Today In History (23. März 2012)

 23. März 1984:

Ric Flair besiegt Harley Race, um neuer NWA World Heavyweight Champion zu werden.

23. März 1985:

Magnum TA besiegt Wahoo McDaniel, um neuer NWA United States Champion zu werden.

23. März 1997:

„WWF WrestleMania XIII“ findet statt. Hier die Ergebnisse des Pay-Per-Views:

Fatal 4 Way Elimination Tag Team Match
The Headbangers (Mosh & Trasher) besiegen The New Blackjacks (Blackjack Windham & Blackjack Bradshaw), Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon und The Godwinns (Henry & Phineas) (w/ Hillbilly Jim)

WWF Intercontinental Championship
Rocky Maivia (c) besiegt The Sultan (w/ The Iron Sheik & Bob Backlund)

Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) besiegt Goldust (w/ Marlena)

WWF Tag Team Championship
Owen Hart & British Bulldog (c) vs. Vader & Mankind (w/ Paul Bearer) endete in einem Double Count-Out

Submission Match – Special Guest Referee: Ken Shamrock
Bret „Hitman“ Hart besiegt Stone Cold Steve Austin

Six Man Tag Team Chicago Street Fight
Ahmed Johnson & The Legion Of Doom (Hawk & Animal) besiegen The Nation Of Domination (Faarooq, Crush & Savio Vega) (w/ Wolfie D, J.C. Ice & Clarence Mason)

WWF Championship – No DQ Match
The Undertaker besiegt Sycho Sid (c) —> TITELWECHSEL!!!

23. März 2001:

Ein historisches Ereignis in der Wrestlinggeschichte findet statt. Nachdem World Championship Wrestling (WCW) wertlos geworden ist, da dank fehlender TV-Verträge sämtliche Interessenten abgesprungen sind und die Verantwortlichen wie Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo & Co. das Unternehmen heruntergewirtschaftet haben, kauft World Wrestling Federation (WWF) die WCW für schlappe 2,5 Millionen US-Dollar zum Schnäppchenpreis. Die Verträge sämtlicher WCW Wrestler werden nach dem Kauf nicht übernommen, sondern komplett neu ausgehandelt. Zum Kauf der WCW veröffentlichte die WWF am besagten Tag folgende Pressemitteilung:

    STAMFORD, Conn., March 23, 2001 – World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWF) today announced its purchase of the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) brand from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS Inc.), a division of AOL Time Warner.

    The purchase of WCW creates a tag team partnership with the World Wrestling Federation brand that is expected to propel the sports entertainment genre to new heights.

    In keeping with the company’s strategic alliance with Viacom, new WCW programming is anticipated to air on TNN in the near future. The possibility of cross-brand storylines and intrigue, however, may start as early as Monday night during WWF Raw Is War on TNN and the final performance of WCW Monday Nitro Live on Turner Network Television (TNT).

    The binding agreement provides World Wrestling Federation Entertainment with the global rights to the WCW brand, tape library, and other intellectual property rights.

    „This acquisition is the perfect creative and business catalyst for our company,“ said Linda McMahon, Chief Executive Officer of World Wrestling Federation Entertainment. „This is a dream combination for fans of sports entertainment. The incendiary mix of World Wrestling Federation and WCW personalities potentially creates intriguing storylines that will attract a larger fan base to the benefit of our advertisers and business partners, and propel sports entertainment to new heights.“

    „The acquisition of the WCW brand is a strategic move for us,“ said Stuart Snyder, President and Chief Operating Officer for World Wrestling Federation Entertainment. „We are assuming a brand with global distribution and recognition. We are adding thousands of hours to our tape library that can be repurposed for home videos, television, Internet streaming, and broadband applications. The WCW opens new opportunities for growth in our Pay Per View, live events, and consumer products divisions, as well as the opportunity to develop new television programming using new stars. We also will create additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities. In short, it is a perfect fit.“

23. März 2004:

Kurt Angle wird zum neuen General Manager von SmackDown! ernannt.

Nachdem einen Tag zuvor bereits die Draft Lottery stattgefunden hat, finden weitere Wechsel statt. Triple H, der von RAW zu SmackDown! gedraftet worden ist, bleibt nun doch bei RAW. Stattdessen wechseln Booker T & The Dudley Boyz von RAW zu SmackDown!. Zudem wechseln Rico & Miss Jackie von RAW zu SmackDown! und Chuck Palumbo & A-Train von SmackDown! zu RAW.

    Geburtstage am 23. März:

– Ray „Jesse“ Gordy aka Slam Master J (geboren am 23.03.1979)
– Tyson Tomko (geboren am 23.03.1976)
– Midajah (geboren am 23.03.1973)