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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 11/07/2007

Courtesy of Georgia Wrestling History's Rich Tate:

NEWS

Lex Luger was a guest speaker last night at Parkview High School in Lilburn, GA, for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The event was open to the public.

The trial where Harrison Norris (a/k/a Hardbody Harrison) is facing charges of forcing six women into prostitution began Monday in Atlanta, GA. He had been arrested in 2005, and could be facing a life sentence if convicted. In a move experts are questioning, Norris is representing himself.

In Your Head will feature Fidel Sierra and Daivari on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET, while Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio will feature Chris Jericho, Shawn Stasiak, Guitar great Ladd Smith, and wrestling manager/comedian John Shane tonight, beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

CNN will air the premiere of their documentary “Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling” tonight at 8:00 PM ET.

In Your Head will feature Fidel Sierra and Daivari on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET. Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio will feature Chris Jericho, Shawn Stasiak, Guitar great Ladd Smith, and wrestling manager/comedian John Shane tonight, beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

Georgia Wrestling Promotions will be back in Waleska, GA, on November 10, at the Waleska Ballpark, with a bell time of 2:00 PM. If fans bring canned food for their Feed-the-Hungry drive, they get $2.00 off the ticket price. Call (770) 296-5290 for more info. Advertised: Shaun Tempers & Iceberg versus Bill & Jamie Dundee; Danny Horne versus D.L. Norris; Kyle Matthews versus Slim J; the Regular Guys versus Talent & Money; Andrew Alexander versus Big Head Hansen; and Jay Clinton & Jamar Acid versus the Hellbillies. The Dundees will be signing autographs at 1:15 PM.

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Villa Rica, GA, tonight at the SECW Arena, beginning at 6:00 PM. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Advertised: Bull Buchanan defends the SWECW Heavyweight Title versus Bulldog Raines; Tommy Rich & Scotty Blaze versus Billy Love & Chick Donovan; Adrian Hawkins versus Frankie Valentine; Chris Lightning & Amien Rios versus J-Rod & Cru Jones; and Adam Blood versus Kyle Matthews.

NOTES

Georgia Wrestling History would like to wish a happy birthday today to King Kong Bundy (50).

It was recently advertised that WCW would return to the Columbus Civic Center, but a few days later, WCW was changed to WGW. Names advertised included Jack Pfefer-esque billing, such as Mother Nature Boy, and Rock in Roll, thus the reason we held off on advertising anything about the alleged event. There was even a link to an active Ticketmaster page for it, but something just didn’t feel right about any of the supposed event. It was recently learned that not only did the event never take place, but apparently local businesses in the Columbus area forked over a sum of some $10,000, and the person believed to have been heading up the scam has disappeared. It is people like this that not only give the business a bad name, but it also hurts the chances of honest promoters later being able to acquire necessary funds to deliver a legitimate show.

NOSTALGIA

1932: Jim Hesslyn defeated Dick Lever in the main event at the Fairplay Athletic Club in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber. It was reported that 60% of the proceeds from this card were donated to the Georgia Democratic Party campaign, perhaps as a result of the state tax action taken two weeks earlier, when Weber let the fans into a card at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for free rather than pay a suddenly discovered $200 state tax never before levied against a wrestling promoter.

1938: Bill Collins defeated Red Dugan by disqualification in the main event at the West End Arena in Atlanta for promoters Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby.

1947: Freddie Blassie defeated Babe Zaharias by disqualification in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1952: Don McIntyre defeated Eduardo Perez to retain the Southern Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. McIntyre had been billed as Southern Heavyweight Champion since September 19, 1952. Jack Dempsey was the special referee for the match.

1956: Don McIntyre defeated Freddie Blassie by KO in sixth round of a main event boxing match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney.

1958: Ray Gunkel defeated Freddie Blassie to win the Southern Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Blassie had been the reigning champion since he defeated Ray Gunkel on September 5, 1958, in Atlanta.

1961: The Assassin defeated Jack Bence in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1962: Jake Smith defeated Lenny Montana in the main event at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1966: Louie Tillet & Butcher Vachon defeated Enrique & Ramon Torres to win the Southern Tag Team Title at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Steve Manderson. The Torres’ had been the reigning champions since they defeated Tillet & Vachon on October 21, 1966, in Atlanta.

1967: Louie Tillet defeated Bobby Shane by disqualification in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1969: The Professional defeated Aldo Bogni in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1971: Buddy Fuller & El Mongol defeated the Assassins by disqualification in the main event at the Griffin-Barnesville Sports Palace for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1972: Tom Renesto, Dick Steinborn & Argentina Apollo defeated John Caruso, Ox Baker & Skandor Akbar in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1978: Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen defeated Tommy Rich & Mr. Wrestling #2 to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Anderson & Hansen had been the reigning champions since they defeated Rick Martel & Tommy Rich on October 20, 1978, in Atlanta. Also, Rick Martel defeated Macon Heavyweight Champion King Kong Mosca by disqualification in a title match. Because of the disqualification, Mosca retained the title. Mosca had been the reigning champion since he defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 on October 10, 1978, in Macon.

1982: Paul Orndorff defeated the Masked Superstar to win the National Heavyweight Title at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Orndorff had been the reigning champion since he defeated the Superstar on October 17, 1982, in Atlanta.