On this day in pro wrestling history: first ECW champion is crowned, Austin vs. Rock, Harley Race vs. Ric Flair & Jack Brisco, Bruno

July 25, 2020 / By mobanmarket

By Brian Hoops, WrestlingObserver.com

1970 – WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Ivan Koloff in a Texas Death Match in Boston, Massachusetts.

1973 – In Fargo, North Dakota; Superstar Billy Graham beat Wahoo McDaniel in a No Time Limit No DQ Match.

1974 – At Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas; World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco wrestled Harley Race to a time limit draw; Central States Heavyweight Champion Mike George defeated Don Fargo and World Tag Team Champions Lord Alfred Hayes & Bob Brown defeated Chris Taylor & Omar Atlas

1976 – In St. Paul, Minnesota; Verne Gagne, Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Nick Bockwinkel, Bobby Heenan & Bobby Duncum

1977 – WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Baron Von Raschke in Madison Square Garden.

1980 – An event at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri saw both the WWF and NWA World Titles defended, as WWF champion Bob Backlund defeated Bulldog Bob Brown and NWA champion Harley Race defeated Ric Flair. Also on the show, Ken Patera defeated Kevin Von Erich to win the Missouri State Championship.

1981 – In Chicago, Illinois; AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Jerry Blackwell; The Crusher & Baron Von Raschke beat AWA Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura via DQ; and Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens.

1982 – At the Maple Leafs Garden in Toronto, Ontario; NWA Champion Ric Flair went to a DDQ with Harley Race

1989 – At a Saturday Night’s Main Event taping in Des Moines, Iowa; Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated WWF World Tag Team Champions Demolition via DQ; Hacksaw Duggan defeated Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude via countout and Hulk Hogan defeated Big Bossman in a steel cage match.

1992 – ECW (then known at Eastern Championship Wrestling) crowned their first ECW Champion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two separate Battle Royales were held with Sal Bellomo winning the first, and Jimmy Snuka winning the second. Snuka then defeated Bellomo to become the first ECW Champion.

1999 – At the Backlash PPV held in Providence, Rhode Island; WWF World Champion Steve Austin defeated The Rock in a No Holds Barred match

2000 – In Charlotte, North Carolina Dean Malenko defeated Scotty 2 Hotty to win the WWF Light Heavyweight Title and Crash Holly defeated Matt Hardy to win the WWF Hardcore Title

2009 – ROH ran an event in Chicago, Illinois; The American Wolves defeated Kevin Steen and Jay Briscoe in a two-out-of-three falss match to retain the Ring of Honor tag team titles and Jerry Lynn defeated Colt Cabana to retain the ROH World Title.

2010 – At the Extreme Rules PPV; Beth Phoenix defeated Michelle McCool in an Extreme Makeover match to win the Divas Title.