This Day In Wrestling History – October 20th

1964 – Mad Dog Vachon defeats Verne Gagne, to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship.

1972 – In the second show commemorating the 39th anniversary of EMLL, Karloff Lagarde defeats Huracan Ramirez, to retain the NWA World Welterweight Championship.  Also, Alfonso Dantes defeats El Solitario, to retain the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship.  Both matches were Best two-out-of-three Falls.

1984 – Manny Fernandez and Dusty Rhodes defeat Don Kernodle and Ivan Koloff, to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship.

1986 – Crusher Yurkof defeats Steve Simpson, to win the WCWA Television Championship.

1989 – Three titles change hands in All Japan Pro Wrestling.  Masanobu Fuchi defeats Joe Malenko, to win the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship.  In tag team action, Ryukanhou (Stan Hansen and Genichiro Tenryu) defeat Gorin Konbi (Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu), to win the AJPW World Tag Team Championship.  Finally, in another tag team match, Footloose (Samson Fuyuki and Toshiaki Kawada) defeat Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat, to win the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship.

1995 – In a tag team match with the Smoky Mountain Wrestling Heavyweight Championship on the line, the tag team of Headbanger Thrasher and Terry Gordy defeat the team of SMW Heavyweight Champion Brad Armstrong and The Wolfman.  Gordy pinned Armstrong, to become the new SMW Heavyweight Champion.

1996 – WWF In Your House 11: Buried Alive is held in Indianapolis in front of 9,649 fans.

-In a match that aired on Free for All, The Stalker defeats Justin Bradshaw.

-In dark match #1, The Godwinns (Henry O. and Phineas I. Godwinn) defeat The New Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy).

-In dark match #2, Shawn Michaels defeats Goldust, to retain the WWF Championship.

-Stone Cold Steve Austin defeats Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

-Owen Hart and The British Bulldog defeats The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart), to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship.

-Marc Mero defeats Goldust, to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

-In a match to determine the #1 contender for the WWF Championship, Sycho Sid defeats Vader.

-The Undertaker defeats Mankind, in the first-ever Buried Alive Match.

1997 – In the Monday Night Wars, WCW Monday Nitro (4.6 TV rating) defeats WWF Raw Is War (2.9 rating).

2000 – In Chaotic Wrestling, Gino Martino defeats Jay Jailette, to win the CW Heavyweight Championship.  Also, in a tag team match, One Night Stand (Ronnie D. Lishus and Edward G. Xtasy) defeat The Damned (Mad Dog and Draven), to win the CW Tag Team Championship.

2002 – WWE No Mercy is held in North Little Rock, Arkansas in front of 10,000 fans.

-The Hurricane defeats Steven Richards, in match that aired on Sunday Night Heat.

-Chris Jericho and Christian defeat Booker T and Goldust, to retain the World Tag Team Championship.

-Torrie Wilson defeats Dawn Marie.

-Rob Van Dam defeats Ric Flair.

-Jamie Noble defeats Tajiri, to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

-In a Championship Unification match, World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeats Intercontinental Champion Kane.  Triple H is the final Intercontinental Champion and the title is retired.  It would be revived in May 2003.

-In a tag team match Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit defeat Edge and Rey Mysterio, via submission to become the inaugural WWE Tag Team Champions;  Edge tapped out to the Ankle Lock applied by Angle.  This begins a period up until WrestleMania 25 (2009) that RAW & SmackDown would each have their own tag team championship.

-Trish Stratus defeats Victoria, to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.

-In a Hell in a Cell Match, Brock Lesnar defeats The Undertaker, to retain the WWE Championship.

2006 – In the Heartland Wrestling Association, The Irish Airborne (Dave and Jake Crist) defeat The Mavericks (Aaron Williams and Alan Wasylychyn), to win the HWA Tag Team Championship.  Over in Chaotic Wrestling, Jason Blade and Kid Mikaze defeat Intellectual Properties (Max Bauer and Arch Kincaid), to win the CW Tag Team Championship.

2007 – In Chaotic Wrestling, “The Golden Greek” Alex Arion defeats “Straight Edge” Brian Fury, to win the CW New England Championship.

2012 – Kacee Carlisle defeats Tasha Simone, to win the NWA World Women’s Championship.

2013 – TNA Bound for Glory is held in San Diego in front of 3,000 fans.

-The BroMans (Jesse Godderz and Robbie E) win a Tag Team Gauntlet Match to earn a shot at the TNA World Tag Team Championship later on that night.

-In an Ultimate X Match, Chris Sabin defeats Manik, Austin Aries, Jeff Hardy, and Samoa Joe, to become the new TNA X Division Champion.

-Tag Team Gauntlet winners The BroMans defeat Gunner and James Storm, to become the new TNA World Tag Team Champions.

-In a Three-Way Match, Gail Kim defeats ODB and Brooke, to win the TNA Knockouts’ Championship.

-Bobby Roode defeats Kurt Angle.

-Ethan Carter III defeats Norv Fernum.

-Magnus defeats Sting.

-In a No Disqualification Match, A.J. Styles defeats Bully Ray, to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: 6-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion & 2-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask IV (46 years old);  6-time WCW/WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero, Jr. (46 years old);  Grand Prix Wrestling founder and promoter Emile Dupree (81 years old);  and WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Inductee Scott Hall (58 years old).

There are conflicting reports on two other birthdays.  Former WCW Cruiserweight Champion Lenny Lane (age 46) is listed as being born on October 16th and October 20th;  depending on what you read.  Also, former WCW World Television Champion and WWE United States Champion Dave “Fit” Finlay (age 58), is listed as being born on either January 31st or October 20th.

SOURCES: http://www.tpww.net/info/birthdays/ Wikipedia