On this day in history – Demon vs. Santo, Gagne vs. Kiniski
By Brian Hoops
1953 – Blue Demon defeated El Santo in Mexico City, Mexico, for the NWA
World Welterweight Title
1955 – Frank Jares defeated Sonny Myers for the NWA Southern Junior
Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama.
1958 – Sonny Myers won a tournament final in St. Joseph, Missouri to win
the Central States Heavyweight Title.
1961- In Minneapolis, MN; AWA Champion Gene Kiniski wrestled Verne Gagne to a 60 minute draw, Wilbur Snyder beat Hard Boiled Haggerty and Leo Nomellini beat Bob Geigel
1961 – At Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri; Bobo Brazil defeated Larry Hennig (sub. Rip Hawk), Tiny Smith defeated Don Leo Jonathan via dq and Dick the Bruiser defeated Bob Ellis in three falls
1964 – In Minneapolis; The Crusher beat AWA Champion Verne Gagne via dq, Mitsu Arakawa beat Wilbur Snyder, Mad Dog Vachon beat Jack Lanza and Larry Hennig drew Dale Lewis
1966 – In Chicago; AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon beat Ernie Ladd, AWA Tag Team Champions Dick the Bruiser & the Crusher beat the Assassins and Verne Gagne beat Chris Markoff
1972 – In Tampa, Florida; (Winner to meet NWA Champion Dory Funk Jr) Buddy Colt beat Mr Wrestling Tim Woods, Paul Jones beat Don Curtis and Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens drew Jack Brisco & Johnny Walker
1973 – In Honolulu, Hawaii; AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Superstar Billy Graham on a 3rd fall dq, AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat Ken Patera & Billy Robinson, Ripper Collins & Ed Francis beat Neff Maiava & Sam Steamboat in 2 out of 3 falls to win Hawaiian tag title and Hard Boiled Haggerty beat Ric Flair
1974 – In Kansas City, Mike George & Bob Geigel & Bobby Bold Eagle defeated Don Fargo & Bob Orton & Bobby Garcia, Killer Karl Krupp defeated The Viking, Pat O’Connor & Omar Atlas & Bill Kersten defeated The Interns & Dr. Ken Ramey and in a Russian Chain Match: Harley Race defeated Bob Brown
1974 – In Peoria, Illinois; AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat The Crusher & Wahoo McDaniel and Greg Gagne beat Larry Hennig
1977 – Captain USA (Big John Studd under a mask) defeated Bruiser Brody
for the American Heavyweight Title (later to become the World Class
World Heavyweight Title) in Ft. Worth, Texas.
1980 – Ken Mantell defeated Wahoo McDaniel in a tournament final to win
the Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Title. The tournament was held
after Junkyard Dog had been forced to vacate the title after he was
blinded by the Fabulous Freebirds.
1981 – In Chicago, Illinois; AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat The Crusher,
AWA Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura,
Jerry Blackwell beat Baron Von Raschke and Tito Santana no contest Sheik Adnan
1983 – Jimmy Garvin defeated Kevin Von Erich in Ft. Worth, Texas to win
the American Heavyweight Title (later to become the World Class World
Heavyweight Title).
1983 – Jerry Lawler defeated Ken Patera for the AWA International
Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee
1988 – In Memphis, TN; AWA Champion Jerry Lawler drew Kerry Von Erich, Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden beat Jeff Jarrett & Jimmy Valiant and Phil Hickerson beat Scott Steiner
1999 – At the Fully Loaded PPV in Buffalo, New York; Jeff Jarrett
defeated Edge to win the Intercontinental Title; D’Lo Brown defeated
Mideon to win the WWF European Title and Big Bossman defeated Al Snow to
win the Hardcore Title.
2009 – In Toronto, Ontario at Night Two of ROH’s Death Before Dishonor; Kenny Omega & The Briscoes beat Austin Aries & Kenny King & Rhett Titus and Chris Hero beat Lance Storm.
2009 – In a TNA Ultimate X Match, Manik won the TNA X Division Title over Sonjay Dutt and Greg Marasciulo.