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

Courtesy of Rich Tate's GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS

Georgia Wrestling Promotions has canceled all of the shows on their schedule including the March 14 "Night of the Legends" in Dalton. Owner Roger Cantrell said GWP is going on hiatus. The move comes after reports that Cantrell was unable to fully cover his talent expenses for either of the last two shows. More on this story later. (Larry Goodman)

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling results from the VFW Fairgrounds in Carrollton, GA, on March 2: Damon Taz over Josh Stone; Austin Creed over El Mexicano; Sal Rinauro over Kyle Matthews; Tommy Rich, Adrian Hawkins & Austin Creed over TC, Cody Gunn & Pretty Boy Floyd, two falls to one; and Bull Buchanan over the Super Destroyer in a lumberjack match to retain the SECW Heavyweight Title. Jeff McGowan and Shannon Dumas were credited as being referees for this card. It was reported that 175 were in attendance. (Rich Tate)

The Southern States Championship Wrestling event from the Enigma Gym in Enigma, GA drew a crowd of 209 people. Bryan Fury got a DQ win over JT Taylor after the referee saw a chain in Taylor’s hand after Taylor was set up by Fury. SSCW Commissioner declared that a dog collar match would settle the score between the two later that night. Jelena and Logan Stevens defeats The Soviet and Samantha Steel. Chris Turner retains the Southern Heritage championship by defeating Rouge. In the dog collar match, JT Taylor defeats Bryan Fury. “Modern Day Enforcer” Scotty Biggs defeats John “The Truth” Johnson. In a “Any Means Necessary Street Fight” for the SSCW tag team titles, the Gangsta Nation team of E-Dogg and G-Smooth w/Ox Madison defeats NRN, consisting of Unknown Soldier and Brooks Rogers to become the new tag champs. After the match, Rogers attacks Soldier. Jarrod Michaels retains the SSCW Heavyweight championship against Mad Dog Miller after the match being called from Miller passing from the figure four. The Nightmare is scheduled to appear at the next show which will be on April 5. (Brian Slack)

The Power Pro Wrestling Alliance has changed its name to simply Power Pro Wrestling. Here are the results from their card at the New Temple Gym in Temple, GA, on March 1: Josh Storm over Jason Lynn; the Russian Kodiak over Ace Voleur; Chris Lightning & Chris Ganz over the Hooligans; the Professor over Johnny Rage; Frankie Valentine over Cru Jones by disqualification when Shaun Banks interfered; J-Rod over Banks; and the Kodiak won an eighteen-man battle royal to become the first PPW Heavyweight Champion. According to the promotion, this was the final appearance in the area for the Hooligans, who are reportedly headed to Illinois. Rob Russo was named PPW Commissioner. Jeff McGowan and Ricky Spears were credited as being referees for the card. It was reported that 162 were in attendance. PPW will return to the Temple Gym in Temple, GA, on March 15, with matches starting at 7:30 PM. Advertised: Cru Jones, Shaun Banks, J-Rod, Frankie Valentine, Chris Lightning, Chris Ganz, Jason Lynn, Dark Star, the Russian Kodiak, Fantasy, and Gorgeous Stephanie. (Rich Tate)

Total Nonstop Action will be taping for iMPACT! at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, on March 10-11. Admission for tapings is free. Call (407) 224-6000 for more info. (Rich Tate)

NOTES

Click here for this week’s Bill Behrens’ NWA Notes update. (Rich Tate)

Jerkin' the Curtain, hosted by Trent Van Drisse, will feature Bill Dundee and Brent West on its show tonight at 11:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

Trash Talking Radio, hosted by Mike Trash, will feature Chris Kanyon, Luke Hawx, and Bobby Reidel on its show on March 4 at 7:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

On this day in 1945, a plane crash claimed the lives of George Mack, Jack Ross, Gerald ‘Kid’ Chapman, Harold ‘Al’ Sabbath, Gaius Young, and Ben Reuben. They were traveling as part of a USO tour for Allied troops, and the plane was on its way to Paris, France, from England. The plane went down inside France, and eleven other people also lost their lives in the accident. Click here for more info on what was perhaps the single greatest tragedy in wrestling history in terms of casualties in numbers.

Forty years ago today, Harry Morris Demetral died at the age of 69.

NOSTALGIA

1939: Southern Light Heavyweight Champion Jack McAdams and the Red Devil wrestled to a draw in a title match at the Warren Arena in Atlanta for promoters Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby.

1944: Al Massey defeated Don Lee two falls to one in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1951: Don McIntyre & Rube Wright defeated Tom Mahoney & Bobby Lane in Griffin for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.

1964: Johnny Bruce defeated Bob Morrow by disqualification in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Ward was not affiliated with Georgia Championship Wrestling at this time.

1967: Ramon Torres defeated Gene Anderson in the main event at the Paul Jones Sports Arena in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Lars Anderson defeated Enrique Torres in the semi-main event. The program for this card states that Paul Jones was the Vice President of the NWA at this time.

1970: Alberto & Ramon Torres defeated Chati Yokuchi & Fuji to retain the Southeastern Tag Team Title at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. El Mongol defeated Buddy Colt, managed by Homer O’Dell, in the main event.

1972: A main event match featuring Billy Spears versus Roberto Soto was ruled a no contest at the Paul Jones Sports Arena in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Assassins defeated Dick Steinborn & El Mongol in the semi-main event. El Mongol participated in an autograph session for fans.

1973: On the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie, Solie announced that a unanimous party from Texas had issued a random bounty of $1,000 to any wrestler who could remove a masked wrestler’s hood in an effort to rid wrestling of all masked wrestlers. J.C. Dykes joined Solie to announce that he had also added the Zodiac (Bob Orton, Sr.) to his stable that already included the Super Infernos.

1974: We do not have the specifics of the tournament, but Jerry Lawler & Mr. Wrestling #2 won the Macon Tag Team Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Other teams that participated in the one-night event were Ron & Terry Garvin (managed by Jimmy Garvin), Bobby Cash & Rufus R. Jones, Ricky Gibson & Roy Lee Welch, Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller, Derrell Cochran & Mr. Wrestling #1, Bill Costello & Prince Leilanie, and Bobby Duncum & Art Nelson.

1975: Jerry Brisco & Rocky Johnson defeated Jerry Lawler & Assassin #2 to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Mr. Wrestling #1 defeated Toru Tanaka in the semi-main event. Rock Hunter managed Assassin #2 and Tanaka.

1978: Dusty Rhodes defeated Stan Hansen in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Tony Atlas defeated Billy Graham in the semi-main event, and Ole & Lars Anderson defeated Tommy Rich & Mr. Wrestling #2.

1980: Austin Idol defeated Kevin Sullivan in a main event cage match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Lars Anderson & Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff, managed by Rock Hunter, by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1985: Thunderbolt Patterson, Ole & Gene Anderson defeated Scott Irwin, Ivan Koloff & Kareem Muhammad (Ray Candy) in the main event at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta for Championship Wrestling from Georgia promoter Ole Anderson. Ron Garvin defeated Ox Baker in the semi-main event, and Tommy Rich defeated Rip Rogers by disqualification. Also, Dusty Rhodes defeated Bob Roop in a bunkhouse match.