GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 12/29/2007

NEWS

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. Advertised: Patrick Bentley versus Slim J in a cage match; Phil Shatter defends the Anarchy Heavyweight Title against Mikal Judas and Iceberg in a three-way; Nemesis versus Shadow Jackson; Jeff Lewis versus Kory Chavis in a death match; the Awesome Attraction defend the Anarchy Tag Team Title versus the Devil’s Rejects; Wes Grissom versus Todd Sexton for a shot later in the night versus Truitt Fields for the Anarchy Television Title; Jeremy Vain & Mr. Adonis versus Jerry Palmer & a mystery partner; Sal Rinauro & the World’s Prettiest Tag Team versus the Anger Alliance; and the New Wave versus the Hollywood Brunettes.

All-Star Wrestling Network will be back in Fort Valley, GA, tonight, at the Wrestleplex, beginning at 8:00 PM. Advertised: Chick Donovan versus Sam Slaughter for the AWN Heavyweight Title; Shaun Hunter versus Pitbull for the AWN Heritage Title; Genocyde versus K.I. Elite for the AWN Tag Team Title; Leon McMichael versus Iron Will in a grudge match; Johnny Camo & Mike Payne versus Brokishi & Q-Ball; Rick Michaels versus Simon Sermon; and Ron Stalker versus the Underfaker.

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Villa Rica, GA, tomorrow night at the SECW Arena, beginning at 6:00 PM. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. This will be Bob Rogers Night, with proceeds from the show going to help with medical bills for the currently hospitalized wrestling fan of some fifty-plus years. Advertised: Bull Buchanan & the Nightmare versus Bulldog Raines & the Super Destroyer in the main event. Adrian Hawkins, Frankie Valentine, Kyle Matthews, Billy Love, L.T. Faulk, and El Mexicano are also scheduled to appear.

AWA World-1 South will return to Valdosta, GA, tomorrow night at the Valdosta Conference Center, starting at 7:00 PM. Call (866) 244-0104 for more info. This will be a card featuring Jody Peterman’s W1S versus Ed Pitts’ Spinebuster Championship Wrestling. Advertised: The Heartbreak Express (W1S) will defend the AWA World Tag Team Title versus Bonez the Cutthroat & Steve Corino (SCW); Preston Paradise (SCW) versus Q-Ball (W1S); Ricky Landell (W1S) will defend the US Heavyweight Title versus Mr. Wrestling #3 (SCW); Jake Slater (W1S) versus Less Fortunate (SCW): Dave Holiday (W1S) versus Tommy Dame (SCW); and Lance Alonte (SCW) versus Big Bank Barfield (W1S).

Down South Hardcore Wrestling will be in Darien, GA, tomorrow night at the Multiplex, with action beginning at 7:15 PM. Advertised: Cameron LaRue versus Scotty Bullwinkle for the DSHW Heavyweight Title; Sebastian Troy versus Ash Kristiansen for the DSHW Light Heavyweight Title; Vordell Walker versus Dallas Riley; and Ryan Savage versus Teddy Baddstreet. Morbid Angel, Gangsta Nation, Kamo, Frizza, Emo Kid, and the Phoenix are also scheduled to appear.

NOTES

We would like to take a moment and express our gratitude to the many sites that make this daily report available to you. Since we started putting these together in October, our site has hit record numbers, even more so than the growth we achieved with our Aftermath of Tragedy piece that launched in August, covering the tragedy surrounding the events at the Benoit home and the resulting fallout.

2007, our fifth year in existence, saw GWH evolve from strictly a site paying tribute to the past of Georgia wrestling to one attempting to provide exposure to the current scene as well. We appreciate all who help plug us to their visitors, as well as the visitors who continue to come and check out what we have to offer.

We hope everyone has a great beginning to 2008, and that it is a safe, healthy, and prosperous year for you all.

NOSTALGIA

1904: M.J. Dwyer defeated Charles Leonhardt in two straight falls at the DeGive Opera House in Atlanta.

1933: Bob Anderson defeated Eddie Wagner at the Avondale Arena for promoter Wesley Brownlee. Joe Lennox, billed as a “wrestler, acrobat, and trick diver,” was advertised to perform at this card.

1944: Charlie Harben defeated Dick Lever by disqualification in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1950: Babe Zaharias defeated Tarzan White in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1956: Jerry Graham defeated Freddie Blassie to retain the Southern Heavyweight Title in a Texas death match 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.

1961: Eddie Graham & Dick Steinborn defeated Tojo Yamamoto & Taro Myaki to retain the US Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Graham & Steinborn had been the reigning champions as recognized by the Tampa, FL, office since they defeated Yamamoto & Myaki on November 30, 1961, in Jacksonville, FL.

1962: “Live Atlanta Wrestling”, hosted by Ed Capral, moved to a new time slot of 6:30-7:30 PM.

1967: Enrique, Alberto & Ramon Torres defeated Louie Tillet, Stan & Butcher Vachon in the main event at the Paul Jones Sports Arena in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1970: The Assassins defeated Bob Armstrong & Freddie Blassie to retain the Macon Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. The Assassins had been the reigning Macon Tag Team Champions since they defeated Bob Armstrong & Paul DeMarco on December 15, 1970, in Macon.

1972: Eddie & Mike Graham defeated Sputnik & Rocket Monroe to win the vacant Georgia Tag Team Title in the final round of a one-night tournament. The title had previously been held by Dick Steinborn & Argentina Apollo, who had since defected to the All-South Wrestling Alliance. Other teams in the tournament included Bill Dromo & Bob Orton, Jr., and Norvel Austin & the Masked Marvel, managed by ‘Dandy’ Jack Crawford. Eddie Graham defeated Crawford in the main event. It was reported that if Crawford failed to appear and wrestle Graham, he would be fined and suspended indefinitely from wrestling in Atlanta. Also, Buddy Colt defeated Bob Armstrong to win the Southern Heavyweight Title. Sputnik Monroe was barred from ringside during the match. Armstrong had been the reigning champion since he defeated Colt on December 15, 1972, in Atlanta. Eddie Smith was credited as being a referee for this card.

1975: Terry Funk defeated Dick Slater to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Funk had been the reigning champion since he defeated Jack Brisco on December 10, 1975, in Miami, FL. Also, Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Rock Hunter in a no disqualification match. Bob Armstrong defeated the Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart.

1979: On the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie, during a match between Mr. Wrestling #2 and Mr. X, Wrestling #2 removed X’s mask to identify him as Tony Perkins. Wrestling #2 was then attacked by the Masked Superstar, who unmasked Wrestling #2. Referee Tommy Weathers covered Wrestling #2’s face and escorted him to the dressing room so his face could not be seen.

1980: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Ole Anderson in a main event Texas death match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben.

1984: The Long Riders (Bill & Scott Irwin) defeated Tommy Rich & Abdullah the Butcher to retain the National Tag Team Title at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus for Championship Wrestling from Georgia promoter Ole Anderson. The Riders had been the reigning champions since they defeated Brad Armstrong & Jacques Rougeau, Jr., in a tournament final on November 18, 1984, in Atlanta.

1995: We don’t have results for this card, but the following lineup was advertised at the National Guard Armory in Cordele for Peach State Wrestling promoter Ben Masters: Billy Black versus Rob Van Dam for a shot later in the night for the Cordele Heavyweight Title, held by Ricky Morton; Mike Jackson was to defend the US Junior Heavyweight Title versus Lee Thomas; Adrian Street, with Miss Linda, versus Gorgeous George III; Bob Armstrong versus the French Angel (reportedly Frank Morrell); Luscious Lonnie & the Botswana Beast versus the Pretty Young Things (Jim Bryant & Fred Avery); and Scott & Steve Armstrong, managed by Mad Jack, versus the Blazers (Ray Lloyd & R.D. Swain), managed by Ronnie Gossett.

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com