GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/23/2008

Courtesy of Rich Tate's GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS

In Your Head will feature Nikita Koloff and Magnum T.A. on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET.

Ginzburg’s Legends Radio will feature Rob Van Dam, Magnum T.A., Chris Masters, and film producer Roy Karch on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET.

Last night’s Total Nonstop Action TV tapings generated the following results: Robert Roode, James Storm & Peyton Banks over Sonjay Dutt, Eric Young & Traci Brooks; Lance Hoyt & Jimmy Rave over Scott Steiner & Petey Williams; A.J. Styles over Tiger Mask; Shinsuke Nakamura over Elix Skipper; Gail Kim over Roxxi Laveaux; ODB over Velvet Sky; Awesome Kong over Traci Brooks; Kaz over Black Reign in a four corners pole match; Homicide over Johnny Devine by disqualification; Shark Boy & Curry Man over Lance Hoyt & Jimmy Rave; Tomko over Kurt Angle; Abyss over Judas Mesias in the barbed wire match. A.J. Styles was the special referee for the match between Kurt Angle and Tomko. The Abyss-Medias match was taped specifically to be shown during the Against All Odds PPV on February 10, as the South Carolina Athletic Commission disallowed the match to take place in Greenville. (Rich Tate)

On January 22, Florida Championship Wrestling held their weekly show at Bourbon Street Night Club, 4331 US 19N in New Port Richey, FL: “the Campus Legend” Brad Allen & “Carnival Freak from Myrtle Creek” Sinn Bowdee defeated G-Rilla & Robert Anthony; Sheamus defeated Kevin Kiley; the 7 Foot Giant Titan (w/Mosca) defeated David (Mercury) Olivieri; in a Diva’s rematch, Nattie Neidhart (w/Victoria Crawford) defeated Brianna Bella (w/Nicole); “the Natural” Nic Nemeth & Big Rob defeated Rycklon & Bryan Kelly; “the Puerto Rican Nightmare” Eric Perez defeated “Bad Seed” Shawn Osborne; “Stampede Kid” T.J. Wilson defeated Jake Hager via DQ when Afa Jr attacked Wilson; and with FCW Southern Heavyweight champion Ted DiBiase Jr. banned from ringside, “Handsome” Heath Miller defeated Billy Kidman. Click here for a full report. (Alan Wojcik)

The Power Pro Wrestling Alliance debuts in Douglasville, GA, at Jessie Davis Park on January 26, with a bell time of 7:00 PM. Call (770) 883-1064 for more info. Ringside tickets are $10 and general admission seating costs $8. Advertised: Bull Buchanan versus Bulldog Raines; and a battle royal. Frankie Valentine, J-Rod, Cru Jones, Dark Star, Dark Gable, Kid Lightning, and Bubba Kaiser are expected to be associated with the new promotion. (Mick N. Brawler)

Georgia Wrestling Promotions has announced four matches for their March 14 show in Dalton, GA, at the Northwest Trade and Convention Center: the Steiner Brothers versus Iceberg & Tank (with Reverend Dan Wilson); the Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton) versus Bullet Bob & Brad Armstrong; Daffney versus Melissa Coates; and the Regular Guys (c) vs. Hollywood Brunettes for the GWP tag titles. Buff Bagwell, Bill Dundee, Disco Inferno, and Marty Jannetty have also been signed for this show. More details as the date nears. (Larry Goodman)

NOTES

Mick N. Brawler, a friend of many years and writer for GWH, has accepted a job offer which will see him move across the country, and thus unable to work with us on covering local events. We wish him well in his new career pursuits, and will miss him. However, as always has been the case with Mick, he no doubt will send us material on the national scene if time permits. (Rich Tate)

Today is the twenty-fourth anniversary of Hulk Hogan’s win over the Iron Sheik for the WWF World Heavyweight Title, a reign that coincided, and practically changed the landscape of professional wrestling forever.

GWH wishes a happy birthday to Leilani Kai (48) and Nigel McGuinness (30) today.

Bobby Bruns died on this day in 1983 at the age of 68.

NOSTALGIA

1936: Dorv Roche defeated Cy Williams in the main event at the East Point Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1948: Lou Thesz defeated Bibber McCoy, substituting for Thor Morgan, in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Al Massey & Paul Stanlee and Tom Mahoney & Dan O’Connor wrestled to a draw in the semi-main event.

1950: Jim Coffield defeated Johnny Long two falls to one in the main event at the Augusta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney. Nick Carter defeated Mahoney by disqualification in the semi-main event, and Celia Blevins defeated Lillian Ellison (the Fabulous Moolah).

1956: Roger Mackay & Jackie Nichols defeated Freddie & Billy Blassie in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney.

1962: The Assassins defeated Jerry Miller & Bobby Christy to retain the Southern Tag Team Title at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1963: Bronko Lubich, managed by Homer O’Dell, defeated Steve Kovacs in the main event at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. John Paul Henning and the Bat (Joe Tomasso) wrestled to a thirty-minute draw in the semi-main event.

1968: The Kentuckian (Jake ‘Grizzly’ Smith) defeated Butcher Vachon in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. The Gauchos (Juan Sebastian & Tarzan Baxter) defeated Enrique & Alberto Torres in the semi-main event.

1970: Georgia Heavyweight Champion Doug Gilbert and Nick Bockwinkel wrestled to a draw in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Assassins defeated Chati Yokuchi & Fuji to win $1,000 in the finals of a round robin tournament that also included Alberto & Ramon Torres. Also, Paul DeMarco & Buddy Colt, managed by Homer O’Dell, defeated Bob Nandor & El Mongol.

1973: A main event title match between Georgia Heavyweight Champion Assassin #2 and Rock Hunter was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for All-South Wrestling Alliance promoter Ann Gunkel. El Mongol defeated Ox Baker in the semi-main event. Also, Ray Candy & Bearcat Wilkerson defeated the Hollywood Blonds (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts). In addition, Dick Steinborn defeated Guillotine Gordon, and Bill Bowman & Joe Turner and Ted Oates & Tommy Seigler wrestled to a draw. The program for this card is the first we have where Ann Gunkel has her own column, and she is billed as Mrs. Ray Gunkel, and also signs off that way. The staff credits have changed since the last mention, with Tim Geohagen now being referenced as Timekeeper. Sponsors listed are Sears, Rich’s, Jim Salle’s, Trust Company of Georgia, Ellner News Stand, and Mother’s on the Strip. It also mentions that “All-South Championship Wrestling” can now be seen Saturdays on WTCG Channel 17 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.

1973: Eddie & Mike Graham defeated Sputnik & Rocket Monroe to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Bob Armstrong & Koa Tiki defeated Tank Morgan & Hiro Matsuda by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1976: We do not have results for this match, but Dusty Rhodes and the Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, were to wrestle in a main event taped fist match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Dick Slater defeated Abdullah the Butcher in a semi-main event lumberjack match. Also, Moondog Mayne and Mr. Wrestling #2 wrestled to a draw, and Stan Stasiak defeated Tony Charles.

1979: Mr. Wrestling #2 was scheduled to defend the Macon Heavyweight Title against the Masked Superstar at the Warner Robins Civic Center for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. However, the Superstar missed the show due to inclement weather, and was replaced by the Grappler (Len Denton), who lost to Wrestling #2 in the main event. The advertised semi-main event was Ole Anderson & Rick Oliver (Rip Oliver) versus Tommy Rich & Mr. Wrestling #1. However, due to weather, Oliver was also unable to travel, and Rich & Wrestling #1 defeated Anderson & Bugsy McGraw.

1982: Ric Flair defeated Tommy Rich to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Chattanooga (TN) Memorial Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Ron Fuller, Leroy Brown & Big Red defeated Ricky Harris, (Black Bart, substituting for Buzz Sawyer), the Masked Superstar & the Super Destroyer in the semi-main event. Also, Bob Armstrong defeated Ron Bass by disqualification, while Jimmy Garvin and Kevin Sullivan wrestled to a draw. Brad Armstrong defeated the French Angel (Frank Morrell) in the opener.

1983: Butch Reed defeated Ric Flair in a main event $5,000 challenge match at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Ole Anderson & Buzz Sawyer defeated Stan Hansen & Tommy Rich in the semi-main event. Also, Paul Orndorff defeated Ivan Koloff to retain the National Heavyweight Title. Bruiser Brody defeated Tito Santana, while Ray Candy and the Super Destroyer wrestled to a draw. In other matches, Paul Ellering defeated Johnny Rich, and the Moondogs, managed by J.J. Dillon, defeated Tom Prichard & Joe Lightfoot. Brad Armstrong defeated Chick Donovan in the opener.