This Day In Wrestling History- July 16th

Trivia

1988 – Frank Goodish, better known as Bruiser Brody, is stabbed in a shower stall in the locker room of Juan Lobriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico by wrestler (and WWC part-owner) Jose Gonzalez (aka Invader I) prior to a WWC event. Brody is taken to a hospital, but dies on the operating table later that night (technically the morning of July 17th) from blood loss. Gonzalez is charged with first degree murder, but is later acquitted.  Brody, a true legend in the business, particularly in Japan, was 42 years old

2010 – Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors debuted on MTV2, kicking off a run of 7 episodes

Events

In 1985, the 1st ever NWA Great American Bash is promoted by Jim Crockett, & was held at American Legion Memorial Stadium, in Charlotte, North Carolina. With an attendance of 27,000. The concept is credited to Dusty Rhodes. The next 2 Bashes would be tours rather than single events, with this format returning for 1988:

– Jimmy Valiant defeated Paul Jones in a Dog Collar Match
– Sam Houston, Buzz Tyler, & Manny Fernandez defeated Billy Graham, Abdullah The Butcher, & Konga The Barbarian (with Paul Jones)
– Ole & Arn Anderson defeated Buzz Sawyer & Dick Slater to retain the NWA National Tag Team Titles
– NWA World Tag Team Champions Krusher Khruschev & Ivan Koloff fought AWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) (with Paul Ellering) to a double-DQ
– Magnum TA defeated Kamala (with Skandor Akbar) via DQ to retain the NWA United States Title
– Ric Flair defeated Nikita Koloff (with Ivan Koloff) with David Crockett as special guest referee to retain the NWA World Title
– Dusty Rhodes defeated Tully Blanchard (with Baby Doll) in a Cage Match to win the NWA Television Title

In 1995, WCW Bash At The Beach was held on the beach, in Huntington Beach, California. With an attendance of 9,500. To promote the event, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Big Van Vader, & Kevin Sullivan guest starred on season 6 episode 15 of “Baywatch,” which was also titled “Bash at the Beach”:

WCW Main Event:
– Johnny B. Badd defeated Chris Kanyon
– Road Warrior Hawk defeated Mark Starr
– Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck defeated Alex Wright & Marcus Bagwell to earn a WCW World Tag Team Title shot
PPV:
– Sting defeated Meng to retain the WCW United States Title
– The Renegade defeated Paul Orndorff to retain the WCW Television Title
– Kamala defeated Jim Duggan
– Diamond Dallas Page (with The Diamond Doll & Max Muscle) defeated Dave Sullivan
– Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) defeated The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags), & The Blue Bloods (Lord Steven Regal & Earl Robert Eaton) in a Triangle Match to retain the WCW World Tag Team Titles
– Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair in a Lifeguard Lumberjack Match (The Lifeguard Lumberjacks were: Max Muscle, Mark Starr, The Nasty Boys, Bunkhouse Buck, Dave Sullivan, Dick Slater, Johnny B. Badd, Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Kanyon, Jim Duggan, Booker T, Arn Anderson, & Stevie Ray)
– Hulk Hogan (with Dennis Rodman) defeated Vader in a Cage Match to retain the WCW World Title (this was the 1st time WCW used the Escape the Cage rules. As neither Hogan nor Vader would agree to be pinned or submitted)

In 2000, the 7th & final ECW Heat Wave was held at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. With an attendance of 5,700:

– Sal E. Graziano (with Tony Mamaluke) defeated Balls Mahoney
– Kid Kash, Danny Doring, & Amish Roadkill defeated Johnny Swinger, Simon Diamond, & C.W. Anderson
– Jerry Lynn defeated Steve Corino (with Jack Victory)
– Super Nova & Chris Chetti defeated Da Baldies (Angel & Tony Devito)
– Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Mikey Whipwreck, Little Guido, & Psicosis in a 4-Way Dance
– Rhino defeated The Sandman to retain the ECW Television Title
– Rob Van Dam defeated Scotty Anton
– Justin Credible (with Francine) defeated Tommy Dreamer (with George & Jazz) in a Stairway to Hell Match to retain the ECW World Title

In 2006, TNA Victory Road was held at the Impact Zone, in Orlando, Florida. With an attendance of 900:

Pre-Show:
– Johnny Devine (with Alex Shelley) defeated Shark Boy
PPV:
– The Naturals (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens) (with Shane Douglas) defeated The Diamonds In The Rough (Elix Skipper & David Young) (with Simon Diamond)
– Monty Brown fought Rhino to a no contest
– The Latin American Xchange (Hernandez & Homicide) (with Konnan) defeated Ron Killings & Sonjay Dutt
– Senshi defeated Kazarian to retain the TNA X-Division Title
– Raven defeated Larry Zbyszko in a Hair vs Hair Match
– Chris Sabin & Jay Lethal defeated The Paparazzi (Kevin Nash & Alex Shelley) (with Johnny Devine)
– The James Gang (BG James & Kip James), & Abyss (with Father James Mitchell) defeated Team 3D (Brother Ray, Brother Devon, & Brother Runt)
– Sirelda, AJ Styles, & Christopher Daniels defeated Gail Kim, & America’s Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) to retain the NWA World Tag Team Titles for Styles & Daniels
– Sting defeated Scott Steiner, Samoa Joe, & Christian Cage in a Road To Victory Match to become the #1 contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Title

Title Changes

1983 – Butch Reed defeated Junkyard Dog to win the MSW North American Title in New Orleans, Louisiana

1994 – Sid Vicious defeated Jerry Lawler via forfeit to win the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title

1996 – Cho-Ten (Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan) defeated Kazuo Yamazaki & Takashi Iizuka to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles

2003 – KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji defeated Jushin Liger & Takehiro Murahama in the final of a tournament to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles

2009 – on Impact, Homicide defeated Suicide to win the TNA X–Division Title

2010 – Los Invasores (Mr. Aguila & Hector Garza) defeated La Sombra & Volador Jr. to win the CMLL Tag Team Titles

Birthdays

Happy birthday to former ECW FTW Champion Chris Chetti (40), 2-time WWE-ECW Champion Bobby Lashley (38), & one-time NWA World Champion Blue Demon Jr. (48)

Also, today would have been the birthday of one-time AWA World Champion Mighty Igor Vodic (83)

In Memoriam

The wrestling world has lost 3 personalities on this date:

Firstly, in 2001, former NWA & WCW Tag Team Champion Terry Gordy died aged just 40. Gordy began his career in 1975 as ‘Terry Mecca’, but quickly reverted to using his real name, & alongside Michael Hayes, founded The Fabulous Freebirds. The duo (later trio, after Buddy Roberts joined the group) competed as top heels in several southern NWA territories throughout the 1980′s. Gordy also found singles success, winning championships in the Southeastern, & Mid-South territories. In the early 90′s, he competed in Japan alongside Steve Williams as ‘The Miracle Violence Connection’, with the duo eventually becoming 5-time AJPW Unified Tag Team Champions. Throughout the rest of the 90′s, Gordy competed in all of the big 3 promotions, though did not last long in any of them. He passed of a heart attack caused by a blood clot

In 2005, the 1st WWC Heavyweight Champion Miguel Perez died at the age of 68. Perez began his professional career in Montreal in 1954, wrestling for the Montreal Athletic Commission. He later formed a tag team with Antonino Rocca, competing in the New York territory for NWA Capitol (the forerunner of today’s WWE). They were the first recognized tag team champions of the promotion. Rocca left the area in 1963, which saw Perez become an undercard wrestler. Perez himself left the area in 1968 & after a stint of relative inactivity, became the face of WWC in it’s infancy. He became a 3-time WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Champion before reuniting with Rocca for a stint as the promotion’s tag team champions. After Rocca’s death in 1977, Perez won one more Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title before being forced to retire from the ring through injury in 1979. He remained with WWC through to 1981 in various roles before leaving wrestling altogether. He died of a heart attack at his home on the island

Finally, in 2006, former NWA and AWA star Bob Orton Sr. died aged 76. Orton competed in several NWA promotions across his career, winning championships in the Midwest, Central States, Florida, Texas, Mid-South, Western States & St Louis territories. He also had a stint in the WWWF, teaming with Buddy Rogers. However, it is perhaps his legacy rather than his championships that is best remembered in today’s wrestling world. He was one of the first wrestlers to utilize the Piledriver move & was instrumental in the popularization of the move. I also read (though I can’t guarantee the authenticity) that he innovated the move that we today know as ‘The Pedigree’. Orton only retired from the ring in 2000 after a near 50 year career, living out his life in Las Vegas, before passing of a series of heart attacks. Orton’s descendants continued his legacy in the wrestling business; his sons Bob Jr. & Barry both competed for the WWF, & grandson Randy is a 9-time World Champion