Today in Nerd History | March 7

March 7 brings us a magical girl phenomenon and the debut of an Olympic gold medalist turned pro wrestling legend. Let’s explore some Nerdy Facts about Sailor Moon and Kurt Angle’s WWF debut!

Inclusion on this list does not imply that the entry is family friendly, only that it was a nerd culture milestone. Parents should, of course, use discernment.

On March 7, 1992, Sailor Moon premiered in Japan, bringing the world one of the most iconic magical girl anime series of all time.

Nerdy Facts:

• A Superhero Origin: Creator Naoko Takeuchi originally envisioned Sailor Moon as a superhero story inspired by Super Sentai, which led to its signature mix of action and transformation sequences.
• The Power of the Moon: The series helped popularize the magical girl genre internationally, paving the way for later hits like Cardcaptor Sakura and Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
• Different Dubs, Different Stories: The original North American dub in the 1990s was heavily edited, changing character names, relationships, and even cutting entire episodes.

On March 7, 1999, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle made his first WWF appearance on Sunday Night Heat, marking the beginning of one of the greatest wrestling careers ever.

Nerdy Facts:

• Real Gold: Kurt Angle won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics, famously competing with a broken (freakin’) neck.
• Intense Training: Before his WWF debut, Angle trained under legendary wrestlers like Dory Funk Jr. and Tom Prichard, quickly proving he was a natural in the ring.
• The Three I’s: His early WWF persona emphasized his “Three I’s” – Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence – though fans quickly turned on him, leading to one of the most entertaining heel runs in wrestling history.

March 7 celebrates the rise of an anime legend and the start of a legendary wrestling career. Happy Nerd History Day!