This Day in Wrestling History – October 22nd

Liz hops into her time machine and continues her look back on events on this day in wrestling history. October 22nd brought us All Japan’s 22nd Anniversary show,  Steve Austin returning to action and Kurt Angle’s TNA PPV Debut!

Born On This Date:

• 1942 – Pedro Morales
• 1943 – Allen James Coage (Bad News Brown)
• 1945 – Bill Apter
• 1961 – Donald Harris
• 1972 – Accie Connor (D-Lo Brown)
• 1984 – Aero Star
• 1986 –  Kira Renee Forster (Tara Valkyrie)

On This Date in Wrestling History:

1994 – All Japan Pro Wrestling’s 22nd anniversary show in Tokyo, Japan, Toshiaka Kawada defeated “Dr. Death” Steve Williams to win the All Japan Triple Crown Championship.

1995 – WWF presented In Your House 4: Great White North from the Winnipeg Arena in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  It is said that Vince McMahon was so disgusted with the main event, he slammed down his headset and screamed “Horrible!”, leading to the decision to end Diesel’s long reign as WWF Champion a month later.

2000 – Steve Austin returned to action for the first time since suffering a neck injury, when he fought Rikishi to a no contest in a no holds barred match at No Mercy.

2001 – On RAW four championships change hands.

• Tajiri defeated Billy Kidman to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.
• Kurt Angle defeated Rhyno to win the WCW United States Championship.
• Bradshaw defeated The Hurricane to win the WWF European Championship.
• Chris Jericho and The Rock defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.

2003 – Jeff Jarrett defeated AJ Styles to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

2006 – TNA presented it’s first PPV away from the Impact Zone. Bound for Glory from the Compuware Sports Arena in Detroit, Michigan featured Kurt Angle’s TNA’s PPV debut.

• Bobby Roode defeated Lance Hoyt.
• Austin Starr last eliminated Jay Lethal to win the Kevin Nash Open Invitational X Division Gauntlet Battle Royal. Other participants were Sonjay Dutt, Maverick Matt, Jay Lethal, A-1, Zach Gowen, Kazarian, Sirelda, Shark Boy, Alex Shelley, D-Ray 3000, Johnny Devine, Elix Skipper, Short Sleeve Sampson, Norman Smiley, and Petey Williams.
• Team 3D (Brother Ray & Brother Devon) defeated America’s Most Wanted (Chris Harris &James Storm), The James Gang (B.G James & Kip James) & The Naturals (Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas) in a four corners match.
• Samoa Joe defeated Abyss, Brother Runt, and Raven in a Monster’s Ball match. Jake Roberts was the special guest referee.
• Eric Young defeated Larry Zbyszko. As a result of the loss, Zbyszko was fired.
• Chris Sabin defeated Senshi to win the TNA X Division Championship.
• Christian Cage defeated Rhino in an 8 Mile Street Fight.
• Latin American Exchange (Hernandez and Homicide) defeated A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels in a Six Sides of Steel cage match to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
• Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Kurt Angle was the special enforcer. Had Sting lost, he would have been forced to retire.

2007 – Beth Phoenix defeated Candice Michelle 2-0 in a best of three falls match to retain the WWE Womens Championship. However, Candice broke her clavicle when Beth ran the ropes, knocking Candice off and falling in an awkward position. This would be the beginning of the end for Candice’s wrestling career as she would fracture it again, and than be considered very fragile.

2011–  Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s Steen Wolf in Resada, California, El Generico defeated Kevin Steen in a ladder match to win the PWG World Heavyweight Championship.

Died On This Date:

• None found