GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 02/11/2008

NEWS

Total Nonstop Action results from the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, SC, for the Against All Odds PPV: A.J. Styles & Tomko over Bob Armstrong & B.G. James to retain the TNA World Tag Team Title; Traci Brooks over Payton Banks; Scott Steiner over Petey Williams; Eric Young over James Storm; Awesome Kong over O.D.B. to retain the TNA Women’s Title; Abyss over Judas Mesias in a pre-taped barbed wire match; Robert Roode versus Booker Y ended in a double countout; Jay Lethal & the Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) over Johnny Devine & Team 3D (Brother Ray & Brother Devon); and Kurt Angle over Christian Cage to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Title, with Samoa Joe as the special referee.

We are not certain of the final attendance figures, but there were reports coming out Sunday afternoon that as of that morning, only about 1,600 tickets had been sold for the Bi-Lo Center. Further reports were that if you waited until Sunday to purchase tickets, they were being sold as a “buy one, get one free” deal. It was also being reported that the venue was being partitioned off so that the venue would not look empty to people watching the broadcast. The general capacity for events at the venue’s website is 15,000. Greenville was once a hot town for wrestling, but even the last three wrestling events held at the Bi-Lo Center have not combined for a sellout. Those were all World Wrestling Entertainment shows, with reported capacities of 3,500 (October 8, 2006), 5,800 (on May 5, 2007), and 3,400 (on November 25, 2007). WWE is scheduled to return on April 21.

TNA will be taping for iMPACT! at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, tonight and tomorrow night. Admission for tapings is free. Call (407) 224-6000 for more info. Aside from the usual business, NASCAR drivers Jimmy Spencer, Reed Sorenson, and Juan Pablo Montoya are expected to be in attendance. Hermie Sadler, also from NASCAR, as well as the owner of the United Wrestling Federation, is also expected. (Rich Tate)

Total Championship Wrestling results from Douglasville, GA, on February 9 at the National Guard Armory: Damon Taz over Kenny Dees by disqualification; a match between Josh Storm and Josh Stone ended in a double countout; Cameron Valentine over Magnum; the Blacksmith over Peanut; Ken Timbs, Jr., over Doug Somers; and Rob Russo over Pretty Boy Floyd by disqualification. Jess Wade, the Regular Guys, Kid Ego, and Blazin' Fury had been advertised, but failed to appear due to other commitments. (Rich Tate)

Great American Wrestling Federation results from Altha, FL, on Feb 9: Pretty Boy Donnie beat Mr Personality in Pretty Boy’s final appearance in Altha. Trooper defeated Dynamite Doug. Alexander York defeated Hollywood Star. Confederate Kid defeated Street Bandit w/Little Bandit. Extreme G defeated J Static. The Black Assassin defeated The Master of Meanness. Tiger Lee defeated Mr. Mexico. Caution, Exile and The Medic defeated Miss Fire, Dark Rage and Lightning Jack. The next Great American Wrestling Federation show is at Hosford Game Room in Hosford, FL, on March 8. The doors are open at 7pm and bell time is 8pm. If you need any more information, call 850-379-8004. A match already signed is GAWF Heavyweight Champion Steve Goins versus Street Bandit. Others scheduled to appear: Scotty Bullwinkle, BJ Sullivan, and Jack Tatum. (Brian Slack)

NOTES

Click here for a report from the latest broadcast of Southern All-Star Wrestling. (Larry Goodman)

Monday Night Mayhem will feature Lacey Von Erich on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET. Click here for a recap of last week’s show with Rob Van Dam. (Rich Tate)

Jerkin' the Curtain, hosted by Trent Van Drisse, will feature Nashville area wrestling promoter and announcer Terry Rice on its show tonight at 11:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

Trash Talking Radio, hosted by Mike Trash, will feature Eric Gargiulo, Massive Mike, and B-Boy on its show on February 12 at 7:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

Wrestling Weekly, hosted by Doc Young and Les Thatcher, will feature Rob Van Dam on its show on February 12 at 8:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

Bill ‘Dinty’ Parks passed away on this day in 2004 at the age of 83.

Jackie Pallo lost his battle with cancer two years ago today. He was 80.

On that same day, Ron Dobratz also lost a battle with cancer at 64.

It has been one year since the death of Jim Melby, who suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 57.

NOSTALGIA

1921: Strangler Lewis, managed by Billy Sandow, defeated Tom Draak at the Savannah Municipal Auditorium for promoter Max Bauman.

1935: Cowboy Luttrall defeated Rudy Strongberg in two straight falls in the main event at the New Coliseum in Augusta for promoter Jack Browning.

1936: Frank Speer defeated Babe Zaharias in the main event at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1938: Everett Marshall defeated Babe Zaharias by disqualification in the main event at Warren Arena in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Frank Speer.

1938: John Felix defeated Raoul Lopez in two straight falls in the main event at the New Coliseum in Augusta for promoter L.A. Roche.

1944: The Black Panther (Laverne Baxter) defeated Al Galento in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Al Massey defeated Otto Schnabel in the semi-main event. Also, the Red Devil (Dick Lever) defeated Fritz Schnabel.

1964: Greg Peterson & Chief War Cloud defeated Billy & Bad Boy Hines by disqualification in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for promoter Fred Ward. Ward was not affiliated with Georgia Championship Wrestling at this time.

1965: We do not have results for this match, but the main event advertised was Linda Carroll versus the Fabulous Moolah in Jekyll Island for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.

1966: Eric & Karl Von Brauner, managed by Saul Weingeroff, defeated Al Costello & Louie Tillet to win the World Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, the Fabulous Moolah defeated Judy Grable in the semi-main event to retain the Women’s World Title. It was announced that Gene Kiniski would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1969: Dale Lewis, managed by Jack Crawford, defeated Choo-Choo Lynn by disqualification to retain the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Paul DeMarco and Alberto Torres wrestled to a draw in the semi-main event.

1969: It should be noted that Dory Funk, Jr., defeated Gene Kiniski to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title in Tampa, FL.

1972: Haystacks Calhoun defeated Bepo Mongol (Nikolai Volkoff), by disqualification in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Klondike Bill was the special referee for the match, which was billed as a “Battle of the Giants”. Calhoun also participated in an autograph session for fans. Dick Steinborn, Roberto Soto & El Mongol defeated Buddy Colt, Assassin #2 & Mr. X in the semi-main event, and Bill Dromo defeated Karl Von Stroheim. Assassin #1 managed Von Stroheim, Bepo Mongol, and Mr. X.

1975: Assassin #2, managed by Rock Hunter, defeated Danny Little Bear in a main event Indian death match at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Abdullah the Butcher, managed by Bearcat Wright, defeated Ken Patera in the semi-main event.

1977: Abdullah the Butcher defeated Black Atlas (Tony Atlas) to win the Georgia Television Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Thunderbolt Patterson & the Mighty Igor defeated Ole & Gene Anderson in the main event.

1979: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated the Masked Superstar by disqualification in the main event at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Dusty Rhodes defeated Ole Anderson by countout in the semi-main event, and Wahoo McDaniel defeated Luke Graham.

1980: Kevin Sullivan defeated Austin Idol in a main event Boston street fight match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Killer Khan in the semi-main event, and then defeated Khan’s manager, the Great Mephisto. Also, Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff, managed by Rock Hunter, defeated Tommy Rich & Lars Anderson by disqualification to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title. In other matches, Tony Atlas defeated Abdullah the Butcher, also managed by Mephisto, and Ray Candy defeated Baron Von Raschke. Steve Travis defeated Dutch Mantell in the opener.

1983: Buzz Sawyer defeated Tommy Rich in a main event Texas death match at the Hobart Arena in Troy, OH, for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Les Thatcher. Stan Hansen & Paul Orndorff defeated Ivan Koloff & the Super Destroyer in the main event.

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com