Today In Pro Wrestling History: June 3rd

Another pretty solid day or really big moments and solid historical impact. It’s nice to see June starting off pretty well, now let’s just hope it doesn’t fizzle out like May. If I have to put a Kaiju Big Battle event…I will…I don’t want to, but I will.

• AJPW Budokan Hall Show: Triple Crown Championship: Mitsuharu Misawa (c) vs Toshiaki Kawada (1994)

Yes, this is THE professional wrestling match, the gold standard of professional wrestling. Kawada’s kicks against Misawa’s Elbows, this was and still is the pinnacle of what professional wrestling should look like. A rivalry with real teeth since Kawada and Misawa literally went to high school together, with Misawa being the older “senpai”. So aside from being overshadowed in the company, Kawada also had pent up resentment of being in Misawa’s shadow as a child as well. The camerawork was great in this match, because Kawada snaps off his Dangerous Back Drop and Rolling Thunder Kick, so Misawa powders. And the look on his face is realization that Kawada is on a different level and has answers for all of his standard offense. So in a desperation move from Misawa, he broke out the Tiger Driver ’91 (the more dangerous landing high on the neck style), to finally put down the Holy Demon.

• Monday Night Raw: Shawn Michaels Joins nWo (2002)

In a last ditch effort to save the WCW money making brand, Kevin Nash comes out to announce a new member of the nWo, following Hogan’s return to the red and yellow and Scott Hall being released. Shawn returns to WWE after 4 years, and also makes history being the only nWo member never to have been in WCW. While Michaels still cited his back injury as stopping him from wrestling again, we know that a few weeks later the nWo fizzled in WWE and Shawn spun into a feud with Triple H…and thus began Shawn’s second run.

• TNA iMPACT!: NWA World Tag Team Titles: Kid Kash & Dallas (c) vs America’s Most Wanted (2004)

The inaugural iMPACT in the history of the show, held on Fox Sports Net. Most of this debut show was intended to showcase what TNA had to offer that could be different from WWE or fill the gap left by WCW on television. But the most historic aspect was America’s Most Wanted solidifying themselves as the early tag team to set the bar for the division. AMW’s victory was their first tag title reign in nearly a year and a solid match with a significant title changed on the debut episode, I think qualifies at least as memorable.

• WWE One Night Stand (2007)

Vince McMahon actually defended his ECW Championship in a more legitimate match than usual. Even with Umaga and Shane’s interference, Bobby Lashley overcame the ridiculousness and had a big story moment given how long they were embroiled. Randy Orton continued his sadistic streak when he took RVD out so harshly he had to be stretchered out. This was also the first One Night Stand to drop the ECW name. One finally note would be that this was the final PPV Chris Benoit would take part in.

• WWE NXT (2025)

This would be the first time the TNA Heavyweight Championship was defended on WWE Weekly Television. This was Santana’s first shot at Trick, but due to AJ Francis & KC Navarro’s interference, Trick retained after being pushed pretty hard. This episode also served as the glamorous debut of Blake Monroe. So TNA wrestler betrayal and another fairly hyped debut from a former AEW talent.

• NOAH Star Navigation: GHC Heavyweight Championship 3-Way Survival: Ozawa (c) vs Takashi Sugiura vs Tetsuya Endo (2025)

Let’s lead off with some venue history, where this was the very first GHC Triple Threat main event was held at Korakuen Hall. Ozawa was on his meteoric rise, pushed to the championship even faster than Kaito Kiyomiya a few years prior, he has the slimy swagger that you love to hate. This was his 6th title defense and was supposed to be one hell of a challenge since Sugiura is one of the most decorated NOAH founding members ever. However, Ozawa had a plan. Midway through the match, Sugiura betrays Endo and the concept of a triple threat elimination, by joining Ozawa’s Team 2000X stable. Sugiura hits Endo with a steel chair, allows himself to get rolled up and eliminated, so Ozawa can pick the bones. This would also mark Ozawa’s last title defense before losing it next month.

Bookending these lists with puroresu history makes me happy. Starting with Misawa, ending with his promotion…it just feels right. But I won’t take anything away from any of the events, they all hold signficance in different ways. I like when months have busy days.

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