Georgia Wrestling History - the Home of Peach State Pandemonium: Cards & Results

1957

APRIL 3 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Harry Lewis versus Kurt Von Brawner > Guy LaRose versus the Great Mitsu > Argentina Rocca versus Tokyo Joe / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Although not mentioned, Kola Kwariani was likely in attendance, as he was charged with traveling with Argentina Rocca as a troubleshooter for him.

APRIL 5 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Babe Zaharias and Guy LaRose wrestled to a draw > The Great Mitsu defeated Harry Lewis > Red McIntyre versus Kurt Von Brawner > Argentina Rocca defeated Tokyo Joe / Notes: Red McIntyre and Kurt Von Brawner were scheduled to wrestle each other, but no results were reported after the card. Although not mentioned, Kola Kwariani was likely in attendance, as he was charged with traveling with Argentina Rocca as a troubleshooter for him.

APRIL 10 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Guy LaRose versus Babe Zaharias > Pierre LaSalle versus the Great Mitsu > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Kurt Von Brawner* versus Red McIntyre / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. It is unclear as to how Kurt Von Brawner came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion. The last reference we have shows Red McIntyre defending the title against Mark Lewin on February 22, 1957, in Marietta, although McIntyre is billed as champion against Von Brawner on April 19, 1957, in Atlanta. The Marietta office may simply have been recognizing Von Brawner as its champion.

APRIL 12 (FRIDAY) – MARIETTA, GA – LARRY BELL AUDITORIUM (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Don McIntyre & Guy LaRose defeated Kurt Von Brawner & Jean LaFitte

APRIL 12 (FRIDAY) – FOREST PARK, GA – FOREST PARK HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Pierre LaSalle & Red McIntyre versus Babe Zaharias & the Great Mitsu / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

APRIL 19 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Paul Bunyan versus Tug Wilson > Verne Gagne defeated Babe Zaharias > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Kurt Von Brawner defeated Red McIntyre* by disqualification / Notes: Paul Bunyan and Tug Wilson were scheduled to wrestle each other, but no results were reported after the card. It is unclear as to whether McIntyre’s reign as Southern Heavyweight Champion ended since the last reference we show having him defending the title against Mark Lewin on February 22, 1957, in Marietta, and Kurt Von Brawner was billed as champion against McIntyre on April 10, 1957, in Augusta. The Marietta office may simply have been recognizing Von Brawner as its champion.

APRIL 24 (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 26 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Whitey Whittler defeated Pierre LaSalle > Kurt Von Brawner defeated Paul Bunyan > Women’s World Title Match: June Byers* defeated Penny Banner > NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Lou Thesz* defeated Red McIntyre at 25:00 / Notes: June Byers had been the reigning Women’s World Champion since she defeated Mildred Burke on August 20, 1954, in Atlanta. Lou Thesz had been the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Billy Watson on November 9, 1956, in St. Louis, MO.

MAY 1 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Women’s Match: Caroline Bennett versus Baby Doe > Guy LaRose versus Dick the Bruiser / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

MAY 3 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Nick Roberts versus the Great Mitsu > Guy LaRose versus Dick the Bruiser > Women’s Match: Caroline Bennett defeated Baby Doe > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Don McIntyre defeated Kurt Von Brawner* to win title / Notes: Nick Roberts and the Great Mitsu were scheduled to wrestle each other, as were Guy LaRose and Dick the Bruiser, but no results were reported after the card. It is unclear as to how and when Kurt Von Brawner came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion. The last reference to the title in Atlanta had been Red McIntyre as champion as of April 19, 1957, where he defended the title against Von Brawner, where McIntyre had won the match. Von Brawner had been billed as champion in Augusta as of April 10, 1957, when he defended the title against McIntyre, but no documented results of that card have been found. In turn, McIntyre was being billed as champion in Marietta as of February 22, 1957, where he defended the title against Mark Lewin and won.

MAY 10 (FRIDAY) – COLLEGE PARK, GA – NORTH CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Al Massey & Chris Averoff defeated Bob Shipp & the Great Mitsu

MAY 15 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Argentina Rocca versus Kurt Von Brawner / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Although not mentioned, Kola Kwariani was likely in attendance, as he was charged with traveling with Argentina Rocca as a troubleshooter for him.

MAY 17 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Nick Roberts defeated Babe Zaharias > Al Massey and Al Galento wrestled to a draw > George Drake and Kurt Von Brawner wrestled to a draw > Argentina Rocca defeated Dick the Bruiser / Notes: Although not mentioned, Kola Kwariani was likely in attendance, as he was charged with traveling with Argentina Rocca as a troubleshooter for him.

MAY 22 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Al Galento, Kurt Von Brawner & the Great Mitsu versus George Drake, Nick Roberts & Oni Wiki Wiki / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

MAY 24 (FRIDAY) – MARIETTA, GA – LARRY BELL AUDITORIUM (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > George Drake & Red McIntyre defeated Al Galento & Kurt Von Brawner at 25:00

MAY 31 (FRIDAY) – MARIETTA, GA – LARRY BELL AUDITORIUM (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Women’s Match: Barbara Baker versus Mars Bennett > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Kurt Von Brawner* versus George Drake / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. It is unclear as to how Kurt Von Brawner came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion. The last reference we have shows him losing the title to Don McIntyre on May 3, 1957, in Atlanta. The last reference to the title in Marietta shows Red McIntyre as champion on February 22, 1957.

MAY 31 (FRIDAY) – COLLEGE PARK, GA – NORTH CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Al Galento & Babe Zaharias versus Al Massey & Oni Wiki Wiki / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JUNE 3 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > George Drake versus Al Galento > Women’s Match: Shirley Strimple versus Corinne Cordero > Kurt Von Brawner versus Oni Wiki Wiki / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JUNE 7 (FRIDAY) – MARIETTA, GA – LARRY BELL AUDITORIUM (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Nick Roberts versus Babe Zaharias > Southern Heavyweight Title Texas Death Match: Kurt Von Brawner* versus George Drake / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Kurt Von Brawner had been billed as Southern Heavyweight Champion in Marietta since May 31, 1957, although he lost the title to Don McIntyre on May 3, 1957, in Atlanta.

JUNE 7 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – SMITH HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Al Massey & Oni Wiki Wiki versus Jack O’Brien & Bob Shipp / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JUNE 10 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Mixed Tag Team Match: George Drake & Barbara Baker versus Rip Hawk & Corinne Cordero > Kurt Von Brawner versus Oni Wiki Wiki > George Drake versus Kurt Von Brawner / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JUNE 14 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > George Drake versus Nick Roberts > Rip Hawk versus Oni Wiki Wiki > Freddie Blassie defeated Al Massey > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Don McIntyre defeated Kurt Von Brawner* to win title / Notes: George Drake and Nick Roberts were scheduled to wrestle each other, as were Rip Hawk and Oni Wiki Wiki, but no results were reported after the card. It is unclear as to how Kurt Von Brawner came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion. The last reference we have shows him losing the title to Don McIntyre on May 3, 1957, in Atlanta, although he was still recognized as champion in Marietta as of June 7, 1957.

JUNE 17 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jack O’Brien versus Al Massey > Freddie Blassie versus George Drake > Southern Heavyweight Title Match (No TL): Kurt Von Brawner* versus Oni Wiki Wiki / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Although Kurt Von Brawner was no longer recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion in Atlanta, he had been billed as such in Augusta since April 10, 1957, and in Marietta since May 31, 1957.

JUNE 21 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Red McIntyre defeated Freddie Blassie by disqualification > George Drake defeated Babe Zaharias > Jack O’Brien and Oni Wiki Wiki wrestled to a draw > International Tag Team Title Match: Don & Red McIntyre defeated Freddie Blassie & Kurt Von Brawner* to win title / Notes: It is unclear as to how Freddie Blassie & Kurt Von Brawner came to be recognized as International Tag Team Champions. The last reference we have shows Don & Red McIntyre defeating Mark & Donn Lewin to win the title on March 15, 1957, in Atlanta.

JUNE 24 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > George Drake versus Jack Steele > Freddie Blassie versus Nick Roberts > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Don McIntyre* versus Kurt Von Brawner / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. It is unclear as to how Don McIntyre came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion, although he had defeated Kurt Von Brawner to win the title on June 14, 1957, in Atlanta. Von Brawner had been billed as champion since April 10, 1957, in Augusta, and also was recognized since June 7, 1957, as champion in Marietta.

JUNE 28 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM [P] (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Oni Wiki Wiki defeated Red Dugan > Rip Hawk defeated Al Massey > Freddie Blassie defeated Jack Curtis > Southern Heavyweight Title Match (No DQ / No TL): Kurt Von Brawner* defeated Don McIntyre / Notes: It is unclear as to how Kurt Von Brawner came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion. He had been billed as such in Marietta since June 7, 1957, and had lost the title to Don McIntyre on June 14, 1957, in Atlanta. The program we have for this card continues to reference Bill Hartman (Ticket Sales) and Simon Davis (Timekeeper) as part of the office staff in Atlanta. According to the program, the “Live Atlanta Wrestling” television program can now be seen “on Channel 11 every Wednesday night at 10:45”, minus the previously noted Budweiser Beer sponsorship. There was a mention in this program of the passing of Tom Jenkins on June 19, 1957, as well as the fact that Edouard Carpentier had defeated Lou Thesz for the NWA World Heavyweight Title in Chicago, IL, on June 14, 1957. It was announced that Mike Clancy would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.