| NEWS AND NOTES |
04/15/2012 – April 15 Georgia Wrestling Nostalgia
From Rich Tate:
April 15, 1935 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Key Arena (Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby – Promoters) > Tony Marconi versus John Ellis > Sammy Miller versus Ripper Reeves >
Bill Crussell versus Totem Pole Anderson
April 15, 1935 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – New Coliseum (Jack Browning – Promoter) > Floyd Marshall over Jack McArthur two falls to one > Southern Lightweight Title
Match: Dobie Osborne* over Jack Ross to retain the title / Notes: Osborne had been the reigning Southern Lightweight Champion since he went over Pat Newman on
April 1, 1935, in Augusta.
April 15, 1936 (Wednesday) – Augusta, GA – New Coliseum (Bill Metzger – Promoter) > Bruce Nolan versus Jim Hesslyn > Tom Jenkins versus Dutch Schultz
April 15, 1944 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Women’s Match: the Purple
Flash over Elvira Snodgrass > Women’s Match: Gladys Gillem over Rose Evans > Al Massey and Don Lee went to a draw > NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Bill
Longson* over the Red Devil (02) to retain the title / Notes: During the Longson-Devil match, Longson removed the Devil’s mask to identify him as Dick Lever. Longson
had been the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion since he went over Bobby Managoff in St. Louis, MO, on February 19, 1943. This version was the one
recognized by the National Boxing Association as the National Wrestling Association. Elmer Snodgrass managed Snodgrass.
April 15, 1946 (Monday) – Savannah, GA – Savannah Municipal Auditorium (Lou Masters, Dick Leonard, and Buster White – Promoters) > Jack Dillon over Joe Bennicasa
> Jack Wentworth over Joe Marsh > the Monk over Sammy Stein
April 15, 1949 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jack Kelly over Jim Wallis by
disqualification > Rex Mobley over Bobby Lane > Nick Carter and Tom Mahoney went to a draw > Al Massey and Babe Zaharias went to a draw > Don McIntyre over Rebel
Russell / Notes: Charley Fox was the special referee for the McIntyre-Russell match. Dick Lever and Bill Collins were credited as being referees on this card.
April 15, 1949 (Friday) – Blue Ridge, GA (Fred Ward – Promoter / Fred Ward Promotions) > Red Dugan over Bill Cazzell > Bob Shipp over Roy Mitchell by disqualification /
Notes: It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.
April 15, 1960 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Eric Pederson versus Vince Bryant
> Handicap Match: Big Humphrey over Krusher Larson & Bad Boy Hines > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Freddie Blassie over Dickie Gunkel* to win the title / Notes:
It is unclear as to how Gunkel came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion. The last reference we have shows Ray Gunkel defending the title against
Blassie on March 1, 1960, in Macon.
April 15, 1965 (Thursday) – Savannah, GA – Savannah Municipal Auditorium (Aaron Newman – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Frankie Cain versus
Tarzan Tyler > Mario Galento versus Red Roberts > Greg Peterson & Billy Hines versus the Mysterious Medics (01) (Mysterious Medic #1 & Mysterious Medic #2 (01))
April 15, 1966 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Paul Jones Sports Arena (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Chin Lee (02) over Bill Parks > Chief
Crazy Horse over Swede Karlson > Enrique Torres over Jack Vansky > Women’s Match: Linda Carroll over Toni Rose > Louie Tillet over Bad Boy Hines > Southern Tag
Team Title Match: the Infernos (Inferno #1 & Inferno #2)* over Bobby Shane & Mario Galento to retain the title / Notes: Hines substituted for Mike Paidousis in the match
against Tillet. J.C. Dykes managed the Infernos. There were two referees for the Shane/Galento-Infernos match. This is the last program listing credits for the Atlanta
office staff for a while, and it still references Bill Hartman (Ticket Sales), George Burie (Timekeeper), and Ed Capral (Ring Announcer). Also in this program was a photo
of Galento with actress Joan Blondell. The Infernos had been the reigning Southern Tag Team Champions since they went over Shane and Galento to win the vacant
title on April 1, 1966, in Atlanta. It was announced that Bette Boucher, Toni Rose, Linda Carroll, and Donna Christianello would be wrestling on the card on April 22, 1966.
April 15, 1967 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WAII Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Mr. Wrestling (01) over El Mongol > Ramon
Torres over Bozo Brown / Notes: This was for the “Live Atlanta Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral. Jack Crawford managed Mongol.
April 15, 1969 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Dennis Hall versus Joe Turco > Women’s
Tag Team Match: Toni Rose & Patti Neilson versus Rita Boucher & Barbara Owens > Dale Lewis versus El Mongol
April 15, 1972 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WTCG Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > John Sullivan over Mr. X (19) by
disqualification > Bill Dromo & Mike Burns over Ox Baker & Oki Shikina > Billy Spears over the Champ / Notes: This was taped for the “Georgia Championship Wrestling”
television program hosted by Ed Capral. Baker joined Capral and issued a challenge to Ray Gunkel, claiming Gunkel had injured the Cougar (02) during a match in
Chicago, and prior to that Baker and the Cougar had planned on teaming and chasing titles.
April 15, 1974 (Monday) Notes: According to a biography found for Jim Carlisle, he left WRBL Channel 3 in Columbus to become a full time employee for Fred Ward.
However, he remained the host of the “Columbus Championship Wrestling” until it ceased broadcasting in the early 1980s. The program also remained on WRBL
throughout the remainder of its run, so it is unclear what Carlisle gained by leaving one for the other.
April 15, 1974 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Ron Michaels versus Tiger Conway,
Jr. > Jerry Oates versus the Zebra Kid (02) > Bobby Duncum & Art Nelson versus Bobby McGuire & Benny McGuire > Jerry Brisco versus Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) > Robert
Fuller & Earl Maynard versus Ron Garvin & Terry Garvin / Notes: Bob Armstrong was the special referee for the Fuller/Maynard-Garvins match. Jimmy Garvin managed
the Garvins.
April 15, 1975 (Tuesday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Ray Candy and Billy Raven went
to a draw > Jerry Brisco over Don Kent > Rocky Johnson over Don Greene > Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller over Jerry Lawler & the Assassin (01) > Dusty Rhodes & Mr.
Wrestling #2 (01) versus Toru Tanaka & Abdullah the Butcher / Notes: Candy substituted for Ricky Gibson in the match against Raven. Rock Hunter managed the
Assassin, Tanaka, and Abdullah. Ron West and Doug Smith were credited as being referees for this card.
April 15, 1977 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Omni Coliseum (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Roberto Soto over Charlie Fulton > Richard
Blood & Dean Ho over Bill Howard & Jack Evans (02) > Randy Savage over Don Kernodle > Mixed Tag Team Match: Black Atlas & Susan Green over the French Angel
(02) & the Fabulous Moolah > Dusty Rhodes versus the Sheik ended in a no contest > Georgia Television Title Match: Thunderbolt Patterson* over Lars Anderson >
Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Paul Jones (02) over Dick Slater* to win the title > Cage Match: Mr. Wrestling #1 & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over Ole Anderson & Gene
Anderson
April 15, 1978 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WTCG Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Abdullah the Butcher over John Ruggers >
Rocky Johnson over the Invader (06) > Tape: Billy Graham versus Tony Atlas > Tommy Rich over Bill Irwin > Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen over Doug Gilbert (01) & Steve
Regal (01) / Notes: This was taped for the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie. Rock Hunter managed Abdullah.
April 15, 1979 (Sunday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > John Wolfe and Chick Donovan went to a draw >
Mike Stallings & Mr. Wrestling #1 over Ron Bass & Kurt Von Hess > Blackjack Lanza over Bob Armstrong > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over
the Masked Superstar* by disqualification > Georgia Tag Team Title Match: Ole Anderson & Ivan Koloff* over Tommy Rich & Dusty Rhodes by disqualification / Notes:
Bobby Heenan managed Bass and Lanza.
April 15, 1984 (Sunday) – Cincinnati, OH (Les Thatcher – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tommy Rogers over Rocky Jones > Sweet Brown Sugar over
Bob Roop > Tim Horner over Les Thornton > Brad Armstrong over the Spoiler (02) by countout > Wahoo McDaniel & King Kong Bundy over the Road Warriors (Animal &
Hawk) > Lights Out Match: Ron Garvin over Jake Roberts / Notes: Paul Ellering managed Roberts, the Spoiler, and the Warriors.
From Rich Tate:
April 15, 1935 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Key Arena (Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby – Promoters) > Tony Marconi versus John Ellis > Sammy Miller versus Ripper Reeves >
Bill Crussell versus Totem Pole Anderson
April 15, 1935 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – New Coliseum (Jack Browning – Promoter) > Floyd Marshall over Jack McArthur two falls to one > Southern Lightweight Title
Match: Dobie Osborne* over Jack Ross to retain the title / Notes: Osborne had been the reigning Southern Lightweight Champion since he went over Pat Newman on
April 1, 1935, in Augusta.
April 15, 1936 (Wednesday) – Augusta, GA – New Coliseum (Bill Metzger – Promoter) > Bruce Nolan versus Jim Hesslyn > Tom Jenkins versus Dutch Schultz
April 15, 1944 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Women’s Match: the Purple
Flash over Elvira Snodgrass > Women’s Match: Gladys Gillem over Rose Evans > Al Massey and Don Lee went to a draw > NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Bill
Longson* over the Red Devil (02) to retain the title / Notes: During the Longson-Devil match, Longson removed the Devil’s mask to identify him as Dick Lever. Longson
had been the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion since he went over Bobby Managoff in St. Louis, MO, on February 19, 1943. This version was the one
recognized by the National Boxing Association as the National Wrestling Association. Elmer Snodgrass managed Snodgrass.
April 15, 1946 (Monday) – Savannah, GA – Savannah Municipal Auditorium (Lou Masters, Dick Leonard, and Buster White – Promoters) > Jack Dillon over Joe Bennicasa
> Jack Wentworth over Joe Marsh > the Monk over Sammy Stein
April 15, 1949 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jack Kelly over Jim Wallis by
disqualification > Rex Mobley over Bobby Lane > Nick Carter and Tom Mahoney went to a draw > Al Massey and Babe Zaharias went to a draw > Don McIntyre over Rebel
Russell / Notes: Charley Fox was the special referee for the McIntyre-Russell match. Dick Lever and Bill Collins were credited as being referees on this card.
April 15, 1949 (Friday) – Blue Ridge, GA (Fred Ward – Promoter / Fred Ward Promotions) > Red Dugan over Bill Cazzell > Bob Shipp over Roy Mitchell by disqualification /
Notes: It is unclear as to what venue was the site of this card.
April 15, 1960 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Eric Pederson versus Vince Bryant
> Handicap Match: Big Humphrey over Krusher Larson & Bad Boy Hines > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Freddie Blassie over Dickie Gunkel* to win the title / Notes:
It is unclear as to how Gunkel came to be recognized as Southern Heavyweight Champion. The last reference we have shows Ray Gunkel defending the title against
Blassie on March 1, 1960, in Macon.
April 15, 1965 (Thursday) – Savannah, GA – Savannah Municipal Auditorium (Aaron Newman – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Frankie Cain versus
Tarzan Tyler > Mario Galento versus Red Roberts > Greg Peterson & Billy Hines versus the Mysterious Medics (01) (Mysterious Medic #1 & Mysterious Medic #2 (01))
April 15, 1966 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Paul Jones Sports Arena (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Chin Lee (02) over Bill Parks > Chief
Crazy Horse over Swede Karlson > Enrique Torres over Jack Vansky > Women’s Match: Linda Carroll over Toni Rose > Louie Tillet over Bad Boy Hines > Southern Tag
Team Title Match: the Infernos (Inferno #1 & Inferno #2)* over Bobby Shane & Mario Galento to retain the title / Notes: Hines substituted for Mike Paidousis in the match
against Tillet. J.C. Dykes managed the Infernos. There were two referees for the Shane/Galento-Infernos match. This is the last program listing credits for the Atlanta
office staff for a while, and it still references Bill Hartman (Ticket Sales), George Burie (Timekeeper), and Ed Capral (Ring Announcer). Also in this program was a photo
of Galento with actress Joan Blondell. The Infernos had been the reigning Southern Tag Team Champions since they went over Shane and Galento to win the vacant
title on April 1, 1966, in Atlanta. It was announced that Bette Boucher, Toni Rose, Linda Carroll, and Donna Christianello would be wrestling on the card on April 22, 1966.
April 15, 1967 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WAII Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Mr. Wrestling (01) over El Mongol > Ramon
Torres over Bozo Brown / Notes: This was for the “Live Atlanta Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral. Jack Crawford managed Mongol.
April 15, 1969 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Dennis Hall versus Joe Turco > Women’s
Tag Team Match: Toni Rose & Patti Neilson versus Rita Boucher & Barbara Owens > Dale Lewis versus El Mongol
April 15, 1972 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WTCG Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > John Sullivan over Mr. X (19) by
disqualification > Bill Dromo & Mike Burns over Ox Baker & Oki Shikina > Billy Spears over the Champ / Notes: This was taped for the “Georgia Championship Wrestling”
television program hosted by Ed Capral. Baker joined Capral and issued a challenge to Ray Gunkel, claiming Gunkel had injured the Cougar (02) during a match in
Chicago, and prior to that Baker and the Cougar had planned on teaming and chasing titles.
April 15, 1974 (Monday) Notes: According to a biography found for Jim Carlisle, he left WRBL Channel 3 in Columbus to become a full time employee for Fred Ward.
However, he remained the host of the “Columbus Championship Wrestling” until it ceased broadcasting in the early 1980s. The program also remained on WRBL
throughout the remainder of its run, so it is unclear what Carlisle gained by leaving one for the other.
April 15, 1974 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Ron Michaels versus Tiger Conway,
Jr. > Jerry Oates versus the Zebra Kid (02) > Bobby Duncum & Art Nelson versus Bobby McGuire & Benny McGuire > Jerry Brisco versus Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) > Robert
Fuller & Earl Maynard versus Ron Garvin & Terry Garvin / Notes: Bob Armstrong was the special referee for the Fuller/Maynard-Garvins match. Jimmy Garvin managed
the Garvins.
April 15, 1975 (Tuesday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Ray Candy and Billy Raven went
to a draw > Jerry Brisco over Don Kent > Rocky Johnson over Don Greene > Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller over Jerry Lawler & the Assassin (01) > Dusty Rhodes & Mr.
Wrestling #2 (01) versus Toru Tanaka & Abdullah the Butcher / Notes: Candy substituted for Ricky Gibson in the match against Raven. Rock Hunter managed the
Assassin, Tanaka, and Abdullah. Ron West and Doug Smith were credited as being referees for this card.
April 15, 1977 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Omni Coliseum (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Roberto Soto over Charlie Fulton > Richard
Blood & Dean Ho over Bill Howard & Jack Evans (02) > Randy Savage over Don Kernodle > Mixed Tag Team Match: Black Atlas & Susan Green over the French Angel
(02) & the Fabulous Moolah > Dusty Rhodes versus the Sheik ended in a no contest > Georgia Television Title Match: Thunderbolt Patterson* over Lars Anderson >
Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Paul Jones (02) over Dick Slater* to win the title > Cage Match: Mr. Wrestling #1 & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over Ole Anderson & Gene
Anderson
April 15, 1978 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WTCG Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Abdullah the Butcher over John Ruggers >
Rocky Johnson over the Invader (06) > Tape: Billy Graham versus Tony Atlas > Tommy Rich over Bill Irwin > Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen over Doug Gilbert (01) & Steve
Regal (01) / Notes: This was taped for the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie. Rock Hunter managed Abdullah.
April 15, 1979 (Sunday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > John Wolfe and Chick Donovan went to a draw >
Mike Stallings & Mr. Wrestling #1 over Ron Bass & Kurt Von Hess > Blackjack Lanza over Bob Armstrong > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over
the Masked Superstar* by disqualification > Georgia Tag Team Title Match: Ole Anderson & Ivan Koloff* over Tommy Rich & Dusty Rhodes by disqualification / Notes:
Bobby Heenan managed Bass and Lanza.
April 15, 1984 (Sunday) – Cincinnati, OH (Les Thatcher – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tommy Rogers over Rocky Jones > Sweet Brown Sugar over
Bob Roop > Tim Horner over Les Thornton > Brad Armstrong over the Spoiler (02) by countout > Wahoo McDaniel & King Kong Bundy over the Road Warriors (Animal &
Hawk) > Lights Out Match: Ron Garvin over Jake Roberts / Notes: Paul Ellering managed Roberts, the Spoiler, and the Warriors.