GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 12/04/2007

Courtesy of Georgia Wrestling History's Rich Tate:

NEWS

November saw the finale of the GCW Tag Team tournament with Hot Like Lava (Shaun Banks and Cru Jones) winning the GCW tag team titles. Hot Like Lava battled it out with several teams, steam rolling to the finals to defeat their arch rivals in GCW, Bad Company (David Young and Chris Stevens).

In addition to T.J. Mack as Marty Jannetty (as reported by Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer site), the Kennedy skit on RAW included several NWA Anarchy stars including Mikal Judas as Diesel, Shatter as Razor, Jeff Lewis as Shawn Michaels.

Nashville Wrestling's weekly show on Comcast Sports South came to an abrupt end after a twelve week run. After the show failed to air in its usual Sunday night time slot this week, announcer Scott Barry confirmed that the show was dropped due to financial strain in a post on the Mid-Southern Wrestling message board. The thirty minute show had featured old matches from Bert Prentice's USA Wrestling and Wrestling from the Chase from St. Louis, while they introduced the current talent roster with promos and vignettes. Christopher Love (Bert Prentice) and his protege Matt Boyce had a segment in every show. Other talent on the roster included Teddy Tender, Aaron "The Idol" Stevens and Shane Williams. On the 11/25 show, the last one to air, Barry announced that they would start airing new matches featuring the stars of Nashville Wrestling in two weeks.

NOTES

It is interesting that Hot Like Lava (Shaun Banks & Cru Jones) have been named the Wrestler of the Month by GeorgiaWrestling.tk, despite Banks missing the last half of November due to a non-wrestling incident where he was stabbed and could not work. We don’t dispute that the team is comprised of two of the best talents in Georgia today, and by all means they have our congratulations, but it seems odd timing for them to have gotten the nod with only a small amount of work together throughout the month. Banks was at the last GCW show, in Jones’ corner, but wasn’t overly active other than just being there. Recognition for this team would have made more sense after Banks makes a full comeback from the injury and they spend a full month in the ring. There were undoubtedly many other potential wrestlers that worked a full month and had equal or greater success.

NOSTALGIA

1933: Tony Padrone defeated Bill Crussell in the main event at the Fair Street Arena in Atlanta for promoter Jason Thompson.

1934: Paul Jones and Leo Numa wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1935: Young Americus defeated Al Olsen in two straight falls at the Supreme Circle Hall in Albany for promoter Frank Bettis.

1936: Dorv Roche defeated Karl Davis in the main event at Loew’s Grand Theatre for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Frank Speer, who was the special referee for the match.

1936: Farmer Mack defeated Petro Rossi by disqualification at the Northside Arena in Atlanta for promoter Frank Bettis.

1942: Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charles Rentrop’s last card was held at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, with no stated reason as to why he chose to cease operations, but Sammy Friedman resumed in January 1943. We have no results for the card, but the main event was advertised as Jack Dillon versus Dorv Roche.

1953: Gorgeous George defeated Mike Paidousis in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1956: Bobby Weaver (Arnold Skaaland) & Belle Starr defeated Freddie Blassie & Dot Dotson in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1959: Verne Gagne defeated Freddie Blassie to retain the US Television Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The title Gagne defended against Blassie was actually called the US Heavyweight Title, and Gagne had been recognized as champion by the Minneapolis, MN, office since he defeated Dick the Bruiser on April 12, 1958, in Chicago, IL. Also, Johnny Weaver & Adrien Baillargeon defeated Ed Sharpe & Gorgeous George. During the match, neither Sharpe nor George wanted to tag the other in or out, and there was obvious bitterness between the two men.

1962: Choo-Choo Lynn defeated the Russian Crusher in a main event Texas death match at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1963: Bob Morrow defeated Luke Graham by disqualification in the main event at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for promoter Fred Ward. Ward was not affiliated with the Atlanta office of Georgia Championship Wrestling at this time.

1964: Freddie Blassie defeated Mario Galento in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1970: Ray Gunkel defeated Homer O’Dell & Buddy Colt in the main event handicap match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1971: On the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral, it was announced that as a result of injuries suffered in a match against Buddy Colt on December 3, 1971, George Scott would be out of action for the remainder of the year.

1973: Bob Armstrong & Bobo Brazil defeated Bill Watts & Luke Graham in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Also, in a $500 versus mask match, Robert Fuller defeated Super Inferno #3, managed by J.C. Dykes. As part of the stipulation, Super Inferno #3 was forced to unmask following the match, and was identified as Jim Dalton.

1977: Ric Flair & Greg Valentine defeated Wahoo McDaniel & Tiger Conway, Jr., to retain the World Tag Team Title at the Savannah Civic Center for Jim Crockett Promotions promoter Aaron Newman. Flair & Valentine had been the reigning champions since they defeated Ole & Gene Anderson on October 30, 1977, in Greensboro, NC.

1979: Tommy Rich & Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Austin Idol & the Masked Superstar in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1983: Ric Flair defeated Tommy Rich to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Flair had been the reigning champion since he defeated Harley Race on November 24, 1983, in Greensboro, NC. Also, Jake Roberts defeated Pez Whatley to retain the National Television Title. Roberts had been the reigning champion since he defeated Ron Garvin on November 11, 1983, in Atlanta. Brett & Buzz Sawyer defeated the Road Warriors, managed by Paul Ellering, to win the National Tag Team Title. This was the last of a series of matches and title changes that lasted throughout the week on the northern tour, with the title change not acknowledged until this match. Buzz Sawyer was billed as a mystery partner for the match, in a swerve alluding to the fact Andre the Giant would be the mystery partner. A match between Ted DiBiase and Buzz Sawyer ended in a double disqualification. It was reported that 1,950 were in attendance for this card.

2004: Sonny Siaki defeated Erik Watt* to win the GCW Heavyweight Title at the GCW Sports Arena in Columbus for promoter Jerry Oates. Also, A.J. & Damien Steele defeated Sean Evans & Vordell Walker to retain the GCW Tag Team Title.

2004: Chasyn Rance defeated Bobby Sanford and Mark Stevens to retain the SCW Cruiserweight Title in a three-way match at the Reality Martial Arts Center in Remerton, GA, for promoter Jody Peterman.

2004: Randy Orton & Chris Benoit defeated Triple H & Batista in the main event at the Savannah 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. Shelton Benjamin defeated Christian to retain the Inter-Continental Heavyweight Title.