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Thursday, November 15, 2007

GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 11/15/2007

Courtesy of Georgia Wrestling History's Rich Tate:

NEWS

The first meeting of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission since reports last month of some changes took place on Tuesday, and we have received some indication of the changes that were discussed and how they may affect local promotions. As soon as we have confirmation on these items, or when the GAEC issues a statement, we will post it here.

John Cena appeared on the Giant Show on Wednesday morning, with Giant Brian and Shaffee, on Project 9-6-1 from Atlanta, GA. Click here for the audio.

A number of months ago, it was rumored that Cru Jones competed in, and won, an MMA match at a show in Marietta, GA. At the Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling show last Sunday, Jones indicated that while he had done some MMA training, no such match took place, and it was a case of things getting blown out of proportion.

World Wrestling Alliance 4 will be in Atlanta, GA, tonight at the WWA4 Dungeon, with a starting time of 7:30 PM. Call (404) 667-1484 for more info.

Georgia Wrestling Federation results from Summerville, GA, on November 10: Chris Pain over Silas Quaz and Matt Maverick, Jr., in a three-way match; Da Jag over Stupid (w/ Tweety) by disqualification; Jay Bird (w/ Fast Freddie) over Adam Blood and Chris Lightning in another three-way, this time for the GWF International Title; Team 1440 (Talon Williams & Korrupt) over K.T. Hamill in a handicap match; the Mafia (Vinnie Denucci & Leroy Lewis) over Team 1440; Keith Hart & Marshall Law over Brian Rivers & Kevin Ages; Chris Ganzer over Chip Hazard (w/ Ms. Brown); and Chad Stevens (w/ Ms. Brown) over Josh Frost.

Wrestling Beyond Imagination has cancelled the event they had scheduled in Douglasville, GA, on November 18. No reason for the cancellation has been given.

Georgia Wrestling Promotions will be in Woodstock, GA, on December 7 at the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency Building, with a bell time of 8:00 PM. Tickets are $15.00 for this show, but if you bring an unopened package containing a toy for the Toys for Tots drive, you get $3.00 off at the door. Call (770) 296-5290 for more info. Advertised: Manny Fernandez versus Iceberg. Shaun Tempers, the Regular Guys, Slim J, the Hollywood Brunettes, Jay Clinton, the Hellbillies, Jamar Acid, and even Santa Claus are also scheduled to appear.

NOTES

We wish a happy birthday to Randy Savage (54).

Per the above story regarding a major story pending from the GAEC, we will not post what we have heard until it can be certainly confirmed, but if it comes to pass, local promoters and fans may want to pay close attention as the story breaks and develops, as this could be forcing a major change in the way business is done regarding professional wrestling in our state.

NOSTALGIA

1917: Constant LeMarin defeated Hassen the Turk in two falls to one that took one hour and twenty-seven minutes at the Liberty Theatre in Savannah for promoter Max Bauman. Billy Sandow was the special referee.

1932: Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber cancelled a card at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for this date when Pat Hurley and Alex Aberg notified him that they were injured and could not wrestle. Hurley was scheduled to wrestle John Katan, while Aberg was scheduled to wrestle Paul Jones.

1937: Jack Bloomfield defeated Chin Lee by disqualification in the main event at the Spring Street Arena for promoters Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby.

1944: Mr. X (Roland Kirchmeyer) defeated Otto Schnabel in the main event at the Augusta Municipal Auditorium for promoter Jack Ross. This venue was later renamed after William Bell.

1948: Southern Heavyweight Champion Chris Belkas and Al Massey wrestled to a draw, both having scored one fall, at the Augusta Municipal Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Dick Lever. Belkas had been billed as Southern Heavyweight Champion since November 1, 1948.

1957: Edouard Carpentier defeated Freddie Blassie to retain the World Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Paul Jones. The NWA no longer recognized Carpentier as it champion at this time, and only promoters who disputed the decision by the NWA to recognize Lou Thesz continued to bill Carpentier as World Heavyweight Champion. Apparently Paul Jones was one of them. It should be noted that Dick Hutton defeated Thesz on November 14, 1957, in Toronto, ON, to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. According to the program for this card, the “Live Atlanta Wrestling” television program can now be seen “on Channel 11 every Saturday afternoon at 5:00.”

1960: Danny Miller defeated Southern Heavyweight Champion Freddie Blassie by disqualification in a title match at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Fred Ward. Blassie had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Don McIntyre on October 21, 1960, in Atlanta. Because of the disqualification, Blassie retained the title.

1961: The Assassin defeated Jerry Graham by disqualification in the main event at the Columbus Sports Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Fred Ward.

1963: A match billed as a “Battle of the Brutes” between Dick the Bruiser and the Mighty Hercules ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Don McIntyre.

1966: Roger Kirby 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. It is unclear as to how Louie Tillet came to be recognized as US Junior Heavyweight Champion. The last reference we have shows Chin Lee defeating Mario Galento on March 22, 1966, in Macon.

1968: A match between the Professional and Georgia Heavyweight Champion Johnny Valentine was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Paul Jones. Valentine had been the reigning Georgia Heavyweight Champion since he defeated the Professional on November 8, 1968, in Atlanta.

1974: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Harley Race in a main event lights out match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Paul Jones. Also, Rocky Johnson defeated Georgia Heavyweight Champion Buddy Colt, managed by Bearcat Wright, but following the match, the title was held up pending a rematch on November 22, 1974.

1975: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated the Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, by disqualification in the main event at the Griffin-Barnesville Sports Palace for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Paul Jones.

1976: Dick Slater defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the William Bell Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Charlie Harbin. In a Loser Leaves main event match, the Mongolian Stomper, managed by J.J. Dillon, defeated Jos LeDuc.

1977: Stan Hansen defeated Georgia Heavyweight Champion Dick Slater by disqualification in a title match at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling Promoter Fred Ward. 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. Also, Tommy Rich & Tony Atlas defeated Ole Anderson & Jacques Goulet to win the Georgia Tag Team Title. It is unclear as to how Anderson & Goulet became recognized as champions. The last reference we have shows Pak Song & Stan Hansen, substituting for the Executioner (Bob Remus), against Bob Armstrong & Mr. Wrestling #2 on October 25, 1977, in Macon. Song & the Executioner were managed by Rock Hunter.

1980: It was announced on “Georgia Championship Wrestling,” hosted by Gordon Solie, that the Freebirds had been stripped of the Georgia Tag Team Title, and the title would be retired for the new National Tag Team Title pending a tournament to take place on November 27, 1980.