Cool Timeline
The man who would go on to become the longest-reigning champion in WWE history, Bruno Sammartino, makes his Madison Square Garden debut. Sammartino’s MSG debut marked the beginning of an era of fame and monetary success that goes virtually unmatched in WWE history, as well as that of professional wrestling…
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Shohei “Giant Baba” Baba joins the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA). Baba had formerly been a top pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He was honored as the league’s best pitcher in three out his four seasons on the main roster. After an injury to his elbow, he…
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Kanji (Antonio) Inoki began his professional wrestling career, training with Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) under the tutelage of wrestling legend Rikidōzan. Inoki, originally born to a well to do family in Japan, moved to Brazil after World War II, where he would garner acclaim as a high school athlete. After meeting Rikidōzan…
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A mere six months after making his Madison Square Garden debut, Bruno Sammartino headlines MSG for the first time ever, tagging with Antonino Rocca and defeating the team of Pampero Firpo & The Great Antonio. Contrary to wrestling lore, Sammartino did not sell-out Madison Square Garden 187 times. In fact,…
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Danny Hodge defeated Angelo Savoldi at the Stockyards Coliseum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Trained by Leroy McGuirk and Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Hodge debuted as a professional wrestler in October 1959 and wo go on to be considered the greatest Junior Heavyweight in pro…
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Verne Gagne is awarded the newly-created American Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight championship. Having withdrawn from the National Wrestling Alliance, the Minnesota-based group of promoters issued a fictitious public challenge to NWA champion Pat O’Connor, and, following a 90-day period during which O’Connor nor the NWA “accepted” the empty challenge, Gagne…
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Antonio Inoki makes his professional wrestling debut at the Taito Ward Gym in Tokyo, Japan. He lost in a match against Kinatro Oki, also known by the ring name of Kim Il, who was part of the same wrestling class as Inoki and Giant Baba. Inoki would go on to become an…
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Giant Baba makes his professional wrestling debut at the Taito Ward Gym in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Yonetaro Tanaka. Baba made his debut on the same date and location as Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki. Baba would go on to become an International wrestling star and the owner of All Japan Pro…
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