01/04/2012 – January 4 Georgia Wrestling Nostalgia
From Rich Tate:
January 4, 1888 (Wednesday) – Augusta, GA – Clinch Rifles Hall (Promoter –
Unknown) > Greek George (01) over Piero Celi two falls to one / Notes: It was
reported that 300 were in attendance for this card.
January 4, 1918 (Friday) – Savannah, GA – Liberty Theatre (Max Bauman – Promoter)
> Strangler Lewis and Wladek Zbyszko went to a draw at 75:00 / Notes: Billy Sandow
(01) managed Lewis. Zbyszko had vowed he would defeat Lewis in straight falls, and
since he did not, the Savannah Morning News considered this a defeat for him. There
must have been some outcry against Greco-Roman rules, as Bauman said he would
never use them again, and would only use catch-as-catch-can rules. Lewis was
mentioned as the World champion in the newspaper advertisement, but it was likely a
misprint as Earl Caddock was the champion at that time, having been awarded the
title when Joe Stecher forfeited a second fall to him in Omaha, NE, on April 9, 1917. It
was reported that Lewis broke a rib during the match.
January 4, 1934 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – East Atlanta Arena (Promoter – Unknown)
> Sammy Miller versus Red Dugan > Eddie Wagner versus Tony Padrone > Son
Almand versus George Harben
January 4, 1934 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Heights Arena (Frank Bettis –
Promoter) > Leon Fuller versus Roy Stewart > Young Americus over Bull Schmidt by
disqualification > George Romanoff versus Charlie Harben
January 4, 1934 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – Westlake Arena (Luke Appling – Promoter)
> Leon Fuller versus Red Dugan > Tony Padrone versus Son Almand / Notes: There
was a boxing match, but no details were provided following the card.
January 4, 1935 (Friday) – Avondale, GA – Avondale Arena (Frank Bettis and Cleve
Roby – Promoters) > Teddy Betts versus Charlie Harben > Eddie Wagner versus Bull
Schmidt > Chippewa Charlie versus Son Almand
January 4, 1937 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Spring Street Arena (Frank Bettis and Cleve
Roby – Promoters) > John Mauldin over Farmer Mack > Teddy Betts versus Doc Poole
> John Dameron versus Bad Boy Brown
January 4, 1946 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Ben Bennicasa over Charlie
Harben > Rudy Strongberg over Wally Greb > Dick Lever and Tarzan White went to a
draw > Al Massey & Laverne Baxter over Jack LaRue & Vic Emanuel
January 4, 1952 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bill Cazzell versus Sonny Kurgis >
Eddie Gossett versus Lou Newman > Women’s Match: Babs Wingo versus Mary
Horton > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Don McIntyre* versus Babe Zaharias /
Notes: McIntyre had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he
went over Art Nelson on September 10, 1951, in Augusta.
January 4, 1954 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Tom Mahoney –
Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Midget Match: Victorio Gonzales
versus Tuffy McRae > Leo Numa versus Jack Dillon > Frank Taylor versus Red
McIntyre > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Ray Villmer* over Don McIntyre to retain
the title / Notes: Villmer had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion
since he went over Don McIntyre on October 16, 1953, in Atlanta.
January 4, 1957 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Donn Lewin and Red McIntyre went
to a draw > Pierre LaSalle over Tom Drake > Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin over Jackie
Nichols & Red McIntyre > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Chief Big Heart over Jerry
Graham* to win the title / Notes: Graham had been the reigning Southern
Heavyweight Champion since he went over Bobby Weaver on December 14, 1956, in
Atlanta.
January 4, 1961 (Wednesday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Sports Arena (Fred Ward
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Adrien Baillargeon over Mickey
Blassie > Adrien Baillargeon & Tiny Evans over Mickey Blassie & Gypsy Joe (01) >
Barbed Wire Fence Match: Chief Little Eagle over Freddie Blassie
January 4, 1963 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Don McIntyre –
Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Homer O’Dell over Jose Quintero >
Mike Paidousis and Lenny Montana went to a draw > Bronko Lubich over Chief Little
Eagle > the Bat (03) over Rito Carreon > World Heavyweight Title Match: Freddie
Blassie* and Ray Gunkel went to a draw; Blassie retained the title / Notes: Homer O’
Dell managed Lubich. Les Ruffen was the special referee for the Gunkel-Blassie
match. Blassie had been billed as World Heavyweight Champion since June 29,
1962. It was announced that John Paul Henning, the Bat (03), and the Steve Boys
(Steve Bolus and Steve Kovacs) would be wrestling on the card on January 11, 1963,
and that Bob Ellis would be wrestling on the card on January 18, 1963.
January 4, 1965 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Steve Manderson
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Charlie Carr and Silento Rodriguez
went to a draw > Bill Dromo over Mario Galento by disqualification > Jack Dalton (01)
& Bob Dalton over Joe Scarpa & Sputnik Monroe
January 4, 1966 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward –
Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Johnny King (01) over Cousin Alfred >
Ken Fryer over Rip Carson by disqualification > Eric Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
over Billy Hines & Bad Boy Hines / Notes: Saul Weingeroff managed the Von
Brauners.
January 4, 1969 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WQXI Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter
/ Georgia Championship Wrestling) > the Assassins (01) (Assassin #1 (01) &
Assassin #2 (01)) over Dick Steinborn & Mario Galento > the Professional over the
Blue Destroyer / Notes: This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television
program hosted by Ed Capral. During the Professional-Destroyer match, the Pro
removed the Destroyer (01)’s mask to identify him as Gene Kiniski. Kiniski explained
to Capral that he wanted to test the Pro without his NWA World Heavyweight Title on
the line. Kiniski had been the reigning champion since he went over Lou Thesz on
January 7, 1966, in St. Louis, MO. Jack Crawford appeared on the program and
announced he was managing Dale Lewis.
January 4, 1972 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter /
Georgia Championship Wrestling) > the Red Demon (04) over Derrell Cochran > Dick
Steinborn over Oki Shikina > Women’s Tag Team Match: Debbie Johnson & Jan
Sheridan over Paula Kaye & the Black Venus > Bob Armstrong & Jimmy Dancing Bear
over Billy Spears & Buddy Colt by disqualification > Bill Dromo versus Flash Monroe
ended in a no contest
January 4, 1974 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Stan Vachon over Bill Dromo >
Black Angus over Sonny King > the Samoans (01) (Tio & Tapu) over Roy Lee Welch &
Sputnik Monroe > Jerry Lawler over Bobby Cash > Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over Tim
Woods > Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller over Bobby Shane & Stan Vachon > Lights
Out Match: Robert Fuller over Frank Cochran / Notes: Vachon substituted for
Gorgeous George, Jr., to team with Shane in the match against Armstrong and Fuller.
Gary Hart managed Angus, Shane, and the Samoans. Les Thatcher noted in his
column in the program for this card that Bill Watts was leaving for a six-week tour of
Japan. Eddie Smith was credited as being a referee on this card.
January 4, 1977 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter /
Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Charlie Fulton over Mike Stallings > Raymond
Rougeau over Bill Howard > Black Atlas over Killer Brooks > Dick Slater & Abdullah
the Butcher over Bob Backlund & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) > Georgia Tag Team Title
Match: Ole Anderson & Gene Anderson* over Thunderbolt Patterson & the Mighty Igor
January 4, 1978 (Wednesday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Municipal Auditorium
(Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Raymond Rougeau
versus the Invader (06) > Midget Match: Cowboy Lang versus Lord Littlebrook >
Tommy Rich versus Pak Song > Tony Atlas versus Abdullah the Butcher > Bob
Armstrong & Dick Slater & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) versus Stan Hansen & Ole Anderson
& Jacques Goulet / Notes: Rock Hunter managed Abdullah and Song.
January 4, 1979 (Thursday) – Rome, GA – Rome Memorial Gymnasium (Charlie
Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Randy Savage versus
Dutch Mantell > Tommy Rich versus Stan Hansen > Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) versus the
Masked Superstar / Notes: Raymond Rougeau and Pierre Lefebvre were also
advertised.
From Rich Tate:
January 4, 1888 (Wednesday) – Augusta, GA – Clinch Rifles Hall (Promoter –
Unknown) > Greek George (01) over Piero Celi two falls to one / Notes: It was
reported that 300 were in attendance for this card.
January 4, 1918 (Friday) – Savannah, GA – Liberty Theatre (Max Bauman – Promoter)
> Strangler Lewis and Wladek Zbyszko went to a draw at 75:00 / Notes: Billy Sandow
(01) managed Lewis. Zbyszko had vowed he would defeat Lewis in straight falls, and
since he did not, the Savannah Morning News considered this a defeat for him. There
must have been some outcry against Greco-Roman rules, as Bauman said he would
never use them again, and would only use catch-as-catch-can rules. Lewis was
mentioned as the World champion in the newspaper advertisement, but it was likely a
misprint as Earl Caddock was the champion at that time, having been awarded the
title when Joe Stecher forfeited a second fall to him in Omaha, NE, on April 9, 1917. It
was reported that Lewis broke a rib during the match.
January 4, 1934 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – East Atlanta Arena (Promoter – Unknown)
> Sammy Miller versus Red Dugan > Eddie Wagner versus Tony Padrone > Son
Almand versus George Harben
January 4, 1934 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Heights Arena (Frank Bettis –
Promoter) > Leon Fuller versus Roy Stewart > Young Americus over Bull Schmidt by
disqualification > George Romanoff versus Charlie Harben
January 4, 1934 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – Westlake Arena (Luke Appling – Promoter)
> Leon Fuller versus Red Dugan > Tony Padrone versus Son Almand / Notes: There
was a boxing match, but no details were provided following the card.
January 4, 1935 (Friday) – Avondale, GA – Avondale Arena (Frank Bettis and Cleve
Roby – Promoters) > Teddy Betts versus Charlie Harben > Eddie Wagner versus Bull
Schmidt > Chippewa Charlie versus Son Almand
January 4, 1937 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Spring Street Arena (Frank Bettis and Cleve
Roby – Promoters) > John Mauldin over Farmer Mack > Teddy Betts versus Doc Poole
> John Dameron versus Bad Boy Brown
January 4, 1946 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Ben Bennicasa over Charlie
Harben > Rudy Strongberg over Wally Greb > Dick Lever and Tarzan White went to a
draw > Al Massey & Laverne Baxter over Jack LaRue & Vic Emanuel
January 4, 1952 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bill Cazzell versus Sonny Kurgis >
Eddie Gossett versus Lou Newman > Women’s Match: Babs Wingo versus Mary
Horton > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Don McIntyre* versus Babe Zaharias /
Notes: McIntyre had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he
went over Art Nelson on September 10, 1951, in Augusta.
January 4, 1954 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Tom Mahoney –
Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Midget Match: Victorio Gonzales
versus Tuffy McRae > Leo Numa versus Jack Dillon > Frank Taylor versus Red
McIntyre > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Ray Villmer* over Don McIntyre to retain
the title / Notes: Villmer had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion
since he went over Don McIntyre on October 16, 1953, in Atlanta.
January 4, 1957 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Donn Lewin and Red McIntyre went
to a draw > Pierre LaSalle over Tom Drake > Mark Lewin & Donn Lewin over Jackie
Nichols & Red McIntyre > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Chief Big Heart over Jerry
Graham* to win the title / Notes: Graham had been the reigning Southern
Heavyweight Champion since he went over Bobby Weaver on December 14, 1956, in
Atlanta.
January 4, 1961 (Wednesday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Sports Arena (Fred Ward
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Adrien Baillargeon over Mickey
Blassie > Adrien Baillargeon & Tiny Evans over Mickey Blassie & Gypsy Joe (01) >
Barbed Wire Fence Match: Chief Little Eagle over Freddie Blassie
January 4, 1963 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Don McIntyre –
Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Homer O’Dell over Jose Quintero >
Mike Paidousis and Lenny Montana went to a draw > Bronko Lubich over Chief Little
Eagle > the Bat (03) over Rito Carreon > World Heavyweight Title Match: Freddie
Blassie* and Ray Gunkel went to a draw; Blassie retained the title / Notes: Homer O’
Dell managed Lubich. Les Ruffen was the special referee for the Gunkel-Blassie
match. Blassie had been billed as World Heavyweight Champion since June 29,
1962. It was announced that John Paul Henning, the Bat (03), and the Steve Boys
(Steve Bolus and Steve Kovacs) would be wrestling on the card on January 11, 1963,
and that Bob Ellis would be wrestling on the card on January 18, 1963.
January 4, 1965 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Steve Manderson
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Charlie Carr and Silento Rodriguez
went to a draw > Bill Dromo over Mario Galento by disqualification > Jack Dalton (01)
& Bob Dalton over Joe Scarpa & Sputnik Monroe
January 4, 1966 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward –
Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Johnny King (01) over Cousin Alfred >
Ken Fryer over Rip Carson by disqualification > Eric Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner
over Billy Hines & Bad Boy Hines / Notes: Saul Weingeroff managed the Von
Brauners.
January 4, 1969 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WQXI Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter
/ Georgia Championship Wrestling) > the Assassins (01) (Assassin #1 (01) &
Assassin #2 (01)) over Dick Steinborn & Mario Galento > the Professional over the
Blue Destroyer / Notes: This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television
program hosted by Ed Capral. During the Professional-Destroyer match, the Pro
removed the Destroyer (01)’s mask to identify him as Gene Kiniski. Kiniski explained
to Capral that he wanted to test the Pro without his NWA World Heavyweight Title on
the line. Kiniski had been the reigning champion since he went over Lou Thesz on
January 7, 1966, in St. Louis, MO. Jack Crawford appeared on the program and
announced he was managing Dale Lewis.
January 4, 1972 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter /
Georgia Championship Wrestling) > the Red Demon (04) over Derrell Cochran > Dick
Steinborn over Oki Shikina > Women’s Tag Team Match: Debbie Johnson & Jan
Sheridan over Paula Kaye & the Black Venus > Bob Armstrong & Jimmy Dancing Bear
over Billy Spears & Buddy Colt by disqualification > Bill Dromo versus Flash Monroe
ended in a no contest
January 4, 1974 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01)
– Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Stan Vachon over Bill Dromo >
Black Angus over Sonny King > the Samoans (01) (Tio & Tapu) over Roy Lee Welch &
Sputnik Monroe > Jerry Lawler over Bobby Cash > Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over Tim
Woods > Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller over Bobby Shane & Stan Vachon > Lights
Out Match: Robert Fuller over Frank Cochran / Notes: Vachon substituted for
Gorgeous George, Jr., to team with Shane in the match against Armstrong and Fuller.
Gary Hart managed Angus, Shane, and the Samoans. Les Thatcher noted in his
column in the program for this card that Bill Watts was leaving for a six-week tour of
Japan. Eddie Smith was credited as being a referee on this card.
January 4, 1977 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter /
Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Charlie Fulton over Mike Stallings > Raymond
Rougeau over Bill Howard > Black Atlas over Killer Brooks > Dick Slater & Abdullah
the Butcher over Bob Backlund & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) > Georgia Tag Team Title
Match: Ole Anderson & Gene Anderson* over Thunderbolt Patterson & the Mighty Igor
January 4, 1978 (Wednesday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Municipal Auditorium
(Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Raymond Rougeau
versus the Invader (06) > Midget Match: Cowboy Lang versus Lord Littlebrook >
Tommy Rich versus Pak Song > Tony Atlas versus Abdullah the Butcher > Bob
Armstrong & Dick Slater & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) versus Stan Hansen & Ole Anderson
& Jacques Goulet / Notes: Rock Hunter managed Abdullah and Song.
January 4, 1979 (Thursday) – Rome, GA – Rome Memorial Gymnasium (Charlie
Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Randy Savage versus
Dutch Mantell > Tommy Rich versus Stan Hansen > Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) versus the
Masked Superstar / Notes: Raymond Rougeau and Pierre Lefebvre were also
advertised.
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