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Thursday, January 3, 2008

GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/03/2008

NEWS

Ultimate Christian Wrestling results from the National Guard Armory in Canton, GA, on December 31: Kyle Matthews over Kevin Ballenger; Rob Adonis over Colt Derringer to retain the UCW National Heavyweight Title; Justin Dirt over Chris Rippey in a street fight; Dustin Powers over Austin Creed and Sal Rinauro in a three-way for the UCW Heavyweight Title; the A-List (Alex Phoenix & Adrian Hawkins) over Billy Jack & Brian Lawler to win the UCW Tag Team Title; and in the first ever Ultimate Armageddon match (winners versus losers elimination match), Rinauro, Creed, Lawler & Ballenger over Matthews, Dirt, Powers & Hawkins when Rinauro pinned three members of the opposing team.

UCW returns to the Canton National Guard Armory on January 12 with an 8:00 PM bell time. They will be in LaGrange, GA, at the Tabernacle Baptist Church on January 26 at 8:00 PM. (Larry Goodman)

Great Championship Wrestling will be in Phenix City, AL, tonight at the GR8 SK8plex, starting at 7:30 PM. Call (334) 297-2223 for more info. Ringside tickets are $15; all other seating is $12. Advertised: Johnny Swinger (w/ Quentin Michaels) will defend the GCW Heavyweight Title versus Scotty 2 Hotty. (Brian Slack)

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Carrollton, GA, on January 6 at the VFW Fairgrounds, beginning at 6:00 PM. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Ringside seats are $10, while general admission is $8. Advertised: Bull Buchanan versus the Super Destroyer for the SECW Heavyweight Title; Billy Love versus the Nightmare in a hair versus mask match; Melissa Coates versus Bambi for the SECW Women’s Title; Frankie Valentine versus El Mexicano in an ironman match; and Adrian Hawkins & Kyle Matthews versus Sal Rinauro & a mystery partner. (Rich Tate)

AWA World-1 South has postponed the previously advertised annual Old School Tag Team Tournament. It was to take place on the weekend of January 19-20. Promoter Jody Peterman still has it in his plans and will announce the date when it becomes official. (Thomas Bugg)

A benefit show to help raise money for Chase Holtzclaw, a Floyd County Deputy who was recently injured in a head-on automobile collision, is scheduled for January 5 at the National Guard Armory in Rome, GA. The event begins at 7:30, and all proceeds will go to Dep. Holtzclaw. Thanks to Phil Heffner, semi-retired local promoter, for passing along this info. We do not have a lineup, but Ricky Wiggins is in charge of the show, and can be reached at (706) 346-3201 for more info. Heffner did say that some of the wrestlers will be familiar to fans of IXW, which ran in the area for a few years. (Rich Tate)

The Independent Wrestling Network will be in Manchester, GA, on February 8, at Manchester High School, with a bell time of 7:30 PM. Ringside tickets are $12, and general admission is $10. MHS students get in for $8. Advertised: Buff Bagwell versus Southside Trash’s Rowdy Matiz; Brad Armstrong versus Mr. Hughes; K.I. Elite (Mike Stratus & Jake Slater) versus Frankie Valentine & J-Rod; Tommy Rich versus the Wrestler; Drew Golden versus the Stalker; the Last Rebel versus the Russian Con (w/ J.P. Money); and Razor versus Mystery Man.

There is also an IWN show in Columbus, GA, at Kendrick High School on February 9, and more details will be announced soon. Advertised for that event are Bagwell, Hughes, Rich, Rowdy, Golden, the Russian Con, Bulldog Raines, and Rob Adonis. (Brian Slack)

NOTES

GWH wishes a happy birthday to New Jack, who turns 45 today.

Buddy Knox died on this day in 1970. He was 55.

On this day in 1997, Big City Mike died at the age of 38.

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the death of Kung Fu, who passed away from a heart attack at 49.

NOSTALGIA

1934: Frank Speer defeated Herman Hickman two falls to one in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1947: Bibber McCoy defeated Jim Coffield in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1949: Tiny Oxford defeated Jim Coffield by countout in the main event at the Augusta Municipal Auditorium for promoter Jack Ross.

1955: Jerry Graham defeated Harry Smith by disqualification in the main event at the Valdosta Livestock Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Gordon Walker.

1958: The Mighty Yankee (Roger Mackay) defeated Don McIntyre in a no disqualification main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1961: Chief Little Eagle defeated Freddie Blassie in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1962: Jerry Miller defeated Jerry Graham in the main event at the Columbus Sports Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1964: The Assassins defeated Eddie Graham & Joe Scarpa in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Don McIntyre. Following the match, Tarzan Tyler charged the ring and attacked Graham, opening up a cut on his head and making him bleed badly. It was announced that Stan Stasiak, Lorenzo Parente, and Red Steiner would be wrestling on the card on January 10, 1964, and that Dick the Bruiser and the Mighty Hercules would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1967: A main event title match between the World Women’s Champion Fabulous Moolah and Bette Boucher was ruled a no contest at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Moolah had been billed as Women’s World Champion since she defeated Judy Grable on September 18, 1956, in Baltimore, MD. Also, Bill Dromo & Bobby Hart defeated the Reptiles, managed by Professor Powell (‘Farmer’ Bill Powell), in the semi-main event. The Reptiles were known for entering the ring with several snakes wrapped around their torsos.

1968: We do not have a lineup or results from this card, but during a fan participation event, whereas fans were invited to the ring against Mr. Wrestling (Tim Woods), Arnold Spurlin bit off part of one of Mr. Wrestling’s fingertips at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Read more about this incident by clicking here.

1969: El Mongol defeated Dale Lewis in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. For the match, both men put up $1,000. Following the match, Mongol attacked former manager Jack Crawford, who came to ringside during the bout, and he required assistance getting to the dressing room.

1970: On the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral, Nick Bockwinkel defeated Joe Scarpa to win the Georgia Television Title. Scarpa had been the reigning champion since he defeated Assassin #2 on November 22, 1969, in Atlanta.

1975: Assassin #2, managed by Rock Hunter, defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Jerry Brisco & Rocky Johnson defeated the Mighty Yankees, managed by J.C. Dykes, in the semi-main event. Roberto Soto defeated Billy Spears in a no disqualification match. In addition, Robert Fuller defeated Ron Garvin, managed by Jimmy Garvin.

1977: Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Dick Slater in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Also, Mr. Wrestling #2 & the Mighty Igor defeated Georgia Tag Team Champions Ole & Gene Anderson by disqualification in a title match. The Andersons had been the reigning champions since they defeated the Black Bombers (Tom Jones & Bobby ‘Porkchop’ Cash) on October 22, 1976, in Atlanta. In addition, Bob Backlund and Killer Brooks wrestled to a draw, while Scott Irwin defeated Abdullah the Butcher. Backlund also defeated Charlie Fulton in the opener.

1978: Abdullah the Butcher defeated Bob Armstrong to win $2,000 in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. They had been the last men standing in a battle royal to open the card to determine the order of the matches. The battle royal also included Jacques Goulet, Pak Song, Stan Hansen, Randy Savage, Raymond Rougeau, Dick Slater, Butch Malone, Tommy Rich, Tony Atlas, and Mr. Wrestling #2. Jim Dalton had been advertised, whereas Malone was not, so there may have been a substitution. Rock Hunter managed Abdullah and Song.

1982: The Masked Superstar & the Super Destroyer defeated Leroy Brown & Big Red in the main event at the Chattanooga (TN) Memorial Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, a semi-main event match between Tommy Rich and Austin Idol ended in a double countout. Bob & Brad Armstrong* defeated Kevin Sullivan & Buzz Sawyer by disqualification to retain the National Tag Team Title. The Armstrongs had been the reigning champions since they defeated Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito in a tournament final on November 26, 1981, in Atlanta.

GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com