This Day in Wrestling History (June 1): Wade Barrett Wins NXT

29 years ago today at a WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping in Oakland, California, Ray Traylor makes his WWF debut as corrupt prison guard the Big Boss Man. In his debut, Traylor defeated Louis Spicolli. Yes, THAT Louis Spicolli.

Traylor’s gimmick wasn’t too far off from his job prior to becoming a wrestler: a corrections officer in Cobb County, Georgia. Traylor joined Jim Crockett Promotions in 1985, then was repackaged as Big Bubba Rogers, the bodyguard for Jim Cornette. He would have an extensive feud with Dusty Rhodes throughout 1986.

Traylor left JCP for the Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts version) in 1987 and quickly won their heavyweight title as Rogers.

Also making their WWF Superstars of Wrestling debut (or re-debut) were The Rockers, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. As mentioned in a previous TDIPWH, The Rockers had a very brief stint in the WWF a year prior, but their partying ways got them fired after just one TV taping.

As Superstars aired before Wrestling Challenge in most markets, this match is considered their return bout. In their return, the Rockers defeated Iron Mike Sharpe and The Intruder.

Both the Big Boss Man’s debut match and The Rocker’s return aired on the same episode, the June 18, 1988 edition of Superstars of Wrestling.

25 years ago today, WWF taped the 300th episode of Superstars of Wrestling from the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The episode aired June 27.

• The British Bulldog defeated Nick Danger.
• The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) defeated Chico Martinez & Rick Johnson. At 2 minutes, 47 seconds, this is the longest match on the show.
• Virgil defeated Glen Ruth.
• The Berzerker defeated Bruce Mitchell by countout.
• Nailz defeated John Gullen by submission in just 70 seconds.
• The Texas Tornado defeated Duane Gill.
• Kamala defeated Johnny Lee.

21 years ago today, Antonio Inoki presented the World Wrestling Peace Festival from the Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. 5,964 were in attendance for the event. This was considered disappointing as they booked a 17,000 seat arena.

This was the first show Inoki produced in the United States. At the end of the show, he was presented a Pro Wrestling Illustrated Lifetime Achievement Award by the magazine's senior editor, Bill Apter. Representatives from New Japan Pro Wrestling, WCW, AAA, EMLL, AJW, Michinoku Pro, UWF-I, and Pancrase competed on the show.

• Sgt. Craig Pittman (WCW) defeated KGB (AAA) by submission.
• Jim Neidhart defeated Bobby Bradley, Jr.
• Lady Apache (CMLL) and Akira Hokuto defeated Bull Nakano and Neftali (AAA).
• In a WCW match, Chris Benoit defeated Alex Wright.
• In a AAA match, NWA World Middleweight Champion Ultimo Dragon and Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Heavy Metal and Mexican National Welterweight Champion Psicosis.
• Lex Luger (WCW) defeated Masa Saito (NJPW).
• In a CMLL match, NWA World Welterweight Champion Negro Casas defeated Mexican National Middleweight Champion El Hijo del Santo.
• In a CMLL match, CMLL World Tag Team Champion Atlantis, Dos Caras and Héctor Garza defeated Gran Markus, Jr., Silver King and CMLL World Light Heavyweight Champion Dr. Wagner, Jr.
• In a NJPW match, Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Black Cat.
• In a AAA match, Perro Aguayo and La Parka defeated Cibernético and Mexican National Heavyweight Champion Pierroth, Jr.
• AAA Americas, IWAS World and WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Konnan (AAA/WCW) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Jericho (WCW) in a triangle match.
• Jushin Liger (NJPW) defeated The Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro).
• In a WCW match, WCW World Heavyweight Champion The Giant defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion Sting in a non-title match.
• Antonio Inoki and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan Severn defeated Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Oleg Taktarov by submission.

21 years ago today at ECW Fight the Power in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Shane Douglas in separate matches defeated El Puerto Ricano, Don E. Allen, Devon Storm, and Mikey Whipwreck (all in a row) to retain the ECW World Television Championship ...only to lose said championship to Pitbull #2.

Of note, mixed martial arts fighter Paul Varelans appeared at the event to set up a feud with Taz. The match, promoted as a “shoot fight” (but it really wasn’t), took place three weeks later at Hardcore Heaven, with Taz submitting Varelans.

Also appearing at the event: Estella Thompson, aka Divine Brown. Thompson made headlines in the summer of 1995 when the then-prostitute was arrested with actor Hugh Grant for lewd conduct.

Thompson was Stevie Richards’ suggestion for a new valet for Raven. Raven did not approve.

10 years ago today, SHIMMER Women Athletes presented Volume 11 from the Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, Illinois. The taping, along with Volume 12 the next night, was to determine the first ever SHIMMER Champion.

First round:

• Malia Hosaka defeated Allison Danger.
• Daizee Haze defeated Portia Perez.
• Sara Del Rey defeated Cindy Rogers.
• Alicia defeated Ariel.
• MsChif (with Daffney) defeated Lexie Fyfe.
• Sarah Stock defeated Cheerleader Melissa.
• Lacey defeated Eden Black.
• Nikki Roxx defeated Rain.

Quarterfinals:

• Daizee Haze defeated Malia Hosaka.
• Sara Del Rey defeated Alicia.
• Sarah Stock defeated MsChif.
• Lacey defeated Nikki Roxx.

9 years ago today, ECW presented One Night Stand (WWE Network link) from the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California. 9,961 were in attendance, with 194,000 homes watching on PPV.

• Jeff Hardy defeated Umaga in a falls count anywhere match.
• The Big Show defeated CM Punk, John Morrison, Chavo Guererro, and Tommy Dreamer in a Singapore cane match to earn an ECW Championship match at Night of Champions.
• John Cena defeated John Bradshaw Layfield in a first blood match.
• Beth Phoenix defeated Melina in an "I Quit" match.
• Batista defeated Shawn Michaels in a stretcher match.
• Triple H defeated Randy Orton in a last man standing match to retain the WWE Championship.
• Edge defeated The Undertaker in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. With the loss, Undertaker was forced to leave WWE. It was a write-off to give time for the Undertaker to heal nagging injuries. The Undertaker would return at Summerslam in August.

8 years ago today on RAW from Birmingham, Alabama (WWE Network link), Kofi Kingston defeated MVP to win the WWE United States Championship.

7 years ago today, Wade Barrett wins the first season of NXT.

With the win, he earns a WWE Championship match at a future PPV. David Otunga finishes second, and Justin Gabriel finishes third.

3 years ago today, WWE presented Payback (WWE Network link) from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

• In a preshow hair versus mask match, El Torito defeated Hornswoggle.
• Sheamus defeated Cesaro to retain the WWE United States Championship.
• RybAxel (Curtis Axel & Ryback) defeated Cody Rhodes & Goldust.
• Rusev defeated Big E via submission.
• Bo Dallas and Kofi Kingston fought to a no contest.
• Bad News Barrett defeated Rob Van Dam to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
• John Cena defeated Bray Wyatt in a last man standing match.
• Paige defeated Alicia Fox to retain the WWE Divas Championship.
• The Shield (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins) defeated Evolution (Triple H, Batista, and Randy Orton) 3-0 in a no holds barred elimination tag team match.

Seth Rollins eliminated Batista.

Dean Ambrose eliminated Randy Orton.

Roman Reigns eliminated Triple H.

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The best of cSs on this day:

2016: Crazy Matt Hardy put Jeff Hardy through a table after his wife threw a fake baby at him, and it was the greatest dumb thing ever (Matt Hardy may have lost his damn mind)

2015: Twitter reaction to Kevin Owens big night at WWE Elimination Chamber spends a lot of time gibing Jim Cornette (Twitter reacts to Kevin Owens’ PPV debut... and go in on Jim Cornette)

2014: WWE Payback 2014 results: What was 'Match of the Night' in Chicago? (Cagesiders weigh in on what was the match of the night at Payback)

2013: Video: Matt Hardy's anti-bullying Ring of Honor promo (Matt Hardy spoofs anti-bullying PSAs... or something... in a ROH promo)

2012: TNA Impact results and reactions from last night (May 31): Live summer series kickoff disappoints (Boss Geno recaps the first Impact of their live Summer Series... it wasn’t good)

2011: How 'GSP vs. Diaz' Was Made a Reality (and the future of Strikeforce) (UFC’s and Strikeforce’s middleweight champions to face off in superfight; Strikeforce’s future in doubt)