On This Day in Pro Wrestling History – May 5 | George Hackenschmidt, Cowboy Bill Watts, FMW Deathmatches & More

May 5

On This Day in Pro Wrestling History

Happy Cinco de Mayo, wrestling fans!

May 5 is one of those dates where wrestling history goes from ancient roots to exploding barbed wire, which is honestly a pretty accurate summary of professional wrestling as a whole.

We start at Madison Square Garden in 1905 with one of the foundational matches in American wrestling history. From there, we move through Mexican championships, Cowboy Bill Watts’ birthday, Bruno Sammartino in Puerto Rico, the Von Erichs at Texas Stadium, FMW chaos in Kawasaki Stadium, and enough title changes to make a championship committee beg for a lunch break.

Let’s get into it.

The Roots of the American World Heavyweight Title

We begin in 1905 at Madison Square Garden.

George Hackenschmidt, the World Greco-Roman Champion, defeated Tom Jenkins, the American Heavyweight Champion, in two straight falls to become the World Catch-as-Catch Can Heavyweight Champion.

That match is considered the origin of the first World Heavyweight Title in America.

So yes, May 5 starts with the bones of the business.

Before television. Before pyro. Before entrance themes. Before anyone yelled “sports entertainment” into a boardroom microphone. There was Hackenschmidt, Jenkins, Madison Square Garden, and a championship lineage beginning to take shape.

That is real wrestling bedrock.

Early Titles Across the Map

From there, May 5 becomes a territory map in motion.

In 1937, Floyd Hanson defeated Abdul Khan for the Montana State Middleweight Title.

In 1940, Bobby Bonales defeated Jack O’Brien to win the Mexican National Lightweight Title in Mexico City.

In 1947, Danny McShain captured his ninth World Light Heavyweight Title by defeating Martino Angelo in Hollywood.

And in 1950, McShain appears again, defeating Miguel Guzmán for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston.

That is the fun of these dates. A name like Danny McShain pops up across divisions, cities, and eras, reminding us how active and valuable those territory stars were.

Cowboy Bill Watts Is Born

In 1939, Cowboy Bill Watts was born in Oklahoma City.

Watts became one of wrestling’s most influential and opinionated figures. As a wrestler, promoter, and booker, he left a major mark, especially through Mid-South Wrestling.

Mid-South had grit. It had athleticism. It had toughness. It felt like football, bar fights, and morality plays all colliding under arena lights.

That was very much part of the Bill Watts fingerprint.

Don Kernodle and Hiroshi Hase Join the Timeline

May 5 also gives us a couple of notable birthdays.

Don Kernodle was born in 1950, later becoming known to many fans for his work in Mid-Atlantic wrestling and his connection to Sgt. Slaughter.

Hiroshi Hase was born in 1961 in Oyabe, Japan. Hase became a respected name in Japanese wrestling, known for his technical ability and later his political career.

That is quite a range for one date. One birthday tied to rugged Mid-Atlantic tag action, another to Japanese technical excellence.

Tag Titles Everywhere

May 5 has a strong tag team heartbeat.

In 1961, Dory Dixon and Rito Romero won the Texas NWA World Tag Team Title from The Corsicans.

In 1964, Don Curtis and Abe Jacobs defeated Duke Keomuka and Hiro Matsuda for the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title.

In 1972, Raul Mata and Rey Mendoza defeated Killer Kowalski and Kinji Shibuya for the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.

Then in 1976, Dino Bravo and Mr. Wrestling defeated Gene and Ole Anderson to win the NWA World Tag Team Title in Raleigh.

That last one especially jumps out. The Andersons were one of wrestling’s great tag team forces, so any team taking the belts from them deserves attention.

Tag wrestling was never just the warm-up act. On dates like this, it was central to the whole story.

Bruno Sammartino Wins Gold in Puerto Rico

In 1978, Bruno Sammartino defeated Gorilla Monsoon for the WWC North American Heavyweight Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

There is something fascinating about seeing Bruno’s name attached to WWC gold.

Most fans naturally think of Bruno and the WWWF. Madison Square Garden. The Northeast. Long title reigns. Immigrant pride. Heroic strength.

But here he is in Puerto Rico, still adding to his legendary résumé.

That is the thing about true wrestling icons. Their names travel.

World Class Honors the Von Erich Legacy

One of the biggest events on May 5 came in 1985, when World Class held the second annual Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions at Texas Stadium before 26,153 fans.

The show was loaded with emotion and spectacle.

The card included:

Kerry Von Erich vs. One Man Gang in a hair vs. hair stipulation

The Fantastics defeating The Midnight Express in a two-ring no-disqualification match

The Freebirds and Von Erichs teaming in a wild best-of-five falls match

Ric Flair defending the NWA World Heavyweight Title against Kevin Von Erich

World Class always felt dramatic, but events like this carried an extra layer. The Von Erich name meant everything in Texas, and these stadium shows felt less like ordinary wrestling cards and more like family history being played out in public.

Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Crockett Country

May 5 also gives us Jim Crockett Promotions history.

In 1986, JCP ran Fayetteville, North Carolina with a card featuring Jimmy Garvin, Hector Guerrero, Jimmy Valiant, Pez Whatley, Tully Blanchard, Ron Garvin, Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A., and the Midnight Express.

Then in 1987, JCP taped television in Spartanburg with Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, The Road Warriors, and more.

That is the kind of lineup that makes Crockett fans smile. Flair, Dusty, Road Warriors, Midnight Express, Magnum T.A. That era had texture, volume, and enough personality to fill a dozen arenas.

Twin Wars Brings NWA and AWA Together

In 1990, the NWA sent a world title match to Verne Gagne’s AWA event, Twin Wars, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ric Flair defeated Brian Pillman to retain the NWA World Title, with Nick Bockwinkel as special referee.

That is a sneaky great piece of history.

Flair vs. Pillman already sounds exciting. Add Bockwinkel as referee and place it on an AWA-promoted event during a changing wrestling landscape, and you get a moment that feels like several eras shaking hands.

On the same card, Larry Zbyszko defended the AWA World Title against Nikita Koloff.

Hayabusa Begins as Eiji Ezaki

In 1991, FMW ran the Nagoya International Center, and Eiji Ezaki made his debut.

He would later become much more famous as Hayabusa.

That alone makes this date important.

Hayabusa became one of the most beloved and innovative stars in FMW history. But before the mask, before the aura, before the legend, there was this debut.

History loves hiding beginnings in plain sight.

FMW Turns May 5 Into Exploding Barbed Wire Day

Now we get to the part of May 5 where things become very FMW.

From 1993 through 1996, FMW ran major Kawasaki Stadium shows that became key pieces of deathmatch history.

In 1993, FMW held its Fourth Anniversary Show in front of 41,000 fans, headlined by Atsushi Onita defeating Terry Funk in an Exploding Ring Barbed Wire Land Mine Match.

In 1994, Genichiro Tenryu defeated Atsushi Onita in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Cage Death Match.

In 1995, FMW promoted what was billed as Atsushi Onita’s retirement match, with Onita defeating his protégé Hayabusa in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Exploding Cage Death Match.

Of course, Onita would eventually return, because wrestling retirements sometimes have the shelf life of warm milk.

Then in 1996, FMW delivered even more chaos, including:

Cactus Jack vs. W*ING Kanemura in a Caribbean Barbed Wire Barricade Spider Net Glass Death Match

Megumi Kudo defeating Combat Toyoda in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match

Terry Funk and Mr. Pogo defeating Hayabusa and Masato Tanaka in another exploding barbed wire war

May 5 belongs heavily to FMW, and FMW did not believe in subtlety. They believed in explosions, barbed wire, blood, smoke, and making sure the insurance paperwork needed its own filing cabinet.

ECW Gets Extreme in Florida

In 1995, ECW returned to Fort Lauderdale with a card featuring Joe Malenko, Tazmaniac, Axl Rotten, Ian Rotten, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Raven, Tommy Dreamer, Cactus Jack, Sandman, and Public Enemy.

The big standout was Cactus Jack defeating ECW World Champion The Sandman in a non-title barbed wire match, making Cactus the number one contender.

The ropes were replaced with barbed wire, because ECW looked at ordinary ropes and apparently decided they lacked personality.

This was the kind of card that connected ECW’s underground American chaos with the same dangerous spirit FMW was exploring in Japan.

Remembering Ray Stevens

Also listed on this date is the passing of Ray “The Crippler” Stevens at age 60.

Stevens was one of wrestling’s great workers, a respected champion, and a name that carried weight across several territories.

Some wrestlers are remembered because they were famous. Others are remembered because every wrestler after them borrowed something from their toolbox.

Ray Stevens belongs in that second group.

Joshi and Junior Heavyweight History

May 5 also has several important women’s and junior heavyweight notes.

In 1998, ARSION held the ARS Tournament, with Candy Okutsu defeating Mariko Yoshida in the final.

That same year, Kumiko Maekawa defeated Zap T for the All Pacific Title.

In 1999, Minoru Tanaka became the first FMW Junior Heavyweight Champion, and Chaparita Asari won the WWWA World Super Lightweight Title tournament.

These moments are important reminders that wrestling history is not just heavyweight titles and main event men. The innovation, speed, technique, and evolution of women’s wrestling and junior divisions are just as essential to the larger story.

Why May 5 Matters

May 5 is a massive wrestling history date.

It gives us:

the origin of America’s first World Heavyweight Title

Cowboy Bill Watts’ birthday

Bruno Sammartino winning WWC gold

major NWA tag title changes

World Class at Texas Stadium

Ric Flair vs. Brian Pillman

Eiji Ezaki’s debut before becoming Hayabusa

FMW’s legendary Kawasaki Stadium deathmatch era

ECW barbed wire chaos

Ray Stevens’ legacy

and major joshi and junior heavyweight milestones

That is a lot for one day.

May 5 starts with George Hackenschmidt in Madison Square Garden and ends somewhere near an exploding barbed wire cage in Kawasaki Stadium.

Professional wrestling, ladies and gentlemen. No other art form drives this kind of bus.

Support Wrestling History

At WFIA, we believe pro wrestling history deserves to be preserved in full.

The world title origins matter. The territory champions matter. The deathmatches matter. The undercards, birthdays, retirements, returns, and strange little footnotes all matter too.

Together, they tell the story of professional wrestling.

Stay Connected With WFIA

Check back daily for more On This Day in Pro Wrestling History, along with classic moments, wrestling news, and stories from every era and every corner of the business.