This Day In Wrestling History – January 12th
1987 – In the finals of a one-night single elimination tournament, Bob Bradley defeats The Dingo Warrior, to win the vacant WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship.
1990 – On WCW Power Hour, Arn Anderson defeats The Great Muta, to win the NWA World Television Championship.
1990 – Pierroth Jr. defeats Mogur, to win the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship.
1996 – Juventud Guerrera & Psicosis defeat Volador & El Mexicano, to win the vacant Mexican National Tag Tam Championship. The title change is not recognized by the AAA promotion. The titles were declared vacant when title holder Fuerza Guerrera left the AAA promotion in December 1995; Juventud held the other half of the tag title. When Juventud also left AAA, the Mexico Boxing and Wrestling Commission decided that the titles belonged to Los Guerreras (Juventud & Fuerza), and nullified the reign of Juventud & Psicosis.
1998 – In the Monday Night Wars, WCW Monday Nitro (4.6 TV rating) beats WWF RAW IS WAR (3.4 rating). On Nitro, The Outsiders (Kevin Nash & Scott Hall) defeat Rick & Scott Steiner, to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
2000 – With WWF SmackDown beating them in the ratings every week, WCW begins airing Thunder on Wednesdays, beginning with this evening’s episode. Brian Knobbs defeats Norman Smiley, to win the WCW Hardcore Championship. In other action, Madusa retains the WCW Cruiserweight Championship after defeating Oklahoma (Ed Ferrara) in an Evening Gown Match. And Bam Bam Bigelow defeats Chris Kanyon, in a Champagne on a Pole Match.
2015 – At Dragon Gate’s Open the New Year Gate 2015 event, Dr. Muscle defeats Eita, to win the vacant Open the Brave Gate Championship. Dr. Muscle, donning a mask for the match, would unmask himself four nights later, revealing himself to be Kzy.
2015 – Shelton Benjamin makes his in-ring debut for Pro Wrestling NOAH, as part of an eight-man tag team match.
2015 – John Cena battles Seth Rollins in a Lumberjack Match on Monday Night RAW. Thanks to the lumberjacks’ constant interference, and a knockout punch from Big Show, Rollins wins the match. Had Cena won, it would’ve meant the re-hiring of Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan, and Ryback.
2016 – On the 600th episode of Impact Wrestling, Eric Young defeats Bobby Roode, to win the TNA King of the Mountain Championship.
2016 – Suwama vacates the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, after suffering a ruptured achilles tendon.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: former SHINE Wrestling Champion Taylor Made (31 years old, pictured at top); 2-time wXw World Heavyweight Champion Ares (39 years old); indie wrestler Holly Renee (33 years old); former TCW International Heavyweight Champion, Michael Barry (37 years old); former Australian wrestler John ‘Vulcan’ Seru (55 years old); former WWE developmental wrestler Krissy Vaine (38 years old); and former WWF wrestler B. Brian Blair (60 years old).
Today would’ve been the 51st birthday for former ECW wrestler Big Dick Dudley, the 57th birthday for WWF Attitude Era wrestler Luna Vachon, and the 86th birthday for Ray Stern. Stern received the New York State Award from the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum in 2005.
