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Monday, November 12, 2007

GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 11/12/2007

Courtesy of Georgia Wrestling History's Rich Tate:

NEWS

Bill Behrens sent along an article where he shares some of his thoughts and opinions on independent wrestling promotions, promoters, fans, the Internet, etc. Click here for the article.

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling results from Villa Rica, GA, on November 11: J-Rod over Kyle Matthews; Cru Jones over Billy Knight; Adrian Hawkins over Frankie Valentine by disqualification; Tommy Rich, Scotty Blaze & Adrian Hawkins over Frankie Valentine, Billy Love & Chick Donovan; and SECW Heavyweight Champion Bull Buchanan and Bulldog Raines were both counted out in a title match. Randy Ray was credited as being a referee for this card.

Great Championship Wrestling will be in Columbus, GA, on November 16, as part of the God Bless Fort Benning event. Matches begin at 7:30 PM and take place in the middle of 10th Street downtown, headlined by Bull Buchanan defending the GCW Heavyweight Title versus Cru Jones. Another card will be held at the same location on the morning of November 17 at 10:30 AM, with Johnny Swinger versus Scotty Beach. Both events are free.

GCW will be back in Phenix City, AL, the night of November 17 at the GR8 SK8plex, starting at 7:30 PM. Call (334) 297-2223 for more info. Advertised: Bad Company (David Young & Chris Stevens) versus Hot Like Lava (Shaun Banks & Cru Jones) in the finals of the GCW Tag Team Title tournament; Johnny Swinger versus Sonny Siaki in a no-holds-barred match; and A.J. Steele & the Intern versus Orio Bishop & Wicked Nemesis.

They will also be in Macon, GA, on November 30 at the Bloomfield Recreation Center, starting at 7:30 PM. Call (334) 297-2223 for more info. Advertised: Bull Buchanan & A.J. Steele versus Hot Like Lava (Shaun Banks & Cru Jones).

NOTES

We wish a happy birthday to Glenn Gilbertti (39) and Matt Cappotelli (28).

Well, as predicted, last night’s TNA PPV Genesis unveiled Booker T as Sting’s mystery partner. Why do promotions do this? I don’t mean bringing in Booker, but why do some promotions believe that booking someone as a mystery partner will attract someone to the event who had not already planned on doing so based on the talent they already had? If people were not going to buy a ticket or buy the PPV based on the guys at the top of your promotion already, why would then suddenly break the bank to get it to find out who the mystery man is going to be when there’s a risk to them that it may not be a big deal at all. Sure, in our opinion, Booker is a good snag for TNA, but advertising Booker would have probably drawn them more PPV buys.

NOSTALGIA

1935: Dorv Roche defeated Dick Daviscourt two falls to one in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1937: Chin Lee defeated Sago Hayamaka in the main event at the Spring Street Arena in Atlanta for promoters Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby.

1941: In a press release, Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Abe Simon was quoted as stating that he would begin using more junior heavyweight style wrestlers and less of the heavyweights.

1943: Jack Dillon and Joe Vitale wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Sammy Friedman.

1951: Gorgeous George defeated Sheik Ben Ali two falls to one in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney.

1965: A match between Dale Lewis and Mario Galento was ruled a no contest in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Lewis had put up $1,000 in the match with Mario Galento, betting he could not be pinned within the first thirty minutes. The program for this card featured an advertisement for the November 22, 1965, World Heavyweight Title fight between Floyd Patterson and Cassius Clay, which could be seen on Closed Circuit Television from the Paul Jones Sports Arena.

1968: The Professional defeated Alberto Torres in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1971: Ray Gunkel defeated Big John in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1974: The Royal Kangaroos defeated Chief Bold Eagle & Chief Little Eagle to win the Georgia Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for All-South Wrestling Alliance promoter Ann Gunkel. Bold Eagle & Little Eagle had been the reigning champions since they defeated the Kangaroos on November 5, 1974, in Atlanta. Dick Steinborn defeated Wayne Cowan to retain the Georgia Junior Heavyweight Title. It is unclear as to how Steinborn came to be recognized as the champion. The last reference we have shows Cowan defending the title against Bearcat Wilkerson on April 9, 1974, in Atlanta. Also, Crusher Verdu defeated Luke Graham and Ox Baker in a round robin match. In the main event, Carlos Colon defeated El Mongol, with Charlie Cook as a special referee. Rock Hunter managed Graham and Verdu. This is believed to have been the final card for the ASWA, with Jim Barnett of Georgia Championship Wrestling said to have reached an agreement to buy her out. It has been reported that she received money from GCW into the 1980s as a result of the settlement.

1974: Buddy Colt & Harley Race, managed by Bearcat Wright, defeated Ole & Gene Anderson to win the Macon Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. It is unclear as to the status of the title before this match. The last reference we have shows Tom Jones & Roberto Soto defeating Ron &Terry Garvin to win the title on September 24, 1974, in Macon. It was reported that 5,000 were in attendance for this card.

1976: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk by disqualification in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Funk had been the reigning champion since he defeated Jack Brisco on December 10, 1975, in Miami, FL.

1977: Georgia Television Champion Bob Armstrong and Jacques Goulet wrestled to a draw at the WTCG Studios in Atlanta for the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie. Later that night, Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Ole Anderson in a main event Taped Fist Match at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, GA, for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1978: Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat by disqualification in the main event at the Savannah Civic Center for Jim Crockett Promotions promoter Aaron Newman.

1979: Tommy Rich defeated Killer Karl Kox, managed by Bobby Heenan, in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harbin. Because Rich won the match, he got a match with Heenan, too, which he also won.

2005: Iceberg defeated Biohazard and Sonny Siaki in a three-way match to retain the Evolution Heavyweight Title at the National Guard Armory in Canton for Pro Wrestling Evolution.

2005: Ted Oates & the Wrestler defeated David Young & Chris Stevens in the main event at the GCW Sports Arena in Columbus for Great Championship Wrestling promoter Jerry Oates. Also, Erik Watts defeated Elix Skipper to retain the GCW Heavyweight Title.

2005: Colt Derringer & Glacier defeated the Texas Outlaws in the main event at the Toccoa Falls College for Ultimate Christian Wrestling. Also, Bruce Biggins defeated Brian Lawler to retain the UCW Heavyweight Title.