Today In Pro Wrestling History: June 29th

Another bit of a short stretch on history and memorable moments, but I feel like the chosen events fit the mold. You’ll see some familiar names on the events even if the companies aren’t something you’re a fan of!

• AWA Denver Show: Stan Hansen Title Forfeit (1986)

So this is a classic story from the territory time where the promoter didn’t communicate well with the talent, and tried to screw the talent out of money. Hansen was a big deal in AJPW, so AWA putting the title on him in late 1985 was a surprise to everyone. Hansen never really got a proper program as champion, so after he already agreed to do an AJPW tour as AWA Champion, Verne Gagne decided he wanted Hansen to drop the title. Hansen refused based on the fact that he already made the agreement and wasn’t gonna allow Gagne to mess with his money any further. AWA stripped Hansen at the Denver show for no-showing, but Hansen had the physical belt and was doing the tour in Japan as he already arranged. It wasn’t until Gagne threatened legal action that Hansen decided to run over the title belt multiple times in his driveway before packing it up and sending Gagne what was left. Stories say it was a truck, but a quote from a Harry Burkett interview states, “I wouldn’t say it was a pickup truck, but it might’ve been some other kind of motorized vehicle. Nevermind, no comment on all that. It’s not important”.

• WWF Raw is War: WWF World Championship: Kane (c) vs Steve Austin (1998)

The King of the Ring fallout from the previous day, saw a celebratory Vince McMahon and Paul Bearer for taking the title off Austin, but Austin wanted his rematch. Given that we’re in the midst of the Monday Night War. WWF finally broke WCW’s 83 week winning streak in April, but for the next few months, it was a game of one upmanship. The title was hot potatoed on purpose just to pop a number, and boy did it. Raw popped a 5.4 rating, whereas WCW only managed a 4.1. Austin won the belt back of course, but the Attitude Era was really in its “Fighting Spirit” spot at this point.

• WWF Raw is War: WWF Tag Team Titles: The Acolytes (c) vs Hardy Boyz (1999)

Most of us should know why this is on here, this was the beginning of one of the most storied and beloved tag teams in the modern era of wrestling. Hardys went from Jobbers to champions with a massive upset over Farooq and Bradshaw. Michael PS Hayes in his midlife crisis era where he was shopping at Hot Topic with the Hardys, crazy bumps, neon outfits…the classic Hardy Boyz that are still going strong as of 2026.

• IGF Toukon Bom-Ba-Ye (2007)

This was the inaugural IGF show and came jam packed with an iconic match, Kurt Angle versus Brock Lesnar. NJPW stripped Lesnar of the IWGP Title in 2006 because he couldn’t make a show, but Inoki refused to accept the NJPW ruling and Brock still had the physical belt anyway. So the TNA World Champion Kurt Angle, took on the IGF/IWGP Third Belt Champion Brock Lesnar. This is what set up the eventually very confusing accolades of Kurt Angle. Because once he won the match, he was given a partly defunct, and party new promotion’s championship belt. While I believe TNA incorrectly called him the IWGP Heavyweight Champion on more than one occasion, Kurt is not recognized in the lineage and the whole Third Belt fiasco is something unique to itself.

• WWE Night of Champions: Priceless (2008)

Moving away from Vengeance, this was the inaugural Night of Champions event. While three titles changed hands, only one truly made history. Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly were the tag team champions, they entered to face Ted DiBiase Jr and a Mystery Partner. When Ted wanted to start the match regardless of being “out gunned”, Hardcore got blind sided by Cody. Cody beat on Hardcore until officially tagging in Ted, Million Dollar Dream and a Million Dollar Leg Sweep later…and we have newish champions. Cody earned a unique distinction that not many others have, in entering the match as champ and leaving as champ with his opponent. This would of course go on to create Legacy with Randy Orton, but the swerve…was Priceless.

• RevPro Ungovernable (2019)

Serving as an event to help find talent for the LA Dojo, this show was a successful crossover blend of British names we’ve grown to appreciate and the NJPW players who defined the era. Regarding the Dojo, this show is what sparked Katsuyori Shibata to want Gabe Kidd in the New Japan system, and we’ve seen what kind of a difference maker he’s become over the years. The notable moment though is in the 4 Way RevPro Tag Team Titles Match. The champions Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davies) faced EVIL & BUSHI, Team WhiteWolf (A-Kid & Carlos Romo) and Josh Bodom & Sha Samuels. While the match itself was a mess, Bodom and Samuels ended the Aussie Open title reign keeping the RevPro scene fluid and allowing for Aussie Open to grow their brand and eventually sign to AEW.

So we’ve got two events where physical belts never made it back to a company…and both guys were pretty feared in their respective time. A little Monday Night War shenanigans and one of Cody Rhodes’ shining achievements…before his post excursion return and becoming QB1. Also it’s a little amusing to think that many of the names on this list are still quite relevant today.