This Day in Wrestling History (January 20): The Animal Is Back

18 years ago today, wrestling legend Bobo Brazil dies of complications due to complications from a series of strokes at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph, Michigan. He was 74.

Born Houston Harris on July 10, 1924 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Harris played baseball and worked in a steel mill in his younger years before giving pro wrestling a shot.

After being trained by Joe Savoldi, Harris would take on fellow African-American wrestlers including Ernie Ladd and Abdullah the Butcher as Bobo Brazil. He was originally to be known as Boo-Boo Brazil, but the typographical error on an advertisement led to the Bobo name sticking. As Brazil's popularity grew, fans wanted him to take on anybody regardless of race, and Brazil would eventually face many of the top stars of the time, including Killer Kowalski, Dick the Bruiser, Johnny Valentine, Bruno Sammartino, Bill Miller, and The Sheik (whom he would feud with for many years in Detroit's Big Time Wrestling).

In October 1962, Brazil became the first African-American world heavyweight champion in NWA history when he defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Though Roberts claimed a groin injury, Bobo was awarded the title when doctors found Buddy to be healthy at the time of the match. The title change today is not recognized by NWA.

Brazil is credited with being one of the most influential talents in professional wrestling history. In 1970, Brazil was involved in the first racially integrated match in the Atlanta territory. He was a mentor to "Soulman" Rocky Johnson, father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Brazil, a seven-time WWWF United States Champion, finally called it a career in 1993 following a match with Gene Kinski's son Kelly. The next year, he would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In 1995, Ernie Ladd, the man that inducted Bobo Brazil, would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Bobo would return the favor. Brazil was also a member of the inaugural Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame class in 1996.

18 years ago today at a RAW is WAR taping in Davis, California (WWE Network link), Owen Hart defeated Goldust, who was dressed as Triple H, to win the WWF European Championship. Commissioner Slaughter considered Goldust a suitable substitute for the injured Triple H, and despite his protests, the decision stood.

14 years ago today, WWF presented Royal Rumble (WWE Network link) from the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 12,915 were in attendance, with an event record 670,000 homes watching on PPV. That's up from 625,000 in 2001.

Match ratings are from Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer as recorded in the Internet Wrestling Database. Ratings are out of a possible five stars.

• Spike Dudley & Tazz defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship. (1.5/5)
• William Regal defeated Edge to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship. (2.25)
• Trish Stratus defeated Jazz to retain the WWF Women's Championship. Jacqueline was the special referee. (1.5)
• Ric Flair defeated Vince McMahon by submission in a street fight. (2.75)
• Chris Jericho defeated The Rock to retain the WWF Undisputed Championship. (4.25)
• Triple H last eliminated Kurt Angle to win the Royal Rumble match. (3.5)

2002 Royal Rumble Results

Notes:

• At 69 minutes, 22 seconds, this is the longest 30-man Royal Rumble match in WWE history. The 2011 Royal Rumble match, which had 40 men, lasted 69 minutes, 49 seconds.
• Stone Cold Steve Austin recorded seven eliminations in the match to bring his career total to 36, the most in Royal Rumble history. The mark would stand until 2010.
• Though it is hotly debated, Maven actually was eliminated from the Royal Rumble match. Following Undertaker's elimination, he returned to the ring beat on Maven some, then threw him over the top rope.
• Part of the show's hook was the return of a few stars who had their peak in the just-ended Attitude Era, including Goldust, Godfather, and Val Venis.

13 years ago today on RAW from Providence, Rhode Island, William Regal and Lance Storm defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) to win the World Tag Team Championship.

2 years ago today on RAW from Dayton, Ohio (WWE Network link), Dave Batista made his first appearance in WWE since quitting the company in 2010 following his loss at Over the Limit in an I Quit match. Batista proclaimed he would enter the Royal Rumble match, a bout he would win that weekend.

On the same show, CM Punk defeated Billy Gunn. It would be Punk's final RAW match. He would walk out on the company prior to RAW the next week.

1 year ago today, WWE announces via press release that AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, will host Wrestlemania 32. The press release:

AT&T Stadium to Host WrestleMania®

ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan 20, 2015 -- Arlington Mayor Robert N. Cluck, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, the City of Arlington, the City of Dallas, The Dallas Cowboys, the Stadium Events Organizing Committee and WWE® are proud to announce that AT&T Stadium will host WWE's pop-culture extravaganza, WrestleMania 32, on Sunday April 3, 2016.

The historic announcement was made at a press conference held at AT&T Stadium. Mayor Cluck, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson and three-time Dallas Cowboys All-Pro Ed "Too Tall" Jones joined WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and WWE Executive Vice President of Special Events John P. Saboor in making the announcement. WWE Hall of Famer Hulk HoganTM, WWE Superstars John Cena®, Big Show®, Mark Henry®, WWE Divas Brie BellaTM, Nikki BellaTM, NatalyaTM and Alicia FoxTM also made special guest appearances at the event.

"On behalf of the city of Arlington, we thank WWE for choosing AT&T Stadium to host their biggest event of 2016," said Arlington Mayor Robert N. Cluck, M.D. "We look forward to fans from around the world converging on our beautiful city for WrestleMania Week."

"The city of Dallas is proud to team with Arlington to bring WrestleMania 32 to AT&T Stadium," said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. "The week-long series of events will provide an economic boost to our region, while giving visitors a chance to experience all the great things Dallas has to offer."

"On behalf of the entire Dallas Cowboys organization, we're excited to welcome WrestleMania 32 and fans from around the globe to AT&T Stadium," said Charlotte Jones Anderson, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of the Dallas Cowboys. "An iconic entertainment extravaganza like WrestleMania and its fans deserve a world-class venue like AT&T Stadium that will redefine the WrestleMania experience and set a new precedent for future events."

"WWE thanks the city of Arlington, city of Dallas and the Dallas Cowboys for their tireless efforts to bring WrestleMania to AT&T Stadium," said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. "We look forward to making history at WrestleMania, while adding AT&T Stadium to the list of iconic venues that have hosted our annual pop-culture extravaganza."

WrestleMania is more than just a one-day event; it's a week-long celebration that will stretch throughout the Dallas/Arlington region. In addition to WrestleMania 32, other activities will include: WrestleMania Axxess - WWE's four-day interactive fan festival at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas; the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at American Airlines Center; Monday Night Raw® at American Airlines Center; Be a STARTM anti-bullying rallies; hospital visits and other community outreach initiatives designed to give back to the host community. The event will be broadcast live on WWE Network and pay-per-view in more than 170 countries. Last year, WrestleMania 30 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome generated more than $142 million in economic impact for the New Orleans region. This year, WrestleMania 31 takes place Sunday, March 29 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.

1 year ago today, Vito Lograsso and Evan Singleton filed class action lawsuits against WWE. The two would join Billy Jack Haynes in filing suits in Pennsylvania, claiming WWE withheld information in regards to concussions. Our own Keith Harris breaks it down here.