GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/02/2008

NEWS

We have received word from Pat Rose that former wrestler Randy Barber passed away early Tuesday afternoon. There are no more details at this time. (Rich Tate)

Georgia Wrestling Promotions will be in Woodstock, GA, on January 4 at the Cherokee Recreation Center, with a bell time of 8:00 PM. Call (770) 296-5290 for more info. Kids 6 and under will be admitted free, while anyone 7-11 get in for $5. All other seating is $10. Advertised: the Regular Guys will defend the GWP Southern Tag Team Title versus Shaun Tempers & Iceberg (w/ Rev. Wilson); the Hellbillies versus the Hollywood Brunettes; Ace Rockwell versus Jay Clinton (w/ Aaron Voight); and Jamar Acid versus Big Head Hansen. Also scheduled to appear are Kid Ego, Jr., Jeff Jameson, Loco Motive (w/ Ace Heffner), Justin Dirt, Jason Powers, the Super Destroyer, Frankie Valentine, and Josh Stone.

A GWP show is also scheduled for January 20 in Cartersville, GA, at the Hot Wheels Skate Center, with matches starting at 8:00 PM. Advertised for the show are the Masked Superstar, Gangrel, and Rick Steiner. According to promoter Roger Cantrell, and the previous announcement that Chris Masters and Rob Conway would be on this show, “Masters and Conway have been cancelled by me.” Cantrell added, “I cannot deal with all the egos involved with bringing them in. It is not worth the hassle.”

Future GWP events also include February 9 at the Lafayette, GA, Recreation Center, featuring David Young and Tracy Smothers. Young will also be on the show when GWP returns to the Skate Center in Woodstock on February 17. GWP will then head back again to the Rec Center in Woodstock, with Buff Bagwell and Scotty Too Hotty advertised. More details on those shows as they draw nearer. (Larry Goodman)

Southern Classic Wrestling will be back in Sandersville, GA, on January 26 at Big Dog Billiards beginning at 8:00 PM. Call (478) 251-1332 for more info. Kids will be admitted free, while kids between 6 and 12 get in for $3. All other tickets are $6. Advertised: The main event will be a bunkhouse stampede, with the winner earning a shot at the SCW Heavyweight Title on a later date; Tommy Lee (w/ Ace Heffner) will defend the SCW Heavyweight Title versus Psychoman; Loco Motive (w/ Heffner) will defend the SCW Heritage Title versus Chaos – the title will change hands automatically if any member of the VIP interferes; 2 B.A.D. (Jamie Holmes & Conner Cruze) will defend the SCW Tag Team Title versus Marc & Eric Stanton; and Scotty Carmichael versus Leatherface. Frankie Valentine, the Nightmare, Flatline, Josh Stone, Brian Titus, Drive-By, Bobby Joiner, T.W. James, and Big Bank Barfield are also scheduled to appear. (Brian Slack)

NOTES

Chief Lone Eagle was 81 when he passed away on this day in 1989.

On this day in 2000, Jim Casey died of natural causes at the age of 87.

NOSTALGIA

1929: Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter John Contos was injured in a severe automobile accident near his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, and never returned to promoting in Atlanta, thus canceling all events he had scheduled at the time.

1948: Primo Carnera defeated Roland Kirchmeyer in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

1951: Don McIntyre defeated Honey Boy Hannigan in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1953: Argentina Rocca defeated Gene Stanlee 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. Blassie had been the reigning champion since he defeated Red McIntyre on November 25, 1955, in Atlanta.

1959: Freddie Blassie defeated Ray Gunkel to win the Southern Heavyweight Title at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Gunkel had been the reigning champion since he defeated Freddie Blassie on November 7, 1958, in Atlanta.

1963: Freddie Blassie defeated Rito Carreon to retain the World Heavyweight Title at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Blassie had been billed as champion since June 29, 1962.

1965: We do not have results for this match, but Mario Galento was scheduled to defend the Georgia Heavyweight Title versus Bill Dromo at the Larry Bell Auditorium in Marietta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Elmo Chappell. Galento had been the reigning champion since he defeated Sputnik Monroe on November 13, 1964, in Atlanta.

1968: Mario Galento & the Kentuckian (Jake ‘Grizzly’ Smith) defeated the Gauchos (Juan Sebastian & Tarzan Baxter) in the main event at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.

1970: El Mongol defeated Nick Bockwinkel in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Also, Homer O’Dell defeated Leo Garibaldi in the semi-main event, and Alberto & Ramon Torres defeated Paul DeMarco & Buddy Colt, managed by O’Dell. In addition, the Assassins defeated Don Curtis & Doug Gilbert, billed as a mystery partner. It was reported that this card was near a sellout crowd. Garibaldi, Eddie Smith, and Corsica Jean were credited as being referees for this card. It was announced that Les Wolff would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

1971: We do not have a lineup or results, but it was later reported that the Assassins injured Chief Little Eagle during a card at the Griffin-Barnesville Sports Palace for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones.

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

1976: Bob Armstrong defeated the Georgia Heavyweight Champion Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, by disqualification in a title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. The Spoiler had been the reigning champion since he defeated Mr. Wrestling #2 on November 27, 1975, in Atlanta. Also, Dick Slater defeated Abdullah the Butcher by disqualification in the main event. In addition, Wrestling #2 defeated Rock Hunter in a brass knucks match.

1982: Tommy Rich defeated the Masked Superstar in a strap match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Also, Brad Armstrong, Leroy Brown & Big Red defeated Kevin Sullivan, Austin Idol & the Super Destroyer in the semi-main event, while Bob Armstrong defeated the Great Kabuki, managed by Gary Hart.

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com