GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 11/14/2007

NEWS

Fayette County (GA) District Attorney Scott Ballard has confirmed the results of DNA testing from the scene at the Benoit home are completed. Investigators are hoping it will rule out any further speculation that someone from outside the home was responsible, and to also confirm their belief that Chris Benoit was the person responsible for all three deaths.

The final replay of CNN’s documentary, “Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling,” on Sunday ended a bit differently, with them changing the John Cena portion of what was shown. Previous broadcasts had shown a flippant answer regarding steroid use, but after WWE released the unedited version showing his comments were clearly taken out of context, CNN made a quick edit. However, Cena is now also looking for a personal apology from CNN.

We reported a few days ago that there were rumors to the affect that Carlito had asked WWE for his release. There have been no further indications as to whether that was the case, but the WWE website has since moved several items related to Carlito to its clearance section.

A regular feature at WSB from Atlanta, GA, featured Christy Hemme among what it calls “Red-Headed Hot Celebrity Women.” Click here for the slideshow.

In Your Head will feature Chris Masters on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET. They had been advertising Missy Hyatt as well throughout the last week. It is unclear to us at this time if she has been bumped to a later date, or whether both will appear tonight. Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio will feature Larry Sweeney, Bobby Fish, and Carlos Espada tonight, beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

All-Star Wrestling Network will be back in Fort Valley, GA, on November 17 at the Wrestleplex, beginning at 8:00 PM. Email ward promo@aol.com for more info. Advertised: Jerry Thompson & Mike Money versus Genocyde; Leon McMichael, Iron Will & the Cowboy versus Killer Instinct; Ron Stalker versus Drew Golden; Amien Rios versus Q-Ball; Paul Warfield & Johnny Camo versus the Slaughter Pit; and Deion Johnson versus the Russian Kodiak. Also scheduled to appear are J-Rod and Chick Donovan.

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Villa Rica, GA, on November 18 at the SECW Arena, beginning at 6:00 PM. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Advertised: Bull Buchanan defends the SECW Heavyweight Title versus Bulldog Raines in a dog collar match; Tommy Rich, A.J. Steele & the Nightmare versus Cru Jones, J-Rod & the Russian Kodiak; a women’s match featuring Fantasy versus Stephanie Starr; and Frankie Valentine versus El Mexicano. Amien Rios is also scheduled to appear.

Georgia Wrestling Promotions will be in Woodstock, GA, on December 23 at the Hot Wheels Skate Center, with a bell time of 8:00 PM. Call (770) 296-5290 for more info. Advertised: Shaun Tempers defends the GWP Southern Heavyweight Title versus Buff Bagwell. Manny Fernandez & Shadow Jackson versus Iceberg & Tank; and the Hollywood Brunettes versus Bob & Brad Armstrong. Also scheduled to appear are the Hellbillies, D.L. Norris, Danny Horne, Talent & Money, Jay Clinton, and Kid Ego, Jr. Fernandez, Bagwell, and the Armstrongs will participate in a meet-and-greet beginning at 7:00 PM.

NOTES

We wish a happy birthday to La Parka (42).

According to the Wrestling Observer, “WWE is expected to announce an updated Wellness program that will theoretically close up some of the loopholes in the current policy.” This is great news, but one now has to wonder why they have so vehemently defended their policy in recent months, often scoffing and squirming when the word “loophole” is used during discussion regarding said policy. In the unedited text transcript from the McMahon interview done with CNN for the “Death Grip” documentary, host Drew Griffin asked, “The fact that he [Chris Benoit] had so many prescriptions, and now that's part of the entire investigation, was that surprising to you?” Vince answered, “Well, I don't know what you're talking about in terms of 'had so many prescriptions.' What are you talking about?” Surely he doesn’t want us to believe he has not heard the reports that have come out in recent months regarding the findings of not only the Benoit crime scene, but also Dr. Phil Astin III. A few moments later, Griffin said, “The drug policy itself, for the WWE, the critics have been all over it for its lack of severity in punishment, also for what they tell us is a huge loophole, which is this, if you have a prescription, even some of the wrestlers told us, as long as you got a prescription, no matter who it's from, you can pass.” McMahon replied, “Well, let me ask you a question: If you have a prescription, and it's a legitimate prescription from your personal physician, then why wouldn't it pass? If you have an infection or you have a sleep problem, you have whatever your problem is, and your physician, a legitimate physician, not one on the Internet, prescribes something for you, then surely that would be accepted in our policy as well as any other policy you can possibly scrutinize.” Here’s the problem: WWE has a huge loophole, and hopefully whatever they are amending to correct this will be an improvement. Still, until WWE does something to mandate their wrestlers all see the same physician, who then reports back to the company itself, the problem will not go away. As long as they are able to visit any physician they want, produce a prescription from any physician they choose, and WWE’s policy does not immediately suspend wrestlers for not being able to justify the presence of something in their system in which they should not be using, the policy is still flawed. We are not certain a process such as that is legal, but it is the only true way to police the wrestlers and their intake of illegal drugs of any kind, especially steroids. We believe WWE has done a few positive things since the Benoit tragedy, such as addressing the loopholes and attempting corrective measures, as well as attempting to provide counseling and rehabilitation to anyone with a substance problem for anyone who has ever been associated with their company. However, they need to not be so defensive when answering questions about a policy that they realize is not working, such as pointing out flaws in policies elsewhere, as McMahon did by shifting his answers to Olympic failures.

NOSTALGIA

1933: Darna Ostapovich defeated Chief Chewacki in two straight falls in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1938: Jack McAdams defeated Eddie Williams to win the Southern Light Heavyweight Title at the Warren Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter L.C. Warren. Williams had been the reigning Southern Light Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Young Londos in Atlanta, GA, on November 11, 1938.

1955: Andre Drapp & Red McIntyre defeated Eduardo Perez & El Toro two falls to one in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney.

1957: Dick Hutton defeated Lou Thesz in Toronto, ON, to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

1958: Paul Anderson defeated Dick the Bruiser in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1961: The Assassin defeated Choo-Choo Lynn by disqualification in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1962: The Kentuckians defeated Freddie Blassie & Lenny Montana in the main event at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1967: Bobby Shane defeated US Junior Heavyweight Champion Louie Tillet by disqualification in a title match at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Tillet had been the reigning champion since he defeated Bobby Hart on January 17, 1967, in Macon.

1969: Paul DeMarco, managed by Homer O’Dell, defeated Terry Funk in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Joe Scarpa, Alberto Torres & the Professional defeated El Diablo & the Assassins. Following the match, the Assassins turned on Diablo and unmasked him in the ring to reveal his identity as Frankie Cain. Cain continued to wrestle with the mask.

1972: Tommy Seigler & Argentina Apollo defeated Rocket Monroe & Skandor Akbar to win the Macon Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Monroe & Akbar had been the reigning Macon Tag Team Champions since they defeated Apollo & Bob Armstrong on September 5, 1972, in Macon.

1973: Although we have no results of this card at this time, it should be noted that Lou Thesz was scheduled to be a special referee in a semi-main event match between Bobby Shane and Tim Woods at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. The main event was a title match between Bob Armstrong and Georgia Heavyweight Champion Bill Watts.

1975: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Brute Bernard, managed by Gary Hart, to retain the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Wrestling #2 had been the reigning champion since he defeated Nikolai Volkoff, also managed by Hart, on October 3, 1975, in Atlanta.

1977: Stan Hansen defeated Georgia Heavyweight Champion Dick Slater by disqualification in a title match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harbin. Slater had been the reigning champion since he defeated Paul Jones on June 4, 1977, in Atlanta at the WTCG Studios for a taping of the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie. Because of the disqualification, Slater retained the title.

1978: Tommy Rich & Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen to win the Georgia Tag Team Title in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Choo-Choo Lynn was the special referee for the match, as well as the semi-main event where Mr. Wrestling #1 defeated the Masked Superstar. Anderson & Hansen had been the reigning champions since they defeated Rick Martel & Tommy Rich on October 20, 1978, in Atlanta, but they were actually stripped of the title on the November 11, 1978, edition of “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie. It is unclear as to how it was explained to Macon fans later that Rich & Wrestling #2 were no longer the champions. We do know that Macon fans not only had their own television program, but they also received the Atlanta program as well. Other than the Atlanta version perhaps being edited to remove that portion, we are at a loss.

1980: A title match featuring Kevin Sullivan & Austin Idol against the Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts) was ruled a no contest at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Freebirds had been the reigning champions since they defeated Mr. Wrestling #1 & #2, the defending champions, and the Assassins in a three-way tag team match on October 10, 1980, in Atlanta. Also, Jack Brisco defeated Terry Gordy to retain the National Heavyweight Title. Some sources report that Brisco defeated Austin Idol to become the National Heavyweight Champion, since it was mentioned that way on “Georgia Championship Wrestling” hosted by Gordon Solie. However, no such match ever occurred, and Brisco was the first actual champion to be seen with the belt. After our research turned up no possible way a match between the two for this title during this period could have possibly happened, Brisco also confirmed it. In addition, Tony Atlas defeated Ole Anderson to retain the Georgia Heavyweight Title. Atlas had been the reining champion since he defeated Dennis Condrey on October 24, 1980, in Atlanta.

1981: Tommy Rich defeated Terry Gordy in the main event at the Chattanooga (TN) Memorial Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com