GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 12/03/2007

Courtesy of Georgia Wrestling History's Rich Tate:

NEWS

We are still having issues with updating the site today, but wanted to make sure we keep getting the updates out. A lot of shows planned in coming weeks are listed below:

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 (w/ the Rev); Shaun Tempers (w/ the Rev) defends the GWP Southern Heavyweight Title versus Ace Rockwell; and the Regular Guys defend the GWP Southern Tag Team Title in a three way match against the Hellbillies and the Hollywood Brunettes. Slim J, Kid Ego, Jr., Big Head Hansen, Billy Love, Jamar Acid, Jay Clinton, and even Santa Claus are also scheduled to appear. Fernandez will be available for autographs at 7:30 PM.

GWP 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 (w/ the Rev) defends the GWP Southern Heavyweight Title versus Buff Bagwell; Manny Fernandez & Shadow Jackson versus Iceberg & Tank (w/ the Rev); the Hollywood Brunettes (w/ Jeff G. Bailey) versus Bob & Brad Armstrong; the Regular Guys defend the GWP Southern Tag Team Title versus Talent & Money; Chad Parham versus Ace Rockwell; and a twenty-man battle royal. Also scheduled to appear are D.L. Norris, Jay Clinton, Slim J, Big Head Hansen, Billy Love, Danny Horne, Jamar Acid, Kid Ego, Jr, the Hellbillies, and even Santa Claus. Fernandez, Bagwell, and the Armstrongs will participate in a meet-and-greet beginning at 7:00 PM.

GWP will be in Cartersville, GA, on January 20 at the Cartersville Civic Center, with a bell time of 8:00 PM. Call (770) 296-5290 for more info. Advertised: Gangrel versus Tank (w/ the Rev); Ace Rockwell versus Rob Conway (w/ Nigel Sherrod); and someone will attempt to break Chris Masters’ masterlock. Also scheduled to appear are Chad Parham, Slim J, Shaun Tempers, the Hollywood Brunettes (w/ Jeff G. Bailey), Iceberg (w/ the Rev), Rick Michaels, Billy Love, Kid Ego, Jr., Jay Clinton, Talent & Money, the Regular Guys, Flatline, the Hellbillies, VIP (w/ Ace Heffner), Big Head Hansen, D.L. Norris, Danny Horne, and Jamar Acid. Masters, Conway, and Gangrel will sign autographs beginning at 7:00 PM.

Ultimate Christian Wrestling returns to Canton, GA, on December 8 at the National Guard Armory, with matches getting underway at 8:00 PM. Admission is free of charge. Call (770) 713-6367 for more info. Advertised: Glacier, Austin Creed, Colt Derringer, Salvatore Rinauro, Justin Dirt, Dustin Powers, Kyle Matthews, Adrian Hawkins, Todd Zane, War Daddy, Billy Jack, Alexander Phoenix, Enigma, Luther Biggs, Bruce Biggins, and Rob Adonis are scheduled to appear.

AWA World-1 South returns to action on December 22 at the Oconee Gym in Dublin, GA, raising funds for the Dublin Tipoff Club. Matches begin at 7:30 PM. Call (866) 244-0104 for more info. Advertised: The Heartbreak Express defend the AWA World Tag Team Title versus K.I. Elite (Shawn Hunter & Jake Slater); Francisco Ciatso will defend the World-1 South Southern Heavyweight Title versus Dave Holiday; and Just added to the previously announced matches are Tommy Rich versus Big Bank Barfield; Shawn Hunter versus Kevin Kantrell; and Lance Alonte versus Q-Ball. Mike Stratus is also scheduled to appear.

W1S will return to Valdosta, GA, on December 30 at the Valdosta Conference Center, starting at 7:00 PM. Call (866) 244-0104 for more info. Advertised: The Heartbreak Express will defend the AWA World Tag Team Title versus Bonez the Cutthroat & a Mystery Partner; Dave Holiday versus Tommy Dame; and Lance Alonte versus Big Bank Barfield.

NOTES

Happy birthday to Super Crazy, turning 34 today.

NOSTALGIA

1917: Strangler Lewis, managed by Billy Sandow, defeated Constant LeMarin two falls to one in a match that went nearly two hours at the Liberty Theatre in Savannah for promoter Max Bauman.

1930: Jim Londos defeated Bill Bartush in two straight falls in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber. It was reported that half of the $3,430 gross gate went to charity, presumably an Empty Stocking Fund considering the time of year.

1935: Dorv Roche and Cy Williams wrestled to a draw in the main event at Loew’s Grand Theatre for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1941: Rudy Strongberg defeated Red Roberts in the main event at the Warren Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber. Also, Dorv Roche defeated Ronnie Etchison in the opener. Roche was declared the winner of the match when Etchison was deemed unable to continue, but he refused to accept the victory.

1943: John Mauldin, substituting for Roland Kirchmeyer, defeated Tom George in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1945: Abe Zvonkin defeated Jack Herman in the main event at the Savannah Municipal Auditorium for promoters Lou Masters, Dick Leonard, and Buster White.

1948: Herb Welch defeated Red Roberts to retain the World Junior Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Welch had been the reigning champion as recognized by the Nashville, TN, office since he defeated the Green Shadow on July 6, 1948, in Nashville, TN.

1953: Don McIntyre defeated Gorgeous George two falls to one at the William Bell Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney.

1954: A main event match between Red McIntyre and Wild Red Berry was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1963: Bob Morrow and Marco Polo were co-winners of a Texas style battle royal at the Macon City Auditorium for promoter Fred Ward. It is unclear as to the reason for the battle royal, which also included Chris Averoff, Al Galento, the Inferno, Ronnie Hill, Killer Kosti, and Luke Graham. Ward was not affiliated with the Atlanta office of Georgia Championship Wrestling at this time.

1965: Eric & Karl Von Brauner, managed by Saul Weingeroff, defeated Mario Galento & Chief Little Eagle in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Following the match, Galento had to be carried from the ring. Galento had dragged Weingeroff into the ring and was attacking him, when Weingeroff pulled an object from his pocket and hit Galento with what was said to have looked like something made of iron. Amid the chaos, Jones grabbed Weingeroff’s walking cane before he could use it and cause further damage.

1968: Bill Dromo defeated Dale Lewis by disqualification in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1971: Buddy Colt defeated George Scott to retain the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. During the match, the two men collided, and Scott was injured. Colt had been billed as the champion since June 18, 1971.

1974: Rocky Johnson & Danny Little Bear defeated Buddy Colt & Harley Race, managed by Bearcat Wright, to win the Macon Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Colt & Race had been the reigning champions since they defeated Ole & Gene Anderson on November 12, 1974, in Macon.

1976: Dick Slater, Ole & Gene Anderson defeated Dusty Rhodes, Mr. Wrestling #1 & #2 in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Bill Dromo, substituting for Bob Armstrong, defeated the Mongolian Stomper, managed by J.J. Dillon, by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1977: Tommy Rich & Tony Atlas defeated Jacques Goulet & Pak Song in the main event in Vidalia, GA, for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Rock Hunter managed Pak Song. It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.

1979: Tommy Rich defeated Killer Karl Kox by disqualification in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Also, Ernie Ladd & the Masked Superstar defeated Ole Anderson & Tony Atlas by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1983: NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair and Pez Whatley wrestled to a one-hour draw at the Richfield Convention Center for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Les Thatcher. Flair had been the reigning champion since he defeated Dusty Rhodes on September 17, 1981, in Kansas City, MO. Also, Tommy Rich defeated National Heavyweight Champion Ted DiBiase by disqualification. DiBiase had been the reigning champion since he defeated Brett Wayne (Brett Sawyer) on November 18, 1983, in Cleveland, OH. Because of the disqualification, DiBiase retained the title. Brett & Buzz Sawyer defeated the Road Warriors, managed by Paul Ellering, to win the National Tag Team Title. This was one of a series of matches and title changes that lasted throughout the week on the northern tour, with the title change not acknowledged until a December 4, 1983, match in Atlanta.

2004: Randy Orton, Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho defeated Triple H, Batista & Edge in the main event at the Richmond County Civic Center for World Wrestling Entertainment. Also, Trish Stratus defeated Lita to retain the Women’s Title. William Regal & Eugene defeated Rob Conway & Sylvan Grenier to retain WWE Tag Team Title. It was reported that 2,500 were in attendance for this card.