Today In Pro Wrestling History: April 18th

If you thought Everything, Everywhere, All at Once was random, you certainly have no been keeping up with how I’m doing these articles. Speaking of that, we’ve got a good mix! It’s not a puroresu wonderland today!

• JWP Tokyo Show: Bull Nakano vs Devil Masami (1993)

If anyone saw the Dump Matsumoto story on Netflix “Queen of the Villains”, you’ll know that Masami was an established brawling heel before Dump and her Atrocious Alliance took AJW by storm. Bull was a key up and coming figure in the Atrocious Alliance, and then most of us learned who she was thanks to WWF and WCW utilizing some joshi in the 90s. This was an amazing match with the story of two brawling heels re-establishing themselves outside of AJW. Bull came out on top, and if you can find it, this is one of those classic Joshi matches everyone should watch. Great work, easy story, and proof about the lasting power of women’s wrestling.

• WWE Backlash: Intercontinental Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs Cactus Jack (2004)

This was the match that made Randy, the Randy we’ve all come to love and respect. Legend Killer early days, and a Hardcore Match against a historic psychopath. Most of us still remember the image of Orton being tossed away into the thumb tacks and coming up with his back laced in silver. Solid violence, great story impact and the turning point of the silver spoon Evolution brat to become his own person.

• ROH Tag Wars: Age of the Fall vs Motor City Machine Guns (2008)

While I almost called them Do It For Her (IYKYK), Age of the Fall and the Guns put on a clinic. Fueled by Shelley and Jimmy’s history in Lacey’s Angels, Jimmy was becoming more and more unhinged after Lacey went missing. The crowd was hot since this was in Detroit, and all four guys were big deals in the Super Indie/Mid Major scene. While the guns lost at home, it furthered our favorite Vampire Princess’ spiral and evolving blood feud with Austin Aries.

• TNA Lockdown: Mr. Anderson vs Kurt Angle (2010)

Easily the show stealer of the event. While Kurt did it a couple times, this Moonsault off the top of the cage has been used in TNA reels for as long as possible. Fantastic intensity, a palpable rivalry and Kurt winning after being goaded for months and during the match. The event itself was also lame history because it was the first event with a Four Sided Cage, which makes sense because this was Hogan-Bischoff era, and they never understood the six sides. But hey, this match is definitely a TNA classic.

• CMLL Super Viernes: 2 out of 3 Falls: Blue Panther, Neon & Mascara Dorada vs Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr (2025)

I think this is the first time CMLL has shown up, and historic if for no other reason than Super Viernes has been an event since 1930, so almost 100 years straight of an event is how you build consistency. This match was somewhat simple, Blue Panther and Ultimo Guerrero had a legend vs legend feud going, Panther’s allies were the up and coming babyfaces while Ultimo had his own gatekeeper squad. As one would expect, the Babyfaces went over in the match, but the rivalry storyline existed through all of 2025, and even mixing promotions when Blue Panther defeated Ultimo for the MLW National Championship later in the year. Good old fashioned hatred.

We get fancy, we get creative and we get everyone a little shine. Wrestling is far bigger than any bubble Twitter wants you to choose a tribe for, so why not sample a little bit from everywhere and see if anything new fits your tastes?

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!