Piper’s Pit segments, and the trio of Piper and his henchmen of Orton and Orndorff was such an amazing pairing of the three, it just did not get any better than that.
Piper made you believe in everything he did, he was the best promo man ever, The best villain ever, and later became the best legend ever. The man was such a trailblazer in every sense of the world. Getting wrestling noticed by the mainstream media, being one of the first pro wrestling superstars to star in a major motion picture in “They Live”. And his groundbreaking Piper’s Pit segments that were used to sell himself, sell his matches, and sell the main event of WrestleMania. Everything was so groundbreaking for it’s time, including being a major part of the success of Saturday Night’s Main Event, which was the return of pro wrestling to NBC and network TV in decades.
This guy did so much his entire career and so many moments, it’s just impossible to even write a 3rd of what this guy did over his amazing career. But he deserves just as much credit as Hogan and Vince for the success of the expansion era of the WWF in the 80s and it would not have been the same if not for Roddy Piper. Heaven just got a little more Rowdy today, and this is the guy that people will always remember, especially for those of us who grew up with Piper and his matches and his larger than life personality in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, etc.
Just when you thought you had all the answers, Piper changed the questions! Sad day in the wrestling world but I’m sure Piper would be thrilled to know all of the attention this received, and he was the guy that is etched in stone in everyone’s memory. There is a Mt Rushmore for great pro wrestlers, and then there is the man who stands above that mountain in Roddy Piper. God Bless the Hot Rod, may he rest in peace.
Piper vs. Ted DiBiase – WWF L.A. Sports Arena house show match – 1989 Robb Block
I went with my dad and cousin to the Los Angeles Sports Arena for a house show. The big semi main event advertised match was Ted DiBiase vs. Jake Roberts. At the beginning of the show the ring announcer said that Jake would be not be there. The crowd was groaning and all three of us were upset with this news as usually the replacement was a lesser star. To our shock, the announcer said and taking Jake’s place would be none other than Rowdy Roddy Piper.
We went out of our minds as did the whole arena especially since Piper had not been wrestling and his only appearance I believe had been at Mania doing the Piper’s Pit segment and he had been making movies since he left after WrestleMania III.
We were all happy and that may have been of the best Piper matches I actually ever saw as far as doing wrestling moves. Piper was always entertaining, but a lot of his matches didn’t consist of a lot of actual wrestling. I remember he and DiBiase put on quite a match with Piper doing suplexes and crossbodies and things you didn’t see from him too often. Piper was one of if not my favorite wrestler/performer of all time and I had the chance to meet him several times in person and he was one of the most friendly guys I have ever met. He was sincere and really liked talking to all of his fans.
There have been many sad deaths in wrestling, but this is one of the most hard hitting to me personally. I will never forget the Hot Rod.
Piper vs. Paul Orndorff cage match – WWF L.A. Sports Arena house show – 1985 Dan Alegria
My first show was on November 16, 1985 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. I was 5.
My dad and older cousin had tickets and were about to head out the door when I found out where they were going. I was crushed. There wasn’t much they could do, the show was sold out. Then my dad came up with the idea of having me scrunch up and carrying me into the arena like I was a sleeping toddler. It worked, I spent the show sitting on my dad’s lap.
I don’t remember 99% of the show. Kind of like my memories of the circus at that age. I don’t remember elephants, but I remember eating a snow cone and the flashing wand my parents bought me. But I do remember the main event was “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff vs Rowdy Roddy Piper in the old school blue steel cage.
My only recollection of the match was Piper climbing the cage to escape and Orndorff grabbing his tights exposing his butt. At that exact moment, a flood of camera flashbulbs lit up the Sports Arena. It’s something I can close my eyes and picture to this day.
I didn’t go to another live show for another seven years, and didn’t see Piper in person again until Wrestlemania 12 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim. It was the backlot brawl with Goldust, with the first half of the match airing on the big screen before coming back later in the show to wrestle in the ring. It wasn’t a technical masterpiece and I spent years trying to forget what Goldust wore under his suit.
But the applause and send off Piper got after the match is something that stayed with me. A prolonged ovation, almost a thank you / farewell to the Hot Rod and I felt honored to be in the crowd to see it. It turned out the fans were right in the farewell since Piper didn’t step into a WWF/WWE ring again until the Hogan vs McMahon match at Wrestlemania 19.
Piper vs. Paul Orndorff – WWF house show in Jacksonville, FL – 1986 David Kaplan
My favorite Piper match appears ordinary. During a time, many WWF wrestlers didn’t work hard at house shows, Piper worked as if this match was the most important of his career. He brawled all over the arena with super intensity, whipping Orndorff with his belt, took a few leaps off the top rope; he gave it 100%.
And, this match wasn’t even the main event! I’d seen wild brawls before as a dedicated fan of Championship Wrestling from Florida. Still, the work was believable, exciting and creative. Roddy’s work stood out as superior. I was as entertained as much as a pro wrestling fan could be. Thank you Roddy.
This may be the most obscure one, but it is literally a “This is the genius of Roddy Piper” in one segment.
In 1989, Roddy Piper made a few appearances for Don Owens “Portland Wrestling”, where he had worked from the late 70’s until 1981 when he went to Jim Crockett Promotions. During an episode of Portland Wrestling, The Grappler and Carl Styles came out to bully a very young Art Barr until Piper made the save. Later in the show, Art Barr comes out and does the babyface promo promising to watch Piper’s back and everything.
Roddy comes out and tells Art Barr we have to “get some aggression” out of you. With the assistance of CW Bergstrom and Bryan Adams (I believe), they bring out a sheet and have Barr remove all his wrestling gear, and Piper was rolling with comedic but innocent little digs on Barr. Piper then gives him his new outfit, adds a little makeup and mousse to his hair and some baby powder. In under 5 minutes, Piper transforms Art Barr into “Beetlejuice” and thus “lights a fire under his butt” as Piper put it. This promo is literally Piper at his best, and he elevated Barr within 5 minutes and the Portland Sports Arena crowd ate it up.
Piper and Jesse verbally sparring to set up Hogan vs. Andre.
Piper vs. Mr. T – WWF Wrestlemania II Jason ‘Doc’ Young
My favorite Roddy moment is WM 2, when he boxed Mr. T. It looked like a shoot to me, but after a little bit, Piper said “F*ck it”. BOOM! He picks T up and bodyslams him for a DQ and they keep scrapping after the bell. Ahhh, memories. RIP, Roddy.
Piper in Baltimore Daniel in Baltimore
My favorite memories of Piper were a collection of his matches at The Baltimore Civic Center (Baltimore Arena) in the late 1980s. I used to go every time with my friend, and the crowd was always hot to boo Piper, people would walk around during intermission or beforehand with a large sign praising Piper and boy beer cups and popcorn flew at the direction of Piper fans walking around praising their hero. He was my hero too.
But I loved his feud with Paul Orndorff, it lasted for I think 3 house shows in Baltimore, each more violent than the last. He had a way to rile the crowd up. He was not the best technician in the ring, but he could hold his own against anyone, but he was one of the best all around performers or entertainers. When he came to town, especially in a main event feud, you knew you were getting your money’s worth or more. He will sorely be missed, it is an end of an era.
Piper vs. Jose Estrada, August 1979 Name withheld
I always think back to August 1979. He took on jobber Jose Estrada and went to a 10:00 draw on WWE All Star Wrestling. He tried to play the bagpipes and was attacked from behind by Estrada. The next show, WWE Superstars, about five hours later, TV time, he was wrestling another jobber Steve King. Piper was getting booed vociferously trying to play the bagpipes and then attacked King and went total heel. It worked out for him as he was able to pin King. That was all we saw of Roddy until the Hulk Hogan days.
Piper vs. Bad News Brown, Wrestlemania 6 Jeff Krausser
I loved the lead up to the match, which may have not been the greatest but Piper painting himself half black was great. It was one of my earliest memories of Roddy and still holds up and cracks me up to this day. WWE should teach a Piper Promo class at the Performance Center.
Piper vs. Don Muraco: WWF King Of The Ring 1986 Andy MacConney
I was deeply saddened when I heard about one of my all time faves Rowdy Roddy Piper. Much as I loved the Wrestlemania 3 match against Adonis and his I-C title win against the Mountie, my favorite was the 1986 King of the Ring in Foxboro against Don Muraco.
The match itself ended in a double-countout, but the beginning of it was what made it memorable. And it was nothing Roddy did or said. His slow stroll to his music had everyone in the park mezmorized. And the roar from the crowd, low at first and built throughout, was definitely memorable. This was also his first match back after Mania 2(I think).
While the WWE Universe may have a tough time viewing, this it was definitely memorable. They Live is also one of my favorite movies. Hope Rowdy Ronda Rousey keeps the Rowdy name going for many years.
Best Of The Rest
Ivan Adams
My favorite match was the Greg Valentine Dog Collar match at Starrcade 1983, while my favorite moment was when he saved Gordon Solie from a Don Muraco attack on Georgia Championship Wrestling in the early 1980s. What a great Roddy face turn.
Steve Gennarelli
Piper’s match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania reminded people how Roddy was an underrated talent in the ring and his ability to work a match and to control a crowd was second to none. There’s also a hellacious cage match from the Spectrum where he and Orton have a old fashioned bloodbath with Bruno and Orndorff that is worth searching for.
But I have many favorite memories of Piper that were away from an actual wrestling match. Him slapping Lord Alfred Hayes on “TNT” was pretty shocking back then. He & Blassie chewing scenery in “The Goonies” video with Cyndi Lauper. The CBS Saturday Morning preview hosted by Piper. He did great interviews with Eddie Andleman in Boston and another great interview on the old FNN/Score network. Too many Piper memories to narrow them down. Thanks for the Memories RP Squared and a box of fluffy ducks to you.
Craig Dempster
I actually have two Piper matches that stand out to me, both happening within a couple of months of each other. The first is Piper vs The Mountie from Royal Rumble 92, the second is Piper vs Bret Hart from WrestleMania VIII.
These matches have stuck with me through the years as this was the time that I was first introduced to pro wrestling in any capacity (I’m from England but I have no memory of World of Sport). The match at the Rumble wasn’t great by any stretch, but I’ll always remember the way that Piper celebrated his victory, he was so happy and made it look like this was the greatest moment of his career.
The match with Bret speaks for itself. It was the first time I’d seen blood in a match on that sort of level and the story those guys told that night may have stole the show. More than anything, I remember my personal encounters with Piper at various conventions over the years, whether it be WWE Axxess or independent conventions. His line was always packed and slow moving, but the reason for this was that he was very personable with everyone that he met. He was a really nice guy, no attitude, no ego, none of that nonsense. He will be sorely missed.
Adam Ginsberg
I was exactly 2 years old when the infamous Piper’s Pit coconut incident took place in 1984. I remember it vividly, watching with my father. Jimmy Snuka staggering around knocking the set of the pit down in the process after being humiliated by the Hot Rod. Yes, that was in fact the moment I was hooked. From that point on, I set forth on a dream to become a pro wrestler, a dream I achieved. I encourage anyone reading that if you can dream it, you can achieve it.
There isn’t one particular match or promo I can say is my favorite. In my opinion, Piper’s best work is from his days here in Southern California for Mike Labell, and Don Owens in Portland in his beginning years. Speaking of Portland, what can be said about Roddy taking a stand against WWF when they toured Oregon out of respect, and loyalty to PNW Promoter Don Owens? Who was ever so bold to stay true to himself and his beliefs other than The Hot Rod?Just when you think we have the answers, he changes the questions indeed.
Most when remembering Roddy will remember his many WWF runs.His first being the most trendsetting upon pop culture and Pro Wrestling. Being the catalyst for tying the Rock and Wrestling Connection together. It took two to tango, and he and Hulk Hogan ignited a generation forever. Was there ever a better heel than Roddy Piper? In my opinion, no. He was at the top of the list for many things, and it is for that he will always live on throughout our hearts and minds. Rest in Paradise HotRod.
Chris Aiken
Though it isn’t necessarily my favorite match, the promo from this video is a classic early Piper promo from California in the late ’70s.
28 Matches & Moments Name Withheld
1 – Obviously the Snuka Piper’s Pit, but they use the TNT airing that has him smugly smiling while watching in an inset and he does the “I Love you” hand gesture.
2 – The MSG match with him and Dr D bloodying Andre
3 – The sketch where they go see a “doctor” on Ace’s arm. Obviously nothing is broken, but Piper starts making duck noises, implying he’s a quack to the point even Vince who’s moderating the segment starts laughing
4 – His Pit interview with himself
5 – I remember I was in 8th grade and on Nov. 10, 1984, I had a basketball game. We got blown out, and I didn’t shower or stay to hear the coach because he was facing the Tonga Kid at MSG and I had to be home.
6 – His debut on Nitro
7 – The TNT ep where he slapped Hayes (“Excuse me, I don’t wear a bow tie”)
8 – His return after to TNT to start his feud with Albano (1/3/85; It’s on the Network)
9 – The August ‘84 MSG match where he took out Snuka
10 – The Pit right after Mania in the locker room (I didn’t know Dave Meltzer existed so I was floored to find him turning on Orndorff)
11 – The Wrestling Classic. Just him vs Hogan was just a main event to me.
12 – His face return in ‘86 and the Pits that followed, especially where he destroyed The Flower shop with the bat
13 – The 3/30/85 promo on TBS the night before Mania.
14 – The Rick McGraw Pit and match
15 – Obviously: “Just when they think they got the answers, I change the questions”
16 – The matches he had in 85 with Bruno and Orndorff (mixing in Ace)
17 – Him managing Studd and, I believe, Adonis for one taping.
18 – Discovering the Pits he did exclusively for St Louis. It’s like they did dry runs with Snuka feud 3 times before the major angle.
19 – He and Jesse Venture were banned from dissing Hogan on his hairline, but on his Coliseum Video interview he snuck one in.
20 – The squash where Snuka returned
21 – The 12/84 Meadowlands live Pit
22 – The 3/85 matinee live Pit at Garden (wow)
23 – Just about every promo he cut on Mr. T.
24 – I have a local promo for the first SNME as it was at the Nassau Coliseum. It was Hogan vs Orton, but he stole the promo and I didn’t realize until after SNME aired that was what it was for.
25 – His first face turn promo against the Iron Shiek on SNME
26 – His SNME feud with the Hillbillies
27 – There’s a local MSG promo with him, Schultz and Orndorff about their match with Atlas, Johnson and Putski that is so outrageously offensive that only he could pull it off and swing it to where you didn’t see him so much as a racist, but just a jerk who you wanted to see get his butt kicked.
28 — And of course, several Pits (Frankie Williams, Andre, the Orndorff one with the cast while he had Blassie’s stable and they’re arguing from the ring to his set).
1942 – In Des Moines, Iowa at Riverview Park, Orville Brown beat Wladek Zbyszko 2 falls to 0. It was reported that Zbyszko was unable to continue for the second fall after suffering a left knee injury. Tom Zaharias beat Gene Bowman in 2 out of 3 falls and Hans Schultz beat Johnny Seals.
1953 – At the fairgrounds in Avoca, Iowa; Joe Dusek vs. Sonny Myers and Hans Byers vs. Ronnie Etchison.
1965 – At Memorial Hall in Kansas City; Bob Geigel and Bob Brown beat Ronnie Etchison and Mongolian Stomper 2 falls to 1, Pat O’Connor beat The Raider and The Ox (Ox Baker) beat Frank Hickey
1967 – In Omaha, Nebraska; AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Bob Orton by countout, Midwest Tag Team Champions Doug Gilbert & Reggie Parks beat Mistu Arakawa & Dale Lewis, Princess Little Cloud beat Laverne Bottoms and Reggie Parks beat Mitsu Arakawa
1972 – In St. Petersburg, Florida at Bayfront Center, Florida Champion Paul Jones beat NWA Champion Dory Funk Jr, Mr. Wrestling Tim Woods beat Zodiac in overtime to win Southern Title and unmasked him as Bob Orton Sr. Also, Jack Brisco beat Buddy Colt dq, Florida Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Ron & Robert Fuller, Bob Griffin beat Taurus and Mike George beat George McCreary. Attendance was 6,641; The “Super Bowl of Wrestling” was held in Cleveland, Ohio at Municipal Stadium. NWF World Tag Team Champions The Fargo Brothers defeated Wahoo McDaniel & Chief White Owl, United States Champion Bobo Brazil defeated Killer Tim Brooks, Ernie Ladd vs. Abdullah the Butcher ended in a double disqualification and NWF North American Champion Johnny Powers defeated Johnny Valentine.
1975 – Eddie Graham defeated Bob Orton Jr to win the US Jr. Heavyweight Title in Macon, Georgia.
1976 – In Kansas City; The Super Intern wrestled Baron Von Raschke, there was an 8-man Battle Royal and World Tag Team Champions Black Gordman & Great Goliath wrestled Harley Race & Mike George
1977 – In Denver, Colorado; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Pedro Morales, Angelo Mosca beat Larry Hennig dq, Super Destroyer beat Billy Robinson by countout, Greg Gagne beat Bobby Heenan and Jim Brunzell drew Roger Kirby. Attendance was 4,316
1977 – In St. Louis, Missouri, Dick Slater defeated Missouri State Champion Jack Brisco to win the title. Also on the card, WWWF champion Superstar Graham defeated Jimmy Valiant and NWA World champion Harley Race fought Dory Funk Jr. to a draw.
1982 – In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Rick Martel & Dino Bravo by countout, Jesse Ventura & Bobby Duncum & Ken Patera beat Baron Von Raschke & Otto Wanz & Larry Hennig, Ray Stevens & Pat Patterson beat Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan by dq and Brad Rheingans & Buck Zumhofe beat Sgt Jacques Goulet & Bobby Heenan. Attendance was 8,848
1983 – In Denver, Colorado; AWA Tag Team Champions Ken Patera & Jerry Blackwell beat Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Raschke, AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Brad Rheingans, Jim Brunzell beat Sheik Adnan, Rick Martel beat Mr. Saito by dq and David Shults beat Buck Zumhofe
1986 – In Asbury Park, New Jersey; AWA Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers beat Midnight Rockers, In a Non Title match, Larry Zbyszko beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel, Colonel DeBeers beat Scott Hall by dq and Jimmy Snuka beat Boris Zhukov
1991 – Jerry Lawler defeated Awesome Kong (the man) in Memphis, Tennessee to win the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title
1992 – Johnny Hot Body defeated Larry Winters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to become the first ECW Television Champion; Masahiro Chono defeated Rick Rude in the finals of New Japan’s G1 Climax tournament at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Chono also won the NWA World Heavyweight Title in the match. Also on the card, IWGP Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Great Muta & Kensuke Sasaki and The Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit) pinned Jushin Liger.
1997 – Chris Jericho defeated Alex Wright for the WCW Cruiserweight Title in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2007 – At the Hardcore Justice PPV, Kurt Angle defeated Samoa Joe to win the TNA X Division and Tag Team Titles and the Steiner Brothers defeated Team 3-D.
2010 – Angelina Love defeated Madison Rayne to win the TNA Knockouts Title and in a non title match, Kurt Angle defeated TV Champion AJ Styles.
2012 – At the TNA Hardcore Justice PPV; Madison Rayne defeated Miss Tessmacher to win the Knockouts title. Also, Kenny King retained the TNA X Division Title over Zema Ion and Austin Aires defeated Bobby Roode to retain the TNA World Title.
1935 – In Waterloo, Iowa; Otto Kuss beat Earl Wampler by countout, George (Rube) Harben beat Bobby Stewart by dq and Louis Thesz drew with Whitey Hewitt.
1966 – Lester Welch defeated Sputnik Monroe in a tournament final in Tampa, Florida to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title.
1967 – Mr. Wrestling defeated El Mongol for the Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta; In Chicago, Illinois at the International Amphitheatre, AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Lou Thesz, Devils Duo Angelo Poffo & Chris Markoff beat AWA Tag Team Champions Larry Hennig & Harley Race dq, Dick the Bruiser beat Johnny Valentine, Wilbur Snyder beat Blackjack Lanza dq and The Destroyer beat Eddie Sharkey
1972 – In Denver, Colorado; Wahoo McDaniel & Don Muraco beat Larry Hennig & Dusty Rhodes, Billy Robinson beat Ivan Koloff, Rene Goulet beat Bull Bullinski and Ramon Torres beat Big K; in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; NWA Champion Dory Funk Jr. vs Florida Champion Paul Jones, Southern Champion Unmasked Zodiac vs Ron Fuller, Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens vs Hiro Matsuda & Robert Fuller, Tony Garea vs Taurus and Corsica Jean vs Scott Casey
1973 – In Chicago, Illinois at the International Amphitheatre, The Crusher no contest Superstar Billy Graham, Wahoo McDaniel beat Ivan Koloff, Ernie Ladd beat Moose Cholak, Sailor Art Thomas beat Ric Flair, Jimmy Valiant & Baron Von Raschke beat Bob Ellis & Reggie Parks and Greg Gagne beat Bobby Heenan
1980 – Bill Irwin defeated Bill Dundee in Memphis, Tennessee for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title
1985 – In St. Paul, Minnesota at the Civic Center; AWA Tag Team Champions Road Warriors no contest (The Long Riders) Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin, Curt Hennig & Rick Martel beat Fabulous Freebirds Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy, Nick Bockwinkel beat Greg Gagne, Sgt Slaughter beat Larry Zbyszko and Tom Zenk beat Rick Renslow
1986 – Steve Simpson defeated Buzz Sawyer in Ft. Worth, Texas to win the World Class Television Title.
1987 – In Memphis, Tennessee at the Mid South Coliseum; AWA Champion Curt Hennig beat Jerry Lawler, AWA Tag Team Champions Boris Zhukov & Soldat Ustinov beat Wahoo McDaniel & DJ Peterson, Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis beat Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond dq, Rocky Johnson beat Black Prince via forfeit, Kevin Kelly beat Mitch Snow and International Champion Bill Dundee beat George Barnes
1989 – Jeff Jarrett & Matt Bourne defeated Cactus Jack & Sheik Braddock for the USWA Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.
1990 – D.J. Peterson & The Trooper (Del Wilkes) defeated Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Rochester, Minnesota. Peterson & Trooper would be the final AWA Tag Champions. Also on the card, AWA Champion Larry Zbyszko beat Harley Race dq, Buck Zumhofe beat Jonnie Stewart to win AWA Light Heavyweight Title and Jake Milliman won a battle royal to give Larry’s Legends the victory in the AWA Team Challenge Series for $100,000; Brian Lee & Don Harris defeated Rex King & Joey Maggs for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1991 – Masahiro Chono defeated Keiji Mutoh to win the first ever G-1 (Grade One) tournament in Tokyo, Japan.
1941 – At Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Orville Brown beat Carl Von Herbert 2 falls to 0, Bobby Bruns beat Benny Rosen 2 falls to 0, Steve Brody and Earl Wampler went to a 30 minute draw and Jack Hader beat Abe Friedman
1965 – Larry Hennig & Harley Race defeated Crusher & Verne Gagne for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Also on the card, Danny Hodge beat Rene Goulet, Tex McKenzie beat Kurt von Brauner and Chris Markoff beat Larry Hennig.
1969 – In Kansas City, Kansas; Tarzan Tyler defeated The Viking, Dick Murdoch fought Ernie Ladd to a draw and Danny Little Bear & Big Luke defeated K.O. Cox & Stan the Mad Russian in three falls.
1982 – In Denver, Colorado; Hulk Hogan beat AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel dq and Rick Martel beat Greg Gagne
1993 – Eddie Gilbert & The Dark Patriot defeated The Super Destroyers in a tournament final for the ECW Tag Team Titles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1995 – Billy Jack Haynes defeated Brad Armstrong for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee. That same night, the Heavenly Bodies defeated PG-13 for the USWA Tag Team Titles.
2001 – Chris Kanyon & Diamond Dallas Page defeated The APA for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California. On the same show, Kane & The Undertaker defeated Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo for the WCW World Tag Team Title.
2002 – Ron “The Truth” Killings defeated Ken Shamrock for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the NWA/TNA PPV in Nashville, Tennessee. On the same show, Low-Ki defeated AJ Styles for the NWA/TNA X Division Title.
2010 – At the Legends Fanfest in Charlotte, North Carolina; Phil Shatter defeated Davey Richards to win the Futures Legends Cup and Adam Pearce defeated Bryan Danielson to retain the NWA Championship.
2011 – At the Hardcore Justice PPV, Kurt Angle defeated Sting to win the TNA World title and Winter defeated Mickie James to win the TNA Knockouts Title.
Just after midnight Thursday night on the East Coast, the GoFundMe campaign to help Jerry Lynn reached its goal. As of this morning, it has now exceeded the goal and risen to $17,585.
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the campaign and helped spread the word to make this happen. All together, 501 people donated which is truly amazing. The wrestling community and its fans really pulled together to help out Jerry including those that don’t have much but still made a donation. And so many people had such nice things to say about Jerry as a person and their fond memories of him in the ring.
The campaign also received donations from the likes of Steve Corino, Kevin Kelly, Adam Cole, Christopher Daniels, Nick Aldis, Eric Young, Lita, Court Bauer, Charles Robinson, Bill Behrens and others including very generous donations from Mick Foley, Austin Aries, Scott D’Amore and Chris Jericho who actually put the campaign over the top.
The campaign is still open and you can donate with all money above the goal donated to the Nashville Rescue Mission which offers food, clothing, and shelter to the homeless and recovery programs to those having problems.
1970 – In Kansas City, Rufus R. Jones defeated Oki Shikina, The Viking defeated Scandor Akbar, Pat O’Connor fought Harley Race to a draw in 30 minutes and Danny Little Bear fought Roger Kirby to a no contest
1972 -In Green Bay, Wisconsin; The Crusher & Wahoo McDaniel beat Larry Hennig & Dusty Rhodes in 2 out of 3 falls, Billy Robinson beat Nick Bockwinkel and Don Muraco beat Hans Hermann
1977 – In Milwaukee, Wisconsin; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel wrestled Billy Robinson to a 60 minute draw, The Crusher no contest Super Destroyer, Angelo Mosca beat Ray Stevens via dq and Chris Markoff & Roger Kirby beat Jim Brunzell & Bob Backlund (sub Greg Gagne)
1979 – Ray Candy defeated Blackjack Lanza to win the Georgia TV Title in Augusta, Georgia.
1994 – Chris Candido & Brian Lee defeated The Rock N’ Roll Express for the Smoky Mountain Tag Team Title in Johnson City, Tennessee
2001 – Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated X-Pac for the WWF Light Heavyweight Title in Anaheim, California.
