Ultimate History of Pro Wrestling - A Time Line of Every Major Event in Pro Wrestling History - 1997
By: Karl Stern
1997
01-04-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) holds Wrestling World ‘97 at the Tokyo Egg Dome in front of a reported 62,500 fans. Results: Junji Hirata & Manabu Nakanishi & Osamu Nishimura & Satoshi Kojima defeated Kazuo Yamazaki & Osamu Kido & Takashi Iizuka & Yuji Nagata… Super Liger (Chris Jericho) defeated Koji Kanemoto… Jinsei Shinzaki defeated Michiyoshi Ohara… Shinjiro Otani defeated Yoshiaki Tajiri… Kendo Nagasaki defeated Tatsutoshi Goto… Masahiro Chono defeated Shoji Nakamaki… Masa Saito defeated Great Kojika… Antonio Inoki defeated Willie Williams… J Crown Championship: Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Ultimo Dragon… IWGP World tag team titles: Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Ookami Gundan (Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan)… Power Warrior (Kensuke Sasaki) defeated Great Muta… IWGP World heavyweight title: Shinya Hashimoto defeated Riki Choshu.
01-11-1997: ECW House Party 1997: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,400: Chris Candido pinned Louie Spicolli… Mikey Whipwreck pinned Spike Dudley… ECW tag team champions The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat Axl Rotten & D-Von Dudley… The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa) beat Tommy Rich & Ricky Morton… Tommy Rich pinned Ricky Morton… Mike Awesome pinned Balls Mahoney… Bubba Ray Dudley battled Pitbull 2 to a no contest… Brian Lee pinned Terry Funk… Pitbull 1 beat ECW TV champion Shane Douglas via countout.
01-13-1997: WCW Monday Nitro: in New Orleans, LA: Superdome drawing 10,034: Shown live on TNT: Chavo Guerrero. Jr. pinned Mr. J.L (Jerry Lynn)… Chris Jericho pinned Craig Pittman… Harlem Heat beat High Voltage (Kenny Kaos & Robbie Rage)… Diamond Dallas Page pinned Mark Starr… Dean Malenko pinned Eddy Guerrero… Konnan pinned Super Calo… Jeff Jarrett pinned Chris Benoit… Scotty Riggs pinned Billy Kidman… Lex Luger beat Rick Fuller… Rick Steiner beat Arn Anderson… The Giant beat Hulk Hogan via DQ. Nitro went off the air with the match in progress. The rest of the match was shown during commercial breaks of the debuting "The New Adventures of Robin Hood."
Rick Steiner - Photo by Karl Stern
01-21-1997: WWF Royal Rumble in San Antonio, TX at the Alamo Dome drawing 60,525: Dark Match: Venum & Perro Aguayo, Jr. defeated Maniaco & Mosco de la Merced… Dark Match: Octagon & Blue Demon Jr. & Tinieblas Jr. defeated Heavy Metal & Abysmo Negro & Histeria… Dark Match: Mascarita Sagrada, Jr. & La Parkita defeated Mini Mankind & Mini Vader when Sagrada pinned Vader… WWF Intercontinental champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Goldust (Dustin Rhodes)… Ahmed Johnson defeated Farooq (Ron Simmons) via DQ… Vader defeated The Undertaker… Hector Garza & Perro Aguayo & El Canek defeated Jerry Estrada & Heavy Metal & Fuerza Guerrera… Steve Austin won the Royal Rumble. Also in the match were: Cibernetico, Crush, Diesel (Glen Jacobs), Farooq, Flash Funk (Too Cold Scorpio), Terry Funk, Goldust, Henry & Phineas Godwinn, Bart Gunn, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Jesse Jammes (Brian Armstrong), Ahmed Johnson, Latin Lover, Jerry Lawler, Rocky Maivia (Dewayne Johnson), Mankind (Mick Foley), Marc Mero, Mil Mascaras, Pierroth Jr, Razor Ramon (Rick Bogner), Jake Roberts, Davey Boy Smith, The Sultan (Fatu), The Undertaker, Vader, and Savio Vega… Shawn Michaels defeated Sycho Sid (Sid Vicious) to win the WWF World Title.
WCW: Clash of Champions 34: in Milwaukee, WI: Wisconsin Center drawing 6,800: Shown live on TBS: Dark match: Ice Train pinned Mark Starr… Dean Malenko beat Ultimo Dragon to win the WCW Cruiserweight title… Scotty Riggs pinned Mike Enos… Chris Jericho & Super Calo & Chavo Guerrero Jr. beat Konnan & La Parka & Mr. JL (Jerry Lynn)… Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) beat Renegade & Joe Gomez… Masahiro Chono pinned Alex Wright… Eddie Guerrero pinned Scott Norton… Chris Benoit pinned Kevin Sullivan in a falls count anywhere match… Rick & Scott Steiner beat Jacques Rougeau & Pierre Ouellette… Lex Luger beat Scott Hall via DQ.
01-22-1997: RINGS: Mega Battle Tournament 1996: Grand Final in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 11,800: Wataru Sakata beat Sean McCulley… Grom Zaza beat Masayuki Naruse… Tsuyoshi Kohsaka beat Mikhail Ilioukhine… Nikolai Zouev beat Mitsuya Nagai… Akira Maeda beat Maurice Smith… Bitsadze Tariel defeated Yoshohisa Yamamoto for third place in the Mega Battle Tournament 1996… Volk Han beat Kiyoshi Tamura to win the Mega Battle Tournament 1996.
01-25-1997: WWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 13,480: WWF champion Shawn Michaels defeated Mankind (Mick Foley)… Sycho Sid defeated The Undertaker by count out… Bret Hart defeated Vader by DQ… Farooq (Ron Simmons) & Crush (Brian Adams) defeated Ahmed Johnson & Savio Vega… WWF Intercontinental champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Jake Roberts… Steve Austin defeated Goldust… Rocky Maivia defeated Salvatore Sincere (Tom Brandi)… The Godwinns (Henry & Phineas Godwinn) defeated Owen Hart & Bob Holly.
WCW Souled Out PPV in Cedar Rapids, IA: Five Seasons Center drawing 5,120: Masa Chono pinned Chris Jericho… Big Bubba beat Hugh Morrus in a "Mexican death" match… Jeff Jarrett pinned Mr. Wallstreet (Mike Rotundo)… Buff Bagwell pinned Scotty Riggs… Scott Norton beat Diamond Dallas Page via countout… Rick & Scott Steiner beat The Outsiders (Kevin Nash & Scott Hall) The Steiners won the WCW World tag team titles, but the belts were returned to Hall & Nash because the wrong referee counted the pin… WCW U.S. champion Eddie Guerrero beat Syxx in a ladder match… WCW World heavyweight champion Hulk Hogan battled The Giant (Paul Wight) to a no contest.
01-31-1997: WWF Raw in Toronto, ON at the Skydome drawing 25,628: Shown 02-02-1997 on USA (2.6 rating): Dark match: Rocky Maivia pinned The Sultan (Rikishi Fatu)… Vader beat Steve Austin via DQ… Savio Vega pinned Flash Funk (Too Cold Scorpio)… Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon beat WWF World tag team champions Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith via countout… Crush pinned Goldust… WWF Intercontinental champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Marc Mero… The Undertaker & Ahmed Johnson beat Mankind & Farooq in a no holds barred match… Dark match: WWF heavyweight champion Shawn Michaels beat Bret Hart and Sycho Sid in a triangle match.
ECW Winter Blowout 1997: in Lake Grove, NY: Sports Plus drawing 1,280: Axl Rotten pinned Spike Dudley… Little Guido pinned Chris Chetti… Steve Williams beat Balls Mahoney… Bubba Ray Dudley beat Roadkill… Rob Van Dam beat Mikey Whipwreck… Sabu beat D-Von Dudley… ECW tag team champions The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat Brian Lee & Chris Candido… ECW TV champion Shane Douglas beat Pitbull 2 via DQ… Sandman & Tommy Dreamer beat Raven & Stevie Richards.
02-01-1997: ECW Crossing the Line Again: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,400: Louie Spicolli pinned Mike Awesome… Lance Storm pinned Balls Mahoney… Stevie Richards pinned Ricky Morton… Steve Williams pinned Axl Rotten… ECW World champion Raven pinned Steve Williams… Sandman pinned D-Von Dudley… ECW tag team champions The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat Sabu & Rob Van Dam… Terry Funk pinned Tommy Rich… Tommy Dreamer & The Pitbulls beat Shane Douglas & Chris Candido & Brian Lee
02-02-1997: RINGS: Free Fight Gala 1997: The Final Challenge in Amsterdam, Netherlands: Sport Hall South drawing 5,300: Ron van Gellekom beat Jonny van Wanrooy via unanimous decision… Gilbert Yvel defeated Rob van Leeuwen… Hans Nyman beat Lee Hasdell… Peter Dijkman beat Yuri Bekichev… Willie Peeters defeated Sergei Sousserov… Valentijn Overeem defeated Masayuki Naruse… Joop Kasteel defeated Mitsuya Nagai… Kiyoshi Tamura beat Andre Mannaart… Bob Schrijber defeated Toon Stelling… Rob van Esdonk defeated Dennis Krauweel in a kickboxing match… Pedro Palm battled Dick Leon-Vrij to a no contest.
02-16-1997: WWF The Final Four PPV: in Chattanooga, TN at UTC Arena drawing 6,399: Dark match: Henry & Phineas Godwinn beat The Headbangers… Marc Mero pinned Leif Cassidy (Al Snow)… Farooq (Ron Simmons) & Crush & Savio Vega beat Bart Gunn & Flash Funk (Too Cold Scorpio) & Goldust… WWF Intercontinental champion Rocky Maivia pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley… Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon beat WWF World tag team champions Owen Hart & Davey Smith via DQ… Bret Hart beat Vader and Steve Austin and The Undertaker to win the vacant WWF heavyweight title in a "final four" match.
New Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 11,000: Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yutaka Yoshie beat Kazuyuki Fujita & Shinjiro Ohtani… Chris Jericho & Scotty Riggs beat Norio Honaga & El Samurai… Osamu Nishimura & Takashi Iizuka & Junji Hirata beat Akitoshi Saito & Akira Nogami & Kuniaki Kobayashi… Michiyoshi Ohara & Tatsutoshi Goto beat Hiro Saito & Hiroyoshi Tenzan… J Crown champion Jushin Liger pinned Koji Kanemoto… Scott Norton & Buff Bagwell & Masahiro Chono beat Riki Choshu & Kensuke Sasaki & Tadao Yasuda… Great Muta pinned Shiro Koshinaka… IWGP tag team champions Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura beat Manabu Nakanishi & Satoshi Kojima… IWGP champion Shinya Hashimoto pinned Kazuo Yamazaki.
02-21-1997: ECW Cyberslam 1997: in Queens, NY: Lost Battalion Hall drawing 800: Balls Mahoney beat Chris Chetti… Brian Lee & Chris Candido beat The Pitbulls… Bubba Ray Dudley beat Spike Dudley… Sandman & Tommy Dreamer beat Raven & Stevie Richards… The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa) beat Axl Rotten & D-Von Dudley… Taz beat Little Guido… ECW tag team champions The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat Sabu & Rob Van Dam.
AAA: Rey de Reyes 1997: in Madero, Mexico: Latin Lover beat Jerry Estrada and Killer and Mascara Sagrada Jr. in an elimination match… Heavy Metal beat Maniaco and May Flowers and Blue Demon Jr. in an elimination match… Hector Garza beat Abismo Negro and El Hijo del Perro Aguayo and La Parka II in an elimination match… Octagon beat Fuerza Guerrera and Pantera and Pentagon II in an elimination match… Mini Goldust & Mini Mankind & Mini Vader beat La Parkita & Mini Nova & Super Munequito… Latin Lover beat Octagon and Heavy Metal and Hector Garza in an elimination match to win the Rey de Reyes 1997.
02-22-1997: ECW Cyberslam 1997: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,400: ECW tag team champions The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu in a tables and ladders match… Chris Chetti pinned Little Guido… Stevie Richards pinned Balls Mahoney… Axl Rotten pinned Spike Dudley… The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) beat The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa)… Taz beat Tracy Smothers… Terry Funk (later replaced by Sandman) & Tommy Dreamer beat Raven & Brian Lee… Sabu pinned Chris Candido.
The first annual independent Super 8 Tournament is held in Wilmington, DE. The annual 8 man tournament featured the top independent wrestling stars of the era. The first tournament is won by Ace Darling. The other seven in the tournament included: Billy Kidman, Reckless Youth, Cheetah Master, Devon Storm, Inferno Kid, Lance Diamond, Ronny Roberts.
02-23-1997: WCW Super Brawl 7: in San Francisco, CA: Cow Palace drawing 13,324: Dark match: Hugh Morrus pinned Joe Gomez… Dark match: Ultimo Dragon pinned Pat Tanaka… Syxx (Sean Waltman) pinned Dean Malenko to win the WCW Cruiserweight title… Konnan & La Parka & Villano IV beat Juventud Guerrera & Super Calo & Ciclope… WCW TV champion Prince Iaukea pinned Rey Misterio, Jr… Diamond Dallas Page beat Buff Bagwell via DQ… WCW U.S. champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Jericho… Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) beat Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray & Booker T) and Meng & The Barbarian in a triangle match… Jeff Jarrett pinned Steve McMichael… Chris Benoit pinned Kevin Sullivan in a San Francisco death match… The Giant (Paul Wight) & Lex Luger beat The Outsiders (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash) Luger & Giant won the WCW World tag team titles, but the belts were returned to Hall & Nash because Luger didn't have a medical release to wrestle… WCW World heavyweight champion Hulk Hogan pinned Roddy Piper.
03-01-1997: All-Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 16,300: Yoshinori Ogawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi beat Masao Inoue & Satoru Asako… Rusher Kimura & Mitsuo Momota beat Haruka Eigan & Mighty Inoue… Giant Kamala II (Ben Peacock) & Jun Izumida & Tamon Honda beat Giant Baba & Masa Fuchi & Takao Omori… Maunukea Mossman & Johnny Ace beat Rex King & Stan Hansen… Jun Akiyama & Kentaro Shiga beat Kenta Kobashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru… All Japan World tag team champions Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue beat Gary Albright & Yoshihiro Takayama… All Japan Triple Crown champion Mitsuharu Misawa pinned Steve Williams.
03-12-1997: A lawsuit brought by the original Demolition Smash (Randy Colley) and Demolition Ax (Bill Eadie) against the WWF is finalized. Eadie v. McMahon (No. 5:91CV0423 (WWE), No. 5:92CV0216 (WWE) ) Bill "Demolition Ax/The Masked Superstar" Eadie and Randy "Moondog Rexx (sic)/Original Demolition Smash" Colley sue Vince McMahon over royalties and rights to the Demolition tag team. Read the entire lawsuit - here.
03-15-1997: ECW Hostile City Showdown 1997: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,100: Tommy Rich & Little Guido beat Tracy Smothers & Chris Chetti… Taz beat Rob Van Dam… Sabu beat Spike Dudley… Chris Candido beat Louie Spicolli… ECW TV champion Shane Douglas beat Pitbull 1 in an I quit match… Sandman pinned Balls Mahoney… The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) beat The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) to win the ECW tag team titles… Terry Funk pinned Brian Lee… ECW World champion Raven beat Stevie Richards and Tommy Dreamer in a three way dance.
03-16-1997: WCW Uncensored 3: in North Charleston, SC: North Charleston Coliseum drawing 9,295: Shown live on PPV: Dark match: Ice Train pinned Maxx… Dean Malenko pinned Eddie Guerrero to win the WCW US title… Ultimo Dragon pinned Psicosis… Glacier (Ray Lloyd) pinned Mortis (Chris Kanyon)… Buff Bagwell beat Scotty Riggs in a strap match… Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray & Booker T) beat The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge)… WCW TV champion Prince Iaukea pinned Rey Misterio, Jr… Kevin Nash & Scott Hall & Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage (Team NWO) beat Roddy Piper & Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael & Jeff Jarrett (Team Piper) and Lex Luger & The Giant (Paul Wight) & Scott Steiner (Team WCW) in a "triangle elimination" match. Hogan was the sole survivor.
WWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 8,513: WWF champion Sycho Sid defeated Bret Hart in a steel cage match… Vader defeated The Undertaker in a casket match… Farooq (Ron Simmons) defeated Goldust… Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated WWF Intercontinental champion Rocky Maivia by DQ… WWF World tag team champions Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith defeated Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon… Ahmed Johnson defeated Savio Vega by DQ… Crush (Brian Adams) defeated Aldo Montoya (AKA: Justin Credible)… The New Blackjacks (Barry Windham & Justin Bradshaw) defeated The Godwinns (Henry & Phineas Godwinn)… The Sultan (Fatu) defeated Flash Funk (Too Cold Scorpio).
03-21-1997: WWF Slammy Awards: in Chicago, IL at the Weston Hotel drawing: Shown live on USA (1.5 rating): New Sensation presented by Ahmed Johnson: Rocky Maivia… Best Dressed presented by Honky Tonk Man & Cindy Margolis: Sable… Best Tattoo presented by Adam & George: The Undertaker… Match of the Year presented by Jim Ross: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart from WrestleMania XII… Best Hair presented by Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal): Hunter Hearst Helmsley… Loose Screw presented by Sunny & Lou Albano: Mankind… Best Bow Tie presented by Owen Hart (No winner. Owen Hart steals Slammy)… Best Entrance Music presented by Dok Hendrix (Michael Hayes) & John McNaley: The Undertaker… Best Finisher presented by Brian Pillman: Shawn Michaels… Best Couple presented by Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler: Goldust & Marlena… Freedom of Speech presented by Bob Backlund & Mankow: Steve Austin… Star of the Highest Magnitude presented by Walter Payton: The Undertaker… Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Gorilla Monsoon & Sycho Sid to Arnold Skaaland… Miss Slammy presented by Todd Pettengill: Sable.
03-23-1997: WWF WrestleMania 13 in Rosemont, IL: The Horizon: Attendance: 18,197 ($837,150): Dark Match: Billy Gunn defeated Flash Funk (2 Cold Scorpio)… The Headbangers (Most & Thrasher) defeated The New Blackjacks (John Bradshaw Leyfield & Barry Windham) and The Godwinns (Henry & Phineas Godwinn) and Phil Lafon & Doug Furnas in a "four corners" match… WWF Intercontinental champion Rocky Maivia (Dewayne “The Rock” Johnson) defeated The Sultan (Rikishi Fatu)… Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Goldust (Dustin Rhodes)… WWF World tag team champions Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith battled Vader & Mankind to a double count out… Bret Hart defeated Steve Austin by TKO in a submission match. Ken Shamrock was the guest referee… The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) & Ahmed Johnson defeated Farooq (Ron Simmons) & Crush (Bryan Adams) & Savio Vega in a Chicago street fight… The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid (Sid Vicious) to win the WWF heavyweight title.
All-Japan Women: Wrestling Queendom V in Yokohama, Japan: Yokohama Arena drawing 5,000: Momoe Nakanishi pinned Nanae Takahashi to win the vacant AJW Junior title… Yuka Shiina & Emi Motokawa beat Tannie Mouse & Yoshika Tamura… AJW Japanese tag team champions Chikayo Nagashima & Sugar Sato beat Saya Endoh & Misae Genki… Rie Tamada & Yumi Fukawa beat Chihiro Nakano & Makie Namao… Mima Shimoda & Etsuko Mita beat Yumiko Hotta & Toshiyo Yamada… Kaoru Ito pinned Manami Toyota… WWWA tag team champions Tomoko Watanabe & Kumiko Maekawa beat Takako Inoue & Mariko Yoshida… AJW Triple Crown champion Kyoko Inoue pinned Aja Kong.
03-28-1997: RINGS: Fighting Extension in Tokyo, Japan: NK Hall drawing 6,872: Minoru Tanaka defeated Todor Todorov… Willie Peeters beat Christopher Haseman… Tsuyoshi Kohsaka beat Bitsadze Tariel… Yoshihisa Yamamoto beat Hans Nyman… Akira Maeda beat Kiyoshi Tamura.
04-06-1997: WCW Spring Stampede: in Tupelo, MS: Tupelo Coliseum drawing 8,356: Shown live on PPV: Rey Misterio, Jr. pinned Ultimo Dragon… WCW Women's champion Akira Hokuto pinned Madusa… WCW TV champion Prince Iaukea pinned Steven Regal… Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) beat Steve McMichael & Jeff Jarrett… WCW U.S. champion Dean Malenko battled Chris Benoit to a no contest… Kevin Nash pinned Rick Steiner. Nash defended the WCW World tag team title in this singles bout… Lex Luger beat The Giant (Paul Wight) and Booker T and Stevie Ray in a four corners match… Diamond Dallas Page pinned Randy Savage in a no DQ match.
04-12-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) holds Battle Formation 1997 at the Tokyo Egg Dome in front of an announced 60,500 fans. Results: Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Manabu Nakanishi… El Samurai defeated Shinjiro Otani… Junji Hirata & Satoshi Kojima defeated Kazuo Yamazaki & Osamu Kido… Shiro Koshinaka defeated Takashi Ishikawa… J Crown Championship: Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Great Sasuke… Antonio Inoki defeated Tiger King (Saturo “Tiger Mask” Sayama)… Keiji Muto defeated Masahiro Chono… IWGP tag team championship: Kensuke Sasaki & Riki Choshu defeated Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura… Mixed Martial Arts Match: Naoya Ogawa defeated Shinya Hashimoto.
NWA Eddie Gilbert Memorial Show 2: in Cherry Hill, NJ: West High School drawing 1,000: Ray Odyssey & Inferno Kid beat Adrian Hall & Twiggy Ramirez to win the NWA American tag team titles… Mr. Puerto Rico beat Steve Corino… The Black Scorpion (Rick Ratchet) beat Donnie B. Deviously… Tommy Gilbert beat Ian Rotten… King Kong Bundy beat Don Montoya… Lance Diamond beat Reckless Youth and Cheetah Master in a triangle match to win the NWA North American title… Marty Jannetty beat Harley Lewis… NWA World champion Dan Severn battled Dory Funk, Jr to a double count out… I-Con won a battle royal… Doug Gilbert beat Buddy Landel… Flash Funk beat Ace Darling… Goldust (Dustin Rhodes) beat Derrick Domino.
04-13-1997: ECW Barely Legal PPV: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,170: Shown live on PPV: In a dark match: Louie Spicolli pinned Balls Mahoney… In a dark match: JT Smith & Chris Chetti beat Little Guido & Tommy Rich… The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) to win the ECW tag team titles… Rob Van Dam pinned Lance Storm… Great Sasuke & Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji beat Taka Michinoku & Terry Boy & Dick Togo… ECW TV champion Shane Douglas pinned Pitbull 2… Taz beat Sabu… Terry Funk beat Sandman and Stevie Richards in a three way dance… Terry Funk pinned Raven to win the ECW World title.
04-19-1997: All-Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 16,300: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi pinned Tornado… Giant Kamala II (Ben Peacock) & Masa Fuchi & Haruka Eigan beat Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura & Mitsuo Momota… Jun Akiyama & Tamon Honda beat Masao Inoue & Akira Taue… Yoshinori Ogawa & Kentaro Shiga beat Yoshinobu Kanemura & Hayabusa… Stan Hansen & Gary Albright & Takao Omori beat Steve Williams & Johnny Ace & Johnny Smith… Mitsuharu Misawa drew Kenta Kobashi… Toshiaki Kawada pinned Mitsuharu Misawa… Toshiaki Kawada pinned Mitsuharu Misawa to win the 1997 Champion Carnival.
04-20-1997: WWF Taker’s Revenge PPV: in Rochester, NY at the Memorial Auditorium drawing 6,477: Dark match: The Sultan pinned Flash Funk… The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) beat WWF World tag team champions Owen Hart & Davey Smith via DQ… Savio Vega beat WWF Intercontinental champion Rocky Maivia via countout… Jesse Jammes (Brian James) pinned Rockabilly (Billy Gunn)… WWF heavyweight champion The Undertaker pinned Mankind… Steve Austin beat Bret Hart via DQ.
04-22-1997: RINGS: Fighting Extension II in Osaka, Japan: Furitsu Gym drawing 4,870: Christopher Haseman beat Sean McCulley via forfeit… Dick Leon-Vrij defeated Tony Halme… Joop Kasteel defeated Mitsuya Nagai… Yoshihisa Yamamoto beat Masayuki Naruse… Kiyoshi Tamura beat Tsuyoshi Kohsaka… Christopher Haseman defeated Alexander Otsuka… Volk Han beat Akira Maeda.
04-29-1997: FMW: 8th Anniversary Show in Yokohama, Japan: Yokohama Arena drawing 16,000: Ricky Fuji & Ricky Morton beat Hido & Dragon Winger… Flying Kid Ichihara & Crypt Keeper beat Tatsuhiro Kuroda & Hayato Nanjyo… Koji Nakagawa pinned Katsutoshi Niiyama… Kaori Nakayama & Michiko Omuka & Chikako Shiratori & Mizuki Endoh & Yoko Ikeada beat Lioness Asuka & Eagle Sawai & Crusher Maedomari & Michiko Nagashima & Miss Mongol… Jinsei Shinzaki beat Super Leather… FMW Six Man Street Fight tag team champions Gedo & Jado & Hiromichi Fuyuki beat The Headhunters (A & B) & Hisakatsu Oya… Hayabusa pinned Mr. Gannosuke in a mask vs. hair match… Atsushi Onita & Masato Tanaka & Wing Kanemura beat Terry Funk & Cactus Jack & The Gladiator (Mike Awesome) in a Texas tornado street fight death match… Megumi Kudo pinned Shark Tsuchiya in a no rope 200 volt double hell double barbed wire barricade double landmine crushed glass electrical barbed wire death match to win the FMW Unified Women's title.
GAEA: 2nd Anniversary Show in Tokyo, Japan: Korakuen Hall drawing 2,300: Chihiro Nakano & Makie Numao & Rina Ishii beat Amami Kato & Sakura Hirota & Rieko Amano… Kaoru beat Esther Moreno… Chigusa Nagayo & Toshiyo Yamada beat Meiko Satomura & Sonoko Kato… WCW Cruiserweight champion Toshie Uematsu beat Sugar Sato… Mayumi Ozaki & Chikayo Nagashima beat Maiko Matsumoto & Akira Hokuto.
05-03-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: Strong Style Evolution: in Osaka, Japan: Osaka Dome drawing 43,000: Koji Kanemoto & Shinjiro Ohtani & Dick Togo & Mens Teoh & Hanzo Nakajima beat Super Delfin & Gran Hamada & The Great Sasuke & El Samurai & Norio Honaga… Kazuo Yamazaki beat Kendo Kashin… Shiro Koshinaka pinned Kengo Kimura… Tatsumi Fujinami pinned Hiroyoshi Tenzan… NWO Sting (Jeff Farmer) & Syxx (Sean Waltman) beat Tadao Yasuda & Takashi Iizuka… Buff Bagwell & Scott Norton beat Lex Luger & The Giant (Paul Wight)… Kevin Nash & Scott Hall & Masahiro Chono beat Keiji Mutoh & Rick & Scott Steiner… Antonio Inoki & Tiger King (Satoru Sayama) beat Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Jushin Liger… Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi beat Riki Choshu & Kensuke Sasaki to win the IWGP tag team title… IWGP heavyweight champion Shinya Hashimoto beat Naoya Ogawa.
05-10-1997: ECW Chapter Two: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,100: Shane Douglas & Bam Bam Bigelow beat The Pitbulls… Axl Rotten pinned Chris Chetti… Tracy Smothers & Little Guido beat Spike Dudley & Balls Mahoney… ECW tag team champions The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat PG-13 (JC Ice & Wolfie D)… Tommy Dreamer pinned Louie Spicolli… Big Dick & D-Von Dudley beat The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa)… Taz & Chris Candido beat Sabu & Rob Van Dam… ECW World champion Terry Funk beat Raven and Sandman and Stevie Richards in a four way dance.
05-11-1997: WWF A Cold Day in Hell PPV: in Richmond, VA at the Richmond Coliseum drawing 9,381: Dark match: Rockabilly (Billy Gunn) pinned Jesse Jammes (Brian James)… Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Flash Funk… Mankind beat Rocky Maivia… Ahmed Johnson pinned Crush (Brian Adams)… Ahmed Johnson beat Savio Vega via DQ… Farooq pinned Ahmed Johnson… Ken Shamrock beat Vader via submission in a "no holds barred" match… WWF heavyweight champion The Undertaker pinned Steve Austin… Dark match: The Legion of Doom (Animal & Haw) beat WWF World tag team champions Owen Hart & Davey Smith via DQ.
05-17-1997: WWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Monday Night RAW TV taping: Attendance: 14,615: WWF champion Bret Hart defeated Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker in a three way match… Bret Hart defeated Goldust… Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a falls count anywhere match… Owen Hart defeated Brian Pillman by DQ… Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) defeated Farooq (Ron Simmons) & Kama (Charles Wright) by DQ… Ahmed Johnson defeated Rocky Maivia… Chainz (Brian Lee) & Crush (Brian Clark) defeated Recon (Barry Buchanan) & Sniper (Luc Poirier) by DQ… Jesse James (Brian Armstrong) defeated Flash Funk (Too Cold Scorpio)… Savio Vega & Miguel Perez, Jr. defeated The New Blackjacks (Barry Windham & Justin Bradshaw)… Vader & The Patriot (Del Wilkes) defeated The Godwinns (Henry & Phineas Godwinn)… Dark match: Brooklyn Brawler (Steve Lombardi) won a 20 man battle royal… Dark match: Steve Corino defeated Jimmy Cicero.
05-18-1997: WCW Slamboree: in Charlotte, NC: Independence Arena drawing 9,643: Shown live on PPV: Dark match: Yuji Nagata pinned Pat Tanaka… Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) beat Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray & Booker T)… Steve Regal beat Ultimo Dragon to win the WCW TV title… Madusa pinned Luna Vachon… Rey Misterio, Jr. pinned Yuji Yasuraoka… Glacier (Ray Lloyd) beat Mortis (Chris Kanyon) via DQ… WCW U.S. champion Dean Malenko beat Jeff Jarrett… Meng beat Chris Benoit in a death match… Rick & Scott Steiner beat Konnan & Hugh Morris… Steve McMichael pinned Reggie White… Ric Flair & Roddy Piper & Kevin Green beat Kevin Nash & Scott Hall & Syxx.
06-05-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 14,000: Kendo Kashin beat Kazuyuki Fujita… Junji Hirata & Takayuki Iizuka beat Hiro Saito & Hiroyoshi Tenzan… Jushin Liger & Chris Jericho & Dr. Wagner Jr. & Gran Naniwa beat Shinjiro Ohtani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yoshihiro Tajiri & Hanzo Nakajima… Tiger King (Satoru Sayama) pinned Kuniaki Kobayashi… Tatsumi Fujinami & Kazuo Yamazaki & Kensuke Sasaki beat Shiro Koshinaka & Akira Nogami & Michiyoshi Ohara… Kengo Kimura & Takeshi Ishikawa beat Riki Choshu & Osamu Kido… El Samurai pinned Koji Kanemoto to win the 1997 Top of the Super Junior League tournament… IWGP tag team champions Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi beat Masahiro Chono & NWO Sting (Jeff Jarrett)… IWGP champion Shinya Hashimoto pinned Keiji Mutoh.
06-06-1997: 2nd annual Ilio DiPaolo Memorial show hosted by WCW: in Buffalo, NY
Midland Arena drawing 13,002: Gino Brito & Tony Parisi beat Dory Funk, Jr. & Greg Valentine via DQ… WCW U.S. champion Dean Malenko beat Alex Wright… Rick & Scott Steiner beat Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge)… Diamond Dallas Page beat Randy Savage… Chris Benoit beat Meng via countout… WCW U.S. champion Dean Malenko drew Rey Misterio, Jr… WCW World tag team champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash beat Lex Luger & The Giant.
All-Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 16,300: Richard Slinger & Satoru Asako beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Daisuke Ikeda… Sabu & Rob Van Dam beat Yoshinori Ogawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi… Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura & Mitsuo Momota beat Masa Fuchi & Haruka Eigan & Masao Inoue… Jun Akiyama & Hayabusa beat Kentaro Shiga & Takao Omori… Akira Taue & Tamon Honda beat Giant Kamala II (Ben Peacock) & Bobby Duncum, Jr… Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace & The Patriot (Del Wilkes) beat Steve Williams & Gary Albright & Lacrosse (Jim Steele)… All Japan Triple Crown champion Mitsuharu Misawa pinned Toshiaki Kawada
06-07-1997: ECW WrestlePalooza 1997: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,250: ECW TV champion Shane Douglas pinned Chris Chetti… The Pitbulls beat Little Guido & Tracy Smothers… The Dudley Boys (D-Von & Bubba Ray Dudley) beat Sandman & Balls Mahoney… ECW champion Terry Funk pinned Chris Candido… Tommy Dreamer pinned Raven…. Sabu pinned Taz…. Taz beat Shane Douglas to win the ECW TV title… ECW tag team champions The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) beat The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley).
06-08-1997: WWF King of the Ring PPV in Providence, RI at the Civic Center drawing 9,312: Dark Match: The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) beat Bart Gunn & Jesse Jammes (Road Dogg)… Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Ahmed Johnson… Mankind pinned Jerry Lawler… Goldust pinned Crush… Owen Hart & Jim Neidhart & Davey Boy Smith beat Sycho Sid (Eudy) & The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal)… Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Mankind to win the King of the Ring Tournament… Shawn Michaels battled Steve Austin to a double DQ… WWF heavyweight champion The Undertaker pinned Farooq (Ron Simmons).
06-13-1997: AAA Triple Mania 5-A: in Tijuana, Mexico: Plaza de Toros drawing 6,000: Firebird & Forastero & Black Silver beat Predator & Syndrome & Cobigula… Venum & Ludxor & Discovery & Super Nova beat Frank Nitti & Al Capone & Goyo & Loco Valentino… Pentagon & Fuerza Guerrera & Sangre Chicana beat Octagon & Mascara Sagrada Jr. & Aarandu in three falls… Cibernetico beat Pierroth in a street fight match… Heavy Metal & Leon Negro beat Latin Lover & Perro Aguayo, Jr. and Jerry Estrada & Picudo and My Flowers & Halcon Dorado, Jr. in a four corners hair vs. hair match. Negro pinned Flowers who lost his hair… Perro Aguayo & Tinieblas Jr. & El Canek beat Jake Roberts & Killer & Gorgeous George III.
06-14-1997: WWF in Toronto, ON at the Skydome drawing 14,615: The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) beat Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon…Goldust pinned Billy Gunn… Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Flash Funk (Too Cold Scorpio)… Ahmed Johnson (w/The Toronto Argonauts) pinned Farooq (w/The Hamilton Tiger Cats)… WWF Intercontinental champion Owen Hart pinned Sycho Sid… Henry & Phineas Godwinn beat Blackjacks (Barry Windham & Justin Bradshaw)… WWF European champion Davey Boy Smith pinned Mankind… The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) beat Savio Vega & Crush. Ken Shamrock was the referee… WWF heavyweight champion The Undertaker pinned Steve Austin.
06-15-1997: AAA Triple Mania 5-B: in Naulcalpan, Mexico: El Toreo: Octagoncito & Chivito Rayada & Mini Cibernetico beat Pentagoncito & Mini Mankind & Mini Goldust… Histeria & Maniaco & Mosco de la Merced beat Las Chivas Rayadas & Venum via DQ… Abismo Negro & Kraneo & Perro Aguayo Jr. & El Mexicano beat Picudo & May Flowers & Crazy 33 & Espectro… Blue Demon Jr. & Tinieblas Jr. & Sr. beat Pentagon & Scarecrow & Killer… Sangre Chicana beat Heavy Metal via DQ in a street fight match… Los Payasos beat Mascara Sagrada Jr. & La Calaca & Super Muneco in a steel cage loser unmasks match. Calaca lost the fall and his mask… Latin Lover beat Pierroth, Jr… Perro Aguayo & Octagon & Cibernetico & El Canek beat Jake Roberts & Gorgeous George III & Cobarde Jr., & Fuerza Guerrera.
WCW Great American Bash: in Moline, IL: Mark of the Quad Cities Arena drawing 9,613: Shown live on PPV: Ultimo Dragon beat Psicosis… Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray & Booker T) beat Rick & Scott Steiner via DQ… Konnan beat Hugh Morris… Glacier (Ray Lloyd) pinned Wrath (Bryan Clark)… WCW Women's champion Akira Hokuto pinned Madusa. Due to the loss, Madusa retired… Chris Benoit beat Meng in a death match… Kevin Greene pinned Steve McMichael… WCW World tag team champions The Outsiders (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash) beat Ric Flair & Roddy Piper… Randy Savage pinned Diamond Dallas Page in a falls count anywhere match.
06-20-1997: ECW in Waltham, MA: IBEW Hall drawing 700: The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) beat Eliminator Kronus (Saturn was injured) in a handicap match to win the ECW tag team titles.
06-21-1997: RINGS: Fighting Extension IV in Tokyo, Japan: Ariake Coliseum drawing 9,188: Wataru Sakata beat Yuri Bekichev… Masayuki Naruse beat Lee Hasdell… Mitsuya Nagai beat Andre Mannart… Ricardo Morais drew Yuri Korchikin in a vale tudo match… Adilson Lima defeated Alexander Fedorov in a vale tudo match… Yoshihisa Yamamoto beat Maurice Smith… Nikolai Zouev beat Kiyoshi Tamura.
06-28-1997: WCW hosts a special Saturday Night Nitro event with the audio being streamed over the internet in Inglewood, CA: Great Western Forum drawing 11,000: Juventud Guerrera & Super Calo & Damien beat Konnan & La Parka & Villano IV… Ultimo Dragon beat Psicosis… Eddie Guerrero pinned Dean Malenko… Rick & Scott Steiner beat Buff Bagwell & Masahiro Chono… WCW Cruiserweight champion Syxx (Sean Waltman) beat Rey Misterio, Jr… Chris Jericho pinned Syxx to win the WCW Cruiserweight title… Roddy Piper beat Ric Flair… Diamond Dallas Page pinned Randy Savage… Lex Luger & The Giant (Paul Wight) beat WCW World tag team champions The Outsiders (Kevin Nash & Scott Hall) via DQ.
ECW Orgy of Violence: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,400: Lance Storm pinned Tracy Smothers… PG-13 (JC Ice & Wolfie D) beat Spike Dudley & Mikey Whipwreck… ECW TV champion Taz beat John Kronus… Chris Candido pinned Tom Prichard… Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Pitbull 2… ECW tag team champions The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) beat The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa)… Balls Mahoney pinned Louie Spicolli… Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Tommy Dreamer & Sandman.
07-06-1997: WWF Canadian Stampede PPV: In Calgary, AB at The Saddledome drawing 12,151: Dark match: The Godwinns (Henry & Phineas Godwinn) beat The Blackjacks (Justin Bradshaw & Barry Windham)… Mankind battled Hunter Hurst Helmsley to a double count out… Great Sasuke pinned Taka Michinoku… WWF heavyweight champion The Undertaker pinned Vader… Bret & Owen Hart & Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith & Brian Pillman beat Steve Austin & Ken Shamrock & Goldust & The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal).
WAR Japan: 5th Anniversary Show in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 6,000: Tadahiro Ishii & Shoichi Ichinomiya & Shikeo Okumura beat Takashi Okamura & Maasaki Mochizuki & Yoshikazu Taru… Ryo Myake pinned Battle Ranger… Rumi Kazama & Michiko Omukai beat Eagle Sawai & Sayori Okino… Takashi Ishikawa & Kishin Kawabata beat Jun Kikuchi & Osamu Tachihikari… Arashi & Shinichi Nakano beat Joel Deaton & Tatsuo Nakano… Yoshiaki Fujiwara pinned Abdullah the Butcher… WAR International Junior Heavyweight champion Yuji Yasuraoka pinned Masao Orihara… Koki Kitihara & Lance Storm & Nobutaku Araya beat Tommy Dreamer & Koji Kitao & Nobukazu Hirai to win the vacant WAR Six Man tag team title… Genichiro Tenryu pinned Tarzan Goto.
07-13-1997: WCW Bash at the Beach: in Daytona Beach, FL: Ocean Center drawing 7,851: Shown live on PPV: Mortis (Chris Kanyon) & Wrath (Bryan Clark) beat Glacier (Ray Lloyd) & Ernest Miller… WCW Cruiserweight champion Chris Jericho pinned Ultimo Dragon… Rick & Scott Steiner beat Great Muta & Masa Chono… Juventud Guerrera & Hector Garza & Lizmark, Jr. beat La Parka & Psicosis, & Villano IV… Chris Benoit pinned Kevin Sullivan in a retirement match… WCW U.S. champion Jeff Jarrett pinned Steve McMichael… Scott Hall & Randy Savage beat Diamond Dallas Page & Curt Hennig… Roddy Piper beat Ric Flair… Lex Luger & The Giant (Paul Wight) beat Dennis Rodman & Hulk Hogan.
07-19-1997: ECW Heat Wave 1997: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,500: Mikey Whipwreck & Spike Dudley beat PG-13 (JC Ice & Wolfie D)… Axl Rotten beat Tracy Smothers… John Kronus pinned Prodigy… Chris Candido & Bam Bam Bigelow beat Chris Chetti & Balls Mahoney… ECW TV champion Taz beat Lance Storm… ECW World champion Terry Funk beat Shane Douglas by DQ… The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa) beat The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) in a steel cage weapons match to win the ECW tag team titles… Rob Van Dam & Sabu & Jerry Lawler battled Tommy Dreamer & Sandman & Rick Rude to a no contest.
07-25-1997: All-Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 16,300: Maunukea Mossman & Satoru Asako beat Yoshinori Ogawa & Kentaro Shiga… Tsuyoshi Kikuchi pinned Daisuke Ikeda… Masa Fuchi & Haruka Eigan & Masao Inoue beat Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura & Mitsuo Momota… Hiroshi Hase & Jun Akiyama beat Jinsei Shinzaki & Johnny Smith… Stan Hansen & Takao Omori beat Giant Kamala II (Ben Peacock) & Jun Izumida… Toshiaki Kawada & Tamon Honda beat Yoshihiro Takayama & Lacrosse (Jim Steele)… Steve Williams & Gary Albright beat Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace to win the All Japan World tag team titles… All Japan Triple Crown champion Mitsuharu Misawa pinned Akira Taue.
08-01-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 10,500: Takashi Iizuka & Kazuyuki Fujita beat Kendo Kashin & Tatsuhito Takaiwa… Shinjiro Ohtani & Koji Kanemoto beat Jushin Liger & El Samurai… Tatsumi Fujinami & Osamu Kido beat Riki Choshu & Kengo Kimura… Satoshi Kojima pinned Steve Regal… Hiroyoshi Tenzan pinned Tadao Yasuda… Scott Norton pinned Junji Hirata… Masahiro Chono beat Michiyoshi Ohara… Great Muta pinned Manabu Nakanishi… Shinya Hashimoto beat Kazuo Yamazaki.
08-02-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 11,000: Jushin Liger & El Samurai & Norio Honaga beat Shinjiro Ohtani & Koji Kanemoto & Tatsuhito Takaiwa… Michiyoshi Ohara & Tatsutoshi Goto & Kuniaki Kobayashi beat Takashi Iizuka & Osamu Kido & Kazuo Yamazaki… Kengo Kimura & Akira Nogami & Akitoshi Saito beat Tadao Yasuda & Manabu Nakanishi & Satoshi Kojima… Steve Regal beat Hiro Saito… Don Frye beat Kazuyuki Fujita… Kensuke Sasaki pinned Buff Bagwell… Hiroyoshi Tenzan pinned Satoshi Kojima… Scott Norton pinned Great Muta… Shinya Hashimoto beat Masahiro Chono.
08-03-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 11,000: Akitoshi Saito & Kuniaki Kobayashi beat Koji Kanemoto & Shinjiro Ohtani… Tatsuhito Takaiwa pinned El Samurai… Jushin Liger pinned Kendo Kashin… Buff Bagwell & Hiro Saito beat Tatsutoshi Goto & Michiyoshi Ohara… Hiroyoshi Tenzan pinned Shinya Hashimoto… Kensuke Sasaki pinned Scott Norton… Great Muta beat Steve Regal… Akira Nogami & Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami beat Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi & Junji Hirata… Kensuke Sasaki pinned Hiroyoshi Tenzan to win the 1997 G-1 Climax tournament.
WWF SummerSlam in East Rutherford, NJ at Continental Arena drawing 20,213: Mankind (Mick Foley) beat Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a steel cage match… Goldust (Dustin Rhodes) pinned Brian Pillman. As a result, Pillman must wear a dress on Raw… Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) beat Henry & Phineas Godwinn.. WWF European champion Davey Boy Smith beat Ken Shamrock via DQ… Los Boricuas beat The Disciples of the Apocalypse… Steve Austin pinned Owen Hart to win the WWF Intercontinental title… Bret Hart pinned The Undertaker to win the WWF heavyweight title. Shawn Michaels was the special referee.
08-09-1997: WCW Road Wild: in Sturgis, SD: Sturgis Rally & Race drawing 6,500: Shown live on PPV: Harlem Heat (Stevie Ray & Booker T) beat Buff Bagwell & Scott Norton… Konnan beat Rey Misterio, Jr… Steve McMichael & Chris Benoit beat Jeff Jarrett & Dean Malenko in an elimination match… WCW Cruiserweight champion Alex Wright pinned Chris Jericho… Ric Flair pinned Syxx (Sean Waltman)… Curt Hennig pinned Diamond Dallas Page… The Giant (Paul Wight) pinned Randy Savage… Rick & Scott Steiner beat WCW World tag team champions The Outsiders (Scott Hall & Kevin Nash) via DQ… Hulk Hogan pinned Lex Luger to win the WCW World heavyweight title.
ECW Born to be Wired: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,400: Little Guido pinned Prodigy… Mikey Whipwreck pinned Louie Spicolli… Spike Dudley pinned Bam Bam Bigelow… Chris Candido pinned Chris Chetti… Shane Douglas pinned Lance Storm… ECW TV champion Taz beat Al Snow… The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) & Big Dick Dudley beat Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney & Hack Meyers… Rob Van Dam pinned Tommy Dreamer… Sabu pinned Terry Funk in a barbed wire match to win the ECW World title.
08-10-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: The Four Heaven: in Nagoya, Japan: Nagoya Dome drawing 43,500: Kazuyuki Fujita beat Kendo Kashin… Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Tadao Yasuda & Takashi Iizuka & Osamu Kido & Junji Hirata beat Akitoshi Saito & Michiyoshi Ohara & Akira Nogami & Tatsutoshi Goto & Kengo Kimura… Koji Kanemoto pinned Jushin Liger… Shinjiro Ohtani pinned El Samurai to win the J Crown championships… Don Frye beat Cal Worsham… Tatsumi Fujinami pinned Riki Choshu… Kazuo Yamazaki & Kensuke Sasaki beat Manabu Nakanishi & Satoshi Kojima to win the IWGP tag team titles… The Great Muta defeated Naoya Ogawa… IWGP heavyweight champion Shinya Hashimoto pinned Hiroyoshi Tenzan.
08-15-1997: WWC: 24th Anniversary Show: in Bayamon, PR: drawing 8,000: Vampire Warrior beat Herbert Gonzales… El Profe battled Rico Suave to a no contest in a barroom brawl match… Skull Von Crush (AKA: Big Vito) beat Ram Man… Luna Vachon beat La Tigresa… Ricky Santana beat Mohammad Hussein in a flag match… Invader 1 & 2 (Jose Gonzalez & Roberto Soto) battled The Sheepherders (Luke Williams & Butch Miller) to a no contest in a barbed wire tornado match… Golden Boy (Chicky Starr) beat La Ley in a mask vs. hair match… Mark & Chris Youngblood beat The Islanders (Tahiti & Kuhio) via forfeit to win the WWC tag team titles… Carlos Colon pinned Abdullah the Butcher in a retirement match… WWC Universal champion Rey Gonzales beat Tom Brandi.
08-16-1997: Plum Mariko, age 29, dies as the result of injuries sustained during a match the previous day in Tokyo, Japan. Plum Mariko & Commando Boirshoi took on Mayumi Ozaki & Rieko Amano when she passed out following the match.
08-17-1997: ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997: in Ft. Lauderdale, FL: War Memorial Auditorium drawing 1,950: Shown live on PPV: ECW TV champion Taz beat Chris Candido… Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Spike Dudley… Rob Van Dam pinned Al Snow… The Dudley Boys (D-Von & Bubba Ray Dudley) beat The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa) via forfeit to win the ECW tag team titles… ECW tag team champions The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) beat PG-13 (JC Ice & Wolfie D)… Tommy Dreamer pinned Jerry Lawler… Shane Douglas beat Sabu and Terry Funk in a three way dance to win the ECW World title.
08-20-1997: All-Japan Women: Brightness in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 6,000: Yoshiko Tamura & Miho Wakizawa beat Saya Endo & Nanae Takahashi… Miyuki Okada pinned Chiharu… AJW Japanese Junior champion Momoe Nakanishi pinned Emi Motokawa… Chaparita Asari & Yuka Shiina beat Misae Genki & Tanny Mouse… Shark Tsuchiya & Crusher Maedomari beat Rie Tamada & Yumi Fukawa… Kyoko Hamaguchi beat Reiko Sometani via decision in an amateur rules match… Seiko Yamamoto pinned Machitani Momoko in an amateur rules match… Kaoru Ito beat Crystal Contal in a vale tudo match… Aja Kong drew Manami Toyota… Yumiko Hotta beat Kyoko Inoue to win the WWWA title… WWWA tag team champions Mima Shimoda & Etsuko Mita beat Kumiko Maekawa & Tomoko Watanabe.
08-21-1997: WCW: Clash of Champions 35: in Nashville, TN: Municipal Auditorium drawing 4,122: Shown live on TBS: Steve McMichael pinned Jeff Jarrett to win the WCW U.S. title… Raven pinned Stevie Richards in a no DQ match… Alex Wright pinned Ultimo Dragon to win the WCW TV title… WCW Cruiserweight champion Chris Jericho pinned Eddie Guerrero… Psicosis & Silver King & Villano IV & V beat Juventud Guerrera & Super Calo & Hector Garza & Lizmark Jr… Ric Flair & Curt Hennig beat Konnan & Syxx (Sean Waltman)… WCW World tag team champions Scott Hall & Randy Savage (substituting for Kevin Nash) beat Diamond Dallas Page & Lex Luger.
09-06-1997: All-Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 16,300: Yoshinori Ogawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Satoru Asako… Hiroshi Hase beat Tatsuo Nakano… Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura & Mitsuo Momota beat Haruka Eigan & Masa Fuchi & Masao Inoue… Stan Hansen & Takao Omori beat Jun Izumida & Giant Kamala II (Ben Peacock)… Johnny Ace & Maunukea Mossman beat Johnny Smith & Lacrosse (Jim Steele)… Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki beat Kenta Kobashi & Kentaro Shiga… Steve Williams & Gary Albright & Yoshihiro Takayama beat Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue & Tamon Honda… All Japan Triple Crown champion Mitsuharu Misawa pinned Jun Akiyama.
09-07-1997: WWF Ground Zero PPV: in Louisville, KY at the Louisville Gardens drawing 4,963: Brian Pillman pinned Goldust to win Marlena for 30 days… Brian Christopher beat Scott Putski via countout… Savio Vega beat Crush and Farooq in a "triangle" match… Max Mini pinned El Torito… The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) beat The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) and Henry & Phineas Godwinn and Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith in a "fatal four-way" match to win the vacant WWF World tag team titles… WWF heavyweight champion Bret Hart beat The Patriot (Del Wilkes)… Shawn Michaels battled The Undertaker to a no contest.
09-10-1997: Fritz Von Erich (Jack Adkisson) dies of cancer.
09-11-1997: Independent show: 50 Years of Funk: in Amarillo, TX: Fairgrounds Coliseum drawing 3,800: Wing Kanemura pinned Roadkill… ECW TV champion Taz beat Chris Candido… Shark Tsuchiya pinned Cooga… Mark & Chris Youngblood beat The Bushwhackers (Luke Williams & Butch Miller)… Balls Mahoney pinned Bubba Ray Dudley… ECW champion Shane Douglas pinned Tommy Dreamer… Dory Funk, Jr. pinned Rob Van Dam… Mankind (Mick Foley) beat Sabu via DQ… Hayabusa & Hakushi & Masato Tanaka beat Jake Roberts & The Headhunters… Bret Hart pinned Terry Funk.
09-14-1997: WCW Fall Brawl: in Winston-Salem, NC: Lawrence Joel Coliseum drawing 11,939: Shown live on PPV: Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Jericho to win the WCW Cruiserweight title… Rick & Scott Steiner beat Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray)… WCW World TV champion Alex Wright pinned Ultimo Dragon… Jeff Jarrett beat Dean Malenko… Wrath (Brian Clark) & Mortis (Chris Kanyon) beat Meng & The Barbarian… The Giant (Paul Wight) pinned Scott Norton… Lex Luger & Diamond Dallas Page beat Scott Hall & Randy Savage in a no DQ match… Marcus Bagwell & Kevin Nash & Syxx (Sean Waltman) & Konnan beat Chris Benoit & Steve McMichael & Ric Flair & Curt Hennig in a War Games match.
AAA: Verano de Escandalo 1997: in Tonala, Mexico: Rio Nilo Coliseum drawing 18,500: Perro Aguayo & Perro Aguayo, Jr. & Heavy Metal beat Sangre Chicano & Picudo & Cobarde in a steel cage match. Being the last man in the cage, Cobarde had his head shaved.
09-19-1997: CMLL: 64th Anniversary Show: in Mexico City, Mexico: Arena Mexico drawing 18,500: Ultimo Dragoncito & Cicloncito Ramirez beat Damiancito el Guerrero & Pierrothito… Valentin Mayo & Halcon Negro & Karloff Lagarde Jr. beat Olimpico & Tony Rivera & Ultraman Jr… Emilio Charles, Jr. won an elimination match. Also in the match were: El Satanico, Mr. Niebla, Brazo de Plata, Scorpio Jr., Mascara Magica, and Bestia Salvaje… Lola Gonzalez & Lady Apache beat Lioness Asuka & La Diabolica… Universo 2000 & Mascara Ano 2000 & Apolo Dantes beat Lizmark & Atlantis & Fantasma… El Hijo del Santo beat Negro Casas in a mask vs. hair match.
09-20-1997: ECW As Good As It Gets: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,600: Tracy Smothers & Little Guido beat Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten… Justin Credible pinned Jerry Lynn… Chris Candido pinned Lance Storm… Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Spike Dudley… ECW World champion Shane Douglas pinned Phil Lafon in a no DQ match… ECW TV champion Taz pinned Pitbull 2… Sabu battled Sandman to a no contest… Beulah McGillicutty & Tommy Dreamer beat Bill Alfonso & Rob Van Dam… New Jack & John Kronus beat The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) to win the ECW tag team titles.
09-23-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 12,800: Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi beat Hiro Saito & Hiroyoshi Tenzan… NWO Sting (Jeff Farmer) & Buff Bagwell beat Tadao Yasuda & Takayuki Iizuka… El Samurai & Wild Pegasus (Chris Benoit) & Jushin Liger beat Dr. Wagner Jr. & Chris Jericho & Koji Kanemoto… Akira Nogami & Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura beat Akitoshi Saito & Michiyoshi Ohara & Tatsutoshi Goto… Don Frye beat Kazuyuki Fujita… J Crown champion Shinjiro Ohtani pinned Tatsuhito Takaiwa… The Great Muta & Masahiro Chono beat Kensuke Sasaki & Kazuo Yamazaki… Naoya Ogawa beat Brian Johnston… Shinya Hashimoto beat Zane Frazier.
09-27-1997: WWF One Night Only PPV: in Birmingham, UK at NEC Arena drawing 11,000: Shown live on UK PPV: Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Dude Love (Mick Foley)… Tiger Ali Singh pinned Leif Cassidy (Al Snow)… WWF World tag team champions The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) beat Savio Vega & Miguel Perez, Jr… The Patriot (Del Wilkes) pinned Flash Funk (Too Cold Scorpio)… The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) beat Phineas & Henry Godwinn… Vader pinned Owen Hart… WWF heavyweight champion Bret Hart beat The Undertaker via DQ… Shawn Michaels defeated Davey Boy Smith to win the WWF European title.
09-28-1997: FMW: Fall Spectacular 1997 in Kawasaki, Japan: Kawasaki Stadium drawing 50,012: Tetsuhiro Kuroda won a royal rumble. Also in the match were: Flying Kid Ichihara, Ricky Fuji, The Headhunters (A & B), Hido, Hideko Hosaka, Koji Nakagawa, Alexander Otsuka, Mr. Pogo II, Super Leather, & Minoru Tanaka… Crusher Maedomari & Miss Mongol beat Kaori Nakayama & Miwa Sato… FMW Brass Knux tag team champions Mr. Gannosuke & Hisakatsu Oya beat Gedo & Jado… Shark Tsuchiya pinned Aja Kong to win the vacant FMW unified Women's title… NWA Texas champion Terry Funk pinned Hiromichi Fuyuki in a loser leaves FMW match… Vader (Leon White) defeated Ken Shamrock in an ultimate rules match… Masato Tanaka pinned The Gladiator (Mike Awesome) to win the FMW Unified title… Kenta Kobashi & Maunukea Mossman beat Jinsei Shinzaki & Hayabusa… Atsushi Onita pinned Wing Kanemura in a no rope barbed wire electrified dynamite land mine time bomb death match.
10-05-1997: WWF Badd Blood in St Louis, MO at the Kiel Center drawing 21,151: Kama Mustafa & D-Lo Brown & Rocky Maivia beat The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) in a handicap match when Maivia pinned Hawk… Max Mini & Nova beat Tarantula & Mosaic… Henry & Phineas Godwinn beat The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) to win the WWF World tag team titles… A legends ceremony featuring: Jack Brisco, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Gene Kiniski, Sam Muchnick, Harley Race, & Lou Thesz… Owen Hart pinned Farooq (Ron Simmons) to win the vacant WWF Intercontinental title… Crush & Skull (Ron Harris) & Eight Ball (Don Harris) & Chainz (Brian Lee) beat Savio Vega & Miguel Perez & Jesus Castillo & Jose Estrada, Jr… Bret Hart & Davey Boy Smith beat Vader & The Patriot (Del Wilkes)… Shawn Michaels pinned The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match.
10-10-1997: Michinoku Pro: 4th Anniversary Show in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 6,000: Yone Genjin beat Magic Man… Tiger Mask IV & El Gran Hamada beat Chris Candido & The Convict… Satoru Sayama beat El Satanico… The Undertaker pinned Hakushi… Super Delfin & Naohiro Hoshikawa & Masato Yakushiji beat Dick Togo & Men’s Teoh & Shoichi Funaki… The Great Sasuke pinned Taka Michinoku in a street fight match.
10-12-1997: Ikki Kajiwara (Creator of Tiger Mask) Memorial 1997 in Tokyo, Japan: Sumo Hall drawing 4,000: LLPW: Yasha Kurenai & Carol Midori beat Eagle Sawai & Michiko Nagashima… Kamikaze drew Noguchi… Kenichi Sato beat Kyoko Gooseriver… Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama) & Tiger Mask IV beat Tiger Mask II (Yoshinobu Kanemaru of All Japan substituting for Mitsuharu Misawa) & Tiger Mask III (Koji Kanemoto). Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro) was the guest referee… Genichiro Tenryu & Arashi (Team WAR) beat Koji Kitao & Maasaki Mochizuki (Team Kitao Dojo)… Yoshiaki Fujiwara (PWFG) battled Super Tiger (Satoru Sayama) to a no contest. Antonio Inoki (New Japan) was the guest referee.
10-16-1997: ECW in Queens, NY: Lost Battalion Hall drawing 900: Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Shane Douglas to win the ECW World title.
10-18-1997: ECW in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,600: ECW World champion Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Mikey Whipwreck… Paul Diamond pinned Spike Dudley… Tracy Smothers & Little Guido beat New Jack & John Kronus to win the ECW tag team titles… Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten beat The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley)… Great Sasuke pinned Al Snow… ECW TV champion Taz battled Rob Van Dam to a no contest… Chris Candido & Lance Storm beat Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon… Sabu beat Tommy Dreamer and Shane Douglas in a three way dance.
All-Japan Women: Wrestlemarinpiad IX in Yokohama, Japan: Bunka Gym drawing 2,350: Chihiro Nakano beat Nanae Takahashi… Kyoko Ichiki & Takako Inoue beat Manami Toyota & Emi Motokawa… WWWA tag team champions Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda beat Kumiko Maekawa & Momoe Nakanishi… WWWA champion Yumiko Hotta beat Kaoru Ito.
10-21-1997: All-Japan Pro Wrestling: 25th Anniversary Show: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 16,300: Sean Morley & Satoru Asako & Masao Inoue beat Daisuke Ikeda & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinori Ogawa… Rusher Kimura & Mitsuo Momota beat Haruka Eigan & Jun Izumida… Kentaro Shiga & Jun Akiyama beat Yoshinobu Kanemura & Takao Omori… Giant Baba & Stan Hansen & Jumbo Tsuruta beat Kamala II (Ben Peacock) & Tamon Honda & Masa Fuchi… Steve Williams & Gary Albright & The Lacrosse (Jim Steele) beat Rex King & Bobby Duncum Jr. & Johnny Smith… Akira Taue pinned Johnny Ace… Toshiaki Kawada beat Yoshihiro Takayama… All Japan Triple Crown champion Mitsuharu Misawa pinned Kenta Kobashi.
The first King of the Death Match Tournament for IWA Mid-South takes place in Louisville, KY and is won by Ian Rotten.
10-25-1997: RINGS: World Mega Battle Tournament 1997: First Round in Tokyo, Japan: NK Hall drawing 6,620: Joop Kasteel beat Lee Hasdell… Mikhail Ilioukhine beat Masayuki Naruse… Mitsuya Nagai beat Tsuyoshi Kohsaka… Dick Leon-Vrij beat Bitsadze Tariel… Tsuyoshi Kohsaka beat Boris Jeliazkov via decision… Akira Maeda beat Nikolai Zouev… Volk Han beat Andrei Kopilov… Kiyoshi Tamura beat Hans Nyman.
10-26-1997: WCW Halloween Havoc: in Las Vegas, NV: MGM Grand Garden Arena: drawing 12,457: Shown live on PPV: Yuji Nagata beat Ultimo Dragon… Chris Jericho beat Gedo… Rey Misterio, Jr. pinned Eddie Guerrero to win the WCW Cruiserweight title in a mask vs. title match… Alex Wright pinned Steve McMichael… Jacquelyn pinned Disco Inferno… WCW U.S. champion Curt Hennig beat Ric Flair via DQ… Lex Luger beat Scott Hall. Larry Zbyszko was the special referee… Randy Savage beat Diamond Dallas Page in a sudden death match… Roddy Piper beat Hulk Hogan in a steel cage match.
10-30-1997: 1st Annual Plum Mariko Memorial in Tokyo, Japan: Ota Ward Gym drawing 2,500: JWP: Devil Masami & Tomoko Miyaguchi & Sari Osami & Commando Boirshoi beat Hikari Fukuoka & Tomoko Kozumi & Kanako Motoya & Rieko Amano… Kyoko Inoue beat Esther Moreno… Big Japan: Aya Koyama beat Nana Fujimura… SPWF: Chiharu beat Misa Okada… J'd: Chikako Shiratori & Yuki Lee beat Yoko Kosugi & Miyuki Sogabe… IWA Japan: Emi Motokawa beat Sachie Nishibori… LLPW: Harley Saito beat Eagle Sawai… FMW: Crusher Maedomari beat Kaoru Nakayama… AJW: Kaoru Ito & Nanae Takahashi beat Kumiko Maekawa & Momoe Nakanishi… JWP: Cutie Suzuki & Dynamite Kansai beat Mayumi Ozaki in a handicap match.
10-31-1997: ECW Fright Fight: in Stamford, CT: Twin Rinks drawing 1,000: ECW tag team champions Tracy Smothers & Little Guido beat Mikey Whipwreck & Chris Chetti… Paul Diamond beat Al Snow… Tommy Rogers beat Roadkill… Justin Credible pinned Jerry Lynn… ECW World champion Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Spike Dudley… Shane Douglas & Chris Candido beat Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon… ECW TV champion Taz drew Sabu… Tommy Dreamer beat Rob Van Dam in a flag match… New Jack & John Kronus beat Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney and The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) in a three way dance.
11-02-1997: New Japan Pro Wrestling: Final Battle Hall: in Fukuoka, Japan: Fukuoka Dome drawing 48,000: Kazuyuki Fujita & Takashi Iizuka beat Kendo Kashin & El Samurai… Akira Nogami & Kengo Kimura beat Tatsutoshi Goto & Hiro Saito… Jushin Liger & Tiger King (Satoru Sayama) beat Koji Kanemoto & Tatsuhito Takaiwa… Michiyoshi Ohara & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Scott Norton beat Tadao Yasuda & Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi… J Crown champion Shinjiro Ohtani pinned Chris Benoit… Don Frye beat Kazuo Yamazaki… Naoya Ogawa beat Erwin Vreeker… Kensuke Sasaki pinned Riki Choshu… Shinya Hashimoto beat Hubert Numrich… IWGP tag team champions Keiji Mutoh & Masahiro Chono beat Tatsumi Fujinami & Genichiro Tenryu.
11-07-1997: WWF in Toronto, ON at the Skydome drawing 14,374: Tiger Ali Singh pinned Miguel Perez… Kama & D-Lo Brown beat The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher)… Ahmed Johnson pinned Rocky Maivia… Savio Vega beat Goldust via forfeit… WWF World tag team champions The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) beat Henry & Phineas Godwinn… Vader beat Farooq (Ron Simmons) via DQ… Ken Shamrock pinned Triple H… Steve Austin & Mankind & The Undertaker beat Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart & Davey Boy Smith.
11-08-1997: ECW Ultimate Jeopardy 1997: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,100: Chris Candido & Lance Storm beat Tommy Rogers & Jerry Lynn… Mikey Whipwreck pinned Spike Dudley… Al Snow pinned Paul Diamond… Axl Rotten beat D-Von Dudley and John Kronus and Tracy Smothers in a four way dance… Justin Credible pinned Chris Chetti… The Blue Meanie pinned Jason Knight… ECW World champion Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Shane Douglas… Taz & Tommy Dreamer beat Sabu & Rob Van Dam.
11-09-1997: The Montreal Screw Job occurs in the main event of the WWF Survivor Series in Montreal, Canada at the Molsen Center drawing 20,593 ($371,000): Billy Gunn & Jesse Jammes (Road Dogg) & Henry & Phineas Godwinn beat The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) & The New Blackjacks (Justin Bradshaw & Barry Windham) in an elimination match. Gunn and Jammes were the survivors… The Truth Commission (Kurrgan & Recon (Barry Buchanan) & Sniper (Luc Poirier) & Jackal (Don Callis) beat The Disciples of Apocalypse (Crush & Brian Lee & Ron Harris & Don Harris) in an elimination match… Davey Boy Smith & Jim Neidhart & Phil Lafon & Doug Furnas beat Vader & Goldust (Dustin Rhodes) & Marc Mero & Steve Blackman in an elimination match. Smith was the sole survivor… Kane (Glen Jacobs) pinned Mankind (Mick Foley)… The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) & Ahmed Johnson & Ken Shamrock beat The Nation of Domination (Farooq & Rocky Maivia & D-Lo Brown & Kama) in an elimination match. Shamrock was the sole survivor… Steve Austin pinned Owen Hart to win the WWF Intercontinental title… Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart to win the WWF heavyweight title when Hart was by WWF owner Vince McMahon and called for the bell while Michaels had Hart in a sharp shooter changing the planned finished of a disqualification.
11-15-1997: WWF at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY: Attendance: 15,479: The Undertaker & Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels & Triple H… Ken Shamrock defeated Rocky Maivia… Dude Love (Mick Foley) defeated Jim Neidhart in a no DQ match… Max Mini & Nova & Taurus defeated Torito & Piratita Morgan & Tarantula… Kane (Glen Jacobs) defeated Vader… WWF World tag team champions Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal) defeated Savio Vega & Miguel Perez, Jr… WWF champion Shawn Michaels defeated Brooklyn Brawler (Steve Lombardi)… Crush (Brian Adams) & Chainz (Brian Lee) defeated D’Lo Brown & Kama (Charles Wright)… Farooq (Ron Simmons) defeated Ahmed Johnson… New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn & Road Dogg (Brian Armstrong)) defeated The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher).
11-20-1997: RINGS: World Mega Battle Tournament 1997: Second Round in Osaka, Japan: Chuo Gym drawing 5,110: Gilbert Yvel defeated Lev Barkala… Masayuki Naruse beat Mohammad Yone… Mikhail Ilioukhine beat Tsuyoshi Kohsaka… Akira Maeda beat Mitsuya Nagai… Volk Han beat Dick Leon-Vrij… Kiyoshi Tamura beat Joop Kasteel.
11-23-1997: WCW World War 3: in Auburn Hills, MI: The Palace drawing 17,128: Shown live on PPV: Meng & The Barbarian beat Glacier & Ernest Miller… WCW TV champion Perry Saturn pinned Disco Inferno… Yuji Nagata pinned Ultimo Dragon… WCW World tag team champions Rick & Scott Steiner beat Steven Regal & David Taylor… Raven pinned Scotty Riggs in a no DQ match… Steve McMichael pinned Alex Wright… WCW Cruiserweight champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Rey Misterio, Jr… WCW U.S. champion Curt Hennig pinned Ric Flair… Scott Hall won a three ring battle royal. Also in the match were: Chris Adams, Brad Armstrong, Marcus Bagwell, The Barbarian, Chris Benoit, Bobby Blaze, Ciclope, Damien, El Dandy, Barry Darsaw, Disco Inferno, Jim Duggan, David Findlay, Hector Garza, The Giant (Paul Wight), Glacier (Ray Lloyd), Juventud Guerrera, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Eddie Guerrero, Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray), Curt Hennig, Prince Iaukea, Chris Jericho, Lizmark Jr., Lex Luger, Dean Malenko, Steve McMichael, Meng, Ernest Miller, Rey Misterio Jr., Hugh Morrus, Mortis (Chris Kanyon), Yuji Nagata, John Nord, Diamond Dallas Page, La Parka, The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge), Steve Regal, The Renegade (Rick Wilson), Randy Savage, Silver King, Norman Smiley, Louie Spicolli, Rick & Scott Steiner, Super Calo, David Taylor, Ray Traylor, Ultimo Dragon, Greg Valentine, Villano IV & V, Vincent, Kendall Windham, Wrath (Bryan Clark), and Alex Wright.
11-30-1997: ECW November to Remember 1997: in Monaca, PA: Golden Dome drawing 4,634 (ECW’s largest live attendance to date): Shown live on PPV: Dark match: Chris Chetti & Spike Dudley beat Erin O'Grady & Paul Diamond… Chris Candido & Lance Storm beat Tommy Rogers & Jerry Lynn. This match started as Candido vs. Rogers and became a tag match when the other two interfered… Mikey Whipwreck pinned Justin Credible… ECW TV champion Taz beat Pitbull 2… ECW tag team champions Tracy Smothers & Little Guido beat The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) and Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten and New Jack & John Kronus in a four way dance… Tommy Dreamer battled Rob Van Dam to a no contest in a flag match… Sabu pinned Sandman in a table and ladders match… Shane Douglas pinned Bam Bam Bigelow to win the ECW World title.
12-05-1997: All-Japan Pro Wrestling: in Tokyo, Japan: Budokan Hall drawing 15,500: Kentaro Shiga beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru… Yoshinori Ogawa & Jun Izumida beat Satoru Asako & Tamon Honda… Justin Bradshaw beat Masao Inoue… Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura & Mitsuo Momota beat Haruka Eigan & Masa Fuchi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi… Steve Williams & Gary Albright & Barry Windham beat Stan Hansen & Takao Omori & Bobby Duncum Jr… Wolf Hawkfield (Jim Steele) & Johnny Smith & Giant Kamala II (Ben Peacock) beat Kenta Kobashi & Johnny Ace & Maunukea Mossman… Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama to win the 1997 Real World Tag League tournament.
ECW in Waltham, MA: IBEW Hall drawing 850: Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon beat Tracy Smother & Little Guido to win the ECW tag team titles.
12-06-1997: ECW Better Than Ever: in Philadelphia, PA: ECW Arena drawing 1,600: Tommy Rogers & Jerry Lynn beat Tracy Smothers & Little Guido… Mikey Whipwreck pinned Justin Credible… Al Snow pinned Paul Diamond… Chris Candido & Lance Storm beat Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon and Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten in a three way dance to win the ECW tag team titles… The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) beat New Jack & Spike Dudley… Stevie Richards pinned Chris Chetti… Sabu & Rob Van Dam beat Tommy Dreamer & Taz.
12-07-1997: WWF D-Generation X PPV: in Springfield, MA at the Civic Center drawing 6,358: Taka Michinoku pinned Brian Christopher to become the first WWF Light heavyweight champion… Miguel Perez & Jesus Castillo & Jose Estrada Jr. beat Chainz & Skull & and Eight Ball (Brian Lee & Ron & Don Harris)… Butterbean beat Marc Mero (4th Round - 0:10) via DQ in a "toughman" match… WWF World tag team champions New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn & Road Dogg) beat The Legion of Doom (Animal & Hawk) via DQ… Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Sgt. Slaughter in a "bootcamp" match… Jeff Jarrett beat The Undertaker via DQ… WWF Intercontinental champion Steve Austin pinned Rocky Maivia… Ken Shamrock beat WWF heavyweight champion Shawn Michaels via DQ.
12-13-1997: AAA: Guerra de Titanes 1997: Convention Center drawing 11,000: Lady Discovery & Lady Ludxor & Lady Venum & Xochitl Hamada beat La Fugitiva & La Migala & La Practicante & Martha Villalobos… Histeria & Maniaco & AAA Mosco de la Merced & Psicosis II beat Cuervo & La Parka II & Mascara Sagrada Jr. & Venum II… Octagon & Antonio & Jorge Brennan beat Abismo Negro & Fuerza Guerrera & Pentagon II… Latin Lover & Mascara Sagrada & Perro Aguayo Sr. beat Cibernetico & Fuerza Guerrera & Killer… Picudo lost a steel cage where the last man in the cage would lose his hair. Also in the match were Heavy Metal, Perro Aguayo Jr., and Sangre Chicana.
12-23-1997: RINGS: World Mega Battle Tournament 1997: Semi-Finals in Fukuoka, Japan: International Center drawing 6,800: Tsuyoshi Kohsaka beat Christopher Haseman… RINGS Light Heavyweight champion Masayuki Naruse beat Wataru Sakata… Sean Alvares beat Willie Peeters in a vale tudo match… Grom Zaza beat Ricardo Morais via unanimous decision in a vale tudo match… Mikhail Ilioukhine defeated Volk Han… Kiyoshi Tamura beat Akira Maeda.
12-28-1997: WCW Starrcade: in Washington, D.C.: MCI Center drawing 17,500: Shown live on PPV: WCW Cruiserweight champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Dean Malenko… Randy Savage & Scott Norton & Vincent beat Ray Traylor & Rick & Scott Steiner… Bill Goldberg pinned Steve McMichael… Saturn beat Chris Benoit in a no DQ match… Buff Bagwell pinned Lex Luger… Diamond Dallas Page pinned Curt Hennig to win the WCW US title… Larry Zbyszko (WCW) beat Eric Bischoff (NWO) via DQ in a match for control of Monday Nitro. Bret Hart was the guest referee… Sting beat Hulk Hogan to win the WCW World title.
DragonKingKarl (Karl Stern) is a long time pro wrestling historian who has been published in books, newsletters, and podcasts since the mid-1990s.
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