GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 03/13/2008

Courtesy of Rich Tate's GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS

Frank Aldridge, owner of the World Wrestling Alliance 4 training school, who also promotes free shows to showcase the students for experience in front of crowds, blasted all members of the Georgia Senate in an email late this afternoon. The message was also copied to the local wrestling community. Despite this version being much more lenient on promoters than previous versions, in addition to efforts by the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission to tighten sanctions on the business, within the message, Aldridge says that the version of SB413 that passed through the Senate on Tuesday is “still a disaster to wrestling.” He claimed, “It criminalizes wrestling,” noting the potential of jail time and fines whereas the bill notes that violations or failure to meet the requirements are subject to such penalties. He also decried the requirement of a $5,000 surety bond. Also within the message, Aldridge said, “There are about a million wrestlers and wrestling fans in Georgia. As they hear about this unjustifiable assault on wrestling they become uniformly angry, and want to vote the culprits out of office.” When asked for a response to Aldridge’s email, Bill Behrens, who heads the Georgia Wrestling Promoters Advisory Committee, said, “I, too, would prefer no law that regulates pro wrestling in Georgia, but I believe that ship sailed a long time ago, as the current law already does so, and lumps pro wrestling with MMA & boxing, while sort of distinguishing it.” He added, “Vague law can and will be misinterpreted. The end result would likely be worse. “I believe Frank Aldridge's arguments are well intentioned but inconsistent”, noting that “the current law requires reporting for example.” He did agree though that he would “prefer no surety bond as I think it unnecessary." (Rich Tate)

Two men affiliated with ‘Hardbody’ Harrison Norris were sentenced today for their roles in the sex trafficking case where Norris was convicted last November. Cedric Jackson received five years, with three years afterward of supervised release. Aimee Allen, who cooperated with authorities during the investigation, will serve thirty-four months, and also faces three-years of supervision upon release. They also received fines of $1,500 each. Norris’ sentencing is scheduled for April 1. (Rich Tate)

Total Nonstop Action results from the USC Convocation Center in Aiken, SC, on March 12: the Motor City Machine Guns over Sonjay Dutt & Consequences Creed when Creed hammered Dutt for giving Sabin a low blow, allowing Dutt to be pinned; Awesome Kong over ODB; Rhino over Johnny Devine, substituting for James Storm, who came out in a wheelchair; Booker T over Robert Roode; Jay Lethal over A.J. Styles, who, because of where he was, had the fans cheering him no matter how hard he tried to get heel heat; LAX over the Rock N’ Rave Infection; and Kurt Angle over Samoa Joe with help from Styles’ interference, which Angle didn’t like, and he let A.J. know it before walking away mad, leaving Styles to get destroyed by Joe, who left him for dead in the ring. (Rich Tate)

NAWA Ring Champions will be back in Rome, GA, at the National Guard Armory tonight, with a bell time of 7:30 PM. Call (706) 314-9802 for more info. Advertised: Steve & Terry Lawler versus Bulldog Raines & the Nightmare – both Raines and Steve Lawler are managed by Jackie Rosedale…yes, you read that correctly; Chris Ganz will defend the NAWA Cruiserweight Title against Caleb Konley; Big Head Hansen versus Big Wood – the bullrope is legal; Frankie Valentine versus Simon Sermon – no disqualification, and there must be a winner; and Rick Michaels (managed by Lance Timberlake) versus Kyle Matthews. Chick Donovan, Mike Kross, and Lamar Phillips are also scheduled. (Rich Tate)

On March 15, at the Paul C. Parker Arena in Cornelia, GA, it's the final stop for NWA Anarchy on the highway to Hardcore Hell featuring: Mikal Judas versus Iceberg (with Reverend Dan Wilson) for the right to face Shatter for the Anarchy Heavyweight Title at Hardcore Hell; Mr. Adonis versus a Jerry Palmer's mystery opponent to determine the stipulation at Hardcore Hell. If Adonis wins, Jeremy Vain get Palmer in a wrestling match, but if Palmer wins, he gets Vain in a Bunkhouse Match with Adonis handcuffed to the ring; Truitt Fields defends the Anarchy Television Title against "Merciless" Don Matthews (with "Stray Cat" Brodie Chase); Anarchy Tag Team Title Match: Devil's Rejects ("Sleeper Cell" Shaun Tempers & "Son of Satan" Azrael with the Rev) (c) versus "The Big Deal" Sal Rinauro & "Kool" Seth Delay; Nemesis and Slim J will square off verbally, but there's a catch. If it gets physical the offending party is terminated from Anarchy and banned from the NWA for life; and Hollywood Brunettes ("The Wizard of Ahhs" Andrew Alexander & Kyle Matthews) versus Talent & Money (J. T. Talent & Andrew Pendleton III). Plus: Todd Sexton unveils his new prodigies, The Regular Guys, and explains why he chose them to help his efforts. And appearances by Awesome Attraction (Austin Creed & Hayden Young), Adrian Hawkins, The New Wave, Wes Grissom, Chip Day, Buck & King, and more. (Larry Goodman)

The Future Wrestling Federation is in Monroe, GA, at Monroe Pinball Works, located at 320 South Madison Avenue, on March 29. Tickets are $10. Advertised: FWF Heavyweight Champion Leatherface; Brian Titus, Flatline, the American Nightmare, Jamie Dean, Psychoman, Crash Hollywood, Chris Cage, and the Force Foundation. (Rich Tate)

As of today, the World Wrestling Entertainment lineup for WrestleMania in Orlando, FL, on March 30, is as follows: Randy Orton defends the WWE Heavyweight Title in a three-way versus John Cena and Triple H; Edge defends the WWE World Heavyweight Title against the Undertaker; Mr. Kennedy, Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Carlito, MVP, and CM Punk will participate in the Money-in-the-Bank ladder match, with two other entrants not yet determined; Floyd Mayweather versus the Big Show; Umaga versus Batista; Ric Flair versus Shawn Michaels, whereas if Flair loses, he must retire; a Playboy lumberjack match featuring Candice Michelle & Maria versus Beth Phoenix & Melina, with Snoop Dogg as the master of ceremonies; and JBL versus Finlay in a Belfast brawl. There will also be a twenty-four man battle royal, with the Great Khali included, and Chavo Guerrero is to defend the ECW Heavyweight Title against the winner of the battle royal. Confirmed inductees for the WWE Hall of Fame ceremonies are Ric Flair, Peter Maivia, Rocky Johnson, Mae Young, and Jack and Jerry Brisco. It appears Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson will induct both Maivia, his grandfather, and his father Rocky. (Rich Tate)

Aside from WrestleMania, WWE will be broadcasting the following live PPVs in the near future: Backlash on April 13 at 7:45 PM from Baltimore, MD, at the 1st Mariner Arena. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster; Judgment Day on May 18 at 6:45 PM from Omaha, NE, at the Qwest Center. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster; One Night Stand on June 1 at 4:45 PM from San Diego, CA, at the San Diego Sports Arena. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster; Vengeance on June 29 at 6:45 PM from Dallas, TX, at the American Airlines Center. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster; Great American Bash on July 20 – Location TBA; SummerSlam on August 17 at 7:45 PM from Indianapolis, IN, at the Conseco Fieldhouse. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster; and Unforgiven on September 7 – Location TBA. (Rich Tate)

Thus far, the matches set for TNA’s Lockdown PPV, to broadcast live from Lowell, MA, at the Tsongas Arena, on April 13 are as follows: Kurt Angle defends the TNA World Heavyweight Title against Samoa Joe. In the Lethal Lockdown, it is Christian Cage, Kevin Nash, Sting & the Motor City Machine Guns versus Johnny Devine, A.J. Styles, Tomko & Team 3D. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster. Aside from Lockdown, TNA will be broadcasting the following live PPVs in the near future: Sacrifice on May 11 – Location TBA; Slammiversary on June 8 – Location TBA; Victory Road on July 13 – Location TBA; and Hard Justice on August 10 – Location TBA. (Rich Tate)

NOTES

On March 15 at 11:00 AM ET, in the first of what we hope to become a recurring feature on our show, Peach State Pandemonium will hold the first roundtable discussion. This one will feature Dick Steinborn, Ted Oates, and Bobby Simmons, and we will be discussing the All-South Wrestling Alliance, which produced one of the most intriguing wrestling wars in the history of the business. Steinborn was part of the handful of folks behind the plan, Oates was the young up-and-comer pushed heavily, and Simmons established himself as a referee and a guy who could be trusted, earning the respect of Jim Barnett, who brought him to Georgia Championship Wrestling upon the demise of the ASWA. (Rich Tate)

Amy ‘Lita’ Dumas’ band, the Luchagors, will be playing at the Longbranch in Knoxville, TN, tonight. Check your local directories or the band’s site for more info. (Rich Tate)

GWH wishes a happy birthday to Angelo ‘King Kong’ Mosca, who turns 70 today.

Kurt Von Hess suffered a fatal heart attack on this day in 1999 at the age of 56.

Referee Wayne Cashman passed away at 53 on this day in 2001.

It has been one year since the passing of Arnold Skaaland. He was 82.

NOSTALGIA

1918: Strangler Lewis defeated B.F. Roller in two straight falls in just over one hour at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for promoter Billy Sandow, who also managed Lewis. It was reported that B.F. Roller announced his retirement after being injured during the match with Lewis.

1951: Butcher Boy Martin defeated Johnny Long in the main event at the Sports Arena in Atlanta for promoter Jack Troy.

1959: A main event featuring Paul Anderson versus Freddie Blassie ended in a double countout at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Jack O’Brien, Don Lee & Skull Murphy defeated the Mountaineer, Doug & Johnny Gilbert in the semi-main event.

1962: Ray Villmer & Eddie Graham defeated the Assassins in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Haystacks Calhoun defeated Jack Terry & Frank Hickey in a semi-main event handicap match.

1963: Chief Little Eagle defeated Tarzan Tyler by disqualification in the main event at the Columbus Sports Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1964: Stan Stasiak defeated Joe Scarpa in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Don McIntyre. Sputnik Monroe defeated Guy Taylor in the semi-main event, and Chief Little Eagle defeated George Harris. The program we have for this card mentions that a tournament to determine the holder of the Southern Television Title is being planned. It also says the title has been vacant for several months, but we have nothing showing anything referencing this title in our research.

1964: Buddy Fuller & Tex Riley defeated Red Roberts & Red Steiner in the main event at the Larry Bell Auditorium in Marietta for Georgia Championship Wrestling Elmo Chappell. It was announced that Lou Thesz and Johnny Weaver would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1965: Buddy Fuller & Jesse James, substituting for Sputnik Monroe, defeated the Mysterious Medics to win the Southern Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Mario Galento defeated Tony Nero to retain the Georgia Heavyweight Title in the semi-main event. Also, Freddie Blassie defeated Tony Marino by disqualification. Jones reported that he had purchased the old Sports Arena, and would be renovating it for future events, including moving the ticket office to that location soon. He was also contemplating moving the television program there to accommodate a larger crowd. It was announced that Tom Bradley and the Corsicans would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1970: At the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones, Assassin #1 defeated Scarpa to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title in the final round of a tournament that had begun on March 6, 1970. In a strange twist during the match, Scarpa had applied the sleeper on his opponent, but Assassin #1 ended up on top of Scarpa and the referee counted Scarpa’s shoulders down. Assassin #1 had so he could be presented with the title belt. Also, Homer O’Dell & Buddy Colt defeated Leo Garibaldi & El Mongol.

1973: Ernie Ladd defeated Ox Baker in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for All-South Wrestling Alliance promoter Ann Gunkel. El Mongol was the special referee for the match. Ray Candy defeated Assassin #2, managed by Rock Hunter, to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title.

1973: The Super Infernos, manage by J.C. Dykes, defeated Bob Armstrong & Eddie Graham to retain the Macon Tag Team Title at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Also, Leon Ogle & Jim Wilson defeated Jack Crawford & Tarzan Tyler.

1978: Ole Anderson defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 to retain the Georgia Television Title at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Nick Bockwinkel, managed by Bobby Heenan, defeated Mr. Wrestling #1 to retain the AWA Heavyweight Title in the semi-main event. Also, Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Lars Anderson.

1979: Stan Hansen & Wahoo McDaniel defeated Rocket Monroe, substituting for an injured Ole Anderson, & Ivan Koloff in the main event at the Warner Robins Civic Center for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Tommy Rich defeated Kurt Von Hess by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1983: Ole Anderson & Buzz Sawyer defeated Tommy Rich & Butch Reed in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Paul Orndorff defeated the Super Destroyer in the semi-main event. Also, Dick Murdoch defeated Ivan Koloff, and the Masked Superstar defeated Bob Roop.

1983: Dick Murdoch & Tommy Rich defeated Ivan Koloff & Buzz Sawyer in the main event at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Masked Superstar & the Super Destroyer defeated Bob Roop & Iron Sheik by countout in the semi-main event.

1985: Ron Bass and Pez Whatley wrestled to a draw in a main event match in Altoona, PA, co-promoted by Championship Wrestling from Georgia and Jim Crockett Promotions. Bob Backlund defeated Nikita Koloff by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1987: Dusty Rhodes & Nikita Koloff defeated Dick Murdoch & Ivan Koloff by disqualification in the main event at the Albany Civic Center for Jim Crockett Promotions. Tully Blanchard defeated Barry Windham by disqualification in the semi-main event. Also, Bob & Brad Armstrong defeated Arn Anderson & Lex Luger.