This Week In Wrestling History (Season 3 Week 31: 7/30 – 8/5)

This Week In Wrestling History (Season 3 Week 31) covering the period of 7/30 thru 8/5. Running Time: 5 Hours 28 Minutes

This Week In Wrestling History hosted by Don Tony first aired in 2018 and spanned two seasons. After much demand, these retro episodes return REMASTERED and UPDATED FOR 2025. Wrestling history up to and including 2024 has been added!

Hundreds of hours of original wrestling clips & stories. Enjoy this deep dive into pro wrestling's awesome history.

SYNOPSIS: S3 E31 (07/30 - 08/05)

• Bruno Sammartino 'refuses' the NWA World Heavyweight Title after def champion Buddy Rogers who suffered an 'injury' during the match. A common finish back in the golden era of wrestling. 
• Memorable bloodbath between Bruno Sammartino and Superstar Billy Graham (Special Referee: Gorilla Monsoon) takes place at Madison Square Garden
• Roddy Piper and Tony Atlas make their WWWF TV debuts
• Audio: Roddy Piper trolls fans in WWWF TV debut (1979)
• Audio: Roddy Piper 2nd WWWF TV match vs Jose Estrada (1979)
• Roddy Piper stabbed in the chest following NWA Mid Atlantic Title match against Jack Brisco
• Bonus Audio: Roddy Piper '$10,000' promo and match against Jack Brisco for NWA Mid Atlantic Title (1982)
• Bob Backlund's original WWF run ends (1984)
• Miss Elizabeth makes her WWF debut
• Audio: Eddie Gilbert vs Shane Douglas (original opponent: Sting) for UWF TV Title (1987)
• Looking back at WWF Wrestlefest '88 event (1988)
• United States Wrestling Association (USWA) is created
• Looking back at the one and only WCW appearance of 'The Pearl'
• Audio: Nikita Koloff vs Rick Rude + Sting 'injury' by Jake 'The Snake Roberts (making WCW debut) leads to Ron Simmons vs Vader for WCW Heavyweight Championship (1992)
• Audio: Ron Simmons def Vader to become the first ever Black WCW Heavyweight Champion (1992)
• Hulk Hogan wrestles final WWF match before exiting in 1993
• Looking back at SMW 'Night Of Legends' event (1994) and the match that had Chris Jericho break the 'Muta scale'
• WCW Collision In Korea airs on PPV
• Looking back at ECW 'Wrestlepalooza' 1995.
• Audio: Memorable ECW match between The Steiners and Eddie Guerrero vs Cactus Jack, 2 Cold Scorpio, and Dean Malenko (1995)
• Becky Two Belts? Chump Change: Great Sasuke def Ultimo Dragon to win J-Crown Tournament and becomes 'Sasuke Eight Belts'
• Looking back at ECW 'The Doctor Is In' event and the final ECW appearance by Chris Jericho (1996)
• Looking back at WWF 'Summerslam' PPV (1997)
• Audio: Lex Luger def Hollywood Hulk Hogan to win WCW World Heavyweight Championship (1997)
• Looking back at ECW 'Heatwave '98' PPV (1998)
• Audio: Sunday Night Heat makes it's debut on USA Network
• Audio: 'Choppy Choppy, Val Venis' Pee Pee!
• Looking back at the Brian Hildebrand Benefit Show 'Curtis Comes Home' (1999)
• Becky Two belts? Chump Change: Lance Storm wins WCW Cruiserweight Title and becomes 'Lance Three Belts'
• Looking back at i-Generation Superstars Of Wrestling 'Rodman Down Under' event (2000)
• Pro Wrestling NOAH holds its inaugural show
• Audio: First promo confrontation between The Rock and Booker T post WCW closing its doors (2001)
• WWE Niagara Falls opens in Canada
• Official autopsy report is released on the death of Miss Elizabeth
• Playstation 2 Magazine (UK) launches 4 commemorative covers featuring WWE Divas. Or did they?
• Audio: Shawn Michaels' infamous Hulk Hogan impersonation on 'Larry King Live' (2005)
• ROH 'Fight Of The Century': Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan) and Samoa Joe battle to a 60 minute time limit draw
• Audio: CM Punk makes his WWE/ECW debut (2006)
• Audio: NY WWE fans tell viewers to 'change the channel' during Batista / Big Show match (2006)
• Did the arrest of vandals spray painting DX throughout New Hampshire town spark the idea of DX 'spraypainted' on WWE Headquarters building?
• Vince McMahon loves c***
• Vince McMahon makes regular return to WWE programming after Chris Benoit tragedy - and is 'served' with a paternity lawsuit
• Matt Morgan signs with TNA Wrestling
• Audio: John Morrison vs Joey Ryan: 15 Minutes Of Fame match from WWE/ECW TV (2007)
• Last WWE Saturday Night's Main Event airs on NBC (2008)
• With Summerfest right around the corner, looking back when Celebrity Guest Host Dr Ken Jeong (w/ Jeremy Piven) was dropped on his head on Raw (2009)
• TNA suspends Samoa Joe after backstage tirade over TNA (creative) handling of match against Jeff Hardy
• WWE releases Melina, Chris Masters, Vladimir Kozlov, Davey Boy Smith Jr, and several developmental wrestlers
• Audio: Memorable confrontation between Triple H and newly crowned WWE Champion, CM Punk (2011)
• Gail Kim announces her departure from WWE
• Billy Corgan announces the creation of Resistance Pro Wrestling promotion
• Booker T becomes the new General Manager of Smackdown (2012)
• Audio: Abraham Washington makes a dopey Kobe Bryant rape joke on WWE Raw which ultimately leads to his WWE release (2012)
• Vince McMahon makes regular return to WWE programming after Chris Benoit tragedy - and is 'served' with a paternity lawsuit
• Looking back at NJPW first ever iPPV event (2012)
• Audio: 'And the crowd goes mild!' Remembering the less than stellar TNA 'August 1st Warning' storyline and revelation (2013)
• Following Ronda Rousey's heartfelt tribute to Roddy Piper at UFC 190, Dana White calls WWE 'fake sh**'
• Audio: The Broken Hardys become 'Woken' (2017)
• Joey Ryan counters Mr Socko with the D*** Flip
• WWE releases Eva Marie
• Audio: The Big Show Show: Netflix and WWE announce production for a Comedy series starring Big Show
• Audio: The Rock (2019) chooses who he thinks could be the next John Cena or Hulk Hogan in WWE
• The Rock reaches a deal to purchase the XFL for Fifteen Million Dollars
• Audio: WWE debuts RAW Underground hosted by Shane McMahon on RAW
• Looking back at the debut and qucik demise of the faction Retribution
• WWE hires Nick Khan as the new President and Chief Revenue Officer of WWE
• Looking back at the incident on AEW Dynamite involving Matt Hardy, Sammy Guevara and a pair of folding chars
• Audio: AEW launches AEW Heels
• WWE releases Bray Wyatt, Ric Flair, Mercedes Martinez, Jake Atlas, Bobby Fish, Desmond Troy, Tyler Rust, Leon Ruff, Kona Reeves, Zechariah Smith, Giant Zanjeer, Asher Hale and Ari Sterling
• Audio: The Boss Is Back: Sasha Banks' memorable WWE return and turn on Bianca Belair
• Looking back at Impact Wrestling: Homecoming 2021
• Acknowledge Your Daddy: Roman Reigns!
• Looking back at WWE SummerSlam 2022, 2023, 2024
• Audio: Highlights of Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar: Last Man Standing Match for Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from SummerSlam 2022
• Charlotte Flair and Liv Morgan are removed from filming of Queen Of The Ring movie and replaced with Kamille and Toni Storm
• Looking back at NXT Great American Bash 2023, 2024
• Audio: Fans quickly turn on Gable Steveson during his NXT debut match against Baron Corbin
• Audio: Highlights of Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso: Tribal Combat Match for Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and recognition of Tribal Chief by Anao'i Family (from SummerSlam 2023)
• Bonus Audio: Paul Heyman's memorable promo hyping up Tribal Combat match between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso
• Audio: Joe Hendry Concert from NXT Great American Bash 2024
• Audio: Highlights of Liv Morgan vs Rhea Ripley and the memorable Dominik Mysterio turn on Rhea Ripley from SummerSlam 2024
• Audio: Highlights of Damian Priest vs Gunther for WWE World Heavyweight Championship and the memorable Finn Balor turn on Damian Priest (From SummerSlam 2024)
• Audio: Eric Bischoff says Mercedes Mone should be terrified about losing her spot on top the AEW Women's Division due to low TV ratings. Do you agree?
• And so much more!

RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE to download the AUDIO episode of THIS WEEK IN WRESTLING HISTORY S3 E31 (7/30 – 8/5)

CLICK HERE to listen to COMMERCIAL FREE (PATREON) episode of THIS WEEK IN WRESTLING HISTORY S3 E31 (7/30 – 8/5)

CLICK HERE to listen to THIS WEEK IN WRESTLING HISTORY S3 E31 (7/30 – 8/5) online

CLICK HERE to access previous episodes for all the shows

====

CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF DON TONY AND KEVIN CASTLE WITH THE DTKC 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHIRT!

CLICK HERE for DTKC Pro Wrestling Tees Store

====

Want to help promote our shows and get a special shout-out on the next show? Stop by Apple Podcasts (CLICK HERE) or SPOTIFY (CLICK HERE) and leave a review!

Join Don Tony And Kevin Castle Show Patreon Family, and get a special shout-out on the next show! CLICK HERE

====

DON TONY AND KEVIN CASTLE *PATREON* AND *YOUTUBE CHANNEL MEMBERSHIPS:

You can send additional support for Don Tony And Kevin Castle and help grow the brand, by becoming a member of DT/KC PATREON and/or YOUTUBE CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP FAMILY. Don Tony and Kevin Castle's PATREON has been around for over seven years! You can access all seven years of BONUS CONTENT right now including:

• Ad-Free episodes of all of the weekly Non-Patreon shows
• Retro episodes of The Don Tony And Kevin Castle Show going back as early as 2004 (Retro Episodes added each week!)
• Weekly Patreon podcasts hosted by Don Tony
• Kevin Castle's entire library of Patreon exclusive shows.
• 2000+ hours of Patreon exclusive shows never released publicly! (Over 8 Years of Patreon Exclusive Content!)

CLICK HERE to access DT/KC Patreon now!

YOUTUBE CHANNEL MEMBERSHIPS:
Another option is to become a CHANNEL MEMBER on YouTube. Get exclusive enhanced versions of weekly shows, access to DT's weekly Patreon show, retro DTKC Show episodes, giveaways and more.

CLICK HERE for more details and to join The DT/KC YouTube Channel Member Family!

====

CHECK OUT OUR CONTENT ACROSS THESE PLATFORMS:

• CLICK HERE FOR APPLE PODCASTS
• CLICK HERE FOR SPOTIFY
• CLICK HERE FOR ANDROID
• CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON MUSIC
• CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE PODCASTS
• CLICK HERE FOR PANDORA
• CLICK HERE FOR PODBEAN
• CLICK HERE FOR IHEARTRADIO
• CLICK HERE FOR DON TONY AND KEVIN CASTLE SHOW MERCHANDISE!

====

WEEKLY SHOW SCHEDULE (UPDATED: APRIL 2025):

• WWE RAW RECAP AND WRESTLING NEWS REPORT: LIVE EVERY MONDAY NIGHT at 10:45PM ET after WWE RAW on DTKCDiscord.com
• PRO WRESTLING NEWS UPDATES: Posted every WEDNESDAY morning at DonTony.com (and across all audio platforms)
• DT VIPATREON CHRONICLES: Patreon Exclusive Show hosted by Don Tony LIVE EVERY THURSDAY at 8:30PM on DTKC Patreon Channel (https://www.patreon.com/dontony)
• THIS WEEK IN WRESTLING HISTORY: Posted every FRIDAY at DonTony.com (and across all audio platforms)
• PRO WRESTLING NEWS UPDATES: Posted every SATURDAY morning at DonTony.com (and across all audio platforms)
• THE SIT-DOWN w/DON TONY: VIDEO PODCAST hosted by Don Tony LIVE EVERY SUNDAY at 8PM on YouTube (www.YouTube.com/DonTony)
• WWE/AEW PPV RECAP/REVIEW: (Posted MONDAY NIGHTS)

====

SOCIAL MEDIA / WEBSITE / CONTACT INFO:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dontonyd
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dontony
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/DTKCShow
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dontony
• Website: https://www.wrestling-news.com