GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 04/24/2008

NEWS

The current listing of promoters licensed to operate professional wrestling events as of this writing in Georgia is as follows: A Town Wrestling, Alternative Pro Wrestling, Championship Wrestling Overload, the Georgia Pro Wrestling Association, Georgia Wrestling Promotions, the Independent Wrestling Network, Kingdom Championship Wrestling, NWA Anarchy (as Mad Dawg Promotions), On the Mat Championship Wrestling, Power Pro Wrestling, Show Business (Behrens’ business, although he is not actively promoting), Southern Classic Wrestling, Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling, Southern States Championship Wrestling, Ultimate Christian Wrestling, and World Wrestling Alliance 4 (as Atlanta World Wrestling Alliance). (Rich Tate)

Promotions based in Georgia of which we are aware, and are not currently licensed are as follows: the All-Star Wrestling Network, AWA World-1 South, Deep South Wrestling, Down South Hardcore Wrestling, Flatline Championship Wrestling, the Future Wrestling Federation, Galaxie Pro Xtreme Wrestling, the Georgia Independent Wrestling Alliance, Georgia Wrestling Entertainment, the Georgia Wrestling Federation, NAWA Ring Champions, Total Championship Wrestling, and Wrestling Beyond Imagination. It should be noted that not all of the unlicensed promotions are heavily active at this point, and in fact, some may no longer be active at all. However, there are plenty that are running at least monthly, and are running the risk of being shut down simply for not being licensed. (Rich Tate)

Of the larger companies, World Wrestling Entertainment is exempt from licensure at this time. Total Nonstop Action is not exempt, but has no events scheduled in the state as of this writing. (Rich Tate)

Tonight, Great Championship Wrestling presents "War Games". The event will take place at the Great Skate Plex in Phenix City, AL, at 7:30pm. Advertised: The War Games Match, Team GCW (David Young, Sonny Siaki and the GCW tag team champions, Tex Monroe and J-Rod) w/GCW owner Diane Hewes vs. Michaels, Inc., (GCW Heavyweight Champion Johnny Swinger, GCW Interstate champion Cru Jones, Shaun Banks and Zero Tolerance) w/Quentin Michaels. Slaughter w/Wicked Nemesis faces "That 80's Guy" John Bogie. Scotty Beach takes on Orion Bishop w/Wicked Nemesis. Damien Steele will face the Bruiser. (Brian Slack)

Ultimate Christian Wrestling will be in Roberta, GA, at the Crawford County Middle School, tonight with action beginning at 7:00 PM. A.J. Steele, Jeremy Vain, Rob Adonis, Colt Derringer, Kyle Matthews, Sal Rinauro, Brian Lawler, Billy Jack, Dustin Powers, and Chris Rippy are advertised. (Rich Tate)

Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Carrollton, GA, tonight at the VFW Fairgrounds, beginning at 7:30 PM. Ringside seats are $10. All other seating is $8. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Advertised: Tommy Rich versus Steve Lawler in a bounty match; Bulldog Raines versus Iceberg in a grudge match; Scotty Blaze versus Mr. Hughes; a six man battle royal featuring Frankie Valentine, Chick Donovan, Billy Love, Josh Stone, Amien Rios, and El Mexicano, whereas the first man up the pole wins the new SECW Junior Heavyweight Title; and Chris Lightning & a mystery partner versus the Exotic Ones (Rick Michaels & Simon Sermon). (Rich Tate)

The New Frontier Wrestling Association will return to the National Guard Armory in Franklin, NC, located at 192 Industrial Park Loop, on May 3. Bell time is 8:00 PM. Advertised: Brokishi defends the NFWA Heavyweight Title against Talon Williams; Dirty versus Simon Sermon to earn a shot at the NFWA title; a handicap match featuring Jamar Acid versus Ryan Michaels & Nigel Sherrod; Backdraft versus Sci-Fi; Billy Starr versus the Bounty Hunter; Drew McElrath versus Stoney Hooker; Tommy Too Much versus Pitt; and Danny Diesel & Cornbread versus David Aire & the Mortician. Also scheduled to appear are Jay Hartigan, Jen Holbrook, Ronda Lawrence, Dee Beyers, and Michael Gentry. (Rich Tate)

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

Today in Memoriam: Johnny Valentine (72, 2001)

NOSTALGIA

APRIL 24, 1918 (WEDNESDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Billy Sandow – Promoter) > Jim Londos defeated Constant LeMarin

APRIL 24, 1934 (TUESDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – HOWELL MILL ARENA (C.W. Bennett – Promoter) > Bob Anderson versus Red Dugan > John Dameron versus Bill Ward > Bill Collins versus Bull Schmidt / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

APRIL 24, 1934 (TUESDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – SUNSET ATHLETIC CLUB (Promoter – Unknown) Notes: Three wrestling matches and two boxing matches were scheduled. A jazz band was also on hand to entertain the fans. No documented results or lineup for this card have been found.

APRIL 24, 1935 (WEDNESDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – PONCE de LEON BALL PARK (Henry Weber – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Marshall Blackstock and Dan O’Connor wrestled to a draw 30:00 > Sol Slagle defeated Chief Chewacki at 25:00 (2-0) > Orville Brown and Karl Davis wrestled to a draw / Notes: Karl Davis substituted for Bronko Nagurski in the match with Orville Brown.

APRIL 24, 1936 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – RIVERSIDE ARENA (Frank Bettis – Promoter) > Joe Woods versus Frank Remille > Mex McClain versus Young Londos > Carl Schobel versus Tarzan Jordan / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

APRIL 24, 1951 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON CITY AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Lou Plummer defeated Danny Plechas > Dan O'Connor defeated Benny Becker > Don McIntyre defeated Rube Wright > Jack Curtis defeated Red Dugan by disqualification

APRIL 24, 1953 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Henry Harrell defeated Carlos Guzman > Dan O’Connor and Tex Riley wrestled to a draw > Art Nelson versus Mike Paidousis > Aldo Bogni defeated Don McIntyre / Notes: Art Nelson and Mike Paidousis were scheduled to wrestle each other, but no results were reported after the card.

APRIL 24, 1957 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Women’s Match: June Byers versus Penny Banner > Verne Gagne versus Babe Zaharias > Paul Bunyan versus Kurt Von Brawner / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

APRIL 24, 1959 (FRIDAY) – MARIETTA, GA – LARRY BELL AUDITORIUM (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Roy Acosta, Dickie Gunkel & Farmer Powell versus Freddie Blassie, Skull Murphy & Gypsy Joe / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

APRIL 24, 1962 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON CITY AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Charley Laye & Andre Drapp defeated Don Whittler & Ali Bey > Ray Villmer defeated the Canadian Angel > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Eddie Graham* defeated Ivan Zukoff > Lenny Montana defeated Dick Steinborn / Notes: Eddie Graham had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion as recognized by the Tampa, FL, office since he won a tournament on March 17, 1962, in Tampa.

APRIL 24, 1963 (WEDNESDAY) – COLUMBUS, GA – COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jack Armstrong versus George Bell > Derrell Cochran defeated Chris Averoff > International Tag Team Title Match: Lenny Montana & Tarzan Tyler* versus Dick Steinborn & Chief Little Eagle ruled a no contest / Notes: Jack Armstrong and George Bell were scheduled to wrestle each other, but no results were reported after the card. Lenny Montana & Tarzan Tyler had been billed as International Tag Team Champions since April 9, 1963.

APRIL 24, 1964 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM [P] (Don McIntyre – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Greg Peterson defeated Sailor Moran > The Bavarian Boys defeated George Harris & Red Steiner > Sputnik Monroe defeated Derrell Cochran > Kurt & Karl Von Brauner defeated Tex Riley & Tinker Todd > No TL Match: Joe Scarpa versus Stan Stasiak ruled a no contest / Notes: Saul Weingeroff managed Kurt & Karl Von Brauner. It was announced that Argentina Rocca would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

APRIL 24, 1965 (SATURDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – WAII STUDIOS (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Greg Peterson & Buddy Fuller defeated the Corsicans > Buddy Fuller defeated Red Roberts > Alex Perez defeated Greg Peterson / Notes: This was for the “Live Atlanta Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral.

APRIL 24, 1965 (SATURDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – PONCE de LEON BALL PARK (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Pedro Zapata defeated Randy Roper > Lee Fields defeated Pancho Villa > Alex Perez defeated Jerry Miller > Tarzan Tyler defeated Tom Bradley > Women’s Match: the Fabulous Moolah defeated Dot Dotson > Battle of the States – Georgia versus Tennessee: Ray Gunkel, Greg Peterson & Jesse James (GA) versus Ronnie Etchison, Tony Milano & Lester Welch (TN) > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Mario Galento* and Buddy Fuller ended in a double countout / Notes: The pairings and results for the tournament were not reported after the card. Mario Galento had been the reigning Georgia Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Sputnik Monroe on November 13, 1964, in Atlanta.

APRIL 24, 1970 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – PAUL JONES SPORTS ARENA [P] (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Chati Yokuchi defeated Jim Wilson > Bob Armstrong and Fuji wrestled to a draw > Bill Dromo defeated Karl Von Stroheim > Buddy Colt defeated Professor Kimura by disqualification > El Mongol defeated the Challenger > Doug Gilbert defeated Nick Bockwinkel > Joe Scarpa defeated Paul DeMarco / Notes: Homer O’Dell managed Buddy Colt & Karl Von Stroheim. For the match between Joe Scarpa and Paul DeMarco, the winner had to force the other to submit to the sleeper hold. Leo Garibaldi was credited as being a referee for this card.

APRIL 24, 1971 (SATURDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – WQXI STUDIOS (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > The Assassins defeated Jim Wilson & El Mongol > Luke Graham defeated Klondike Bill by disqualification > Roberto Soto and Guillotine Gordon wrestled to a draw / Notes: This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral. “Atlanta TV Wrestling” is now back in the 10:30 to 11:30 PM time slot.

APRIL 24, 1973 (TUESDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM [P] (Ann Gunkel – Promoter / All-South Wrestling Alliance) > John Black and Kubla Khan wrestled to a draw > Bearcat Wilkerson defeated the Champ > Tommy Seigler & Koa Tiki defeated Krusher Karlson & Guillotine Gordon > Randy Curtis defeated Oki Shikina > Dick Steinborn & Argentina Apollo defeated Bill Bowman & Joe Turner > Ron Pritchard defeated Assassin #2 > Georgia Brass Knucks Title Match: Rock Hunter* defeated Jack Armstrong > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Ray Candy* defeated Ox Baker / Notes: Mr. X managed Bill Bowman and Joe Turner. Rock Hunter managed Assassin #2.

APRIL 24, 1973 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON COLISEUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tank Morgan defeated Bobby Cash > Jerry Oates defeated Fuji > Roy Lee Welch defeated Jack Evans > Women’s Match: the Fabulous Moolah defeated Lilly Thomas > Leon Ogle defeated Rocket Monroe by disqualification > Bob Armstrong & Bill Watts defeated the Super Infernos / Notes: J.C. Dykes was handcuffed to Bill Dromo during the match between Bob Armstrong & Bill Watts and the Super Infernos. Dykes managed the Infernos.

APRIL 24, 1976 (SATURDAY) – GRIFFIN, GA – GRIFFIN-BARNESVILLE SPORTS PALACE (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Roy Lee Welch and Karl Von Steiger wrestled to a draw > Ervin Smith defeated Jerry Stubbs > Rick Martel defeated Don Wade > Bob Backlund defeated Greg Valentine > Mark Lewin & Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Stan Stasiak & the Spoiler / Notes: Gary Hart managed the Spoiler. Doug Smith was credited as being a referee for this card.

APRIL 24, 1978 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > The Invader defeated Pierre Lefebvre > Doug Gilbert defeated Klondike Bill > Steve Regal defeated Jacques Goulet > Rocky Johnson defeated Abdullah the Butcher by disqualification > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Stan Hansen* defeated Tommy Rich > Georgia Television Title Match: Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Ole Anderson* by countout / Notes: Klondike Bill substituted for Jack Ruffian in the match with Doug Gilbert. Rock Hunter managed Abdullah the Butcher.

APRIL 24, 1979 (TUESDAY) – TOCCOA, GA (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) / Notes: A card was scheduled for this date, but no details have been found.

APRIL 24, 1980 (THURSDAY) – ROME, GA – ROME MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Lars Anderson defeated the French Angel by countout > Ted Oates defeated Snake Brown by disqualification > Genichiro Tenryu defeated Mike Davis > Eddie Gilbert defeated Rocket Monroe > Georgia Tag Team Title Match: Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff defeated Kevin Sullivan & Tony Atlas* to win title / Notes: Rock Hunter managed Ivan Koloff and Alexis Smirnoff.

APRIL 24, 1982 (SATURDAY) – CHATTANOOGA, TN – UTC MACLELLAN GYMNASIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tom Prichard defeated Chick Donovan > Leroy Brown defeated Ricky Harris > National Tag Team Title Match: John Studd & the Super Destroyer* defeated Bob & Brad Armstrong > Ron Bass defeated Tommy Rich by disqualification > Boston Street Fight Match: Kevin Sullivan defeated Buzz Sawyer / Notes: Tom Prichard substituted for Bobby Garrett in the match with Chick Donovan.

APRIL 24, 1987 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – OMNI COLISEUM (Ron Fuller – Promoter / Continental Championship Wrestling) > Scott Casey defeated the Executioner > Robert Fuller defeated Doug Furnas > The Nightmares defeated the Shoguns > Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Mike Golden > Tom Prichard versus Scott Armstrong ended in a double countout > Loser Leaves Match: Dutch Mantell defeated Adrian Street > Ron Fuller & Jimmy Golden defeated Jerry Stubbs & Tony Anthony by disqualification > Wendell Cooley versus Buddy Landell ended in a double disqualification

APRIL 24, 1988 (SUNDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – OMNI COLISEUM (Jim Crockett – Promoter / Jim Crockett Promotions) > Rick Steiner & Mike Rotundo and the Lightning Express wrestled to a draw > Ivan Koloff defeated Jimmy Valiant > Ron Garvin defeated the Terminator > The Midnight Express versus the Fantastics ruled a no contest > Arn Anderson defeated the Midnight Rider by disqualification > Jimmy Garvin defeated Dick Murdoch > Ric Flair & Tully Blanchard defeated Lex Luger & Sting > Cage Match: Paul Ellering & the Road Warriors defeated Paul Jones & the Powers of Pain

– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com