clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

This Day in Wrestling History (August 31)

46 years ago today in Bloomington, Minnesota, Verne Gagne defeated Mr. X to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship for the ninth time. Gagne's ninth reign would be his longest, as he would hold the championship uninterrupted for more than seven years, losing the title to Nick Bockwinkel in November 1975.

27 years ago today, Jerry Lawler defeats Don Bass in a hair versus title match to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship for the 50th time.

22 years ago today, WWF aired Summerslam. For card results, check out This Day in Wrestling History from August 29, the day the event took place.

17 years ago today, Kensuke Sasaki defeated Shinya Hashimoto to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

16 years ago today, WCW aired Monday Nitro live from the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida. Running unopposed against US Open tennis coverage on the USA Network, TNT posted the show's highest rating ever with a 6.04. Nitro would lose 25% of its audience when RAW returned to its regular slot two weeks later. In the featured bout, Lex Luger and Sting defeated WCW United States Champion Bret Hart and Hollywood Hogan by countout.

12 years ago today at Rack's Bar and Billiards in Dover, Delaware, Wifebeater defeated Nick Mondo in the finals to win the first ever CZW Tournament of Death. The final match was a 200 lighttubes/barbed wire match. Wifebeater also defeated Nick Gage in a Panes of Glass match and Necro Butcher in a Staplegun falls count anywhere match. Other participants included John Zandig, Nate Hatred, The Messiah, Nick Mondo, Homeless Jimmy, Toby Klein, and Adam Flash. Video courtesy of KX Punk. WARNING: THE ABOVE VIDEO MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL VIEWERS.

4 years ago today, Kaval is announced the winner of NXT Season 2. He would not last long, as he would be released from WWE just before Christmas. Michael McGillicutty (aka Curtis Axel) finished 2nd, while Alex Riley finished 3rd. McGillicutty is the only one of the three still on the WWE active roster. Yes, the guy who delivered the Genesis of McGillicutty promo (which is also in the above video) is still on the active roster. Figure that one out, people.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Cageside Seats Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of all your pro wrestling news from Cageside Seats