Dick Shikat defeats Jim Londos in Philadelphia, PA. The National Boxing Association's wrestling division (later the National Wrestling Association) recognizes Shikat as the new World Champion.
August 23, 1929
Triple H defeats Mick Foley for his first WWF(E) World Title one night after SummerSlam.
August 23, 1999
August 23, 2011
This Day in Wrestling History
Trips to Win
The weather forecast was terrible, a huge storm was on its way and we needed to leave Yakima as soon as possible. If we did not leave soon then we were in jeopardy of not making it to Seattle for Monday Night Raw the next day. However, as they say in entertainment, “The show must go on.” The treachery that was The White Pass would be waiting for us. The question was just how bad would it be?
The White Pass is Highway I-12 between Seattle and Yakima, and for five months a year it is a hellacious mountain thrill-ride of blanketing snow, severely icy conditions and blinding wind and rains. If we started the show 15 minutes early and only did two hours we had a fighters chance of making it to Seattle, even though it would be brutal and dangerous. The Road Agents and the always-reliable Tim White monitored the situation during the show, instructing everyone to leave as soon as their matches were complete. The main-event that included Evolution was not in question in any way, but there could be no “ha-ha” antics and no major histrionics that they were famous for, especially at house shows. And Batista couldn’t take his usual hour and a half shower. I knew right there I was in trouble, as I was always the last to leave the building.
We were getting into our respective cars in the secure parking lot, Orton, Flair, Batista and Triple H into their Escalade or Navigator, me into my Malibu, and said goodbye. Then Trips got out of the drivers seat and walked towards my car.
“You gonna be okay?” he asked.
“Sure Bro, I’ll be fine.”
“Take my number, if you get stuck I will come back and get you. Have a safe trip. Call me.”
That was the nicest thing anyone had said to me in my seven years with the company, a simple gesture that spoke volumes about the classiest act in wrestling, Paul Levesque. He was a leader, a friend, a gentleman, a champion and a compassionate co-worker. I will never forget that.
August 22, 2011
Rumor Mill - WWE Looking at Signing New Cruiserweight Wrestlers
There has been discussion within WWE lately about the company looking to see what cruiserweight or light heavyweight talents are out there and signing them to developmental deals.
It hasn't been confirmed yet that WWE will be doing a full-fledged revival of the cruiserweight division but they are interested in bringing talents who fit that bill. The idea is that cruiserweights will give guys like Evan Bourne or Sin Cara someone to work with and would add a quality of wrestling to WWE's undercard.
This goes back to Triple H and changes he is making as he slowly takes over day-to-day control of the company.
Rey Mysterio to Undergo Surgery
Rey Mysterio via Twitter:
"Need to have surgery again! Sorry4 the let down! Promise to make it back as soon as possible!Gonna miss what I luv most-ENTERTAINING U's!. Thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts & prayers! The good vibes give me faith & makes me stronger! 4real, 1luv-619"
Matt Hardy took "some type of impairing substance..."
According to The Fayetteville Observer, Trooper B.J. Smith stated to former WWE and TNA star Matt Hardy appeared to have "taken some type of impairing substance" after crashing his 2009 Chevrolet Corvette into a culvert pipe and tree when it ran off the road at 12:46 p.m. on Saturday. Smith said Hardy submitted to a blood test and didn't appear to have been drinking. Speed was described as being a factor as Hardy was traveling more then 55 mph, but less than 70...More?
Matt Hardy Court Date Set
Former TNA wrestler Matt Hardy is set to appear in a Moore County, North Carolina court on September 28th, following his arrest last Saturday night. North Carolina Highway Patrol officially state that Hardy is charged with Driving While Impaired and an additional infraction of Exceeding Safe Speed.
WWE Corporate Shakeups Just The Beginning
WWE's web shakeup, in which Brian Kalinowski, Executive VP of Digital Media was let go as Stephanie McMahon took over the web division (and merged it with the magazine division) is just the first of several corporate shakeups that started with the removal of COO Donna Goldsmith, a key WWE insider has told WrestleZone.
According to our source, and confirmed by a major player in another division in the company, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is taking the stock drop as a lack of investor confidence in the company and is going to revamp the corporate side in order to hopefully boost the stock.
WrestleZone has learned Vince is keen on revamping the consumer products division as well as the sponsorship team, which has already started to be, as we were told, "gutted and re-built."
"Vince is of the mindset that if only he, Stephanie, and HHH are left standing in this next set of changes, so be it," our source told us, "right now in WWE, no executive is safe."
This Day in Wrestling History
Wahoo McDaniel defeated Sgt. Slaughter for the NWA U.S. Heavyweight title.
August 22, 1982
Mick Foley defeats Steve Austin & Triple H in a Triple Threat Match to become WWF(E) Champion at SummerSlam '99. Jesse "The Body" Ventura was the special guest referee.
August 22, 1999
Lita defeated Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley for the WWF(E) Women's title and Shane McMahon defeated Steve Blackman for the WWF(E) Hardcore title.
August 22, 2000
Professor Toru Tanaka (Charles "Charlie" J. Kalani, Jr.) died of a heart attack at age 70.
August 22, 2000
August 21, 2011
Why WWE's Corporate Site Was Pulled and More Changes to WWE.COM
According to sources within the company, Stephanie McMahon is now in charge of WWE website as a result of structural changes made in recent weeks.
As we noted a few months back in the Elite section of PWInsider.com, the company has merged the website and magazine departments. We have heard that the magazine side of things are now overseeing the website.
As Dave Scherer noted earlier today, the corporate side of the WWE.com site was pulled and redirects to the main URL address. I was told this is so the company can make changes to that side of their website.
source: pwinsider.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
