World Wrestling Peace Festival

[GODSON]

What is the history and results around this event?

[cawthon777]

I know it's the show that got Rey hired with WCW. I'm sure Jericho and Dragon caught their eye here as well.

 

 

prowrestlinghistory.com

 

World Wrestling Peace Festival

June 1, 1996 in Los Angeles, CA

LA Sports Arena drawing 5,964 ($64,965)

 

Craig Pittman (WCW) beat KGB (AAA) (6:11) via submission.

 

Jim Niedhart pinned Bobby Bradley, Jr. (5:00).

 

Lady Apache (EMLL) & Akira Hokuto beat Neftali (AAA) & Bull Nakano (8:24) when Hokuto pinned Neftali.

 

WCW: Chris Benoit pinned Alex Wright (9:54).

 

AAA: Rey Misterio, Jr. & Ultimo Dragon beat Psicosis & Heavy Metal (11:40) when Dragon pinned Metal.

 

Lex Luger (WCW) pinned Masa Saito (NJ) (5:53).

 

EMLL: Negro Casas pinned El Hijo del Santo (5:54).

 

EMLL: Atlantis, Dos Caras, & Hector Garza beat Silver King, Dr Wagner Jr, & Gran Markus Jr. (10:35) when Caras pinned Markus.

 

Tatsumi Fujinami pinned Black Cat (5:15).

 

AAA: Perro Aguayo & La Parka beat Pierroth, Jr. & Cibernetico (9:35) when Aguayo pinned Pierroth (9:38).

 

Konnan (AAA/WCW) beat Chris Jericho and Bam Bam Bigelow (7:41) in a "triangle" match.

 

Konnan pinned Bigelow (4:51).

 

Konnan pinned Jericho (7:41).

 

Jushin Liger (NJ) pinned Great Sasuke (Mich) (12:47).

 

WCW: The Giant pinned Sting (5:09).

 

Dan Severn & Antonio Inoki beat Oleg Taktarov & Yoshiaki Fujiwara (9:15) when Severn forced Fujiwara to submit.

[Dobbs 3K]

Sounds like a neat card, though I'm guessing most of the matches weren't anything spectacular. Kind of nice to think back to the days when wrestling was getting hot in the US again, and you could put on a legit supercard without just WWE guys.

[CheesalaIsGood]

Was this show televised?

[cawthon777]

No but a fancam featuring a handful of the matches does exist.

[GODSON]

I wonder if the same thing can be pull off today? TNA,New Japan and CMLL have a working agreement. Add Ring of Honor and PWG to the mix we would get a great super show.

[Richard]

New Japan Pro Wrestling owner/legend Antonio Inoki’s latest attempt as part of a lifelong obsession/ambition to gain entry into the pantheon of American culture meets with disaster. His much-hyped “World Peace Festival” card in Los Angeles draws just 2,500 fans to the L.A. Sports Arena, which is especially scary since he originally planned to hold it in the 100,000-seat L.A. Coliseum and attract widespread attention from the U.S. media. He does manage to gain the cooperation of both WCW and Mexico’s AAA, however, with perhaps the most notable aspect of this collaboration being that Eric Bischoff attends and gets his first look at numerous future members of his talent roster. In the main event, Inoki & Dan Severn beat Oleg Taktarov (UFC star) & Yoshiaki Fujiwara (of Fujiwara Armbar fame); in WCW’s top representative match, The Giant beat Sting with the chokeslam; in the best WCW match on the card, Chris Benoit downs Alex Wright; in the best overall match on the card, Rey Misterio, Jr. & Ultimo Dragon beat Psicosis & Heavy Metal; and in an undercard match of note, Konnan beats Chris Jericho and Bam Bam Bigelow in a triangle elimination in Bischoff’s first-ever look at Jericho.

[EdwardKnoxII]

I remember reading about this in PWI back in the day. I remember reading they were trying to get the WWF in on this but, Vince wouldn't have it. Is this true?

[GODSON]

No wonder there was no follow up. 2500 people? TNA drew more than that at their houseshow.

 

It was probably a poor promoted event or people did not care about wrestling at that time. I'm sure if they did another one it would draw more people depending on the promoters. I remember reading that a lucha show drew over 5000 people in 2004, forgot the name of the promotion.