This Day in Pro Wrestling History (June 18)

Today is the 20^th anniversary of the WWF Hall of Fame Class of 1994 ceremony, which took place in Baltimore, Maryland on the night before King of the Ring. Hall of Fame ceremonies were held sporadically until Wrestlemania XX weekend, where it's been an annual occurance since. The class of 1994 included Arnold Skaaland, Bobo Brazil, Buddy Rogers, Chief Jay Strongbow, Freddie Blassie, Gorilla Monsoon, and James Dudley.

19 years ago today was the WCW Great American Bash from Dayton, Ohio. About 6,000 were in attendance at the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio, with 100,000 homes buying the event on PPV.

• Alex Wright pinned Brian Pillman
• Dave Sullivan defeated Diamond Dallas Page in an Arm Wrestling match to win a date with the Diamond Doll.
• Jim Duggan defeated Craig Pittman by disqualification.
• Harlem Heat defeated Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater, when Booker pinned Buck.
• The Renegade pinned Arn Anderson to win the WCW World Television Title.
• The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) defeated The Blue Bloods (Earl Robert Eaton and Lord Steven Regal), when Knobbs pinned Eaton, to retain the WCW World Tag Team Title.
• Sting pinned Meng to win the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
• Ric Flair pinned Randy Savage.

9 years ago today was Ring of Honor's "Death Before Dishonor III" from the Mennan Sports Arena in Morristown, New Jersey.

• BJ Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs defeated Jimmy Rave and Eddie Vegas to retain the ROH Tag Team Title.
• Lacey defeated Cindy Rogers.
• The Carnage Crew (Loc and DeVito) defeated The Ring Crew Express (Dunn and Marcos) in an Anything Goes Street Fight.
• Samoa Joe defeated Colt Cabana to retain the ROH Pure Title.
• NWA World Heavyweight Champion A.J. Styles defeated Petey Williams.
• Lacey's Angels (Izzy and Deranged )defeated Generation Next (Roderick Strong and Jack Evans).
• Nigel McGuiness defeated James Gibson, Homicide and Azrieal in a Four Corners Survival match.
• Low Ki and Jay Lethal fought to a no contest.
• CM Punk defeated Austin Aries to win the ROH Heavyweight Title in what was announced as his farewell match from the company.  It turned out it wasn't. Following the bout, Punk turned heel and gave a scathing tirade to the crowd, then walked out of the arena with the belt. He spent the summer "holding the belt hostage" and teased he would head to WWE and lay the belt at the feet of Vince McMahon. Punk later in the summer would sign his WWE contract on the ROH world title belt.

8 years ago today was TNA Slammiversary (pay link) from the Impact Zone in Orlando. During the show, Jim Cornette was introduced as the new head of TNA management.

• Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) defeated The James Gang ( B.G. and Kip James) in a "Bingo Hall Brawl", when Devon pinned Kip after a 3D through a table.
• Rhino defeated Team Canada (Bobby Roode and Scott D'Amore) in a Handicap match, by pinning D'Amore after a Gore
• Senshi defeated Sonjay Dutt, Alex Shelley, Shark Boy, Petey Williams and Jay Lethal in an Elimination match, last eliminating Dutt by pinfall after a Warrior's Way, to become #1 contender to the TNA X Division Title.
• Kevin Nash pinned Chris Sabin after a Jackknife Powerbomb following interference from Alex Shelley.
• A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels defeated America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) to win the NWA World Tag Team Title, ending AMW's sixth reign.
• Samoa Joe pinned Scott Steiner after a Snap Scoop Powerslam.
• Jeff Jarrett defeated champion Christian Cage, Abyss, Ron Killings and Sting in a King of the Mountain match to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title, beginning his sixth reign.

4 years ago today, former CZW and ROH standout Michael Verdi (aka Trent Acid) was found dead in his home in Philadelphia by his mother at just age 29. Just two months before his death, Acid was arrested on heroin possession and public intoxication charges. Acid won tag team championships with Johnny Kashmere in seven different promotions, and was a three-time junior heavyweight champion  and Best of the Best 2002 winner in CZW. A memorial show, Acid-Fest: A Tribute to Trent Acid, raised over $7,000 to cover funeral costs for Verdi's family. Verdi was featured in the documentary "Card Subject to Change", documenting the East coast independent wrestling scene. Acid died prior to the film's completion, and the documentary was dedicated to his memory.