GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 12/01/2007

Courtesy of Georgia Wrestling History's Rich Tate:

NEWS

The latest news on the progress of Krissa Timbs, from Bryan Green: “Krissa had all the tubes removed from her today [Friday]. She is up and walking. Tomorrow [Saturday] she is to begin climbing stairs. The staples in her knee were removed as well. She is improving greatly and is in great spirits. Krissa wanted to thank everyone for all the prayers and support she has received. They are talking that she may be released from the hospital as early as Sunday or Monday.”

Great Championship Wrestling results from Macon, GA, on November 30: the Hooligans over J-Rod & Tex Monroe; Randall Johnson over Michael Cook; Johnny Swinger (w/ Quentin Michaels) over Scotty Beach by disqualification; Sonny Siaki over Orion Bishop (w/ Wicked Nemesis); A.J. Steele over Cru Jones (w/ Quentin Michaels) to retain the GCW Interstate Heavyweight Title. It was reported that 125 were in attendance for this card. GCW plans to return to Macon in January, already advertising Cru Jones versus A.J. Steele.

GCW will be in Phenix City, AL, tonight at the GR8 SK8plex, starting at 7:30 PM. Call (334) 297-2223 for more info. Advertised: Johnny Swinger versus Deathrow; David Young versus Cru Jones; and Sonny Siaki & Scotty Beach over the Hooligans.

Flatline Championship Wrestling is in Grovetown, GA, at Patriots Park tonight, beginning at 7:00 PM. The show is dubbed “Rage.” Admission is $7.00, but kids under five get in free. Email for more info.

NWA Anarchy is back in Cornelia, GA, tonight at the NWA Arena, with matches getting underway at 8:00 PM. Call (706) 768-9071 for more info.

All-Star Wrestling Network will be back in Fort Valley, GA, tonight, at the Wrestleplex, beginning at 8:00 PM. Email for more info.

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Villa Rica, GA, on December 2 at the SECW Arena, beginning at 6:00 PM. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Advertised: the Super Destroyer defends the SECW Heavyweight Title versus Bull Buchanan (back from Japan); Frankie Valentine & the Nightmare versus Billy Love & El Mexicano; Bulldog Raines versus Loco Motive; War Daddy versus the New York Gangster; Adrian Hawkins versus Tim Renesto (yes, Tom’s son); and Kyle Matthews versus L.T. Faulk.

NOTES

We’re down to about five weeks remaining of what could be the end of professional wrestling in Georgia, assuming the GAEC has its way and are not willing to take a logical look at how the business is much different than that of boxing and mixed martial arts. When it first became known that the commission was looking to more tightly regulate the business, we made it clear that reasonable regulation could be a good thing, but once the specifics of what they are intending to implement were announced, it appeared their intent is either to kill the business or perhaps they simply don’t understand what they are commissioned to regulate. It could easily be both, but we wonder if they have yet to realize just how absurd some of what they have proposed truly is, and further, if they even care. Regulating wrestling could be a good thing, so long as they are doing it for the right reasons. They claim they want a safer environment for performers and fans alike, yet the written statements appear more to be about getting their slice of a pie that even those directly related to the business have to fight for in order to get a share. Further, some of what they propose would kill the appeal of the business anyway, driving the fans away, so there won’t be any pie at the end of the day for anyone, much less the commission. If the GAEC wants to regulate professional wrestling, they need to start by scrapping the whole plan and go back to the drawing board, writing rules that make sense, and getting someone on board who knows a little about professional wrestling. Maybe the first thing they should consider is helping professional wrestling and getting rid of unprofessional wrestling.

NOSTALGIA

1938: Although not in Georgia, it should be noted that Mildred Burke defeated Betty Nichols in Columbus, OH, to become Women’s World Champion.

1944: Jack Wentworth & Pierre DeGlane and Herb Freeman & Cowboy Luttrall wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1950: Finis Hall defeated Jack Kennedy to retain the Southern Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Hall had been the reigning champion since he defeated Jack Kennedy on November 24, 1950, in Atlanta.

1961: The Assassins (Tom Renesto & Jody Hamilton) defeated Ray Gunkel & Don McIntyre to win the Southern Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Gunkel & McIntyre had been billed as champions since November 24, 1961. This was the Assassins’ first match together.

1967: Enrique & Ramon Torres defeated El Lobo & Oki Yama, managed by ‘Dandy’ Jack Crawford, to retain the World Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Torres’ had been the reigning champions since they defeated Lars & Gene Anderson on May 12, 1967, in Atlanta. Also, Mr. Wrestling defeated Georgia Heavyweight Champion El Mongol, also managed by Crawford, by disqualification in a title match. Mongol had been billed as champion since October 10, 1967. Because of the disqualification, Mongol retained the title. There was an interesting item in the program for this card where Crawford made allegations that Mr. Wrestling was Tim Woods. He said he had narrowed it to Woods after considering it was not Ray Gunkel, Verne Gagne, or Dale Lewis. He also claimed he was being a good sport when he announced that El Lobo was Jose Gonzalez from Barcelona, Spain. However, during the match between Enrique & Ramon Torres and El Lobo & Oki Yama, Yama was unmasked and identified as Stan Vachon. There was an advertisement in the program for Ed Voyles Oldsmobile at 2850 Campbellton Road, featuring an endorsement from Mr. Wrestling, stating that he drives one, “Why don’t you?”

1970: Bob Armstrong & Paul DeMarco defeated Buddy Colt, managed by Homer O’Dell, & Skandor Akbar to retain the Macon Tag Team Title at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Armstrong & DeMarco had been the reigning champions since they defeated Buddy Colt & Skandor Akbar on November 24, 1970, in Macon.

1975: Dick Slater defeated the Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben.

1978: NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race defeated Thunderbolt Patterson in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Race had been the reigning champion since he defeated Terry Funk on February 6, 1977, in Toronto, ON.

1980: A main event match between Kevin Sullivan & Robert Fuller and Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts ended in a double disqualification at the William Bell Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben.

1982: Tommy Rich defeated Buzz Sawyer in the main event in Saginaw, MI, for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Les Thatcher.