This Day in Wrestling History (January 15)

26 years ago today, WWE presented the Royal Rumble (WWE Network link) from The Summit in Houston, Texas. About 19,000 were in attendance, with 165,000 homes watching on PPV. This was the PPV debut of the event, as the previous one was broadcast as a television special on the USA Network.

• In a dark match, Jim Powers defeated Barry Horowitz.
• In a dark match , Sam Houston defeated Steve Lombardi.
• Jim Duggan & The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) defeated Dino Bravo & The Fabulous Rougeaus (Jacques & Raymond Rougeau) 2-1 in a best of three falls match. Jacques Rougeau defeated Bret Hart to win the first fall. Duggan pinned Jacque to tie up the match, and Duggan nailed Bravo with his 2x4 board, leading Bret to pin Bravo to win the match.
• Rockin' Robin defeated Judy Martin to retain the WWF Womens Championship.
• Haku defeated Harley Race.
• Big John Studd wins the Royal Rumble match, last eliminating "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase.

Of note:

• Hulk Hogan eliminated ten wrestlers, a record that would stand until Kane eliminated 11 in 2001.
• One of the ten eliminated was The Warlord, who lasted just two seconds. That record stood until Santino Marella lasted 1.9 seconds in 2009.
• This was the first Royal Rumble to feature 30 entrances.

9 years ago today, TNA presented Final Resolution from the Impact Zone at Universal Orlando.

• In a preshow match, Team Canada (Petey Williams, Eric Young, and A-1) defeated Lance Hoyt, Jay Lethal, and Kenny King.
• In a preshow match, The Latin American Exchange (Homicide and Konnan) defeated The Naturals (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens).
• Alex Shelley, Austin Aries & Roderick Strong defeated Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley & Sonjay Dutt.
• The James Gang (BG James & Kip James) defeated David Young & Elix Skipper.
• AJ Styles defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi.
• Sean Waltman defeated Raven.
• Bobby Roode defeated Ron Killings.
• Abyss defeated Rhino.
• America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) defeated Team 3D (Brother Devon & Brother Ray) to retain the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
• Samoa Joe defeated Christopher Daniels to retain the TNA X-Division Championship.
• Christian Cage & Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett & Monty Brown.

3 years ago today in Oakland, California, Primo & Epico defeated Air Boom (Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston) to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. It is the last time a WWE championship changed hands at a non-televised event.

2 years ago today, TNA voluntarily dropped their lawsuit against WWE over office staff member Brian Wittenstein obtained confidential documents relating to TNA, including talent contracts. This came around the time Ric Flair asked for his release from TNA, though Flair was released prior to the lawsuit being filed. Contrary to popular rumor, WWE was allowed to hire or negotiate with ex-TNA talent and TNA talents whose contracts were expiring. As part of the settlement, both sides agreed to agree to pay for their own legal costs. The lawsuit settlement did open the door for Flair to return to WWE.

Happy 28^th birthday to the current SHIMMER champion and twice SHIMMER tag champion Nicole "The Riot" Matthews.

Also turning 28: former WWE Diva and Maxim Hot 100 Class of 2011 and 2012 member Barbara Jean Blank, best known to wrestling fans as Kelly Kelly.

Happy 45^th birthday to former WWE executive vice-president of global media and hardcore and European champion Shane McMahon. After leaving WWE in 2010, he became the CEO of China Broadband, Inc. (known today as YOU on Demand). He stepped down after three years, but remains there as principal executive officer and Chairman of the Board.