GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 03/06/2008

Courtesy of Rich Tate's GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS

Tonight, Great Championship Wrestling will be having their weekly show at the Great Skate Plex in Phenix City, AL. Signed already is a GCW Heavyweight title match as Johnny Swinger defends against Disco Inferno. Bell time is at 7:30 and doors open at 6:45. (Brian Slack)

Ultimate Christian Wrestling will be in Paulding County at the Paulding County High School on March 7, at 8:00 p.m. The Destroyer, Colt Derringer, Kyle Mathews, Dustin Powers, Sal Rinauro, Rob Adonis and many more will be on the card. (Larry Goodman)

Peach State Pandemonium will feature Jimmy Rave on March 8 at 11 AM ET. Feel free to call in at (347) 324-5735. We will also talk about the latest regarding Georgia Wrestling Promotions, as well as Senate Bill 413. Confirmed guests for upcoming shows include: Dick Steinborn, Ted Oates, and Bobby Simmons on March 15 to discuss the All-South Wrestling Alliance war with Georgia Championship Wrestling. Phil Shatter will be on the show on March 22. (Rich Tate)

NOTES

GWH wishes a happy birthday to Killer Khan (61), Ken Kennedy (32), and David Flair (29).

On this day in 1964, Pedro ‘Rocky’ Columbo died at the age of 35.

Robert ‘Bibber’ McCoy passed away at 70 on this day in 1977.

It has been four years since Hercules Hernandez died. He was 46.

One year ago today, Bad News Brown passed at 63.

That same day, Ray Stern died following complications from heart surgery at the age of 74.

NOSTALGIA

1928: Strangler Lewis, managed by Billy Sandow, defeated Paul Jones to retain the World Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter John Contos.

1934: Pete Sauer defeated Blue Sun Jennings in two straight falls in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1936: Roy Lumpkin defeated Jim Henry in the main event at the New Coliseum in Augusta for promoter Bill Metzger. Jim Braddock was the special referee for the match.

1946: Jack Wentworth defeated Sammy Stein in the main event at the Savannah Municipal Auditorium for promoters Lou Masters, Dick Leonard, and Buster White.

1948: The French Angel (Maurice Tillet) defeated Joe Marsh in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1951: Johnny Long defeated the Red Devil at the Sports Arena in Atlanta for promoter Jack Troy. During the match, Long removed the Devil’s mask to identify him as Jack Jordan.

1962: Assassin #1 defeated Eddie Graham in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1963: Chief Little Eagle defeated the Bat in the main event at the Columbus Sports Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. During the match, Little Eagle removed the Bat’s mask to identify him as Joe Tomasso. This had already been done in Atlanta on January 18, 1963, but he had continued to wear the mask despite his identity being known to Atlanta fans. It was reported that 670 were in attendance for this card.

1966: A tournament to determine a new Georgia Heavyweight Champion began at the Paul Jones Sports Arena in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones, and was scheduled to conclude on March 13, 1970. Winning their matches to advance on this card were Les Wolff (over Alex Perez), Nick Bockwinkel (over Ramon Torres), Paul DeMarco (over Pedro Valdez), and Alberto Torres (over Assassin #2), while Buddy Colt, managed by Buddy Colt, and El Mongol went to a no contest, eliminating them both. Leo Garibaldi and Eddie Smith were credited as being referees for this card.

1973: Ray Candy defeated Georgia Heavyweight Champion Assassin #2, managed by Rock Hunter, by disqualification in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for All-South Wrestling Alliance promoter Ann Gunkel. Ernie Ladd & Bob Ellis defeated Ox Baker, Guillotine Gordon & Goliath in a main event handicap match, with El Mongol as the special referee.

1973: Bob Armstrong & Eddie Graham defeated the Macon Tag Team Champion Super Infernos, managed by J.C. Dykes, by disqualification in a title match at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Leon Ogle & Koa Tiki defeated Tarzan Tyler, managed by Jack Crawford, & the Destroyer in the semi-main event.

1976: A main event match featuring Dick Slater versus Abdullah the Butcher was ruled a no contest at the Griffin-Barnesville Sports Palace for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The semi-main event featuring Ken Mantell & Mr. Wrestling #2 versus Stan Stasiak & Moondog Mayne ended in a double disqualification. Ron West was credited as being a referee for this card.

1983: Butch Reed defeated Ivan Koloff in a main event chain match at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, OH, for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Les Thatcher. Dick Murdoch & Tommy Rich defeated Ole Anderson & Buzz Sawyer by countout in the semi-main event. Also, Paul Orndorff defeated the Masked Superstar.

1983: The Assassin & the Super Destroyer defeated Rex & the Iron Sheik in the main event at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Paul Ellering defeated Tom Prichard in the semi-main event.

1983: Jimmy Valiant defeated Dick Slater by disqualification in the main event at the Savannah Civic Center for Jim Crockett Promotions promoter Aaron Newman. Jack & Jerry Brisco defeated Terry Funk & Dory Funk, Jr., in the semi-main event, and the One Man Gang defeated Sweet Brown Sugar.

1985: Ron Garvin defeated Ron Starr in the main event in Saginaw, MI, for Championship Wrestling from Georgia promoter Ole Anderson. Tommy Rich defeated Rip Rogers in the semi-main event, and Anderson defeated Scott Irwin. Also, a match featuring Bob Roop & Kareem Muhammad versus Thunderbolt Patterson & the Italian Stallion was ruled a no contest.

1996: Lex Luger defeated Johnny B. Badd to win the WCW World Television Title in Macon, GA, for World Championship Wrestling.