This Day in Wrestling History - March 23

[Chris]

Pay-Per-Views
1997: WWF WrestleMania XIII (Buyrate: 0.77)

Television Shows
1985: WWF All Star Wrestling
1985: WWF Championship Wrestling
1992: WWF Prime Time Wrestling
1996: WCW Saturday Night
1997: WCW Pro
1997: WCW Worldwide
1998: WCW Monday Nitro (Rating: 4.60)
1998: WWF RAW is WAR (Rating: 3.62)
2000: WWF Smackdown! (Rating: 4.80)
2002: WWF Jakked/Metal
2003: WWE Sunday Night Heat (Rating: 1.10)
2007: WWE Smackdown (Rating: 3.00)
2009: WWE RAW (Rating: 3.49)
2010: WWE NXT (Rating: 0.90)
2010: TNA Xplosion
2012: WWE Smackdown (Rating: 1.82)
2013: Ring of Honor Wrestling
2013: WWE Saturday Morning Slam

Title Changes
1985: Magnum TA wins NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic Version)
1997: The Undertaker wins WWF World Heavyweight Championship

Birthdays
1952: Villano III
1970: Midajah
1979: Jesse

Debuts
1988: Jerry Lynn​

 

[Keith]

It was interesting how there was a six year gap between Taker's first and second WWF Title reign when you see what a reliable headliner and legend he has become but then I guess there were more people standing in his way during those days.

Magnum TA was very unlucky with injuries otherwise the guy could of have had at least an NWA Title run.

 

[Chris]

Magnum TA AKA the best that never was

 

[Deezy]

Magnum almost Paul Walker'd himself, and should've just took a job as a colour commentator. Poor Taker was saddled with fatties, giants and all around piss poor workers in his early days. He had the impossible task of making guys look like they knew what they were doing, attribute that to what a great worker Taker was back then.

 

[Crippler]

should also mention Bret/Austin

 

[Keith]

Magnum almost Paul Walker'd himself, and should've just took a job as a colour commentator. Poor Taker was saddled with fatties, giants and all around piss poor workers in his early days. He had the impossible task of making guys look like they knew what they were doing, attribute that to what a great worker Taker was back then.

Thats one of the reasons I thought also, back then it was common for the average title reign to last almost a year, and I guess Taker was behind a few in the pecking order.

 

[Keith]

should also mention Bret/Austin

Maybe the greatest match in Mania history!

 

[Chris]

Thats one of the reasons I thought also, back then it was common for the average title reign to last almost a year, and I guess Taker was behind a few in the pecking order.

Tbh, 'Taker was just above the belt in a way. While Bret and Shawn were champions, 'Taker was in high profile feuds away from the belt. An example would be SummerSlam '94 when Owen and Bret had the greatest cage match in history for the belt, but 'Taker returned and closed the show in that shitty match against the fake 'Taker.

 

[Deezy]

Thats one of the reasons I thought also, back then it was common for the average title reign to last almost a year, and I guess Taker was behind a few in the pecking order.

Not to mention that the BSK group was taking a backseat to the Kliq and Bret's Stampede crew.

 

[Keith]

Tbh, 'Taker was just above the belt in a way. While Bret and Shawn were champions, 'Taker was in high profile feuds away from the belt. An example would be SummerSlam '94 when Owen and Bret had the greatest cage match in history for the belt, but 'Taker returned and closed the show in that shitty match against the fake 'Taker.

Not convinced of that, the example you gave maybe fair (although it was a double main event and you might say it was equal build), but certainly a lot of his feuds with Kamala and King Kong Bundy were not above Bret's.

 

[Chris]

I guess above wasn't really the right word, but I still say as an attraction 'Taker was at least even with the belt. Sure his feuds may not have been as good, but 'Taker himself was the attraction. And then they had the actual championship scene as another attraction. Would have been a waste to have 'Taker in the title scene because then you're down an attraction. I don't completely agree with the philosophy, but I wouldn't doubt if that was their mindset for a few years.

 

[Deezy]

Also....Taker's BSK crew wasn't getting over Bret's Stampede crew and the Kliq. Think it's coincidence Taker gets the belt when Razor and Diesel were gone and HBK lost his smile?