This Week In Wrestling History (Week Nineteen) 5/6 – 5/12

This Week In Wrestling History hosted by Don Tony aired back in 2018-2019 and spanned two seasons. These retro episodes return remastered and are filled with hundreds of hours of original wrestling clips & stories. Enjoy this deep dive into pro wrestling's awesome history.

SYNOPSIS: Episode 19 (5/6 – 5/12)
RUNNING TIME: 3 Hours 8 Minutes

• Bruno Sammartino vs Giant Baba: First time ever WWWF Championship is defended in Japan.
• Verne Gagne retires as AWA Heavyweight Champion.
• Eddie Gilbert seriously injured in fiery auto accident following WWF PA event.
• Nancy Argentino, girlfriend of Jimmy Snuka, dies after head injury suffered at PA hotel. This occurs a few months after Snuka is arrested in NY and originally charged with second and third degree assault of Argentino and a Police Officer.
• Looking back at the first ever episode of Saturday Night's Main Event (1985).
• Career vs Title: Jerry Lawler def Curt Hennig to win AWA Heavyweight Championship.
• Bonus Audio: Curt Hennig attacks owner of Toyota Dealership and destroys the CWA Studio.
• Looking back at 5th Von Erich Memorial Parade Of Champions (1988).
• Looking back at NWA WrestleWar 1989.
• Audio: Memorable attack by Terry Funk on Ric Flair following his NWA Heavyweight Championship win against Ricky Steamboat.
• Roddy Piper returns to WWF after two year retirement.
• Audio: Macho Man Randy Savage vs Steve Austin battle for the one and only time they faced off in the ring.
• Audio: Steve Austin comments on Macho Man Randy Savage.
• Bill Alfonso makes memorable debut in ECW.
• WCW announces Nitro expanding to two hours.
• Standards and Practices: WWF forced to edit Raw segment showing Goldust licking Undertaker up his leg and thigh.
• Looking back at AAA TripleMania IV (1996).
• Looking back at WWF IYH 15: A Cold Day In Hell (1997).
• Memorable Raw moment: HBK superkicks Bret Hart back into his wheelchair.
• Audio: Farooq accuses WWF of racism and lack of Black Heavyweight Champions.
• Audio: Rob Van Dam makes Monday Night Raw debut against Jeff Hardy (1997).
• Audio: Dustin Runnels tears up during Raw segment while speaking about Dusty Rhodes and Goldust character.
• Audio: Eric Bischoff challenges Vince McMahon to a fight at WCW Slamboree 1998.
• Online voting gone wrong: Ric Flair voted People Magazine's #2 Most Beautiful People In The World for 1998. Who was #1?
• MTV airs special WCW 'Ultimate Music Video Feud' and begins the crossover highlighted by Raven / DDP feud.
• Steve Austin makes memorable appearance on TSN's Off The Record.
• Looking back at Sable's leaving WWF and filing $110 Million Lawsuit claiming sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions.
• Audio: Debra vs Sable Evening Gown Match for WWF Women's Championship.
• Audio: Sean Waltman speaks on putting a cup of feces inside Sable's luggage.
• DT looks back at highest rated Raw episode (8.1) in history and how WCW never fully recovered from one preemption due to NBA Playoffs.
• US News And World Report publishes seven page story of WWF and explosion in popularity for pro wrestling.
• Looking back at WCW Slamboree PPV (1999, 2000).
• Miss Elizabeth wrestles her first two matches ever (vs Daffney, vs Rhonda Singh).
• Audio: APA destroy Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan in a bar fight.
• Four days after Linda McMahon tells AP that WWF and NBC were working on second season for XFL and not being killed off - NBC and WWF discontinues XFL.
• Perry Saturn sent home by WWF after 'shooting' on Mike Bell during a match on WWF Jakked.
• WWF releases Scott Hall 48 hours after the infamous 'Plane Ride From Hell'.
• Batista makes his WWF main roster debut.
• Audio: Edge-A-Mania is running wild!
• Infamous Raw segment: Undertaker attacks, hogties, and drags Hulk Hogan while riding a motorcycle throughout the Air Canada Center.
• Launch of NWA - Total Nonstop Action (TNA) officially announced.
• Audio: Memorable Raw segment featuring Steve Austin, Christian, RVD/Kane and the surprise return (and final WWE appearance ever) of The Road Warriors (2003).  
• Audio: Freddie Blassie tells D-Von to 'Get The Tables!'.
• John Tenta announces retirement after developing bladder cancer.
• After two years of PPV only shows, TNA and Fox Sports announce creation of non PPV weekly series, 'Impact!' (2004).
• Almost a year to the day TNA inks a deal with Fox Sports Net and debuts Impact!, FSN drops TNA programming.
• Booker T and Batista fight during filming of Summerslam 2006 commercial.
• Audio: Beth Phoenix makes her WWE main roster debut.
• Audio: Dr. Vince McMahon gives the Commencement Speech at Sacred Heart University (CT).
• Audio: After Undertaker battles Batista in a bloody Cage Match and endures a post match beatdown by Mark Henry, Edge cashes in MITB Briefcase to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
• NWA officially ends their relationship with TNA.
• Looking back at TNA Sacrifice PPV (2007, 2008, 2012).
• Audio: Jim Cornette strips Kurt Angle of TNA Heavyweight Championship.
• Fresh off the disaster of moving Impact to Monday nights and dismal ratings, Dixie Carter issues an odd and desperate plea to wrestling fans.
• Infamous Raw moment: Jerry Lawler uses Michael Cole's tie to attack Cole within the Cole Mine.
• Brock Lesnar pulled from UFC event due to diverticulitis.
• New Japan Pro Wrestling holds their first ever show in the US with help from JAPW.
• Hulk Hogan's solution to increase fan interaction with TNA? Follow and film TNA Wrestlers anytime they are seen in public.
• Happy Wedding Anniversary to Gail Kim and Chef Robert Irvine.
• Baron Corbin makes his WWE NXT TV debut.
• After Christy Hemme botches the ring introduction of Austin Aries and Bobby Roode, Aries climbs ring rope and puts his crotch in Hemme's face. And TNA waits almost a week to denounce the behavior.
• Buck Zumhofe sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing his 15 year old daughter.
• Audio: Attitude or Ineptitude? TNA tries to get edgy by having MVP use the 'N' word during politically charged promo on Impact.
• Ray 'Adam Rose' Leppan arrested for alleged domestic battery and is immediately suspended by WWE.
• Looking back at ROH / NJPW Global Wars 2016.
• Billy Corgan finalizes the deal to purchase the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
• And so much more!

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