This Day In Wrestling History – December 24th
1985 – Tarzan Tyler, one half of the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions, is killed in a car accident in Quebec. Tyler was traveling with fellow wrestler Pierre ‘Mad Dog’ Lefebvre and referee Adrien Desbois; Lefebvre and Desbois were also killed in the accident.
1986 – At a house show in Mexico City, Perro Aguayo defeats Fishman, to win the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship for the 6th time.
1999 – On this Christmas Eve edition of ECW on TNN, Masato Tanaka defeats Mike Awesome, to become the new ECW World Heavyweight Champion.
2000 – Claudio Castagnoli, now known in WWE as Cesaro, makes his pro wrestling debut in Essen, Germany, for Westside Xtreme Wrestling.
2001 – On this Christmas Eve edition of WWF RAW, Torrie Wilson defeats Stacy Keibler in the first ever Egg Nog Match. Also, Christian defeats The Hurricane to retain the WWF European Championship. In the evening’s main event, Chris Jericho defeats The Rock and Kurt Angle, in a Triple Threat No Disqualification Match, to retain the Undisputed WWF Championship.
2006 – At New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Battle XMas! Catch the Victory, Minoru defeats Koji Kanemoto, to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
2007 – WWE Tribute to the Troops airs from Tikrit, Iraq. In the main event, D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) defeat Umaga & Mr. Kennedy. NOTE: In 2007, the WWE received the first Corporate Patriot Award at the annual GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C., “in recognition of its ongoing support and appreciation of the U.S. military and their families, particularly its annual holiday Tribute to the Troops tour to entertain troops in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan”.
2010 – Atsushi Aoki & Naomichi Marufuji defeat Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask IV, to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
2011 – On OVW TV, Christopher Silvio defeats Ted McNaler, to win the Ohio Valley Wrestling Television Championship.
2012 – In the main event of this Christmas Eve edition of WWE RAW, John Cena defeats Alberto Del Rio, in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight.
2016 – Atsushi Kotege & Daisuke Harada defeat Gedo and Jado, to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. The titles are vacated two days later when Kotege opts to move up to the Heavyweight Division.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Former NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion & WWC Junior Heavyweight Champion, Brad Anderson (49 years old); current NXT star Kassius Ohno (39 years old); former AJPW All Asia Tag Tam Champion Takeshi Minamino (33 years old); and former British Heavyweight & Tag Team Champion, Ricky Knight (65 years old).
Today would’ve been the 95th birthday for ‘Iron’ Mike DiBiase,’ who won titles in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), various NWA territories, Worldwide Wrestling Associates, and four other promotions.
