GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 03/25/2008

Courtesy of GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS

Chase Tatum, a Power Plant trainee who wrestled for a few years with World Championship Wrestling, was found dead at his home in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, GA, on Sunday. He was 34. It has been ruled an apparent accidental overdose of painkillers. Funeral services will be held on March 27 at the Mount Paran Chruch of God in Atlanta. Jody Hamilton, who owned the Power Plant, had this to say of Tatum: “Chase wasn't at The Power Plant long enough to establish much of a personal relationship with me but the time he was there he always seemed to be respectful and listened to everything that was being said and taught. I always thought of him as sort-of-a-loner, he kept to himself, at least at The Power Plant. I thought he was talented, but was taken up too soon and never was allowed to reach his potential by the company. I thought he was a nice guy from what I knew of him.” (Rich Tate)

We received an email from Brandon Roberts, the nephew of Georgia Wrestling Promotions owner Roger Cantrell stating that Cantrell is in the intensive care unit at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper, GA. Roberts said the GWP event scheduled for March 29 in Woodstock, GA, will take place with Janice Cantrell and Jimmy Oxendine in charge. (Larry Goodman)

World Wrestling Entertainment will be in Fayetteville, NC, tonight for the live ECW/SmackDown broadcast and tapings at the Crown Coliseum with action starting at 7:30 PM. NWA Anarchy’s Shatter, Mikal Judas, Jeff Lewis, Truitt Fields, and Andrew Pendleton III are expected to appear on the card. (Rich Tate)

A Town Wrestling will be at the Atrium Event Center in Stone Mountain, GA, on March 26, with matches starting at 7:30 PM. Call (770) 639-9810 for more info. Advertised: Abdullah the Butcher, Mr. Donnie, the Harley Davidson Boys, the Bounty Hunters, the Gangsta Nation, and the Hot Bodies. (Rich Tate)

On March 23, !BANG! presented “Support the Troops 25: Showdown” in Ocala, FL. In the US championship match, Johnny Magnum and Shane Chung wrestled to a 20 minute draw. Magnum retained the title. Gail Kim defeated The Claw to become the new Women's champion. Elvis Sharp defeated Blain Rage to become the new Funking Conservatory World Champion. Tom "Bi Polar" Behr defeats Hack Meyers by DQ in a tough man match. In a three man hardcore tournament between Damien, Kid Vegas and Johnny Romano, Damien became the new hardcore champion. In a triple crown championship tournament between the Florida champion Flyin Ryan "Air" Mitchell w/Sandii Skye, European champion Elvis Sharp and International champion, Chris "Animal" James, Flyin' Ryan "Air" Mitchell picked up the victory. The next show for !BANG! will be “Support the Troops 26: Summer Sizzler” in Ocala. Advance tickets are $15 and $20 at the door. (Brian Slack)

Southern Classic Wrestling presented "The Rebirth" on March 22 in Sandersville, GA. The debuting Iron Bear defeated Juan Tequila. Brad North defeated Shimazu the Devil. Matt Mercer defeated Greg Haze. Big Bank Barfield, due to personal circumstance, couldn't make it to face Leatherface for the SCW heavyweight title, so SCW had Flatline face Tommy Lee to decide who faces Leatherface. Flatline defeated Tommy Lee to get into the title match. Javier Santana defeated Mike Margera. Tiny Hughes defeated Loco Motive in a street fight thanks to help from VIP member Tommy Lee. It was revealed after the match that Tommy and Tiny were cousins and Tommy Lee's last name is Hughes. Tiny Hughes, who became the commissioner of SCW thanks to his victory, then fired Loco Motive and Ace Heffner. Cult of Chaos defeated the Stanton Clan when Adam Stanton turned on Eric Stanton. Jamie Holmes defeated Ronnie Rage. In ladies action, Envy defeated Precilla. In the SCW Heavyweight title match, Leatherface defeated Flatline to win the title. (Brian Slack)

On March 22, the Great American Wrestling Federation had a free show at the Auto Zone grand opening in Blountstown, FL. The Confederate Kid defeated Cameron Thomas. Scotty Rayz defeated Pretty Boy Donnie B. Cameron Frost defeated Street Bandit in Frost's debut match. The next GAWF show will be on April 5 at the Hosford, FL, Game Room at 8pm. Advertised to appear are Jamie Hall, Maxwell Chicago, T Bolt, GAWF Heavyweight Champion Steve Goins, GAWF Tag Team Champions The Hott Bodies, and the return of the Tatums, plus Brian Rivers, and Jeff Bowman Jr. Buff Bagwell is advertised for an April 26 show. (Brian Slack)

On March 22, Full Impact Pro presented “Unfinished Business 2008” in Crystal River, FL, and it had two world title matches. For the FIP World championship, Roderick Strong retained after defeating Austin Aries by countout after Nigel McGuinness attacked Aries on the outside. In a ROH world title match, McGuinness retained the title against Larry Sweeney. Before the next match began, Heartbreak Express member Sean Davis announced that since Heartbreak Express can no longer wrestle in FIP, Sean got a managerial license. Also Phil Davis got a bodyguard license and with that they introduced their new group, "Heartbreak Enterprises" with members Damien Wayne and Rex Sterling. Damien Wayne and Rex Sterling w/Sean and Phil Davis defeats Jigsaw and Seth Delay. Delirious and The Briscoe Brothers defeats The YRR, consisting of the FIP Florida champion Saul Rinauro and the FIP tag team champion Kenny King and Chasyn Rance. The Age of the Fall's Tyler Black w/Lacey & Rain defeated YRR member and 1/2 of the tag team champions Jason Blade w/The YRR. Chris Jones defeats Ernie Osiris. After the match, Kory Chavis and Jon Davis, know at the Dark City Fight Club attacked both men. FIP host Jonathan Gold told DCFC that the Black Market, who were the masked men that attacked the Black Market at last month's FIP event, that Black Market asked for and was given a match against them at next FIP event. DCFC then attacked Gold after Gold admitted that he was friends with the Black Market. DCFC defeated Shayne Swift and Myles Long. Erik Stevens defeated Shane Hagadorn. After the match, FIP world champion Roderick Strong laid out Stevens with a belt shot after Stevens said that he would be champion once again. On April 26, FIP presents "Dangerous Intentions 2008." The event takes place at the National Guard Armory in Crystal River, FL. Doors open at 7:30 pm and show starts at 8 pm. Tickets are $20 Ringside, $15 GA & Kids 13 and under $10 GA. Advance tickets - $12 GA & Kids 13 and under $8 GA. To purchase advance tickets call (352) 422-4582. Advertised: The Black Market versus Dark City Fight Club. Also advertised to appear: FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong, ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness, The YRR of Chasyn Rance, FIP Florida Heritage Champion Sal Rinauro & FIP Tag Team Champions Jason Blade & Kenny King, Jay & Mark Briscoe, Erick Stevens, Austin Aries, Delirious, Tyler Black of the Age of the Fall, Seth Delay, and Heartbreak Enterprises. (Brian Slack)

The next Great Championship Wrestling event will be at the Great Skate Plex in Phenix City, AL, on March 27. Bell time is 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 ringside and $12 general. (Brian Slack)

Southern Championship Wrestling presents "Spring Breakout 08" to take place on April 12 at the Salvation Army Gym in Sanford, FL, at 7:30. The advertised main event is for the SCW tag team championship as Elite Party members Axis and Rod the Bod take on the Asian Superstar Organization, Jason Hexx and Ryze. In a champion versus champion, with both titles on the line, Light Heavyweight champion Nooie Lee takes on Florida champion Aaron Epic. In a blindfold match, the Mighty Ox faces off against Shiek Mohamaad Akbar. Also going to be in action are The Prodigy, Spanish Armada, Neil Faith, The New Orient Express, and former NWA North American champion Tommy Marr. (Brian Slack)

DISCLAIMER: GWH is not liable for any card changes, cancellations, etc. We can only report what is reported to us. As always, we suggest you check with the promotion within 24 hours to verify information posted here.

NOTES

Trash Talking Radio, hosted by Mike Trash, will feature Chio and the Stro on its show tonight at 7:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

CM Punk and Layla are scheduled to be available to fans in Orlando, FL, on March 26 between 6-8:00 PM at the Wal-Mart on John Young Parkway. (Rich Tate)

Promoter Wally Karbo suffered a fatal heart attack fifteen years ago today at the age of 77.

NOSTALGIA

1930: Pete Sauer defeated Charley Fox in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1936: Bruce Nolan defeated Jack Ross in the main event at the New Coliseum in Augusta for promoter Bill Metzger.

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

1949: The Golden Terror, managed by Earl Wampler, defeated Rebel Russell by disqualification in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. It was reported that the match was part of an ongoing tournament for the Southern Heavyweight Title. After the match, Russell attacked Wampler and the Terror. Nick Carter & Don McIntyre defeated Chris & Babe Zaharias in the semi-main event. It was reported that Chris & Babe Zaharias lost the tag team championship during their match with Carter & McIntyre, but there is no clear definition of the title. Bill Collins was credited as being a referee on this card.

1955: Don McIntyre defeated Jerry Graham by TKO in the sixth round of a main event boxing match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Wild Red Berry defeated Red McIntyre in the semi-main event. It was reported that 6,800 were in attendance for this card.

1960: Freddie Blassie defeated Haystacks Calhoun in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Ray Gunkel, Bill Dromo & Chief Little Eagle defeated Jack Terry, Krusher Larson & Tokyo Joe in the semi-main event.

1964: In Columbus, Fred Ward ran his first card upon resuming the talent exchange agreement that had previously existed with Georgia Championship Wrestling, which he chose to stop participating in during July 1963.

1966: The Mysterious Medics defeated Eric & Karl Von Brauner, managed by Saul Weingeroff, to win the World Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Klondike Bill and Swede Karlson were the special referees for the match. The Von Brauners took the belts following the match, claiming they were cheated. According to the program for this card, Buddy Fuller was the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion, and Enrique Torres was being billed as the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Champion.

1969: Bob Armstrong & Bill Dromo defeated the Assassins in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Choo-Choo Lynn defeated Joe Turco in the semi-main event.

1975: Rocky Johnson defeated Macon Heavyweight Champion Toru Tanaka, managed by Rock Hunter, by disqualification in a title match at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Don Greene & Jerry Lawler and Jerry Brisco & Don Muraco wrestled to a draw to retain the Macon Tag Team Title in the semi-main event.

1977: Mr. Wrestling #2 & Andre the Giant defeated Georgia Tag Team Champions Ole & Gene Anderson by disqualification in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Randy Savage, substituting for Abdullah the Butcher, in the semi-main event.

1979: Bob Armstrong defeated the Masked Superstar by disqualification in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Stan Hansen defeated Ole Anderson in the semi-main event.

1984: Jake Roberts, managed by Paul Ellering, defeated Ron Garvin in a lights out taped fist match at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Spoiler, also managed by Ellering, defeated Brad Armstrong in the semi-main event.