Featured Post

Thank You, Axl Rotten (And R.I.P.)

Saturday, January 19, 2008

GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/19/2008

NEWS

Georgia Pro Wrestling Association will be in Cordele, GA, tonight at the Crisp County Middle School, with a bell time of 8:00 PM. Call (229) 382-6520 for more info. All tickets are $10, and it is a benefit for Diana Olalde. Seven-year-old Diana Olalde is in her second remission from her battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of bone cancer. Without receiving an expensive bone marrow replacement, doctors say that she has only a 20 percent chance of survival. She was originally diagnosed with leukemia in May 2006. She was then put in the children’s hospital in Macon, Ga., and she had undergone 17 months of chemotherapy. Then, in August of 2007, she had a bone marrow procedure, and they found out that the leukemia was back. Because an exact bone marrow match cannot be found for her, she needs a special procedure using stem cells. The stem cells from umbilical cords would be transmitted through I.V. and would then fuse with her marrow to help her form a new immune system. The cost of such an operation is substantial. The family was originally told that the procedure would cost about at or more than $500,000. Advertised: Mike Pain defends the GPWA Heavyweight Title versus Cru Jones; K.I. Elite (Mike Stratus & Jake Slater) versus the Hotshots (Frankie Valentine & J-Rod) for the GPWA Tag Team Title; Matt Black versus Preston Paradise; Tommy Dane versus Psych in a strap match; and Iron Will & Q-Ball versus the Marvelous Ones. Tommy Rich and Big Bank Barfield are also scheduled. (Thomas Bugg)

NWA Anarchy returns to the NWA Arena in Cornelia, GA, for a television taping tonight. In hour number one, Jeff Lewis squared off with Slim J, with the winner earning a title shot in hour number two against Anarchy Heavyweight Champion Shatter (w/ Jeff G. Bailey). Also on the card: the Devil's Rejects defend the Anarchy Tag Team Title against the Awesome Attraction; Jimmy Rave versus Sal Rinauro; Melissa Coates versus Brodie Chase; Todd Sexton versus Adrian Hawkins; Iceberg versus the Regular Guys in a handicap match; and in 8-man action, thee Hollywood Brunettes & Talent & Money versus Billy Buck, Chris King & New Wave. Nemesis, Mikal Judas, Jeremy Vain, Rob Adonis, Don Matthews, and Jerry Palmer will all be there as well. 8:00 PM bell time. (Larry Goodman)

Great Championship Wrestling results from the Gr8 Sk8plex in Phenix City, AL, on January 17: Hot Like Lava (Shaun Banks & Cru Jones) over Scotty Beach & Sonny Siaki to retain the GCW Tag Team Title; Zero Tolerance (w/ Quentin Michaels) over That 80s Guy; Orion Bishop (w/ Wicked Nemesis) over Bull Buchanan by disqualification; Randall Johnson over Tex Monroe; the Hooligans over A.J. Steele & Deathrow (w/ the Intern); Johnny Swinger (w/ Michaels & Tolerance) over David Young to retain the GCW Heavyweight Title. It was reported that 600 were in attendance for this card. Click here for a full report. GCW returns to the Gr8 Sk8plex in Phenix City, AL, on January 24. Bell time is 7:30 PM. Matches already announced are Johnny Swinger & Zero Tolerance versus David Young & Bull Buchanan; and Randall Johnson versus J-Rod. (Brian Slack)

The lineup for Ultimate Christian Wrestling on January 26 in LaGrange, GA, at the Baptist Tabernacle Church is as follows: "The Prince" Brain Lawler versus "God's Property" Billy Jack; Kyle Matthews versus Alexander Phoenix; Sal Rinauro versus Austin Creed in an Ironman Match; "Show Stopper" Chris Rippey & "Hot Body" Justin Brown versus "Mr. Evil" Colt Derringer & The Destroyer; and Dustin Powers (c) versus Justin Dirt versus Rob Adonis for the UCW Heavyweight Title. This will be Dirt's final UCW match before he leaves for the U.S. Navy. Bell time is 8pm. (Larry Goodman)

NOTES

Click Perspectives on Wrestling for Richard Berger’s updated Perspectives on Wrestling.

GWH wishes a happy birthday to Ron Killings, who turns 36 today.

One year ago today, Scott ‘Bam Bam’ Bigelow died at the age of 45, from what was attributed to heart disease, as well as an overdose of cocaine and benzodiazetine.

NOSTALGIA

1932: Jim Londos defeated Blue Sun Jennings in two straight falls to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1950: Don McIntyre & Johnny Long defeated Jim Coffield & Jack LaRue in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Celia Blevins defeated Lillian Ellison (the Fabulous Moolah) in the semi-main event. Howard Brown was credited as being a referee on this card. The program we have for this show once shows credits for the Atlanta staff, referencing Bill Hartman (Ticket Sales) and Simon Davis (Timekeeper). In addition, Ray McCay gets the nod as the Ring Announcer and Southern Detectives, Inc., are acknowledged as providing Doormen. McCay, laid up at the Lawson Veterans Hospital at Emory University, missed this card due to some medical issues, and Ben Gunn replaced him as ring announcer for the night. It was announced that Jack Hader and the French Angel (Maurice Tillet) would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1950: Honey Boy Hannigan defeated Lee Savoldi in the main event in Gainesville for promoter Fred Ward. Ward was not yet affiliated with Georgia Championship Wrestling. It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.

1960: Freddie Blassie defeated Chief Little Eagle in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1968: Ray Gunkel & Buddy Fuller defeated Stan & Butcher Vachon to win the World Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Enrique, Alberto & Ramon Torres defeated Dr. M, managed by Jack Crawford, & the Gauchos (Juan Sebastian & Tarzan Baxter) in the semi-main event. The program for this card mentioned that the father of the Torres brothers had recently passed away, and that Ramon would return home to California to help their mother handle affairs of the estate. It was announced that Tarzan Tyler would be wrestling on the card on January 26, 1968.

1971: Luke Graham defeated Paul DeMarco in a main event Texas death match at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Also, Bob Armstrong, Bob Griffin, Joe Flaherty & Jim Wilson defeated Kubla Khan, Mr. Ito & the Assassins in the semi-main event. Jack Crawford managed Khan.

1973: Eddie & Mike Graham defeated Sputnik & Rocket Monroe to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Haystacks Calhoun was the winner of a $6,000 battle royal. Mr. Wrestling defeated Norvel Austin, managed by Jack Crawford. The program for this card featured a copy of a Western Union telegram from Sam Muchnick, congratulating Paul Jones for twenty-nine years of promoting wrestling in Atlanta.

1974: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Robert Fuller in the main event at the Griffin-Barnesville Sports Palace for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Bob Armstrong, Ricky Gibson & Roberto Soto defeated Ron, Terry & Jimmy Garvin in the semi-main event.

1976: Abdullah the Butcher & the Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, defeated Dick Slater & Dusty Rhodes in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Also, Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Skandor Akbar in the semi-main event.

1979: Ole Anderson & Ivan Koloff defeated Jack & Jerry Brisco to win the Georgia Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Stan Hansen & the Masked Superstar in the semi-main event. Also, Dusty Rhodes and King Kong Mosca wrestled to a draw, and Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated the Grappler (Len Denton).

1986: Dusty Rhodes defeated Arn Anderson in a main event Texas death match at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for Jim Crockett Promotions. Also, Ron Garvin and Ric Flair wrestled to a draw, and a match between Magnum T.A. and Nikita Koloff was ruled a no contest.

GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com