This Day in Wrestling History (March 9)

24 years ago today in Montgomery, Alabama, The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott) defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. The championship would be known soon as the WCW World Tag Team Championship. The Steiners actually won the titles on February 18, but it didn't air until March 9. At the time of the title win, The Freebirds (Hayes & Garvin) were the recognized tag team champions, but lost them at the tapings, then won the titles from Doom on PPV at Wrestlewar six days later. Translation: the Freebirds have a negative day title reign (-6 days). I don't understand it either.

Big Ass Extreme Bash 3.9.1996 - Cactus Jack vs... by Kapitas

19 years ago today, ECW presented Big Ass Extreme Bash Night 2 from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's noted for being the final appearance for Mick "Cactus Jack" Foley before leaving for the WWF.

• JT Smith defeated Axl Rotten.
• Bad Crewversus El Puerto Ricano & Damien Stone fought to a no contest.
• The Eliminators defeated Buh Buh Ray Dudley & Hack Myers to retain the ECW World Tag Team Championship.
• Chris Jericho defeated Taz via disqualification. Taz had beaten Jericho, but the decision was reversed when he refused to release the Tazmission.
• Rey Misterio Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera 2-1 in a best of three falls match. Post-match, Misterio powerbombed Guerrera through a table. It turned out to be the final ECW match for both men before leaving for WCW.
• Cactus Jack defeated Mikey Whipwreck with a piledriver on a chair. Post-match, he said his final words, then danced off with Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie.
• The Pitbulls versus The Bruise Brothers fought to a no contest.
• Sabu defeated Big Titan.
• Raven defeated Shane Douglas to retain the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
• The Gangstas defeated The Sandman & 2 Cold Scorpio and The Headhunters in a three way dance.

14 years ago today, ECW officially cancels Living Dangerously 2001 just two days before the show was set to take place. With no television to promote it, no venue booked for the show, and no tickets to sell, the decision came as no surprise. Some cable outlets offered refunds for PPV orders, while others replayed Guilty as Charged. The cancellation, combined with ECW owner Paul Heyman appearing on WWF programming, and ECW not running a show since a few days after Guilty as Charged, signaled the end of ECW.

13 years ago today in Tokyo, Japan, Dan Severn defeated Shinya Hashimoto to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. He would be the last NWA champion of the pre-TNA era; the title would be vacated three months later after Severn failed to defend the title for TNA.

9 years ago today, WWE releases their entire Smackdown Juniors division (Mascarita Sagrada, Tsuki, Pequeno Violencia, Octagoncito, Piratita Morgan, and Super Porky).

7 years ago today, TNA presented Destination X from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia.

• In a dark match, Roxxi Laveaux defeated Angelina Love
• The Latin American Xchange (Homicide and Hernandez) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) and The Rock 'n Rave Infection (Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave) in a three-way match to become number one contender to the TNA World Tag Team Championship.
• Jay Lethal defeated Petey Williams to retain the TNA X Division Championship.
• Kaz and Eric Young defeated Black Reign and Rellik.
• Awesome Kong defeated Gail Kim and O.D.B. in a three-way match to retain the TNA Knockouts Championship.
• Curry Man and Shark Boy defeated Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) in a Fish Market Street Fight.
• Robert Roode defeated Booker T in a Stand By Your Man Strap Match.
• Rhino defeated James Storm in a Elevation X match.
• Samoa Joe, Kevin Nash, and Christian Cage defeated The Angle Alliance (Kurt Angle, A.J. Styles and Tomko).

6 years ago today on RAW from Jacksonville, Florida, JBL defeated CM Punk to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship. The win made Bradshaw just the tenth Grand Slam champion in WWE history, joining Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, and Jeff Hardy. Just two men have done it since: Christian in 2011, and Big Show in 2012. By the way, it would be JBL's last title before his retirement a few weeks later at Wrestlemania 25.

4 years ago today, WWE begins filming the Tough Enough reboot.

4 years ago today, TruTV begins filming Hulk Hogan's Micro Championship Wrestling.

3 years ago today, Jerry Lynn announces that he intends to retire at the end of the year. He would not actually retire until the following March to coincide with the 25^th anniversary of his professional wrestling debut.