Today In Pro Wrestling History: July 22nd

The last few articles seem to follow a similar trend where it’s a good amount of easy to digest shows that many Western fans had easy access to, but I still sprinkle in a few things from different continents. This one doesn’t have an event super recent, but it’s not as bad as that one article where nothing happened on the day in 20 years. Let’s check it out!

• WCW Nitro: WCW Television Title: Lord Steven Regal (c) vs Ultimate Dragon (1997)

This was a rematch from two months prior where Regal ended Ultimo’s first Television title reign. While the match was short it wasn’t terrible. It was a solid contrast of styles since we all know Regal to be more of the World of Sport technician, whereas Ultimo is well versed in Lucha and Puroresu. Ultimo managed to lock in the Dragon Sleeper and win back the Television title.

• WWF InVasion (2001)

Now usually the Hardcore title isn’t worth mentioning, but during the jump off of the Invasion, Rob Van Dam beating Jeff Hardy for the Hardcore title felt like a harbinger. Especially given the Team WWF vs Team WCW/ECW 10 man brawl, took an unexpected turn. When Steve Austin turned on team WWF hitting Kurt Angle with the Stone Cold Stunner, allowing Booker T to get the win for the “alliance”, it was a shift that the fans didn’t want. This began that era of the crowd tuning out and refusing to play along.

• NJPW 40th Anniversary Kizuna Road (2012)

Three titles changed hands during this show, so that makes it pretty significant for a “Road to” show. Forever Hooligans (Rocky Romero & Alex Kozlov) defeated Jushin Liger & Tiger Mask IV for the IWGP Junior Tag titles. TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) defeated Takashi Iizuka & Toru Yano for the Heavyweight Tag titles. To break up the basic listing, Hiroshi Tanahashi retained the IWGP Heavyweight title against legend Masato Tanaka. But the last title to change hands came in the IWGP Intercontinental Championship match (yes, the belt we all wish still existed). Hirooki Goto actually defeated Tanaka 161 days prior for the title. But he was facing the Super Rookie himself, Shinsuke Nakamura. In a really great 16 minute match, Shinsuke dethroned Goto (who had the longest title reign up to that point), and began his first reign with the white belt. A reign that would last 313 days and go down in history as the longest reign the belt has ever seen, unless they reactivate it in the future.

• Dragon Gate Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival (2012)

While only one title change happened, this was a memorable event. Brave Gate champion Dragon Kid faced Ricochet in a 24 minute aerial showcase that had fans buzzing. Dragon Gate is where Ricochet really made a name for himself, and this was one of the matches which helped to elevate his status. Shingo Takagi & YAMATO, two fan favorites in the Akatsuki faction defeated Jimmyz (Jimmy Kagetora & Susumu) for the Twin Gate titles. PAC managed to retain the Triangle Gate titles with Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino, even though it was his final appearance before heading to WWE (he’d return to Dragon Gate once he left WWE, but the exit still forced a vacating of the trios title after this show). And to some people’s surprise, CIMA was the Dream Gate Champion at this time, and he faced Akira Tozawa in the main event. People may not be aware Tozawa was a pretty decent wrestler before this entire comedy branding he’s had for like a decade in WWE. If you can find a decent version of the show, Tozawa’s match still holds up pretty well.

• Impact Wrestling Slammiversary XVI (2018)

This show was pretty damn good, but the memorable aspects don’t primarily come from the title changes…or lack there of. Only title to change hands was Matt Sydal losing the X Division title to Brian Cage. But we saw the culmination of the LAX feud where the new school LAX (Santana & Ortiz w/Konnan) faced off against the OGz (Homicide & Hernandez w/Eddie Kingston), in a 5150 Street Fight for the tag titles. The violence was there, the civil war feelings were palpable and it was a great generational clash that LAX ended up winning. Not to be outdone, one of the best matches in Slammiversary history was next. Pentagon Jr vs Sami Callihan in the Mask vs Hair match. A little over 18 minutes of carnage. Attempted interference from the Crist brothers, Fenix helping out his brother and a Fear Factor to seal the deal. Between the 5150 Street Fight and this Lucha de Apuestas match, the violence peaked beautifully and this whole show delivered. One of TNA’s best shows in general, not just cherry picked solid matches.

Okay, the WCW event was a little bit of a stretch, but the rest is memorable for good or bad reasons. No one likes the Stone Cold moment, but that also proves its memorable and burned in people’s brains as one of the dumbest decisions in booking history. See…so history is history.