Today In Pro Wrestling History: June 11th

Today we got ourselves a mixed bag of WWE, Hardcore, Mexican wrestling and a New Japan match that will live in most modern wrestling fans memories as one of the best ever. Time to get to the events!

• AAA Triplemania VII: Lucha de Apuestas Hair vs Hair Cage Match: Kick Boxer & Thai Boxer vs Heavy Metal & El Felino  (1999)

This built off the Triplemania VI story I highlighted in a previous day. The Casas family were fighting for honor and pride as the heel combination boxers were making their lives living hell. El Felino even left CMLL to join AAA specifically to fight with his brother Heavy Metal, for family honor. The stakes of hair were the same, the rudo referee El Tirantes or Pepe Casas. Pepe Casas was already embarrassed last year after constant interference, but the Casas family got their revenge. El Felino was a great equalizer and a change of pace stylistically from Heavy Metal, so they made for a dynamic combination. The boxers lost when Heavy Metal and El Felino escaped the cage, resulting in El Tirantes having his head shaved!

• WWF Monday Night Raw: Steel Cage Match: Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit (2001)

Still considered one of the best televised wrestling matches in WWE history, this was a grueling technical bout with plenty of extra high risk elements thanks to the cage aspect. To add to things, Steve Austin’s commentary and eventual interference, added a layer that was perfect in the Attitude Era. Avalanche German Suplex spot Benoit, Angle’s Cage Moonsault or Benoit’s Diving Headbutt are just a few highlight reel moments burned into the brains of millions.

• NWA/TNA Weekly PPV: NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Jarrett (c) vs Raven vs AJ Styles (2003)

This is on the list today because it was AJ Styles’ first World Championship win. Vince Russo screwed over Jeff Jarrett, and this was the time we saw Russo really get to execute his Chosen One storyline. S.ports E.ntertainment X.treme was Russo’s faction, and AJ Styles was the answer. The match was a great styles clash (yes I did that on purpose), but the AJ turn and Russo betraying Jarrett did wonders on mixing up the main event scene that was dominated by former WCW and WWF talent. It should also be noted that AJ Styles was the only “X Division” guy to hold the World title until Samoa Joe in 2008.

• WWE ECW One Night Stand: WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs Rob Van Dam (2006)

When most of us are aware of the “If Cena Wins, We Riot” signs, that should tell you why this was memorable. The event alone is historically significant because after the success of this PPV, it basically forced WWE’s hand to create the ECW brand, for better or worse. As for the match, it was an ECW classic. The crowd hated Cena, but Cena played into the heat. RVD came out with the belt thanks to Edge Spearing Cena through a table and a fast count from former ECW Promoter and Beloved Wiseman, Paul Heyman. The Hammerstein crowd went crazy for their ECW original coming out on top. The scene, the energy, the night was one to remember.

• CZW Tournament of Death XV (2016)

This show was a Rickey Shane Page’s glorious coronation in the deathmatch scene, as well as the show that was the centerpiece of the Vice documentary Bloodlust. Rickey had a great “Fans Bring the Weapons” match against Tim Donst early in the tournament and then punctuated things with his finals win over CZW World Champion Matt Tremont. Page was a traditional masked wrestler known as Christian Faith for nearly a decade before he started to reinvent himself. This win, catapulted Rickey into Deathmatch infamy.

• NJPW Dominion: IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs Kenny Omega (2017)

The Broadway that really set this feud on fire. Modern wrestling doesn’t do a lot of a lot of time limit, inconclusive finishes correctly. But this was a beautiful old school style of match, with callbacks, in ring psychology and moments that either competitor could’ve won. Between Kenny’s collapse during the Rainmaker windup, to Okada being JUST close enough to the ropes to get his foot on the bottom after a One Winged Angel, the crowd was both electric and holding their breath with anticipation. Okada looked like he had Kenny’s number towards the end when he hit the desperation Million Dollar Dropkick. But exhaustion was still something they both were dealing with. After finally hitting the Rainmaker flush, Okada just couldn’t crawl to the cover fast enough, and the 60 minute time limit was called, the match ended in a Draw. Which is what allowed the story to continue with not definitive finish.

See that, Tournament of Death, Cage Matches, 60 Minute Broadways and more classic wrestling angles. This was a pretty well balanced list if I do say so myself.

How tight were the nostalgia goggles? Am I ignoring companies that you’re passionate about? Make your thoughts known and Always Use Your Head!