GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 12/19/2007

NEWS

Per the suggestion of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, a group of members in the local wrestling community have formed the Georgia Wrestling Promoters Advisory Committee. This committee will be working to create its own idea of what regulations should be in place for logical purposes of policing local wrestling, and hopes to finalize these items through dialogue with the GAEC prior to the February 2008 meeting of the commission.

In an informal gathering following today’s hearing at GAEC headquarters in Atlanta, GA, Bill Behrens was unanimously chosen to head the group. Other members of the committee are Thunderbolt Patterson, Rocky King, Curtis Hughes, Frank Aldridge, Scott East, Rob Adonis, Chad Meeks, and Dwayne and Kimberly Bell.

In a release from Behrens: “Our committee will help the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Committee register all wrestling promoters and develop a system of reporting from the wrestling promoters to the Committee as required by Georgia Law. We will discuss and present recommendations to the Committee of rules and regulations we believe will protect wrestlers and fans consistent with the nature of professional wrestling as a popular entertainment form and as required by Georgia Law. Our intent is to help the Committee and in the process help ourselves and the many that enjoy professional wrestling events in the state of Georgia.”

GWH is working with Behrens to set something up at our site that will help incorporate information sharing and avenues for input and feedback from all promoters and promotions who operate inside Georgia. Once we have something set up, all local promoters will be notified.

Click here for Larry Goodman’s report from yesterday’s public hearing with the GAEC. Click here for an audio clip of Goodman being interviewed by Mike Johnson following the session for Pro Wrestling Insider.

Click here for Rich Tate’s appearance on TTrash Talking Radio regarding the hearing with the GAEC. My apologies for having a cold and not being 100%. As a side note, I referenced in this interview that it appeared during the hearing that Cary Ichter may have been involved with the racial discrimination lawsuit against WCW several years ago, which may have led to a connection with Thunderbolt Patterson. Upon further research, the plaintiffs, including Patterson, were indeed represented by Icther and his firm.

The Independent Wrestling Network has informed us they have acquired the rights to the same facility in Columbus, GA, in which Great Championship Wrestling originated back in 2004, when they were known as Georgia Championship Wrestling. GCW moved from the arena to Phenix City last year. They are planning renovations, and no timeline has been given on a start date for the venue.

NOTES

GWH wishes the happiest of birthdays to Erik Watts, who turns 40 today.

Monday Night Mayhem closes out 2007 with a special edition tonight beginning at 10:00 PM ET.

NOSTALGIA

1933: Sammy Miller defeated Bob Anderson at the Bellwood Arena in Atlanta for the Bellwood Athletic Club.

1947: Paul Stanlee defeated Jack Hader in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1952: A main event match between Leslie Carlton, managed by ‘Sir’ James Hartley, and Argentina Rocca was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1955: Freddie & Billy Blassie and Don Roche & Roger Mackay wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Mike Paidousis was the special referee for the match.

1958: A main event match between Freddie Blassie and Don McIntyre was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Ray Gunkel and Dick the Bruiser wrestled to a draw in the semi-main event.

1961: Nick & Jerry Kozak defeated the Southern Tag Team Champion Assassins by disqualification in a title match at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Ward was the special referee for the match. The Assassins had been the reigning champions since they defeated Ray Gunkel & Don McIntyre on December 1, 1961, in Atlanta.

1962: Rito Carreon defeated Lenny Montana in the main event at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1964: We have found no documented results for the card at the Larry Bell Auditorium in Marietta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Elmo Chappell, but Lou Thesz was scheduled to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Title against Freddie Blassie.

1967: Enrique & Ramon Torres defeated the Gauchos (Juan Sebastian & Tarzan Baxter) by disqualification to retain the World Tag Team Title at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. The Torres’ had been the reigning champions since they defeated Lars & Gene Anderson on May 12, 1967, in Atlanta.

1969: Mr. Wrestling defeated Paul DeMarco, managed by Homer O’Dell, by disqualification in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Nick Bockwinkel & the Assassins defeated Doug Gilbert, Ray Gunkel & Buddy Fuller at 15:00 for Assassins to win the Georgia Tag Team Title. For the match, the title was on the line in a special six-man tag team rules match. During the match, Gilbert unmasked Assassin #1, only to reveal a mummified face, wrapped in bandages. Gunkel & Fuller had been the reigning champions since they defeated the Assassins on October 10, 1969, in Atlanta.

1970: Luke Graham defeated Bobby Shane to win the Georgia Television Title at the WQXI Studios in Atlanta for the taping of the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral. Shane had been the reigning champion since he defeated Nick Bockwinkel on August 15, 1970, in Atlanta.

1972: Bob Armstrong defeated Doug Gilbert by TKO in the fourth round of a ten-round boxing match at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Joe Louis was the special referee for the match.

1975: Terry Funk defeated Jack Brisco to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Funk had been the reigning champion since he defeated Brisco on December 10, 1975, in Miami, FL. Also, Dick Slater & Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated World Tag Team Champions Ole & Gene Anderson by disqualification in a title match. The Andersons had been the reigning champions since they defeated Paul Jones & Wahoo McDaniel on June 11, 1975, in Raleigh, NC.

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

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com