GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/05/2008

NEWS

A benefit show to help raise money for Chase Holtzclaw, a Floyd County Deputy who was recently injured in a head-on automobile collision, is scheduled for tonight at the National Guard Armory in Rome, GA. The event begins at 7:30, and all proceeds will go to Dep. Holtzclaw. Thanks to Phil Heffner, semi-retired local promoter, for passing along this info. We do not have a lineup, but Ricky Wiggins is in charge of the show, and can be reached at (706) 346-3201 for more info. Heffner did say that some of the wrestlers will be familiar to fans of IXW, which ran in the area for a few years. (Rich Tate)

Southern States Championship Wrestling returns to Enigma tonight at the Enigma Gym, with a bell time of 7:30 PM. All seats are only $2. Advertised: Jarrod Michaels will defend the SSCW Heavyweight Title versus J.T. Taylor; Logan Stevens versus Ask Kristiansen; Scotty Biggs versus Rouge; Brooks Rogers versus Mark Bass; and Samantha Steel will defend the SSCW Women’s Title versus Jelena. Chris Turner, Mad Dog Miller, and the Soviet Alliance are also scheduled to appear. (Brian Slack)

NWA Anarchy is back in Cornelia, GA, tonight at the NWA Arena, with matches getting underway at 8:00 PM. Call (706) 768-9071 for more info. Advertised: Phil Shatter versus Sal Rinauro for the Anarchy Heavyweight Title; Jimmy Rave & Todd Sexton versus Wes Grissom & Truitt Fields; and New Wave versus the Hollywood Brunettes. (Larry Goodman)

Great Championship Wrestling will be in Phenix City, AL, on January 10 at the GR8 SK8plex, starting at 7:30 PM. Call (334) 297-2223 for more info. Advertised: Johnny Swinger & Hot Like Lava (Shaun Banks & Cru Jones) versus Scotty Beach, David Young & Sonny Siaki. Also, we reported earlier that Jeff McGowan refereed Thursday night’s card, but Randy Ray was also on hand. (Brian Slack)

NOTES

Buddy Porter died on this day in 2005 of natural causes at the age of 59.

NOSTALGIA

1888: John Muhler, managed by Mr. Hopper, defeated Greek George two falls to one at Concordia Hall in Atlanta. George won the first fall, mixed catch-as-catch-can, at 29:00; Muhler won the second fall, Greco-Roman, at 36:00; and the third fall, side-hold, in an undisclosed amount of time. James Lynch was credited as being the referee.

1921: Rolando Heracle defeated Charley Cutler two falls to one at the Savannah Municipal Auditorium for promoter Max Bauman. We don’t have details on the event, but it was reported that the first fall ended at 67:12.

1928: Paul Jones and Jim Browning wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter John Contos.

1932: Blue Sun Jennings defeated Milo Steinborn two falls to one in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.

1934: Ted Radcliffe defeated Bill Crussell by disqualification in the main event at the Avondale Arena for promoter Wesley Brownlee.

1938: Sammy Miller defeated Young Gotch in two straight falls in the main event at the New Coliseum in Augusta for promoter L.A. Roche. Also in two consecutive falls, Tarzan Jordan defeated Walter Miller. It was reported that these were mud-wrestling matches.

1945: Al Massey defeated Jack Dillon by disqualification in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1945: Angelo Galenta defeated Jack DeVault in the main event at the Augusta Municipal Auditorium for promoter Jack Ross.

1950: Tommy Ward and Lee Savoldi wrestled to a draw in the main event in Gainesville for promoter Fred Ward. Ward was not yet affiliated with the Atlanta office of Georgia Championship Wrestling. Incidentally, Tommy and Fred Ward were the same person. It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.

1951: Don McIntyre defeated Bobby Lane in the main event at Fort Benning for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1954: Red McIntyre defeated Jack Dillon in the main event at the Valdosta Livestock Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Gordon Walker.

1962: Eddie Graham & Dick Steinborn defeated the Assassins to retain the US Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Following the match, Graham’s head was bleeding badly, and he claimed Assassin #2 had something in his mask that caused the injury. Graham & Steinborn had been the reigning champions as recognized by the Tampa, FL, office since they defeated Tojo Yamamoto & Taro Myaki on November 30, 1961, in Jacksonville, FL. Also, Jean & Paul Gaullois defeated Jack Steele & Jerry Graham to retain the International Tag Team Title. It is unclear as to how the Gaullois’ came to be recognized as champions. The last reference we have shows Gypsy Joe & Skull Murphy defending the title against Bill Dromo & Chief Little Eagle on April 3, 1961, in Augusta. It was announced that Rito & Tito Carreon would be wrestling on the card on January 12, 1962, and that Pat O’Connor, Saul Weingeroff, and Kurt & Karl Von Brauner would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1968: Enrique & Alberto Torres defeated Stan & Butcher Vachon to win the Southern Tag Team Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Vachons had been the reigning champions since they defeated the Torres’ on December 18, 1967, in Augusta. The program for this card had Jack Crawford announcing that Buddy Fuller was actually Ed Welch. He also provided a photo of El Mongol holding the Georgia Heavyweight Title belt, with Mexico City in the background, while calling for his reinstatement to wrestle in Georgia. It was reported in the program that Paul Jones was facing opposition from the NWA Board in an effort to declare the title vacant, where Crawford supposedly had attorneys appealing the suspension. It was announced that Gene Kiniski would be wrestling Mr. Wrestling on the card on January 12, 1968.

1971: Bob Armstrong & El Mongol defeated the Assassins in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1973: Bob Armstrong defeated Sputnik Monroe in a main event Texas death match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, a semi-main event match between Buddy Colt and Mad Dog Vachon was ruled a no contest. In addition, Leo Garibaldi, Eddie & Mike Graham defeated Jack Crawford, Norvel Austin & the Masked Marvel by disqualification. Garibaldi, credited as being a referee for this card, was injured during the match when the Marvel hit him in what appeared to be an accident.

1974: On the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie, it was announced that the Georgia Tag Team Title, held by Bobby Shane & Gorgeous George, Jr., is held up since the latter was injured and cannot wrestle.

1974: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Robert Fuller in the main event at the Griffin-Barnesville Sports Palace for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Ron & Terry Garvin, managed by Jimmy Garvin, defeated Bob Armstrong & Bobby Cash in the semi-main event. In addition, Lou Thesz defeated Jerry Lawler.

1976: Bob Armstrong defeated the Georgia Heavyweight Champion Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, by disqualification in a title match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. The Spoiler had been the reigning champion since he defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 on November 27, 1975, in Atlanta. Also, Abdullah the Butcher defeated Dick Slater by disqualification in the semi-main event.

1980: On the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie, Steve Travis defeated Austin Idol to win the Georgia Television Title.

1992: The Legion of Doom defeated the Natural Disasters to retain the WWF World Tag Team Title at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for the World Wrestling Federation. Also, Bret Hart defeated the Mountie to retain the Inter-Continental Heavyweight Title. In addition, Greg Valentine defeated the Brooklyn Brawler, and Hulk Hogan defeated Ric Flair by countout.

1995: The Dirty White Boy defeated Rumble in the main event in White, GA, for Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Also, the Rock & Roll Express defeated the Gangstas in the semi-main event. It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card, but it was reported that 225 were in attendance.

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com