First off, since this column will be up during Independance Day, happy 4th to my fellow Americans. And since it's also up on July 1st, Happy Canada Day to all of my readers north of the border.

Today's soundtrack for me typing this column is the Dave Matthews Band's "Remember Two Things." Could one of those things be sending this column in so it makes it up on Wednesday instead of Thursday?

1999 - Steve Austin won the WWF World title from The Undertaker in Charlotte, NC. I'm guessing this was on "Raw."

1998 - The WWF's "King of the Ring" was in Pittsburgh. Obviously, the event won't be remembered for the actual tournament or the World title match, but instead "Hell in a Cell II." Yep, Undertaker vs Mankind in one of those matches that just make you go "oooooooh... ahhhhhh." Like fireworks. Anyway, I don't think I can say anything that hasn't been said about the match except that it is a classic. Sure, there's nothing technical in it. As far as taking bumps and pain, the match is a classic. For those keeping score, 'Taker won it, but Foley's career advanced a whole lot because of it. Also on the card: The Headbangers & TAKA Michinoku d. Kaientai ... KOTR semifinal matches: Ken Shamrock d. Jeff Jarrett and The Rock d. Dan Severn ... Too Much d. Al Snow & Head ... X-Pac d. Owen Hart ... World tag champs The New Age Outlaws d. The New Midnight Express ... KOTR finals: Shamrock d. The Rock to become KOTR ... Kane d. World champ Steve Austin in a "first blood" match to win the title.

1997 - In one of the great moments in WCW history, "Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah" Chris Jericho won the cruiserweight belt from Syxx, who hadn't made it to the annoying state he is in today. Does anybody here at [slash] like X-Pac?

1982 - The team of Jules & Chief Jay Strongbow won the WWF World tag gold from Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito.

1999 - Live on "Raw is War" in Fayetteville, NC, North Carolina's own Matthew and Jeffrey Hardy won the World tag titles from the Acolytes.

1998 - One night after losing the belt at the "King of the Ring", Steve Austin won it back from Kane live on "Raw is War."

1992 - Stan Frazier, who also competed as Uncle Elmer, Kamala II, and The Convict, died as a result of complications from diabetes at the age of 54.

1961 - "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers won the NWA World belt from Pat O'Connnor in Chicago.

1935 - Danno O'Mahony won the NWA World belt from Ed Don George (who has three first names).

Birthdays - It's Terry Funk's birthday. Guess how old the guy is? 56.

1999 - In one of the bright spots of my wrestling-watching career (yes, it's a career), Chris Jericho signed a multiyear deal with the WWF. And yes, HE SHOULD'VE STAYED WITH WCW! HE IS GOING NOWHERE IN THE WWF! Oh wait... channeling someone else there.

1969 - "Iron" Mike DiBiase, father of Ted DiBiase, died in the ring as the result of a heart attack.

Birthdays - It's Bret "Hitman" Hart's birthday. If it could've only been a day earlier on Canada Day!

1986 - Velvet McIntyre won the WWF Women's title from the Fabulous Moolah in Brisbane, Australia. Where did Moolah disappear to, anyway? Wait... let's not find out.

1994 - WWF referee Joey Marella, son of Gorilla Monsoon, died in an automobile accident at the age of 30.

1991 - Because they are true Americans, WCW held the annual "Great American Bash" on the birthday of the country. You want fireworks, WE GOT YOUR FIREWORKS... and your money. In what I guess was the main event, U.S. champ Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham in a cage match for the vacant World title. However, the last match of the night is the one I would want headlining a PPV I was going to... Rick Steiner & Missy Hyatt defeating Arn Anderson & Paul E. Dangerously in a cage match. YEAH! Also on the card: Bobby Eaton & P.N. News (yo baby, yo baby, yo) d. Terrence Taylor & Steve Austin in a scaffold match ... Diamond Studd d. Tom Zenk ... Ron Simmons d. Oz ... Rick Morton d. Robert Gibson ... The Young Pistols & Dustin Rhodes d. The Freebirds & Badstreet in an elimination match ... Yellow Dog d. Johnny B. Badd ... Big Josh d. Black Blood in a lumberjack match ... El Gigante d. One Man Gang ... Nikita Koloff d. Sting in a Russian chain match (I bet Sting would've won if it was an American chain match). In one of those matches not aired, Junkyard Dog d. Black Bart.

1988 - Adrian Adonis, Pat Kelly, and Dave McKigney are all killed when the minivan driven by fellow wrestler Mike Kelly (who escaped alive but with a crushed leg) plunged over a cliff and into a lake in Lewisporte, Newfoundland.