This Day in Wrestling History (May 8)

27 years ago today, WCCW presented the fifth Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions from Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. About 7,000 fans were in attendance for the final Parade of Champions promoted by the Von Erich Family. In the featured bout, Kerry Von Erich defeated Iceman King Parsons to win the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit 5-8-00 by arms6290

15 years ago today on RAW is WAR from Uniondale, New York, Chris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho by submission to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Triple H was the special referee.

13 years ago today, inDemand and J Sports & Entertainment announce via press release a joint venture for a new wrestling promotion. That promotion: NWA-TNA (Total Nonstop Action).

NWA: TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION TO KICK OFF JUNE 19, 2002

New York, NY (May 9, 2002)...iN DEMAND LLC and J Sports & Entertainment, Inc (JSE), today announced a new weekly series of PPV wrestling entertainment events premiering on June 19, 2002, and continuing every Wednesday night. The series will represent the first weekly original programming available exclusively on PPV.

The new series will be called "NWA - Total Nonstop Action" and will feature nationally and world-renowned superstars from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the oldest professional wrestling sanctioning body in the world. The NWA's heritage is the foundation for professional wrestling today, and this new venture repositions the NWA brand for the 21st century.

Appearing on initial programs will be top names such as, former World Champion Jeff Jarrett, former UFC Champion Ken Shamrock, NWA legends Dory Funk Jr. and Harley Race, hardcore midget Puppet, Puerto Rican sensation Apolo, and young high-flyer A.J. Styles. These top athletes, representing a diverse array of wrestling styles, will be joined by the luscious "TNA Girls" as well as other top free agent wrestlers from around the world who will be announced in the weeks to come. The live events will be held at various arenas and coliseums throughout the country.

In addition, superstars from both the entertainment and sporting worlds, as well as "infamous" celebrities, will make guest appearances on a regular basis to create this new, multi-faceted approach to wrestling entertainment. The first broadcast will feature country music superstar and CMA & ACM Male Vocalist of the Year, Toby Keith, and current NASCAR Winston Cup point leader, Sterling Marlin.

"Our show fills a void currently in the marketplace," said Jeff Jarrett, President of JSE. "With its fast paced storylines and Total Nonstop Action, we will give fans, as well as those who might have stopped watching wrestling in the past year, a new entertainment experience."

"Each show will be a spectacular, in line with the quality of programming expected from a PPV broadcast," said Jerry Jarrett, Chairman of JSE and a well known wrestling promoter and industry leader for over 35 years. "Because the storyline continues on a weekly basis, fans will want to tune in each week. It was important for us to offer this entertainment at an affordable price level. Viewers can obtain 8 hours of this original, high-quality entertainment on a monthly basis."

"This is a great opportunity for iN DEMAND, our MSOs and affiliates," said Daniel York, SVP Programming and Development, iN DEMAND. "With weekly consistency and an affordable price point, we expect the new series to appeal to wrestling fans, and are confident it will attract new fans to the category."

"NWA: Total Nonstop Action" will premiere every Wednesday at 8pm ET with an encore presentation scheduled for the following Sunday at Noon ET (time approximate). The Sunday broadcast will often serve as "lead-in" programming for iNDemand's recently announced NASCAR iN CAR ON iN DEMAND series.

In an interesting bit of trivia, Dixie Carter was listed as a contact person on the press release. She would become TNA's president less than a year later when Panda Energy buys the company.

12 years ago today, WWE releases Curt Hennig for his role in the infamous "plane ride from hell" two days earlier. Hennig and Brock Lesnar got into a physical confrontation on the plane and came close to a plane door. He would not stay gone long; that summer, he landed in TNA.

8 years ago today at a Smackdown taping in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Undertaker and Batista went to a draw in a steel cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship when it was ruled both men had escaped the cage at the same time. Post-match, Mark Henry attacked Undertaker, leaving the door open for Edge, who just one night earlier won the Money in the Bank briefcase from Kennedy, to cash in and quickly defeat Undertaker to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Undertaker was carried out post-match by eight druids. It would be the final appearance for Undertaker until Unforgiven that October.

7 years ago today, WWE releases Torrie Wilson. One of the last remnants of the sale of WCW, Wilson had been sidelined since the previous November due to a back injury. Wilson would make just one more appearance with the company, the Miss Wrestlemania battle royal at Wrestlemania 25.

5 years ago today, Ring of Honor presented Supercard of Honor V from Manhattan Center in New York City.

• The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe) defeated Kenny King & Rhett Titus.
• Erick Stevens defeated Grizzly Redwood.
• Sara Del Rey defeated Amazing Kong.
• Christopher Daniels defeated Eddie Edwards.
• Austin Aries defeated Delirious by disqualification.
• Kevin Steen defeated Colt Cabana in a 34th Street Deathmatch.
• The Kings Of Wrestling defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) by disqualification to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
• Tyler Black defeated Roderick Strong to retain the ROH World Championship.