On this day in pro wrestling history: Sammartino breaks neck, Rhodes & Murdoch vs Stevens & Bockwinkel

By Brian Hoops

1973 – In Winnipeg, AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens
defeated Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch by DQ in the 3rd fall of a 2 out of
3 falls match to retain the title.

1976 – In Madison Square Garden, Stan Hansen defeated WWWF World
Champion Bruno Sammartino when the referee stopped the match due to
excessive bleeding. Sammartino retained the title. This was the match
that Hansen broke Sammartino’s neck with a body slam.

1981 – In Green Bay, Wisconsin; Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell defeated AWA
Tag Team Champions the East-West Connection in a steel cage match. The
title does not change hands in a cage match.

1988 – The Fantastics defeated The Midnight Express to win the NWA
United States Tag Team championship.

1992 – Johnny Hotbody defeated Jimmy Snuka in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
to win the ECW (Eastern Championship Wrestling) Title.

1994 – At a Monday Night Raw taping, The Headshrinkers, Fatu & Samu,
defeated The Quebecers in Burlington, Vermont to win the WWF World Tag
Team Championship.

1999 – On a Monday Nitro event, Sting won the WCW World Title from
Dallas Page in the opening match, only to lose it back to Page in the
final match of the show in a four way match. Also on the show, Rey
Mysterio Jr. defeated Psicosis to win the WCW World Cruiserweight Title.

2009 – At the Backlash PPV, Christian defeated Jack Swagger to win the
ECW Title. Also at the event, Randy Orton’s tag team of Ted DiBiase and
Cody Rhodes defeated WWE Champion Triple H, Batista and Shane McMahon.
As a stipulation of the match, Randy Orton became new WWE Champion.