This Day In History: April 2nd

April continues with the wrestling history! WrestleMania has become a celebration for wrestling in general, not just a focus on the WWE product. So lets see what pops up today:

• WrestleMania V: WWF Championship: Hulk Hogan vs Randy Savage (c) (1989)

With Savage’s jealousy causing the Mega Powers to implode, we got a culmination at the biggest wrestling event of the year! Hulk Hogan coming out victorious was historic since it was the first time the World Heavyweight Championship changed hands at WrestleMania, and not won due to vacancy. This storyline would also provide background for their clashes and occasional allegiances in WCW. A simple angle, that was easy to sink your teeth into with larger than life personalities. Classic.

• Clash of Champions VI: NWA World Heavyweight Championship – Two out of Three Falls: Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (c) (1989)

A technical masterpiece that set the standard for any longer match of this style. While the best match from these two is heavily debated, 1989 was dominated by these two and amazing technical matches. Steamboat proved to be the perfect babyface with great fire and a huge gas tank. If you don’t mind nearly 60 minute matches, this is worth at least one watch. Good ole fashion wrasslin.

• WrestleMania 22: Women’s Championship: Trish Stratus (c) vs Mickie James (2006)

Aside from the fact that Mickie’s delulu parasocial character seems to have become a commonplace in 2026 fandoms…twenty years ago it was pretty fresh. Plus yes, the kiss and Mickie’s finger lick was a high point for Millennial and Gen X fans alike (for obvious reasons, don’t judge me) – it helped to catapult her to being one of the women to be heralded for the turn from garbage mud wrestling and Diva catfights, to actual scripted combat like the men.

• ROH Honor Takes Center Stage: ROH Tag Team Championship: World’s Greatest Tag Team (c) vs The American Wolves (2011)

Billed as the Wolves’ “Last Hunt” since they were exploring singles ventures, World’s Greatest Tag Team issued the challenge because they were the last team they never faced. The Wolves put up a great fight, the match going over 30 minutes, but they would come up short. Given the fact they weren’t actively performing as a tag team and this was a “get the band back together one more time”, style of gimmick, this was tremendous. WGTT established themselves further as more than just Angle’s old flunkies, and while coming up short. The Wolves would be the faces of non-WWE wrestling for the next few years between ROH, MLW, NOAH and TNA, not just as a team, but also with their singles runs.

• WrestleMania 33: WWE Raw Tag Team Championship 4-Way Ladder Match: The Club (c) vs The Bar vs Enzo & Cass vs The Hardy Boyz (2017)

Coming off Ladder War and a very successful rebranding as the Broken Hardyz on the mid-major circuits, the New Day unveiled of the biggest surprises in an era where “kayfabe is dead”. No one expected the Hardy Boyz to return right after their ROH match with the Young Bucks. The pop was huge, the moment was legitimate surprising, and the Hardyz ended up victorious in their return with yet more ladders. This proved that even in an era of cameras everywhere and leaks for clout, real moments can still make you feel like a kid again.

See, not every day bleeds into the next as magically as Hardy Boyz surprises. As we proceed through the month, I will be looking around for some deeper cuts or random cuts. I want everyone to get some shine, since Mania Month is for the people. Which significant events did I miss? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! And if you don’t do anything else today, remember, Always Use Your Head!