Today In Wrestling History- May 21st

Trivia

2000 – The Undertaker make his long awaited return to the WWF as the “American Badass” returning during a 60 Minute Iron Man match between WWF champion The Rock & Triple H at the WWF Judgment Day 2000 PPV

2001 – During a tag team match that saw Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho defeat Steve Austin & Triple H for the WWF World Tag Team Title, Triple H tore his quadriceps muscle in the leg. It was a freak injury, occurring during the course of the match. He gutted it out for the rest of the bout (which aired live on Raw), then was sent to the hospital for an MRI. He was told he would be out up to five months and had surgery performed in Birmingham, Alabama, three days later by Dr. James Andrews. He would suffer a similar injury in 2007

2007 – Mark Canterbury aka Henry Godwinn was released by WWE in the last week. He was most recently seen working for the now-defunct Deep South Wrestling territory, teaming with Ray Gordy

2007 – Mick Foley & his family filmed a pilot for an A&E reality series titled “Wrestling My Family.”  The pilot was not picked up by the network

2010 – Carlito was released by WWE after a Wellness Violation.  WWE would later disclose that after Carlito was deemed unfit to compete, he refused their requests to enter a rehabilitation program, thus he was let go from the company

2010 – TNA Tag Team champion Scott Hall was arrested  and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting a police officer, according to The Orlando Sentinel.  Authorities were called to the Hitching Post Bar in Chuluota after Hall, who had been “drinking heavily” according to a police report, “became aggressive.” The article noted that Hall allegedly pushed one customer, then argued with a female bartender. When he was told the bar was getting him a ride home, he shoved two females outside the bar and punched the window of the car.  When authorities arrived, they found Hall yelling and cursing at the patrons and staff of the bar. When he was told he was being taken into custody, he allegedly responded, “I ain’t going down for this [expletive deleted],’ This is [expletive deleted]. You know it’s [expletive deleted].”  Hall was told he was not allowed to return to the establishment

2011 – TNA released Terry Taylor from his role as head of talent relations, replacing him with Bruce Prichard.  Taylor would later refer to the release as a gift as it allowed him time to spent with his wife prior to her passing following a battle with cancer

2011 – Sinclair Broadcasting announced that they had purchased Ring of Honor from Cary Silkin during a meeting with the ROH locker room prior to ROH’s Supercard of Honor in Chicago, IL

Events

In 1985, Owen Promotions’ 60th Anniversary Show was held in Portland, Oregon. The event commemorated the 60th anniversary of Herb & Don Owens’ promotion in Oregon:

– Sgt. Slaughter defeated Kendo Nagasaki
– Roddy Piper defeated Buddy Rose
– Curt & Larry Hennig defeated The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) (with Paul Ellering) via DQ
– Rick Martel defeated Mike Miller to retain the AWA World Title
– Ric Flair fought Billy Jack Haynes to a draw to retain the NWA World Title

In 1995, WCW Slamboree was held at Bayfront Arena, in St Petersburg, Florida. With an attendance of 7,000, & featured the final inductions to the WCW Hall of Fame. The Class of 95 were: Wahoo McDaniel, Angelo Poffo, Terry Funk, Antonio Inoki, Dusty Rhodes, Gordon Solie, & Big John Studd:

WCW Main Event:
– The Blue Bloods (Lord Steven Regal & Earl Robert Eaton) defeated Los Especialistas (Ricky Santana & Fidel Sierra)
– Steve Austin defeated Eddie Jackie
– Sgt. Craig Pittman defeated Mark Starr
– Meng defeated Brian Pillman
PPV:
– The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) defeated Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) to win the WCW World Tag Team Titles
– Kevin Sullivan defeated The Man With No Name (Brutus Beefcake)
– Wahoo McDaniel defeated Dick Murdoch
– The Great Muta defeated Paul Orndorff to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– Arn Anderson defeated Alex Wright to retain the WCW Television Title
– Meng fought Road Warrior Hawk to a double countout
– Sting defeated Big Bubba Rogers in a Lights Out Match
– Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage (with The Renegade & Jimmy Hart) defeated Ric Flair & Vader (with Arn Anderson)

In 2000, WWF Judgment Day was held at Freedom Hall, in Louisville, Kentucky. With an attendance of 16,827:

Sunday Night Heat:
– The British Bulldog defeated Joey Abs
– Essa Rios & Lita defeated Kaientai (Taka Michinoku & Funaki)
– The Godfather defeated D’Lo Brown
PPV:
– Too Cool (Rikishi, Grand Master Sexay, & Scotty 2 Hotty) defeated Team ECK (Edge, Kurt Angle, & Christian)
– Eddie Guerrero (with Chyna)  defeated Perry Saturn & Dean Malenko in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWF European Title
– Shane McMahon defeated The Big Show in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
– Chris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho in a Submission Match to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title
– D-Generation X (Road Dogg & X-Pac) defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) in a Double Tables Match
– Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) defeated The Rock in an Iron Man Match with Shawn Michaels as special guest referee to win the WWF Title

In 2006, WWE Judgment Day was a Smackdown-exclusive event. It was held at the US Airways Center, in Phoenix, Arizona. With an attendance of 16,000:

Dark Match:
– 
Matt Hardy defeated Simon Dean
PPV:
– Paul London & Brian Kendrick defeated MNM (Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury) (with Melina) to win the WWE Tag Team Titles
– Chris Benoit defeated Finlay
– Jillian Hall defeated Melina (with Johnny Nitro)
– Gregory Helms defeated Super Crazy to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Title
– Booker T (with Sharmell) defeated Bobby Lashley in the final of the King Of The Ring Tournament
– The Great Khali (with Daivari) defeated The Undertaker
– Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated JBL to retain the World Heavyweight Title

Title Changes

1971 – Dusty Rhodes defeated Bill Watts to win the TSW North American Title

1982 – Wahoo McDaniel defeated Sgt. Slaughter to win the NWA United States Title in Richmond, Virginia

1984 – Kevin von Erich defeated Killer Khan via DQ to win the WCCW Television Title. Not satisfied with the result, von Erich vacates the title soon after

1993 – Dan Kroffat ends Masanobu Fuchi’s 3-and-a-half year reign as AJPW Junior Heavyweight Champion

2001 – on Raw, The Big Show defeated Rhyno to win the WWF Hardcore Title

2003 – Jerry Lynn defeated Chris Sabin in the final of a tournament to win the vacant WWA International Cruiserweight Title

2009 – Alex Koslov defeated Extreme Tiger, & Alan Stone in a 3-Way Match to become the first AAA Cruiserweight Champion

Birthdays

Happy birthday to UK indy star Andy Simmons (30), one-time NWA World Champion The Sheik (40),  2-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kota Ibushi (32), & WWE Hall of Famer Mr. T (62)

Also, today would have been the birthday of WWE and WCW Triple Crown Champion Chris Benoit (47), & his wife/valet Nancy ‘Woman’ Benoit (50)