This Day in Wrestling History (April 27)

58 years ago today in St. Louis, Missouri, June Byers & China Mira defeated Penny Banner & Bonnie Watson. It is believed to be the first women's tag team match ever held in the United States.

34 years ago today in Augusta, Georgia, Tommy Rich defeated Harley Race to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

28 years ago today in Memphis, Tennessee, Austin Idol defeated Jerry Lawler in a hair versus hair steel cage match to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship in what has become one of the most famous bouts in the history of Memphis wrestling. As a result of the loss, Lawler also had his head shaved. Tommy Rich, who hid under the ring for the entire day with a six-pack of beer and an air mattress, helped Idol defeat Lawler. Fans were so irate with the outcome they grabbed and shook the cage.

23 years ago today at a WCW Saturday Night taping in Atlanta, Georgia, Barry Windham defeated Steve Austin to win the WCW World Television Championship.

15 years ago today in San Diego, California, The Prototype defeated Smelly to win the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship. The Prototype of course would go on to somewhat moderate success as John Cena.

13 years ago today in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Amazing Red & Eddie Guerrero defeated the Spanish Announce Team (Jose and Joel Maximo). It was one of Eddie Guerrero's last independent appearances, as he had recently re-signed with the WWF.

12 years ago today, WWE presented Backlash (WWE Network link) from the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts. About 10,000 were in attendance, with 345,000 homes watching on PPV. That's down from 400,000 homes for the 2002 event. Of note, those in attendance were handed out one of four different surveys as they entered the building. One of those surveys asked if fans were willing to buy RAW-only or Smackdown-only PPVs. The seemingly positive response gave WWE the green light to produce brand-exclusive PPVs beginning that summer.

• In a Sunday Night Heat preshow match, Scott Steiner defeated Rico.
• Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) defeated Los Guerreros (Eddie & Chavo Guerrero) to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.
• Sean O'Haire defeated Rikishi.
• Rob Van Dam and Kane defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) to retain the World Tag Team Championship. Chief Morley was the special referee.
• Jazz defeated Trish Stratus to win the WWE Womens Championship.
• The Big Show defeated Rey Mysterio.
• Brock Lesnar defeated John Cena to retain the WWE Championship.
• Triple H, Chris Jericho and Ric Flair defeated Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels and Booker T.
• Goldberg defeated The Rock. This would be The Rock's final match until Wrestlemania XX.

8 years ago today, WWE Studios' The Condemned starring Stone Cold Steve Austin, opens in theaters. It bombs both critically and financially, with a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and just $3.8 million at the box office in its opening weekend, and nearly $7.4 million total before closing in just four weeks. The movie bombs internationally too, taking in only $1.2 million in limited release. The film loses $15.6 million, but would make it all back when the film is released on DVD later in the year (as of October 2009, it's made over $22 million in DVD sales).

7 years ago today, WWE presented Backlash (WWE Network link) from the 1^st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. 11,277 were in attendance, with 200,000 homes watching on PPV. That's up from 192,000 for the 2007 event.

• In a dark match, John Morrison & The Miz defeated Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore.
• Matt Hardy defeated Montel Vontavious Porter to win the WWE United States Championship.
• Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero to retain the ECW Championship.
• Big Show defeated The Great Khali.
• Shawn Michaels defeated Batista. Chris Jericho was the special referee.
• Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Layla, Melina, Natalya, and Victoria defeated Ashley, Cherry, Kelly Kelly, Maria, Michelle McCool, and Mickie James.
• The Undertaker defeated Edge to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
• Triple H defeated Randy Orton, John Cena and John Bradshaw Layfield in a fatal four-way elimination match to win the WWE Championship.
  • Cena forced JBL to submit with the STFU.
  • Orton pinned Cena after a punt to the head.
  • Triple H pinned Orton after a Pedigree to win the match and the championship.

7 years ago today in Osaka, Japan, Keiji Mutoh defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

6 years ago today, WSOC-TV in Charlotte reports that Reid Flair would be facing felony charges after being arrested and charged with driving while impaired and driving with a revoked license. The felony charges will stem from Reid possessing heroin (police found some in his car at the time of his arrest). Though Reid posts bond, the arrest virtually ends Ring of Honor's relationship not just with Reid, but with his father Ric.

1 year ago today, TNA presented Sacrifice from the Impact Zone at Universal Orlando.

• The Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) defeated The BroMans (Jessie Godderz & Robbie E) & DJ Z in a no disqualification handicap match to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship.
• Mr. Anderson defeated Samuel Shaw in a Committed match.
• Kurt Angle & Willow defeated Ethan Carter III & Rockstar Spud.
• Sanada defeated Tigre Uno in a to retain the TNA X Division Championship.
• Gunner defeated James Storm in an "I Quit" match.
• Angelina Love defeated Madison Rayne to win the TNA Knockouts Championship.
• Bobby Roode defeated Bully Ray in a tables match.
• Eric Young defeated Magnus to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

1 year and one day ago today, Marshall Aaron Mayer, best known to wrestling fans as Lee Marshall, dies of esophageal cancer in Santa Monica, California. He was 64. Marshall was a longtime radio announcer, working in a number of radio stations around the country and in Canada, and he appeared in the West Coast Rap All-Stars video, "We're All in the Same Gang".

Marshall was for many years in the wrestling industry, hosting AWA on ESPN and calling many matches in the promotion's latter days, and was the ring announcer for the Los Angeles portion of Wrestlemania 2 (his only WWF appearance). In the mid- and late-1990s, he was a part of World Championship Wrestling's broadcast team. He's most notable for his "Road Report" segments where he always got a dig in at Bobby Heenan at the end of his segment. His last major wrestling gig came at 2001 where he worked alongside Heenan for Women of Wrestling's only PPV, Unleashed.

Post-wrestling, he secured one of the most sought-after gigs in voice acting: he succeeded Thurl Ravenscroft as the voice of Tony the Tiger in 2005.