| NEWS AND NOTES |
05/01/2012 – May 1 Georgia Wrestling Nostalgia
From Rich Tate:
May 1, 1933 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Howell Mill Arena (F.P. Owens – Promoter) > John Mauldin versus Tarzan Jordan > Eddie Wagner over Dave Terrell
May 1, 1933 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Park Fight Arena (Bill Corley – Promoter) > Pete Rogers over Gene Miller > Johnny Cox over A.D. Ford > Hugh Winn over
Curley Baker > Ted Radcliffe over Gene Fox
May 1, 1934 (Tuesday) – Atlanta, GA – Sunset Athletic Club (Promoter – Unknown) > Ed Terrell versus Black Jack / Notes: There were boxing matches, but no details
were provided following the card. A special section of the arena was reserved for white patrons.
May 1, 1936 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Riverside Arena (Frank Bettis – Promoter) > Joe Woods versus Mex McClain > Don Rainey versus Young Londos > Tarzan Jordan
versus King Kong Kashey
May 1, 1950 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – Augusta Municipal Auditorium (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Johnny Long versus the Red
Terror > No Time Limit Match: Tom Mahoney & Babe Zaharias versus Nick Carter & Buddy Knox
May 1, 1951 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Midget Match: Pee Wee James over Tiny Roe
> Charley Laye over Dan O'Connor > Don McIntyre over Lozano Martinez
May 1, 1957 (Wednesday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Robert McCoy – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Women’s Match: Caroline Bennett
versus Baby Doe > Guy LaRose versus Dick the Bruiser
May 1, 1959 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Roy Acosta versus Gino Angelo >
Don McClarty versus Gypsy Joe (01) > Ray Gunkel & Dickie Gunkel versus Freddie Blassie & Skull Murphy
May 1, 1962 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Andre Drapp over the Canadian Angel > Dick
Steinborn & Ray Villmer over Jim Wright & Ivan Zukoff > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Lenny Montana over Eddie Graham* by disqualification; Graham retained the
title / Notes: 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.
May 1, 1963 (Wednesday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Municipal Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tito Kopa versus Silento
Rodriguez > George Cannon versus Buck Jones (02) > Dick Steinborn & Chief Little Eagle over Lenny Montana & Tarzan Tyler by disqualification
May 1, 1964 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Don McIntyre – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Greg Peterson over Johnny Heidman >
the Bavarian Boys (Rudy Jacobs & Harry Wenzl) over Red Roberts & Sailor Moran > Sputnik Monroe over Tinker Todd > Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner over Ron
Reed & Tex Riley > Texas Death Loser Leaves Match: Joe Scarpa over Stan Stasiak (02) / Notes: Saul Weingeroff managed the Von Brauners. The Mighty Jumbo was
the special referee for the Scarpa-Stasiak match.
May 1, 1965 (Saturday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Sports Arena (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Alex Perez & Pedro Zapata versus
Jesse James (02) & Chief Little Eagle > Mario Galento versus Tom Bradley / Notes: This was for the locally televised “Columbus Championship Wrestling”, though it is
not known who was hosting the program, whether it was taped or broadcast live, nor is it clear as to which station the program was aired at the time.
May 1, 1965 (Saturday) – Marietta, GA – Larry Bell Ballpark (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Midget Match: Chico Santana versus Pee
Wee Lopez > Frankie Cain versus Tarzan Tyler > Jesse James (02) versus Pedro Zapata > Mario Galento versus Ray Gunkel
May 1, 1969 (Thursday) – Americus, GA – Sumter County Fairgrounds (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bill Dromo over Dale Lewis >
Dennis Hall & Grizzly Smith over Los Toros (Cisco Grimaldo & Pancho Pico)
May 1, 1970 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > the Challenger (01) over Bob
Armstrong > Ramon Torres over El Medico > Alberto Torres and Rocket Monroe went to a draw > Ray Gunkel & Buddy Fuller over Karl Von Stroheim & Professor Kimura
> El Mongol over Buddy Colt by disqualification > Nick Bockwinkel & Doug Gilbert (01) over the Assassins (01) (Assassin #1 (01) & Assassin #2 (01)) by disqualification /
Notes: Homer O’Dell managed Colt, Kimura, and Von Stroheim. Following the Gunkel/Fuller-Von Stroheim/Kimura match, the Von Stroheim and Kimura almost came to
blows as Von Stroheim felt Kimura lost the match, but O’Dell calmed the situation. They remained in the ring as Colt made his way to the ring for his match against
Mongol. Mongol was awarded the win by disqualification when the other three interfered and began attacking him in a four-on-one battle, yet Mongol still managed to
clear the ring and send his enemies running. Leo Garibaldi and Charlie Smith were credited as being referees for this card. It was announced that Paul DeMarco and
Joe Scarpa would wrestle each other in an amateur match on May 8, 1970, and that Dory Funk, Jr., and Bill Miller would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.
May 1, 1971 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WQXI Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Dick Steinborn over Nikita Mulkovitch > Bob
Griffin & Roberto Soto over Guillotine Gordon & Kubla Khan > Buddy Colt versus El Mongol ended in a no contest / Notes: This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling”
television program hosted by Ed Capral. Homer O’Dell managed Colt. Jack Crawford managed Khan and Gordon. Khan turned on Crawford and Gordon during the
match against Griffin and Soto.
May 1, 1973 (Tuesday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Ann Gunkel – Promoter / All-South Wrestling Alliance) > John Black versus Koa Tiki > Randy Curtis
over Wayne Cowan > Women’s Tag Team Match: Ann Smothers & Barbara Owens versus Valerie Griffith & Natasha > Tommy Seigler versus Oki Shikina > Ron
Pritchard versus Ox Baker > Dick Steinborn & Ray Candy & Argentina Apollo over Bill Bowman & Joe Turner (02) & Assassin #2 (01) > Texas Death Cage Match: Jack
Armstrong versus Rock Hunter / Notes: Mr. X (20) managed Bowman and Turner. Hunter managed Assassin #2. During the Steinborn/Candy/Apollo-
Bowman/Turner/Assassin #2 match, Assassin #2 was unmasked, but Turner was able to cover his head before his identity could be revealed. Tim Geohagen was
credited as being a referee for this card. Steinborn participated in an autograph session for fans. Listed as a new sponsor in the program we have for this card is Music
Mart at 575 Cherokee Road in Smyrna. The program also noted that wrestling was held Mondays in Augusta at the William Bell Auditorium and in Columbus at the
Columbus Municipal Auditorium; Wednesdays in Butler at the Tucker County Girls School Gymnasium; Thursdays in Athens at the J&J Center and in Savannah at the
Savannah Civic Center; Fridays in Warner Robins at the Warner Robins Civic Center and Statesboro at the Statesboro Arena; and Saturdays in Marietta at the North
Georgia Fairgrounds, in Carrollton at the VFW Fairgrounds, and in Covington at the Newton County Fairgrounds.
May 1, 1973 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tiger Conway, Jr., over Jack Evans (02) > Bobby
Duncum over Bob Orton, Jr. > Midget Women’s Match: Darling Dagmar over Diamond Lil > Leon Ogle & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over Rocket Monroe & Tank Morgan > Bob
Armstrong & Bill Dromo & Bill Watts over J.C. Dykes & the Super Infernos (01) (Super Inferno #1 & Super Inferno #2 (01)) / Notes: Dykes managed the Infernos.
May 1, 1975 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Eddie Einhorn – Promoter / International Wrestling Association) > Jim Wilson versus Joe Turco >
Luis Martinez versus Eric the Red > Bob Ellis & Tex McKenzie versus Rip Hawk & Beautiful Bruce > Ivan Koloff versus Argentina Apollo > Reginald Love & Hartford Love
versus Dino Bravo & Gino Brito > Ernie Ladd & Thunderbolt Patterson versus the Mongols (02) (Geto & Bolo) > Bulldog Brower versus the Mighty Igor / Notes: Al Costello
managed the Loves. George Cannon managed the Mongols.
May 1, 1978 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Paul Ellering over Bill White > Doug
Gilbert (01) over Jacques Goulet > Adrian Adonis over Ken Dillinger > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Rocky Johnson over Stan Hansen* by disqualification > Ernie
Ladd & Ole Anderson over Tommy Rich & Thunderbolt Patterson / Notes: Dillinger substituted for Lars Anderson in the match against Adonis.
May 1, 1980 (Thursday) – Rome, GA – Rome Memorial Gymnasium (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Eddie Gilbert versus Jim Nelson
> Mike Sharpe versus Genichiro Tenryu > Ernie Ladd versus Jay Strongbow > Kevin Sullivan & Tony Atlas versus Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff / Notes: Rock Hunter
managed Koloff and Smirnoff.
May 1, 1981 (Friday) – Gainesville, GA – Georgia Mountains Center (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > NWA World Heavyweight Title
Match: Harley Race over Tommy Rich* to win the title
May 1, 1982 (Saturday) – Augusta, GA – Richmond County Civic Center (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Brad Armstrong versus Tom
Prichard > Michael Hayes versus the Super Destroyer (01) > Ron Bass versus Bob Armstrong > Ray Stevens versus the Masked Superstar > John Studd versus Leroy
Brown > Kevin Sullivan versus Buzz Sawyer > Roddy Piper versus Tommy Rich > Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen versus Dusty Rhodes & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01)
May 1, 1983 (Sunday) – Atlanta, GA – Omni Coliseum (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bob Roop over Joe Lightfoot > Ray Candy over
Chick Donovan > Destruction, Inc. (Matt Borne & Arn Anderson) over Brian Blair & Tito Santana > Ron Garvin over the Iron Sheik > Dick Murdoch over Buzz Sawyer by
countout > Tommy Rich & Paul Orndorff over Larry Zbyszko & Killer Brooks > NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Tony Atlas over Ric Flair* by disqualification / Notes:
Paul Ellering managed the Sheik and Destruction.
From Rich Tate:
May 1, 1933 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Howell Mill Arena (F.P. Owens – Promoter) > John Mauldin versus Tarzan Jordan > Eddie Wagner over Dave Terrell
May 1, 1933 (Monday) – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Park Fight Arena (Bill Corley – Promoter) > Pete Rogers over Gene Miller > Johnny Cox over A.D. Ford > Hugh Winn over
Curley Baker > Ted Radcliffe over Gene Fox
May 1, 1934 (Tuesday) – Atlanta, GA – Sunset Athletic Club (Promoter – Unknown) > Ed Terrell versus Black Jack / Notes: There were boxing matches, but no details
were provided following the card. A special section of the arena was reserved for white patrons.
May 1, 1936 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Riverside Arena (Frank Bettis – Promoter) > Joe Woods versus Mex McClain > Don Rainey versus Young Londos > Tarzan Jordan
versus King Kong Kashey
May 1, 1950 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – Augusta Municipal Auditorium (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Johnny Long versus the Red
Terror > No Time Limit Match: Tom Mahoney & Babe Zaharias versus Nick Carter & Buddy Knox
May 1, 1951 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Midget Match: Pee Wee James over Tiny Roe
> Charley Laye over Dan O'Connor > Don McIntyre over Lozano Martinez
May 1, 1957 (Wednesday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Robert McCoy – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Women’s Match: Caroline Bennett
versus Baby Doe > Guy LaRose versus Dick the Bruiser
May 1, 1959 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Roy Acosta versus Gino Angelo >
Don McClarty versus Gypsy Joe (01) > Ray Gunkel & Dickie Gunkel versus Freddie Blassie & Skull Murphy
May 1, 1962 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Andre Drapp over the Canadian Angel > Dick
Steinborn & Ray Villmer over Jim Wright & Ivan Zukoff > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Lenny Montana over Eddie Graham* by disqualification; Graham retained the
title / Notes: 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.
May 1, 1963 (Wednesday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Municipal Auditorium (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tito Kopa versus Silento
Rodriguez > George Cannon versus Buck Jones (02) > Dick Steinborn & Chief Little Eagle over Lenny Montana & Tarzan Tyler by disqualification
May 1, 1964 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Don McIntyre – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Greg Peterson over Johnny Heidman >
the Bavarian Boys (Rudy Jacobs & Harry Wenzl) over Red Roberts & Sailor Moran > Sputnik Monroe over Tinker Todd > Kurt Von Brauner & Karl Von Brauner over Ron
Reed & Tex Riley > Texas Death Loser Leaves Match: Joe Scarpa over Stan Stasiak (02) / Notes: Saul Weingeroff managed the Von Brauners. The Mighty Jumbo was
the special referee for the Scarpa-Stasiak match.
May 1, 1965 (Saturday) – Columbus, GA – Columbus Sports Arena (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Alex Perez & Pedro Zapata versus
Jesse James (02) & Chief Little Eagle > Mario Galento versus Tom Bradley / Notes: This was for the locally televised “Columbus Championship Wrestling”, though it is
not known who was hosting the program, whether it was taped or broadcast live, nor is it clear as to which station the program was aired at the time.
May 1, 1965 (Saturday) – Marietta, GA – Larry Bell Ballpark (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Midget Match: Chico Santana versus Pee
Wee Lopez > Frankie Cain versus Tarzan Tyler > Jesse James (02) versus Pedro Zapata > Mario Galento versus Ray Gunkel
May 1, 1969 (Thursday) – Americus, GA – Sumter County Fairgrounds (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bill Dromo over Dale Lewis >
Dennis Hall & Grizzly Smith over Los Toros (Cisco Grimaldo & Pancho Pico)
May 1, 1970 (Friday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > the Challenger (01) over Bob
Armstrong > Ramon Torres over El Medico > Alberto Torres and Rocket Monroe went to a draw > Ray Gunkel & Buddy Fuller over Karl Von Stroheim & Professor Kimura
> El Mongol over Buddy Colt by disqualification > Nick Bockwinkel & Doug Gilbert (01) over the Assassins (01) (Assassin #1 (01) & Assassin #2 (01)) by disqualification /
Notes: Homer O’Dell managed Colt, Kimura, and Von Stroheim. Following the Gunkel/Fuller-Von Stroheim/Kimura match, the Von Stroheim and Kimura almost came to
blows as Von Stroheim felt Kimura lost the match, but O’Dell calmed the situation. They remained in the ring as Colt made his way to the ring for his match against
Mongol. Mongol was awarded the win by disqualification when the other three interfered and began attacking him in a four-on-one battle, yet Mongol still managed to
clear the ring and send his enemies running. Leo Garibaldi and Charlie Smith were credited as being referees for this card. It was announced that Paul DeMarco and
Joe Scarpa would wrestle each other in an amateur match on May 8, 1970, and that Dory Funk, Jr., and Bill Miller would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.
May 1, 1971 (Saturday) – Atlanta, GA – WQXI Studios (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Dick Steinborn over Nikita Mulkovitch > Bob
Griffin & Roberto Soto over Guillotine Gordon & Kubla Khan > Buddy Colt versus El Mongol ended in a no contest / Notes: This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling”
television program hosted by Ed Capral. Homer O’Dell managed Colt. Jack Crawford managed Khan and Gordon. Khan turned on Crawford and Gordon during the
match against Griffin and Soto.
May 1, 1973 (Tuesday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Ann Gunkel – Promoter / All-South Wrestling Alliance) > John Black versus Koa Tiki > Randy Curtis
over Wayne Cowan > Women’s Tag Team Match: Ann Smothers & Barbara Owens versus Valerie Griffith & Natasha > Tommy Seigler versus Oki Shikina > Ron
Pritchard versus Ox Baker > Dick Steinborn & Ray Candy & Argentina Apollo over Bill Bowman & Joe Turner (02) & Assassin #2 (01) > Texas Death Cage Match: Jack
Armstrong versus Rock Hunter / Notes: Mr. X (20) managed Bowman and Turner. Hunter managed Assassin #2. During the Steinborn/Candy/Apollo-
Bowman/Turner/Assassin #2 match, Assassin #2 was unmasked, but Turner was able to cover his head before his identity could be revealed. Tim Geohagen was
credited as being a referee for this card. Steinborn participated in an autograph session for fans. Listed as a new sponsor in the program we have for this card is Music
Mart at 575 Cherokee Road in Smyrna. The program also noted that wrestling was held Mondays in Augusta at the William Bell Auditorium and in Columbus at the
Columbus Municipal Auditorium; Wednesdays in Butler at the Tucker County Girls School Gymnasium; Thursdays in Athens at the J&J Center and in Savannah at the
Savannah Civic Center; Fridays in Warner Robins at the Warner Robins Civic Center and Statesboro at the Statesboro Arena; and Saturdays in Marietta at the North
Georgia Fairgrounds, in Carrollton at the VFW Fairgrounds, and in Covington at the Newton County Fairgrounds.
May 1, 1973 (Tuesday) – Macon, GA – Macon Coliseum (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tiger Conway, Jr., over Jack Evans (02) > Bobby
Duncum over Bob Orton, Jr. > Midget Women’s Match: Darling Dagmar over Diamond Lil > Leon Ogle & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01) over Rocket Monroe & Tank Morgan > Bob
Armstrong & Bill Dromo & Bill Watts over J.C. Dykes & the Super Infernos (01) (Super Inferno #1 & Super Inferno #2 (01)) / Notes: Dykes managed the Infernos.
May 1, 1975 (Thursday) – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal Auditorium (Eddie Einhorn – Promoter / International Wrestling Association) > Jim Wilson versus Joe Turco >
Luis Martinez versus Eric the Red > Bob Ellis & Tex McKenzie versus Rip Hawk & Beautiful Bruce > Ivan Koloff versus Argentina Apollo > Reginald Love & Hartford Love
versus Dino Bravo & Gino Brito > Ernie Ladd & Thunderbolt Patterson versus the Mongols (02) (Geto & Bolo) > Bulldog Brower versus the Mighty Igor / Notes: Al Costello
managed the Loves. George Cannon managed the Mongols.
May 1, 1978 (Monday) – Augusta, GA – William Bell Auditorium (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Paul Ellering over Bill White > Doug
Gilbert (01) over Jacques Goulet > Adrian Adonis over Ken Dillinger > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Rocky Johnson over Stan Hansen* by disqualification > Ernie
Ladd & Ole Anderson over Tommy Rich & Thunderbolt Patterson / Notes: Dillinger substituted for Lars Anderson in the match against Adonis.
May 1, 1980 (Thursday) – Rome, GA – Rome Memorial Gymnasium (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Eddie Gilbert versus Jim Nelson
> Mike Sharpe versus Genichiro Tenryu > Ernie Ladd versus Jay Strongbow > Kevin Sullivan & Tony Atlas versus Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff / Notes: Rock Hunter
managed Koloff and Smirnoff.
May 1, 1981 (Friday) – Gainesville, GA – Georgia Mountains Center (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > NWA World Heavyweight Title
Match: Harley Race over Tommy Rich* to win the title
May 1, 1982 (Saturday) – Augusta, GA – Richmond County Civic Center (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Brad Armstrong versus Tom
Prichard > Michael Hayes versus the Super Destroyer (01) > Ron Bass versus Bob Armstrong > Ray Stevens versus the Masked Superstar > John Studd versus Leroy
Brown > Kevin Sullivan versus Buzz Sawyer > Roddy Piper versus Tommy Rich > Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen versus Dusty Rhodes & Mr. Wrestling #2 (01)
May 1, 1983 (Sunday) – Atlanta, GA – Omni Coliseum (Paul Jones (01) – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bob Roop over Joe Lightfoot > Ray Candy over
Chick Donovan > Destruction, Inc. (Matt Borne & Arn Anderson) over Brian Blair & Tito Santana > Ron Garvin over the Iron Sheik > Dick Murdoch over Buzz Sawyer by
countout > Tommy Rich & Paul Orndorff over Larry Zbyszko & Killer Brooks > NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Tony Atlas over Ric Flair* by disqualification / Notes:
Paul Ellering managed the Sheik and Destruction.