On This Day in Pro Wrestling History: May 15th | Bruno Sammartino, AAA Debuts, Ron Simmons & More

On This Day in Pro Wrestling History: May 15th

May 15th is one of those dates that quietly proves how wide the wrestling world really is. From Bruno Sammartino defending the WWWF crown in Madison Square Garden, to the birth of Kevin Von Erich and Ron Simmons, to AAA changing lucha libre forever, this day is packed with title changes, historic debuts, territory battles, and a few strange little gems that only wrestling history can provide.

1950s: Champions, Territories, and Future Legends

The day starts deep in the territorial era. In 1953, Frankie Talaber captured his ninth Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio by defeating Joe Scarpello in a tournament final.

In 1955, George Dussette and Luther Lindsay won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title from Bulldog Curtis and Tommy Martinez.

May 15th also gave wrestling two major names. Kevin Von Erich was born in 1957 in Belleville, Illinois. One year later, in 1958, Ron Simmons was born. Simmons would go on to become WCW World Champion, a WWE Hall of Famer, and one of the most important trailblazers in modern wrestling history.

Also in 1958, Verne Gagne and Leo Nomellini defeated Doc and Mike Gallagher for the Minneapolis NWA World Tag Team Title.

1960s: Bruno, The Garden, and Major Title Changes

In 1963, Rocket Monroe defeated Joe Scarpa, later known as Chief Jay Strongbow, and Pancho Villa in a three-way match to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama.

That same year, Bruno Sammartino and Apollo defeated the Fabulous Kangaroos in the main event of a WWWF show in Staten Island, New York.

In 1964, the WWWF ran Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the Zembo Mosque. The card was headlined by WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino battling European Champion Hans Mortier to a no contest after both men failed to answer the count following a collision in the ring.

One of the biggest title changes of the decade came on May 15, 1965, when Mighty Igor Vodic defeated Mad Dog Vachon in Omaha, Nebraska to win the AWA World Heavyweight Title, ending Vachon’s second reign.

That same night, the WWWF ran Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Bill Watts and Bill Miller defeated Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil in tag team action.

In 1967, Madison Square Garden hosted another major WWWF card. Bruno Sammartino defended the WWWF World Title against Gorilla Monsoon, winning in classic Bruno fashion after escaping Monsoon’s bearhug and falling back on top of him for the pin.

1970s: Women’s Wrestling, Pedro Morales, and Backlund vs. Graham

May 15th was also important for women’s wrestling. In 1970, Donna Christantello and Kathy O’Day defeated The Fabulous Moolah and Toni Rose in Los Angeles to win the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Title.

In 1971, Pedro Morales defended the WWWF Heavyweight Title at the Boston Garden, defeating Blackjack Mulligan. That same card featured The Fabulous Moolah, Donna Christanello, Gorilla Monsoon, Chief Jay Strongbow, and Bulldog Brower.

Also in 1971, Red Bastien and Hercules Cortez defeated Butcher and Mad Dog Vachon in Milwaukee to win the AWA World Tag Team Title.

The title changes kept rolling through the decade. Boris Malenko won the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in 1972. Sandy Parker captured the WWWA World Singles Title in Japan in 1973. Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel defeated Gene and Ole Anderson for the NWA World Tag Team Title in 1975.

In 1976, the WWWF ran the Spectrum in Philadelphia, where Superstar Billy Graham defeated Gorilla Monsoon after the match was stopped due to blood. That same day, The Sheik defeated Bobo Brazil in Detroit to win the NWA United States Heavyweight Title.

In 1977, George “The Animal” Steele defeated Bruno Sammartino by disqualification at the Boston Garden, while WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham retained against Tony Garea.

In 1978, Maple Leaf Wrestling ran Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens with a loaded card. Bob Backlund defeated Superstar Billy Graham by count-out, while AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel battled Jim Brunzell to a double disqualification.

1980s: Crockett, Piper vs. Funk, Hogan in Japan, and The Million Dollar Man Arrives

The 1980s portion of May 15th is packed.

In 1983, Jim Crockett Promotions ran Charlotte, North Carolina. The Brisco Brothers won a round robin tournament involving Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood, as well as Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle.

That same day in Toronto, Roddy Piper and Terry Funk faced each other for the first time at Maple Leaf Gardens. Piper won by count-out, which feels perfectly right for a first chapter between two chaos merchants.

In 1984, New Japan Pro Wrestling ran Kumamoto, Japan with a major card featuring Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Antonio Inoki, Big John Studd, Adrian Adonis, Dick Murdoch, Ken Patera, and Tatsumi Fujinami. Hogan defeated Riki Choshu by count-out, while Inoki defeated Big John Studd.

In 1985, WWF ran Southampton College in New York, and S.D. Jones had one of the strangest busy nights imaginable. He wrestled three times, defeating Barry O, winning a 10-man battle royal, and then teaming with Mike Rotundo to defeat WWF Tag Team Champions Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik by count-out.

In 1986, The Midnight Rockers, Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels, defeated The Batten Twins to win the NWA Central States Tag Team Title.

Then came 1987, one of the most interesting WWF notes of the day. WWF debuted at the Houston Coliseum, a long-time Paul Boesch stronghold. Ted DiBiase appeared for the WWF for the first time in seven years and announced he was now part of the company. This was before the full “Million Dollar Man” persona had been introduced to audiences everywhere, making it a fascinating transitional moment.

That Houston card also featured Ricky Steamboat defeating Randy Savage in an Intercontinental Title match after Savage accidentally hit himself with the timekeeper’s bell.

In 1988, WWF ran the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago. Ted DiBiase defeated WWF World Champion Randy Savage by count-out, while Jake Roberts and Rick Rude fought to a double count-out.

1990s: AAA Begins, ECW Builds, Triple H Debuts on Raw

In 1992, AAA held its first event at Auditorio Benito Juarez de Veracruz. The main event saw Perro Aguayo, El Fantasma, and Máscara Sagrada face Los Hermanos Dinamita. Lucha libre would never be the same after this. AAA’s launch created a new force in Mexican wrestling and helped reshape the future of the industry.

That same day, WWF ran The Summit in Houston, with Randy Savage defending the WWF World Title against Ric Flair by disqualification.

In 1993, the Rock ’n’ Roll Express defeated The Heavenly Bodies in Johnson City, Tennessee to win the SMW Tag Team Title, beginning their fourth reign.

Also in 1993, NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling held its second-ever event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia. The show featured Terry Funk, Jimmy Snuka, The Sandman, Eddie Gilbert, Don Muraco, Tommy Cairo, and multiple ECW Tag Team Title changes. ECW was still forming its identity, but the smoke was already rising from the basement.

In 1994, Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart on a WWF card in San Jose, California in front of 7,200 fans.

In 1995, Monday Night Raw was taped in Binghamton, New York, and featured the Raw debut of Hunter Hearst Helmsley, the future Triple H. On that same taping, Bob Backlund began his “Mr. Backlund for President” vignettes, because wrestling has always enjoyed taking reality, dressing it in a bowtie, and launching it into orbit.

The same taping included Bret Hart defeating Hakushi, Shawn Michaels defeating King Kong Bundy in a King of the Ring qualifier, and The Undertaker defeating Jeff Jarrett in another qualifier.

In 1998, WCW ran Bangor, Maine with Goldberg defending the United States Title against Perry Saturn, Diamond Dallas Page defeating Raven in a Raven’s Rules match, and The Giant battling Kevin Nash to a no contest.

That same day, UFC 17 took place in Mobile, Alabama. Chuck Liddell made his MMA debut, Dan Henderson won the middleweight tournament, Frank Shamrock defended the UFC Middleweight Title, and Pete Williams famously knocked out Mark Coleman with a head kick.

ECW also ran Hamburg, Pennsylvania in 1998, with Rob Van Dam defeating Jerry Lynn, Sabu defeating Lance Storm, and The Dudleys defeating Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, and Spike Dudley.

In 1999, Shane Douglas’ time with ECW came to an end after a dispute over money owed by the company. “The Franchise,” ECW’s first-ever World Champion, would never return to the promotion.

2000: Raw Crushes Nitro in the Monday Night War

On May 15, 2000, WWF Raw is War drew a 6.1 rating, defeating WCW Monday Nitro’s 3.2 rating.

Nitro was live from Biloxi, Mississippi and featured Ric Flair defeating Jeff Jarrett to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title. KroniK also won the WCW Tag Team Titles, while Crowbar became WCW Cruiserweight Champion through one of WCW’s more bizarre mixed tag stipulations.

Raw aired from Cleveland, Ohio and featured The Dudley Boyz, Edge and Christian, The Hardys, The Rock, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Chyna, Rikishi, Kurt Angle, and the always-chaotic Hardcore Title scene. Crash Holly lost and regained the Hardcore Title on the same show, because in 2000, that belt lived like a raccoon in a fireworks stand.

Final Bell

May 15th gave wrestling fans a little bit of everything: Bruno at Madison Square Garden, Kevin Von Erich and Ron Simmons entering the world, AAA’s first show, Triple H’s Raw debut, ECW’s early rise, and Ric Flair adding yet another world title reign to his already ridiculous legacy.

It is a date full of champions, turning points, territory grit, and the strange little details that make wrestling history feel alive.