GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/31/2008

Courtesy of Rich Tate's GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS

Great Championship Wrestling has two shows this week. Tonight at 7:30, matches get underway at the Gr8 Sk8 Plex in Phenix City, AL. Doors open at 6:45. GCW Heavyweight Champion Johnny Swinger, with Quentin Michaels in his corner, will put the title on the line against David Young and Bull Buchanan in a three-way match. GCW returns to Macon on February 2, with a bell time of 7:30. This event will be held at the Frank Johnson Rec Center. Doors open at 6:45. Swinger is scheduled to defend the title against Buchanan, but of course that is dependent on the outcome of tonight’s title match. A.J. Steele is slated to put the GCW Interstate Heavyweight Title up against Zero Tolerance. (Brian Slack)

Southern States Championship Wrestling will be in Enigma, GA, at the Enigma Gym on Highway 82 East on February 2. Bell time is 7:30, and all tickets are $2: SSCW Tag Team Championship: Champions "New Radical Nation" (Soldier and Rogers) versus The Gansta Nation; SSCW Women’s Championship - Best 2 out of 3 Falls: Champion Samantha Steel versus Jelena; SSCW Southern Heritage Championship: Champion "Rock n Roll" Chris Turner versus Rouge; "Dynamite" Scotty Biggs versus Mad Dog Miller; and JT Taylor versus "Big Nasty" Bryan Fury. Also on hand will be SSCW Champion Jarrod Michaels, The Soviet, Tommy Flight and others. (Brian Slack)

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Carrollton, GA, on February 10 at the VFW Fairgrounds, beginning at 6:00 PM. Doors open at 5:00. Ringside seats are $10, and all other tickets are $8. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Advertised: Bull Buchanan & Buff Bagwell versus Steve Lawler & Bulldog Raines; the Nightmare versus the Super Destroyer in a no disqualification match; Tommy Rich versus Billy Love; Scotty Blaze & Kid Ego versus the Southside Trash; Adrian Hawkins & Vordell Walker versus Will Owens & Sal Rinauro; and Kyle Matthews versus the Eliminator. (Rich Tate)

On February 23, Southern Classic Wrestling is back at Big Dog Billiards in Sandersville, GA. Doors open at 7:00 and the matches start at 8:00. Kids 5 and under get in free, ages 6-12 are $3 admission, and all other tickets are $6. The main event scheduled is a six-man match featuring The VIP (Tommy Lee, Big Bank Barfield & Matt Mercer) versus Bobby Joiner, TW James & Flatline. 2 BAD (Jamie Holmes & Conner Cruze) are going to defend the SCW Georgia Tag Team Title against Adam & Eric Stanton in the semi-main event. One other title match is advertised, with Loco Motive putting the SCW Georgia Heritage Title on the line against Rick Michaels. Other matches include The Masked Nightmare versus Frankie Valentine, The Freak versus Josh Stone, Greg Haze versus a mystery opponent hired by his uncle Ace Heffner, and a tag match featuring Chaos & Carnage (Chaos & Scotty Carmichael) versus The Foreign Legion (Juan Tequila & Prince Rhumma). For tickets and other info call 478-251-1332. (Brian Slack)

NOTES

We received news this morning that Bob Rogers, a fan of more than fifty years, passed away early this morning. He had been attending Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling cards in the west Georgia area of late, but had been hospitalized. On December 30, SECW held a card to help with medical costs. Personally, I never met Bob, but there is little doubt he witnessed quite a bit of history dating back to the 1950s. I sure would have liked to have picked his brain a bit for some of his memories. On behalf of everyone at GWH, the Rogers family has our most sincere condolences. (Rich Tate)

Amy ‘Lita’ Dumas’ band, the Luchagors, will be playing at the Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta, GA, on February 1. Check your local directories or the band’s site for more info. (Rich Tate)

GWH wishes a happy birthday to Giant Gonzales, who turns 42 today.

The original Dutch Mantell died on this day in 1941, when cancer claimed him at 59.

Giant Baba also succumbed to cancer nine years ago today. He was 61.

NOSTALGIA

1933: Jack Zarnas defeated Ralph DeLeon two falls to one in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber. Jim Clinstock was scheduled to wrestle Whitey Hewitt, but Clinstock failed to appear, prompting Atlanta City Boxing Commission Chairman John A. White to suspend Clinstock indefinitely. As a result, Weber asked that anyone bringing a ticket stub from this card would be admitted into the card on February 7, 1933. Of course, this is pro wrestling. Stay tuned.

1945: George Romanoff defeated Mr. X (Mike Chacoma) by disqualification in the main event at the Savannah Municipal Auditorium for promoters Lou Masters, Dick Leonard, and Buster White.

1950: Red Dugan defeated Maurice Roberre in the main event in Dalton for promoter Fred Ward. Ward was not yet affiliated with Georgia Championship Wrestling. Nell Stewart & Cora Combs defeated Mae Young & Eva Lee in the semi-main event. It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.

1958: The Southern Heavyweight Champion Mighty Yankee (Roger Mackay) and Don McIntyre wrestled to a draw in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Ray Gunkel defeated Mike Paidousis in the semi-main event.

1961: Skull Murphy and Chief Little Eagle wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Bill Dromo & Derrell Cochran defeated Danny Miller & Gypsy Joe in the semi-main event.

1962: The Southern Tag Team Champion Assassins and Rito & Tito Carreon wrestled to a draw in a title match at the Columbus Sports Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Also, Jerry Miller defeated the Masked Marvel. During the match, Miller removed the Marvel’s mask to identify him as Jack Vansky.

1964: Fritz Von Erich defeated the Mighty Hercules (Bobby Graham) in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Don McIntyre. Lorenzo Parente defeated Taro Myaki in the semi-main event. Also, Joe Scarpa, Tim Geohagen & Chief Little Eagle defeated Stan Stasiak, Red Steiner & Corsica Joe. It was announced that Bob Ellis, Red Roberts, and Lou Thesz would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1967: Enrique & Ramon Torres defeated Butcher Vachon & Gorilla Marconi in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1969: A main event match featuring Ray Gunkel, Buddy Fuller & El Mongol versus the Professional & the Assassins was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. It was reported that the NWA was investigating claims that the Pro had used a foreign object inside his mask against Mongol on January 24, 1969.

1970: Georgia Television Champion Nick Bockwinkel and Joe Scarpa wrestled to a draw at the WQXI Studios in Atlanta for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral. It was reported that the Assassins had purchased the contract of Paul DeMarco from Homer O’Dell, and were willing to allow DeMarco out of the contract and become a free agent if he agreed to pay them a fee to do so.

1973: Bob Armstrong defeated Hiro Matsuda to win the Columbus Heavyweight Title at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Koa Tiki defeated Norvel Austin, managed by Jack Crawford, by disqualification in the semi-main event. Austin took exception to Crawford interfering in the match, and they almost came to blows. Also, Sputnik & Rocket Monroe defeated Pantera Negra & Mr. Wrestling #2.

1975: Bill Watts defeated Abdullah the Butcher in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Buddy Colt, managed by Bearcat Wright, defeated Lou Thesz, substituting for Mr. Wrestling #2, in the semi-main event.

1977: Terry Funk defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Mr. Wrestling #1 & #2 defeated Dick Slater & Harley Race to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title in the semi-main event. Also, Black (Tony) Atlas defeated the French Angel (Frank Morrell), managed by J.J. Dillon, by disqualification, and Gene Anderson defeated Bob Backlund.

1978: Ole Anderson & Jacques Goulet defeated Dick Slater & Mr. Wrestling #2 to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title at the Warner Robins Civic Center for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Abdullah the Butcher defeated Georgia Television Champion Bob Armstrong by disqualification in a title match.

1980: We do not have results for this match, but Mr. Wrestling #2 & Andre the Giant were scheduled to wrestle Killer Khan & the Masked Superstar, managed by the Great Mephisto, in the main event at the Rome Memorial Gymnasium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben.

1981: Bobby Eaton defeated Steve O to win the National Television Title at the WTBS Studios in Atlanta for the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie.

1981: Steve Keirn defeated Kevin Sullivan in a main event Boston street fight match at the Chattanooga (TN) Memorial Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Robert Fuller & Ted DiBiase defeated the Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) in the semi-main event. Also, Dick Slater defeated the National Heavyweight Champion Mongolian Stomper, managed by Don Carson, by disqualification in a title match.