GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/09/2008

NEWS

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Carrollton, GA, on January 20 at the VFW Fairgrounds, beginning at 6:00 PM. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Ringside tickets are $10. All other seating is $8. Advertised: Bull Buchanan versus the Super Destroyer for the SECW Heavyweight Title, with No DQ and No Time Limit; Bob Armstrong & Tommy Rich versus Bulldog Raines & Rowdy Matiz (from the Southside Trash) in a West Georgia Tornado Match; a 12 person pole battle royal, including men and women; Scotty Blaze & Bambi versus Will Owens & Melissa Coates; the Nightmare versus the Eliminator; and Jimmy Rave, Billy Love & Sal Rinauro versus Frankie Valentine, Adrian Hawkins & Kyle Matthews. (Rich Tate)

Down South Hardcore Wrestling will be in Darien on January 26 at the Multiplex, with action beginning at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $8. Advertised: Cameron LaRue versus Morbid Angel in a ladder match for the DSHW Heavyweight Title; Dallas Riley versus Sebastian Troy for the DSHW Cruiserweight Title; Ryan Savage versus Tetchi Makuji; Teddy Baddstreet versus T. Money; Telly Cade versus Diamond Ice; and Scotty Bullwinkle & Drive-By versus the Gangsta Nation. (Thomas Bugg)

NOTES

Click here for this week’s Bill Behrens NWA Notes update. (Rich Tate)

In Your Head will feature R.D. Reynolds on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

Ginzburg’s Legends Radio will feature Dory Funk, Jr., Gabe Sapolsky, Kendra Shanks, and Tim Hicks on its show tonight at 8:00 PM ET. (Rich Tate)

GWH wishes a happy birthday to Magnum Tokyo, who turns 35 today.

On this day in 1931, Wayne Munn, suffering from kidney problems, passed at the age of 35.

Following a match on this day in 1961, the Great Kato had a fatal heart attack. He was 42.

Naoto Morishita committed suicide on this day in 2003 at 42 years of age.

Les Kellet died on this day in 2003. He was 86.

On this day in 2005, Ray Villmer died at the age of 92.

Today marks the first anniversary of the death of Cocoa Samoa, who passed away at 62.

NOSTALGIA

1888: John Muhler, managed by Mr. Hopper, defeated Greek George at Concordia Hall in Atlanta. Muhler won the first fall under Greco-Roman style, and was declared the winner of the match when George was deemed unable to continue during the Catch-as-Catch Can style second fall. James Lynch was credited as being the referee. It was reported that 200 were in attendance for this card.

1944: It was announced that Paul Jones would replace Sammy Friedman as promoter of professional wrestling in Atlanta. It is unclear as to why Friedman stepped down.

1950: Tom Mahoney & Jim Coffield and Johnny Long & Louie Ross wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Augusta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney.

1953: Leslie Carlton, managed by ‘Sir’ James Hartley, defeated Mayes McLain in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1956: Jackie Nichols defeated Southern Heavyweight Champion Freddie Blassie by disqualification in a title match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Tom Mahoney. Billy Blassie was barred from ringside during the match.

1959: Ray Gunkel & Don McIntyre defeated Freddie Blassie & the Great Bolo to retain the International Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1962: Rito & Tito Carreon defeated Jack Vansky & Assassin #2 in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1963: Bronko Lubich, managed by Homer O’Dell, defeated Lenny Montana in the main event at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1968: Gene Kiniski defeated the Kentuckian to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Also, Stan & Butcher Vachon defeated Enrique & Ramon Torres to win the World Tag Team Title in the semi-main event.

1970: Nick Bockwinkel defeated Georgia Heavyweight Champion Doug Gilbert by disqualification in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The program for this card featured a photo of Gilbert with his wife and three children. During the match, Joe Scarpa charged the ring and attacked Bockwinkel, bringing the match to an end. Also, the Assassins defeated Alberto & Ramon Torres to retain the Georgia Tag Team Title in the semi-main event. In addition, Scarpa & El Mongol and Paul DeMarco & Buddy Colt, managed by Homer O’Dell, wrestled to a draw. It was announced that Dory Funk, Jr., would defend the NWA World Heavyweight Title against DeMarco on January 16, 1970. DeMarco had been claiming he was the real champion since October 10, 1969, after a reversed decision returned the belt to Funk following their match. It was reported that the only way O’Dell would agree for DeMarco to wrestle Funk was that if he would be introduced as a “World Title claimant”.

1973: Assassin #2 defeated Roberto Soto to win the Georgia Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for All-South Wrestling Alliance promoter Ann Gunkel. Also, Ox Baker defeated Dick Steinborn to win the Georgia Television Title.

1973: Eddie Graham defeated Sputnik Monroe in a lights out match at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Also, Hiro Matsuda & Rocket Monroe defeated Bob Armstrong & Koa Tiki in the semi-main event.

1976: A Georgia Heavyweight Title match between the champion Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, and Bob Armstrong was ruled a no contest at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1982: Tommy Rich defeated Austin Idol in a main event Indian strap match at the Chattanooga (TN) Memorial Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Bob Armstrong, Leroy Brown & Big Red defeated Ron Bass, the Masked Superstar & the Super Destroyer by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1983: Paul Orndorff defeated Ivan Koloff in a main event chain match at the Huntington (WV) Memorial Field House for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Les Thatcher. Also, Butch Reed defeated Buzz Sawyer by disqualification in the semi-main event. In addition, Tommy Rich defeated the Iron Sheik.

1983: Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood defeated Don Kernodle & Sgt. Slaughter in the main event at the Savannah Civic Center for Jim Crockett Promotions promoter Aaron Newman. Also, Jack Brisco, Mike Rotundo & Abdullah the Butcher defeated Larry Lane, Paul Jones & Gene Anderson in the semi-main event.

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com