This Week In Wrestling History (Week Thirty-One) 7/29 – 8/4

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 31 (7/29 – 8/4)
RUNNING TIME: 3 Hours 46 Minutes

• 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.
• And so much more!

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