GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 12/21/2007

NEWS

Alternative Pro Wrestling is back in Royston, GA, tonight at the Royston Gym, with matches getting underway at 8:00 PM. Call (706) 680-3234 for more info.

Georgia Wrestling Federation will be in Summerville, GA, tonight at the GWF Arena, with action beginning at 8:00 PM. Call (706) 936-2901 for more info.

Buff Bagwell will join Georgia Wrestling Promotions promoter Roger Cantrell at the Hot Wheels Skate Center in Woodstock, GA, tonight for a meet and greet with fans. They are scheduled to appear from 8-9:00 PM.

GWP will be at the Skate Center on December 23, 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; Gangrel & 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; Jay Clinton (w/ Aaron Voight) versus Ace Rockwell; Truitt Fields versus Simon Sermon; Slim J versus Kid Ego, Jr.; and a thirty-man battle royal. Also scheduled to appear are Nigel Sherrod, VIP, Ace Heffner, and even Santa Claus. Bagwell, Gangrel, and the Armstrongs will participate in a meet-and-greet beginning at 7:00 PM.

NOTES

From Mick N. Brawler:

Bill Behrens declared on Tuesday that the sixty-day delay on implementing any new regulations on professional wrestling in Georgia was a victory. It indeed was, but it could be even bigger if the newly formed Georgia Wrestling Promoters Advisory Committee lasts beyond the implementation of new regulations, assuming the new rules are reasonable enough to allow most of the promotions to continue promoting shows.

In many ways, the willingness of promoters in the state to work together is reminiscent of the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance, whereas promoters kept reign over their own territory, operating independently, yet together for the common good. You can debate the positives and negatives of the NWA during their peak, but whereas it applies to the state of Georgia, this could be good for all participating promoters, as well as the wrestlers and the fans.

By opening never-before-seen lines of communication between the various promotions, talent sharing can only enhance the product around the state, offering more opportunities for fans in smaller promotions to see some of the more experienced and widely recognized talents. In addition, the younger wrestlers can gain more opportunities to work for some of the larger groups, allowing them more experience to hone their craft as well.

One interesting thing they could do down the road is create a “traveling” champion, who becomes known as the true Georgia champion, defending the title across all participating promotions. Another is perhaps some form of a television production that offers exposure to all promoters and wrestlers that could be carried in enough markets to drum up more interest to build attendance at future events.

Of course, this may be putting the cart before the horse, but if the promoters can make this work, and the GAEC works with them in February to put logical regulations into effect, the beneficial opportunity of such a group is limitless.

mick@georgiawrestlinghistory.com

NOSTALGIA

1936: Petro Rossi defeated John Mauldin to win the Southern Light Heavyweight Title at the Spring Street Arena for promoter Frank Bettis. Mauldin had been the reigning champion since he defeated Honey Boy Hackney on September 11, 1936, in Atlanta.

1945: Tarzan White defeated Vic Emanuel in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1951: Don McIntyre defeated Art Nelson to retain the Southern Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. McIntyre had been the reigning champion since he defeated Nelson on September 10, 1951, in Augusta. It is believed Nelson got this match as the result of having won a tournament on December 7, 1951.

1956: A title match between Southern Heavyweight Champion Jerry Graham and Freddie Blassie was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Graham had been the reigning champion since he defeated Bobby Weaver (Arnold Skaaland) on December 14, 1956, in Atlanta. Also, Red McIntyre & Chief Big Heart defeated Fred Atkins & Ike Eakins to retain the International Tag Team Title. McIntyre & Big Heart had been the reigning champions since they defeated Atkins & Eakins on December 7, 1956, in Atlanta.

1960: Tiny Evans & Chief Little Eagle defeated Danny Miller & Gypsy Joe in the main event at the Columbus Sports Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1962: Freddie Blassie defeated Dick the Bruiser in a main event lumberjack match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Don McIntyre. According to the program for this card, “Live Atlanta Wrestling” would be shown at the special time of 2:00 to 3:30 PM on December 22,1962, due to a football game, and would move to a new time slot of 6:30 to 7:30 PM on December 29, 1962.

1964: Sputnik Monroe defeated Freddie Blassie by disqualification in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Steve Manderson.

1965: Billy & Bad Boy Hines defeated Don Carson & Gene Steele in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1968: The Assassins defeated Mario Galento & Alberto Torres at the WQXI Studios in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral.

1971: With their masks at stake and the DQ rule waived, the Assassins defeated Bill Dromo & Bob Armstrong to win the Southeastern Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Dromo & Armstrong had been the reigning champions since they defeated the Assassins on December 14, 1971, in Macon.

1973: Ron Fuller defeated Bill Watts to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Watts had been the reigning champion since he defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 on November 2, 1973, in Atlanta. Also, Bobby Shane & Gorgeous George, Jr., defeated Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller to win the Georgia Tag Team Title. This was a rematch from December 15, 1973, when after Armstrong & Fuller lost a televised match to Shane & George, Jr., the belts were held up. Armstrong & Fuller had been the reigning champions since they defeated Bobby Duncum & Stan Vachon on October 27, 1973, in Atlanta.

1985: Ron Garvin defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair by disqualification in a title match at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for Jim Crockett Promotions. Flair had been the reigning champion since he defeated Kerry Von Erich on May 24, 1984, in Yokosuka, Japan. Also, the Road Warriors defeated Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev by disqualification in the semi-main event. Magnum T.A., who also won a $20,000 battle royal on this card, defeated Ole Anderson to retain the US Heavyweight Title. T.A. had been the reigning champion since he defeated Tully Blanchard on November 28, 1985, in Greensboro, NC. The Rock & Roll Express defeated Tully Blanchard & Buddy Landell to retain the World Tag Team Title. The Express had been the reigning champions since they defeated Ivan & Nikita Koloff on November 28, 1985, in Greensboro, NC. In addition, Dusty Rhodes defeated Arn Anderson, and the Barbarian defeated Sam Houston. Black Bart defeated the Italian Stallion in the opener.

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com