Today In Pro Wrestling History: July 27th

We stick in the post Y2K era wrestling for this article! That doesn’t mean things didn’t happen before, but these events just felt more pivotal and memorable. So let’s check out the history list!

ROH Crowning A Champion: 60 Minute Iron Man Match for Inaugural ROH Championship: Christopher Daniels vs Spanky vs Low Ki vs Doug Williams (2002)

Now this is a kind of an important first since ROH helped to define independent wrestling from 2002-2020. While it was always a distant third or fourth depending on the time frame, it was still always a relevant enough name that people were aware. So crowning their first main title champion, is note worthy. In true independent fashion, the show took place in a venue without air conditioning in the Summer! So this was all done under 100 degree (Fahrenheit) conditions. Now, it needs to be highlighted that this match used a unique scoring system. Pinfalls or Submission counted as 2 points, eating the pin subtracted 1 point from your score. So, Daniels pinned Ki after Last Rites, Ki submitted Spanky with a Dragon Sleeper and then towards the 50 minute mark Ki managed to pick up a pinfall on Doug Williams after a Corkscrew Splash. So out of the opponents who actually scored positive points, Low Ki edged out Daniels 3 to 2, so Low Ki became the inaugural ROH Champion!

• WWE Vengeance (2003)

This show saw the finals of the United States Championship revival tournament. The US Belt was a WCW title that WWE finally decided to bring into the fold. Eddie Guerrero versus Chris Benoit were the finalists. Two guys from WCW, got to resurrect the title for WWE lineage. From a match quality perspective, this was the best match of the night and it opened the show. Eddie Guerrero got the distinction of being the first WWE United States Champion. However, the main event was very memorable and had great participants. Brock Lesnar defended the WWE Heavyweight Championship against Big Show and Kurt Angle. The finish was a buffet of Angle Slams. Big Show ate one through the Spanish Announce Table and then another after breaking up the Ankle Lock. Lesnar couldn’t quite shake the effects of the submission so he was grabbed for an Angle Slam, and Kurt Angle won his fourth WWE Heavyweight Championship.

• Dragon Gate Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival: Vacant Open the Dream Gate Championship: BxB Hulk vs Shingo Takagi (2008)

After bad blood arose between two of the Dragon Gate rising stars, BxB Hulk left New Hazard, and started feuding with Shingo. This match came about because CIMA had a severe neck injury and was forced to vacate the title. Prior to announcing CIMA vacating though, Shingo and Hulk had a Number One Contender match, which went to a 60 minute Broadway. So with no definitive winner, and CIMA’s vacancy…the match was easy to make. Anyone who read the History last week, knows that Hulk had a reputation for choking in big moments. So this match was a nearly 37 minute war. Hulk was in his Ricky Steamboat era with great athleticism and underdog babyface sympathy…but Shingo was always the world beating bully that many only know from his time in New Japan. Young Shingo was even more impressive than New Japan Shingo. Shingo cemented himself as a mainstay around the Dream Gate until he left the company in 2018.

• AJPW Summer Action Series: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship: SUWAMA (c) vs Joe Doering (2014)

This was a second dark period for AJPW. Keiji Mutoh left and took a portion of the roster to start Wrestle-1, leaving AJPW in shambles and only a few to try and rebuild, yet again. Doering and Suwama were two of the most important names. They started the Evolution stable, which was symbolic of AJPW needing to evolve and adapt if it was going to survive. Doering was framed as an amazing Rookie Gaijin force, they were fairly dominant but reached a stale moment when Suwama and Doering failed to win the Double Cup tag titles. Doering wanted a shot at Suwama, and he agreed. This was a 20 minute battle, brother versus brother, no hatred, no betrayal, just burning desire to help push the company further and prove who was superior. Doering defeated Suwama with his Revolution Bomb finisher, which made him the first gaijin since Big Van Vader in 1999 to hold the Triple Crown titles. Suwama also respected Joe, and stood up to shake his hand. No betrayal, just warrior’s spirit.

• STARDOM Sapporo Wonder Rendezvous: Wonder of Stardom: Anou Saori (c) vs Natsupoi (2024)

The easiest way to describe this set up is lifelong friends, but eternal rivals. They came up together in Actwres girl’Z in 2015. Natsupoi went to TJP and then Stardom, while Saori freelanced a bit longer, but they always manage to find each other. Saori’s “Ice Queen” persona is in complete contrast to Poi’s bright and playful “fairy” persona. So they’ve always had this tension between them, and Poi finally needed to prove to her friend and rival that just because she’s bright doesn’t mean she hasn’t grown as a wrestler. Poi was coming off injury and a had a lot to prove since Saori’s star really started to climb while she was sidelined. In a nearly 20 minute, emotional affair, Natsupoi finally overcame her rival and good friend to win her first major title outside of TJP and start her first reign as Wonder of Stardom champion!

An entire article of first time reigns and it’s also cute how the now married, Shingo Takagi and Natsupoi, share an important date in their wrestling careers. Also given the tragic passing of Joe and Natsupoi recently announcing her intent to retire, these events felt even more poignant. Interesting how history ties things together.