WWE held their Hall of Fame induction ceremony at The Hilton in New York City. This event marked the revival of the Hall of Fame, as there had been no inductees since 1996. The inductees were Jesse Ventura, Don Muraco, Tito Santana, Superstar Billy Graham, Big John Studd (posthumously), Sgt. Slaughter, Greg Valentine, Bobby Heenan, Harley Race and The Junkyard Dog (posthumously). Baseball great Pete Rose was inducted into the "celebrity wing" of the Hall Of Fame. The event was released on DVD and was a success, prompting WWE to make the event a regular part of Wrestlemania weekend.
March 13, 2004
Former WWE star Andrew "Test" Martin was found dead in his apartment in Tampa, Florida at the age of 33, just four days shy of his 34th birthday.
March 13, 2009
March 13, 2012
This Day in Wrestling History
March 12, 2012
Return of "The Peep Show"
It has been announced that Christian will make his return to SmackDown this week with a special edition of "The Peep Show". His guests will be SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long and Interim RAW General Manager John Laurinaitis.
Booker T Relaunches his Houston Wrestling Promotion
PWInsider.com reports that Booker T's PWA promotion in Houston, Texas has relaunched under the new name "Reality of Wrestling" with plans for an online TV taping on 4/14 in Clearlake, Texas. A YouTube series is slated to be launched next month.
March 11, 2012
WWE Pay-Per-View Coming to iPad and iPhone
WWE announced today that their pay-per-view events will broadcast on iPhone and iPad in time for WrestleMania 28. Below is the press release:
Attention, iPad and iPhone users! Coming soon, WWE pay-per-view streaming will be available for purchase online – just in time for WrestleMania XXVIII. You can reserve your spot now by visiting http://www.wwe.com/ppv or http://www.wwe.com/shows/howtowatch using your Mac or PC. Check back soon for updates on streaming to your iOS device for The Biggest Spectacle of Them All, WrestleMania, on April 1.
Linda McMahon Comments on her Daughter Working in the WWE
"In an industry that I first entered, there were hardly any women at all," McMahon said. "I sort of [pushed] that door open a little and my daughter's blown it off the hinges."
Origin of the Stone Cold Stunner
WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin detailed the origins of his Stone Cold Stunner finisher in a new blog on BrokenSkullRanch.com . Austin noted Michael P.S. Hayes came up with the concept in 1996, with inspiration from current executive/on-air authority figure John Laurinaitis, who was using the Ace Crusher in Japan. Austin also endorsed Hayes and the Fabulous Freebirds for eventual WWE HOF induction.
Austin concluded his story, "I don’t know how many Stunners I’ve dealt out in my career. There were some nights when my back was so torched the last thing I wanted to do was jump up in the air and land on my ass…BUT…After getting beat like a drum for a good portion of my career, no matter how bad I was feeling…I NEVER B!TCHED ABOUT HAVING TO GIVE A STUNNER. The setup kick…The Stunner…The explosion from the fans in attendance…Damn what a way to make a living!"
source: pwtorch.com & brokenskullranch.com
March 10, 2012
WWE Changing Up Presentation at House Show Events
According to a report filed to PWInsider.com, WWE is continuing to change up the live event experience at house show events. As last night's 3/9 Raw event in Toronto, the show opened with the usual Monday Night Raw intro and featured backstage footage of John Cena and Chris Jericho hyping matches later in the night. They also did a deal where if fans purchased Dolph Ziggler's new t-shirt, they would get the opportunity to get an autograph and pose for photos with Ziggler.
This Day in Wrestling History
The Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto) defeat Skandor Akbar and Swede Karlson to win the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
March 10, 1967
Yukiko Tomoe defeats The Fabulous Moolah for the NWA World Women's Title in Osaka, Japan, ending Moolah's second reign.
March 10, 1968
Ernie Ladd, one of the first black wrestlers to rise to prominence in the United States, died in Franklin, Louisiana at age 68 after a three-year battle with cancer. Nicknamed as "The Big Cat", Ladd was one of many athletes to venture off the football field and into the squared circle. Ladd, a defensive tackle at Grambling State University, was drafted by the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1961 draft, and he played in the AFL for eight seasons with the Chargers, Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs, including a 1963 championship with the Chargers. At 6 feet, 9 inches tall, and 315 pounds, Ladd was arguably the biggest and strongest man in not just the AFL, but all of professional football during his career. He was inducted to the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1981. Ladd made his wrestling debut in 1961, wrestling during the football off-season, and became one of wrestling's most hated heels during the 1970s, and had feuds throughout the years with André the Giant, Paul Orndorff and The Junkyard Dog. He won titles all over the country: in Florida, Georgia, Texas, New York, Los Angeles, and in Mid-South, where the majority of his title wins took place. Ladd was inducted to the WCW and WWF Halls of Fame in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
March 10, 2007
