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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 03/12/2008

Courtesy of Rich Tate's GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS

The bill that would revamp regulation of pro wrestling in the Georgia was approved by the Georgia Senate Tuesday by a vote of 49-6. To become law, the bill must be passed by the House of Representatives during this session of the General Assembly, which is scheduled to adjourn on March 18. The substitute version passed by the Senate is far more favorable to the wrestling industry than the bill as it was originally introduced. The portions of the bill that came under fire from the wrestling industry at the February 12 public hearing have largely been eliminated. No longer present are the requirements for an ambulance at every show, the presence of a doctor at ringside and the 5% gate tax. In addition, the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission is expressly prohibited from regulating the entertainment aspects of the matches. It contains many of the rules suggested by the Georgia Wrestling Promoters Advisory Committee headed by Bill Behrens. The annual license fee for wrestlers is set at $20. The licensure application must be accompanied by documentation the wrestler passed a basic medical exam. Bleeding is permissible on the condition that the wrestler provided documentation of negative blood tests for the presence of communicable diseases. (Larry Goodman)

Florida Championship Wrestling results from the Bourbon Street Night Club in New Pot Richey, FL, on March 11: Gabe Tuft over Justin LaRoche; Johnny Curtis & Shawn Spears over Sinn Bowdee & Kafu by disqualification; T.J. Wilson over Hade Vansen; Charles Evans over Sheamus by countout; Colt Cabana & Mighty Mikey over Heath Miller & Jack Gabriel; Nattie Neidhart & Victoria over Nicole Bella & Roucka; Taryn Terrell, Brad Allen & Nic Nemeth over Miss Angela, Eric Perez & Eddie Colon in an inter-gender match; the main event featuring Jake Hager versus the Giant Titan was ruled a no contest. (Rich Tate)

Total Nonstop Action will be in Aiken, SC, tonight at the USC Convocation Center. Call (866) 722-8877 for more info. Advertised: Kurt Angle versus Samoa Joe; Jay Lethal versus A.J. Styles; Awesome Kong versus ODB; Robert Roode versus Booker T; James Storm versus Rhino; LAX versus the Rock N’ Rave Infection; and Sonjay Dutt & Consequences (aka Austin) Creed versus the Motor City Machine Guns. (Rich Tate)

Mike Pain, named Wrestler of the Month by Georgia Wrestling TK, had a great February by defending the GPWA heavyweight title against all comers. The GPWA runs mainly fund raising shows for people and organizations in need. A number of their fundraisers have been and are for Diana Olalde, a 7 year old with Leukemia who is waiting on a bone marrow transplant. Olalde is schedule for the transplant March 10, 2008. The GPWA and Mike Pain have been doing fundraisers for the small girl dating back to fall of 2007. Mike Pain goes above and beyond the call of duty for the GPWA and their fundraisers. Mike has put his body on the line defending the GPWA heavyweight title in all kinds of crazy gimmick matches. Mike has put it on the line in cage matches, strap matches, thumb tack matches, light tube matches, and several other "Insane" hardcore type matches. Mike's had a great February, but the manner he did it in makes him a stand out person, not just a wrestler, he puts it on the line not for himself or for big pay days, but those that are less fortunate and in need. (GWTK)

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling regrets to announce that the show scheduled for March 16 at the VFW Fairgrounds in Carrollton has been postponed until March 23. The postponement is a result of promoter Scott East's medical condition. Mr. East has been admitted to Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica and will be transported to Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton where he will undergo open heart surgery within the next two days. The scheduled main event for March 16, Bull Buchanan (c) vs. Super Destroyer in a title vs. mask match, will take place on March 23. (Larry Goodman)

High Octane Wrestling results from Centre, AL, on March 9: Kyle Matthews over Chris Lightning; Lamar Phillips over Jeff Jameson; the Weapons of Mass Seduction over the Sunshine State Connection; Jamie Richards and Stupid wrestled to a draw; the Regular Guys over Brian Alexander & Murder One; Kid Ego, Jr., over Cabana Man Dan; and Air Paris over David Young and Bull Buchanan in a three-way main event. (Rich Tate)

NOTES

Amy ‘Lita’ Dumas’ band, the Luchagors, will be playing at Fuel in Nashville, TN, tonight, and at the Longbranch in Knoxville, TN, on March 13. Check your local directories or the band’s site for more info.

GWH wishes a happy birthday to Mae Young (85) and Nunzio (36).

‘Tiger’ John Pesek died thirty years ago today, suffering a fatal heart attack at the age of 85.

On this day in 1994, Antone ‘Ripper’ Leone passed away. He was 77.

Announcer Norm Kimber died six years ago at 70.

NOSTALGIA

1930: Dick Shikat defeated Paul Jones in two straight falls to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1934: Fred Lassiter defeated Stanley Buresch by disqualification two falls to one in the main event at the Fair Street Arena in Atlanta for promoter Jason Thompson.

1935: Orville Brown and Strangler Lewis wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1937: Everett Marshall defeated Orville Brown to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber. Sam Muchnick was the special referee for the match.

1940: Dan O’Connor defeated Dick Raines in two straight falls in the main event at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoters Bill Hartman and Thad Holt. O’Connor was declared the winner when Raines was deemed unable to continue. Raines was reportedly suspended for using the piledriver during the match. Tiny Ruff was credited as being a referee on this card.

1956: Jack O’Brien & Catherine Simpson defeated Jackie Nichols & Beverly Morris two falls to one in a main event mixed match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney. Rocky Columbo defeated the Great Malenko by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1962: We do not have results for this card, but a main event featuring Eddie Graham & Haystacks Calhoun versus the Assassins was advertised at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Steve Manderson.

1963: Tarzan Tyler defeated Choo-Choo Lynn in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1966: A main event match featuring Mario Galento & Klondike Bill, managed by Freddie Blassie, versus Eric & Karl Von Brauner, managed by Saul Weingeroff, was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Buddy Fuller, managed by Jack Pfefer, defeated Bad Boy Hines in the semi-main event.

1968: The Gauchos defeated Enrique & Alberto Torres in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Mr. Wrestling defeated Tony Nero in the semi-main event.

1971: El Mongol defeated Luke Graham by disqualification to retain the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. A semi-main event featuring Ray Gunkel versus Buddy Colt, managed by Homer O’Dell, was ruled a no contest. Charlie Smith was credited as being a referee for this card. The program for this card reported that the Assassins had filed a protest with the NWA, asking to be allowed to return to matching masks and tights. They stated it hampered their image they had worked so hard to hone. Jim Wilson participated in an autograph session for fans.

1974: We do not have results for this card, but Ray Candy & El Mongol were scheduled to defend the Georgia Tag Team Title against Assassin #2, managed by Rock Hunter, & the Super Gladiator at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for All-South Wrestling Alliance promoter Ann Gunkel. The advertised main event was Ernie Ladd & Thunderbolt Patterson versus the Mongols, managed by George Cannon.

1978: Blackjack Mulligan defeated Mr. Wrestling #1 to retain the US Heavyweight Title at the Savannah Civic Center for Jim Crockett Promotions promoter Aaron Newman. Johnny Weaver defeated Baron Von Raschke to retain the Mid-Atlantic Television Title in the semi-main event. Also, Ted Oates & the Mighty Igor defeated Scott Irwin & the Russian Stomper.

1980: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Austin Idol in the main event at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Baron Von Raschke, Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff defeated Kevin Sullivan, Tony Atlas & Lars Anderson in the semi-main event. Rock Hunter managed Koloff and Smirnoff.

1985: Bob Backlund & Sgt. Slaughter defeated Ron Bass & Ivan Koloff by disqualification in the main event in Allentown, PA, for a card co-promoted by Championship Wrestling from Georgia and Jim Crockett Promotions. Larry Zbyszko defeated Pete Sanchez in the semi-main event, and Billy Graham defeated Steve King.

1989: Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair in the main event at the Omni Coliseum for World Championship Wrestling. Barry & Kendall Windham defeated Michael Hayes & Lex Luger in the semi-main event, and Sting defeated Butch Reed. Also, the Varsity Club defeated Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner, while Dick Murdoch defeated Kevin Sullivan.