| WAS “SO-AND-SO” IN GEORGIA?
July 2003 – Rich Tate Note: This article first appeared on Kayfabe Memories. It is impossible for most people within the majority of the internet wrestling website demographic to think of wrestling in Georgia without recalling names like Tommy Rich, Tony Atlas, the Andersons, Mr. Wrestling #2, the Masked Superstar, Austin Idol, Wahoo McDaniel, etc. In contrast, many people in that same demographic may find it hard to associate names like Freddie Blassie, Butcher and Mad Dog Vachon, Buddy Colt, Bobby Shane, Nick Bockwinkel, Reggie ‘Crusher’ Lisowski, Buddy Fuller, etc. However, as strange as that may be for some, Georgia has seen most of the top names in the business spend time working regularly here. For example, about a year ago on another website's message board, someone posed the question "Has So-and-So ever worked in Georgia?" Well, it would have been easier to just call out the names of those who didn't work here at one point or another. The history of wrestling in Georgia is rich and deep, and Georgia Wrestling History has uncovered a vast collection of results, among other things, outlining that history on paper and in pictures. Our current material dates as far back as 1887 through today, with no end in sight. It has been an eye opener to even those of us who thought we had seen it all when it came to the history in our state. What follows is a listing of some of the people that wrestling fans typically associate with other territories, and rightfully so. We are not attempting to change the perception that these people called Georgia home more than another promotion, but wanted to take the time to bring some of it to light where we believe it to be a surprise to most people. Freddie Blassie Blassie's first appearance was in 1947. He came back in 1953 and continued to be a staple on and off (more on than off) until 1965. Blassie would come back occasionally and make appearances, but never to the same degree as in the past. Still, for that thirteen year span, he was probably the most famous name on the scene. And just so you have something to compare that thirteen year string to, think of Johnny Walker using the Mr. Wrestling #2 gimmick here for only an eleven year run from 1973 to 1983. Blassie also had some of the more memorable feuds during his time in Georgia. For many years his top nemesis was Don McIntyre, with whom he battled over the Southern Heavyweight Title in some of the roughest matches Georgia has reportedly ever seen. McIntyre was the only other wrestler to hold the title more times than Blassie. When Ray Gunkel came to Georgia, he soon found himself a target for Blassie's antics as well. Later in years, Blassie became a favorite of the local fans. He also had a second home in Georgia that he kept for many years, even when he was working elsewhere. At one point he was the most famous car salesman in the Atlanta area, working for Al Means Ford dealership. His final appearance working in the state found him managing Hulk Hogan in a match against Andre the Giant on New Year's Day 1981. Nick Bockwinkel Nick worked in Georgia between 1969 and 1972, and made appearances here in later years. Over those four years, he was consistently in main events and held multiple titles. He wore the Georgia Heavyweight belt two times, and he also claimed the Georgia Television Title at least twice. One thing about Bockwinkel that was different according to the research I have collected is that he seemed more concerned with winning titles as opposed to getting involved with long running feuds. Perhaps the promotion realized they had something special, as Nick is still considered one of the finest workers to join the professional ranks. Still, he got involved in some subtle angles involving wrestlers such as Joe Scarpa, the Professional, Bobby Shane, Buddy Colt and El Mongol, while partnering with people like the Assassins and Paul DeMarco. He would return a few more times in the late 1970's and defend his AWA Heavyweight Title, facing people such as Mr. Wrestling #2, Tommy Rich, Dusty Rhodes and Dick Slater. Bruiser and Crusher Dick the Bruiser and Reggie ‘Crusher’ Lisowski are two guys typically associated with the midwestern part of the United States. However, both made their presence felt here many years ago. Bruiser first came to Georgia in the 1960's, defending the AWA Heavyweight Title, which was even billed as a World title at the time, despite the Atlanta office being a member of the NWA. Bruiser was here for relatively short periods of time, but it could be said he came and left like a tornado. Among the people to be on the receiving end of Bruiser's wrath were Yukon Eric, "Cowboy" Bob Ellis, Wilbur Snyder, Ray Gunkel and even Argentina Rocca. Although Rocca got a win by disqualification in their encounter. Of course, Rocca never lost a match clean in Georgia. Bruiser came back the following year and got involved with a brief feud with Freddie Blassie, including a match for Blassie's WWA World Heavyweight Title. He would later face Tarzan Tyler for the same title. He also came back in 1964 and lost to Sputnik Monroe in the tournament to determine the first ever Georgia Heavyweight Champion. His final appearances here came in 1974, which was the year the Atlanta office was bringing in talent from all over to help beat out Ann Gunkel's All-South Wrestling Alliance. Within just a few months of his matches that year, All-South did indeed close it's doors, although it is not intended to be a direct correlation of Bruiser wrestling here at the time. As for Lisowski, he wrestled in Georgia rings for the first time in 1954. His first match here that we have uncovered was a loss to, of course, Argentina Rocca. Soon after, his World Tag Team Championship partner Art Nelson came in, and the two defended their belts many times. The pair returned the following year, which saw Lisowski challenge for the Southern Heavyweight crown worn at the time by Freddie Blassie. The next time he came back, it was with a new partner. This time it was he and his "brother" Stan, with whom he now held the Word tag Team Title. It would be 1979 before he came back as the Crusher, recruited by Tommy Rich to help run Bobby Heenan and the Heenan Family out of Georgia. He would only be here a month or so, but together they wore the Georgia Tag Team belts for two weeks. Buddy Fuller Fuller wound up being in the right place at the right time. Don McIntyre, who had taken over as promoter when Paul Jones stepped down in 1962, called Fuller to come to work in the Georgia territory. When Fuller arrived, McIntyre sold his shares of the office to him and retired. Buddy would go on to hold a stake in the Atlanta office at least until November 1972, when it is believed that Jones, who had returned when McIntyre retired, had Fuller transfer his shares to one of the other Fullers. Reportedly this is because Jones found out that the reason Ann Gunkel had sold out her part to start All-South was because Fuller, along with Eddie Graham, were making plans to force her out, which apparently didn't sit well with Paul. What is a known certainty is that Fuller maintained a ring career here that lasted many years. He and Ray Gunkel more or less ran the office for Jones, who was really nothing more than a figurehead and public relations man for the office, up until Gunkel's unexpected death in 1972. Together, they also maintained a long running tag team, holding several of the territory's titles over the years, as well as getting involved in many top feuds and angles throughout the state. It was a different story behind the scenes, however, as Fuller and Gunkel never got along. In public they were the best of friends, but when no one was looking the two men were constantly at odds about how to run the promotion. Although Gunkel owned a smaller percentage of the office, he still managed to get everything his way, which is probably a part of Fuller's reasons to try and take over the office after Ray died. Buddy Colt Colt's first time in Georgia was in 1962 under the name Ron Reed, which was his real name, albeit with a different spelling. He only stayed a few weeks, but returned in the summer of 1964 for another stay. Still, his greatest success in Georgia began in 1970. He went through many variations of partners and associations, such as Homer O'Dell, Professor Kimura, Karl Von Stroheim and Paul DeMarco early on. It didn't take long for him to become one of the top heels in Georgia, keeping himself feuding with Buddy Fuller, Bobby Shane, Ray Gunkel and El Mongol. During one of his runs as the Georgia Heavyweight Champion, Freddie Blassie was even brought in to challenge him. Colt left Georgia before the war with All-South, but he returned for the 1973-74 rebuilding effort by Paul Jones' office. Once again he was wreaking havoc throughout the state against the likes of Bob Armstrong and Mr. Wrestling #2, often battling over the state championship. During his time in Georgia, which ended when he was injured in the plane crash that killed Bobby Shane, he held the Georgia Heavyweight Title six different times, and had many matches against Jack Brisco for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Harley Race Race is mostly known for traveling the world as the NWA World Heavyweight Champion for many years, and working in the heart of the United States when he wasn't wearing the belt. However, he spent some time in Georgia during the 1970's that were quite pivotal toward the success of helping Georgia Championship Wrestling topple the All-South Wrestling Alliance. During that period, Race handled most of the booking in 1974-75, sharing the duties with Bill Watts, Jerry Jarrett and Tom Renesto. Race can be credited with helping save the promotion to some extent because of some of the hottest angles Georgia had seen in many years. Race became embroiled in a feud with Mr. Wrestling #2, and was responsible for sending Mike McCord, who would later return as Austin Idol, packing from the territory after beating him in a Loser Leaves Match. In what was possibly a great match, Race topped a very young Bob Backlund in a 1975 bout. Race held the Georgia Heavyweight Title briefly in 1974, and had a series of matches for Jack Brisco's World Title, too. After setting the promotion back on it's feet, Race moved on, but would return many times in the future defending his NWA World Heavyweight Championship against the promotion's top stars. Others Other names of interest who had brief runs in Georgia who were staples elsewhere were Verne Gagne, Jerry and Eddie Graham, Argentina Rocca, Ron and Robert Fuller, Paul DeMarco, Butcher and Mad Dog Vachon, Johnny Valentine, the Spoiler and Bill Watts. Some names who primarily worked the under cards here before making it big somewhere else in the future were Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana, Bob Backlund, Rick Martel, Don Muraco, Bobby Eaton and Rick Rude. |
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