Valentine’s Day: The Moment Greg Valentine “Won” The WWF World Title
Posted: Mar 3rd 2022 By: BDamage - RingTheDamnBell.WordPress.com
Greg ‘The Hammer’ Valentine had a pretty successful career in the World Wrestling Federation. He is a former Intercontinental Champion and former co holder of the WWF tag team titles with Brutus Beefcake. Back in October of 1981, Valentine added the WWF World title to his resume, albeit very briefly. This is the story of how Valentine shocked the wrestling world (well in New York City) and became a world champion.
The date was October 19th, 1981 and the place was Madison Square Garden in New York City. Greg Valentine was challenging then WWF champion Bob Backlund for the world title. During the hard fought contest, Valentine placed Backlund on his shoulders and applied an “airplane spin.” While in mid spin, Backlund’s leg accidentally knocked down WWF official John Stanley. The two wrestlers collapsed to the mat with Backlund on top of Valentine and the dazed referee counted the 1…2…3.
Greg Valentine was the first man to get to his feet and in the confusion of the moment, referee John Stanley raised the arm of Valentine as the winner. In doing so, declared that Valentine won the WWF world title. Valentine was handed the title and he quickly left the ring and rushed to the back. Backlund got to his feet where he and his manager Arnold Skaaland were incensed. A hush came over the 18,120 fans in attendance, as it was believed they witnessed a title change. A few more referees entered the ring along with the head of the New York State Athletic Commission to discuss the situation. After a few minutes of back and forth discussion…ring announcer Howard Finkel made the announcement that the match was declared a no contest. In turn, the WWF World title was being held up and an immediate rematch between Valentine and Backlund would be booked next month to declare who was the WWF champion.
While all of this was transpiring in the ring, Valentine was backstage along with his manager the Grand Wizard Ernie Roth taking photographs with the WWF title. The title change was never mentioned on the WWF’s syndicated programs. It was more of a “New York” thing, that was pretty much kept quiet to the rest of WWF’s territory. The wrestling magazines would write about the incident with headlines like “WWF IN CHAOS, BACKLUND STRIPPED OF THE TITLE!” National sports reporter and avid wrestling fan George Michael reported on the title switch on his sports program which clouded the incident a bit more.
Despite the attention the match result received nationally, a rematch was booked the following month at MSG on November 23, 1981. This time, in front of a sold out crowd of 21,104 fans, Backlund pinned Valentine cleanly using a German Suplex and won back the vacant title. There have been a few urban legends surrounding their original match. The main one being that the referee accidentally screwed up the finish because he was confused seeing that Valentine and Backlund were both wearing black trunks. The WWF immediately went into panic mode and held up the title. That may explain why the WWF refused to mention the title switch on WWF television and had Bob Backlund defend the belt in other parts of the territory while the title was “vacant” in New York.
The second and more plausible explanation was this incident was only meant to drum up business for a return match the next month. It was never meant to be anything more than a small angle, which blew out of proportion. The company succeeded in that regard, because the rematch sold out the venue. Years later, in one interview with Greg Valentine, the interviewer asked if he ever regretted not winning a world title during his career? Valentine was quick to answer back that he was a world champion in the WWF. The brief title change was never acknowledged by the World Wrestling Federation.
Supplemental Information
Polling Booth
Why didn't you vote in the Oklafan Year End Polls?
Upcoming Events
- NAW · Sep 12 5:00pm · Muldrow
- WAH · Sep 13 3:00pm · Tulsa
- ASP · Sep 17 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 18 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 19 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- UWE · Sep 19 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- EPW · Sep 19 6:00pm · Broken Arrow
- TexPro · Sep 19 7:00pm · Ardmore
- ASP · Sep 20 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 21 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 22 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 23 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 24 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MWF · Sep 24 7:00pm · Bartlesville
- ASP · Sep 25 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Antlers
- EPW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MWF · Sep 25 8:00pm · Shawnee
- ASP · Sep 26 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Sep 26 5:00pm · Antlers
- LA · Sep 26 5:00pm · Chickasha
- RWE · Sep 26 6:00pm · Spencer
- MWF · Sep 26 8:00pm · Lawton
- ASP · Sep 27 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Oct 3 2:00pm · Idabel
- WFC · Oct 3 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
- UWO · Oct 9 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- NAW · Oct 10 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- BCW · Oct 10 7:00pm · Guthrie
- ASP · Sep 17 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 18 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 19 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 20 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 21 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 22 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 23 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 24 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 25 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 26 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 27 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- BCW · Oct 10 7:00pm · Guthrie
- EPW · Sep 19 6:00pm · Broken Arrow
- EPW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- LA · Sep 26 5:00pm · Chickasha
- MidAW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Antlers
- MidAW · Sep 26 5:00pm · Antlers
- MidAW · Oct 3 2:00pm · Idabel
- MWF · Sep 24 7:00pm · Bartlesville
- MWF · Sep 25 8:00pm · Shawnee
- MWF · Sep 26 8:00pm · Lawton
- NAW · Sep 12 5:00pm · Muldrow
- NAW · Oct 10 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- RWE · Sep 26 6:00pm · Spencer
- TexPro · Sep 19 7:00pm · Ardmore
- UWE · Sep 19 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Oct 9 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · Sep 13 3:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Oct 3 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
Spotlight in History
- 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
- 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
- 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12
- 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
- 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
- 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
- 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
- 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
- 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
- 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
- 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
- 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
- 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
- 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
- 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th Today!
- Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th Today!
- Owen Sep 10th Today!
- Vivian St. John Sep 10th Today!
- Les Mayne Sep 10th Today!
- Kool Ade Sep 10th Today!
- Summer Thunder Sep 11th
- Vic Nichols Sep 11th
- Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
- N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
- Adrian Dell Sep 12th
- Danni Bee Sep 12th
- Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
- Montego Seeka Sep 12th
- Bash Sep 12th
- Animal Sep 12th
- American Anarchy Sep 12th
- Poder Oriental Sep 13th
- Angelina Love Sep 13th
- K. P. Moore Sep 13th
- Bobby Starr Sep 13th
- Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
- Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
- Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
- Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
- Waddy Young Sep 14th
- Bernie D Sep 14th
- L. C. Green Sep 15th
- Korvin Sage Sep 15th
- Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
- Daniel King Sep 15th
- Haru Sonada Sep 16th
- Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
- Jake Swayze Sep 17th
- Bill Irwin Sep 17th
- Jim Cornette Sep 17th
- Dick Brower Sep 17th
- Rex Mori Sep 17th
- Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
- Billy Robinson Sep 18th
- Titan Yin Sep 18th
- Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
- Angel Reed Sep 18th
- Adam Asher Sep 19th
- Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
- Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
- Ethan Page Sep 20th
- Chuck Singer Sep 20th
- Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
- Joey Stixx Sep 20th
- Justin Lee Sep 20th
- Pepper Martin Sep 20th
- Bishop Simon Sep 20th
- Boz Sep 20th
- Greg Valentine Sep 20th
- Ricky Morton Sep 21st
- Jack Brisco Sep 21st
- Connor Jones Sep 21st
- Harley D Sep 22nd
- Doug Somers Sep 22nd
- Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
- Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
- Satine Sep 22nd
- Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
- O'Malley Sep 23rd
- Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd