Today In Wrestling History- August 20th

Trivia

2007 – WWE officially announces that WWE Diva Search Winner Ashley Massaro would be taking part in the next edition of CBS’ reality hit, Survivor

2008 – Gail Kim departed TNA for WWE, citing to those close to her that financially, she needed to go to WWE

2011 – Matt Hardy was arrested by a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper after having run his car off the road, striking a tree. Hardy, who was alone at the time, was not injured. The Trooper arrested Hardy after “observing signs of impairment”. TMZ.com reported a blood test is pending & there was no contraband found in Hardy’s car

In the wake of his arrest, Matt Hardy was released by TNA

In a statement made to TMZ.com, an unnamed TNA Spokesperson commented, “TNA today released Impact Wrestling star Matt Hardy from its roster. Hardy was already under suspension from the company.”

Events

In 2006, WWE SummerSlam was held at the TD Banknorth Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts. With an attendance of 16,168:

Dark Match:
– Carlito defeated Rob Conway
SummerSlam:
– 
Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Rey Mysterio Jr.
– The Big Show defeated Sabu in an Extreme Rules Match to retain the ECW World Title
– Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Orton
– Ric Flair defeated Mick Foley (with Melina) in an I Quit Match
– Batista defeated King Booker (with Queen Sharmell) via DQ (Booker retains the World Heavyweight Title)
– D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) defeated Vince & Shane McMahon
– Edge (with Lita) defeated John Cena to retain the WWE Title

In 2013, WWE Smackdown was held at Rabobank Arena, here in Bakersfield, California. I was at this taping live in person. Was cool to see my 1st ever steel cage match:

Dark Match:
– Sin Cara defeated Damien Sandow
Main Event:
– The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, & Dean Ambrose) defeated The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) & Kofi Kingston
– AJ Lee defeated Naomi
– The Great Khali defeated Jack Swagger
Smackdown:
– Curtis Axel defeated Cody Rhodes
– Dolph Ziggler defeated Big E. Langston
– Alberto Del Rio defeated Christian
– Mark Henry & Big Show defeated 3MB (Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre, & Jinder Mahal) in a 2 on 3 Handicap Match
– Darren Young defeated Antonio Cesaro
– Daniel Bryan defeated Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage Match

Title Changes

1951 – Terry McGinnis defeated Ted Travis to win the Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii

1954 – June Byers defeated Mildred Burke to win the NWA World Women’s Title in Atlanta, Georgia.  The win was controversial, as the match was scheduled for three falls, but after Byers won the first fall, the one hour time limit expired, & Byers was awarded the title

1963 – Crusher & Dick the Bruiser defeated Ivan & Karol Kalmikoff to win the AWA World Tag Team Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota

1968 – The Spoiler defeated Grizzly Smith to win the Texas Heavyweight Title

1969 – Johnny Valentine defeated Jose Lothario to win the Texas Heavyweight Title

1976 – Seigfreid Steinke defeated Rocky Johnson to win the Texas Heavyweight Title

1987 – Kuniaki Kobayashi defeated Nobuhiko Takada to win the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title

1988 – Carlos Colon defeated Ron Starr to win the WWC Television Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

1996 – Lord Steven Regal defeated Lex Luger to win the WCW Television Title

2003 – Michael Shane defeated Chris Sabin & Frankie Kazarian in the first ever Ultimate X Match to win the TNA X-Division Title

Birthdays

Happy birthday to current NXT announcer Byron Saxton (33) & former WWF wrestler Tori (47)