Longtime GCW booker, Ray Gunkel, died suddenly from a heart attack shortly after a match with Ox Baker in Savannah. Championship Wrestling from Georgia 2/2/61 He was 80 years old. During the 1990s, Philadelphia-based Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) rose to become the third-largest wrestling company in North America, behind the WWF and WCW. 9/5/47 While GCW's programming had a loyal fan base and was fairly popular, things were not as great for the promotion behind the scenes. The WWF version of the show received somewhat lower Nielsen ratings than its NWA-associated forerunner. 1/14/44 9/23/61 Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content. 4/14/70 4/19/70 3/4/70 2/7/57 143 talking about this. 11/22/63 11/26/56 8/20/59 1/25/61 1/28/57 Georgia Championship Wrestling was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Atlanta, Georgia. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The exact length of several title reigns are uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used. In 1999, it secured a cable deal to air a show on TNN, but the next year, TNN gained rights to WWF programming and dropped ECW, which folded in April 2001, shortly after the WWF's purchase of WCW's assets. 2/4/55 8/26/58 By 1994, none of these companies remained in business, with the exception of the Memphis-based branch of the USWA, which folded in 1997. Born in Oklahoma City in June of 24, Jim Barnett started working around the wrestling business in his teens for Fred Kohler in his NWA Chicago territory. 3/25/70 12/22/55 1/14/57 2/1/70 Jim Phillips is a contributor for Pro Wrestling Stories. The old NWA cage matches are some of the bloodiest Ive ever seen, and The Masked Superstar was up at the top of that list with Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair for the amount of blood let onto the canvas. 1/26/61 Austin Idol is still in the aftermath of breaking Tommy Rich's leg plus other great moments from that day at TBS Studios The second half, however, ushered in such promotional notables as Ray Gunkle, Jim Barnett, and Paul Jones, who made Georgia Championship Wrestling, Inc. (a member of the National Wrestling Alliance) a household term throughout the state via television. 7/16/59 The two main titles in the promotion in those days were the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship and the Tag Team Championships, both of which got their starts in the early 50s. 1/26/70 1/13/70 3/5/70 1/23/70 Another great transaction from this seller! 2/1/69 Barnett would actually be the one to broker the deal between Jim Crockett Promotions and Titan Sports to sell the 6:05 time slot to JCP when Vinces product wasnt received well by the Southern loyalist fans, and it took a big dump in the ratings. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Michigan (Lansing, Dearborn, Grand Rapids) slaughter vols 1-12 - pro wrestling. In 1955, Barnett leveraged his way into the Chicago promotion and bought into the NWA franchise. Ohio (Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Marion, Stoobenville, Canton), MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4/8/70 If you have not purchased your USA card please do ASAP. Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstatio. GCW's program was hosted by NWA announcer Gordon Solie, who also hosted programs for various other NWA affiliated promotions at the time (such as Championship Wrestling from Florida). [6] McMahon was not happy with either of Turner's decisions, thinking his control of GCW would make the WWF the exclusive wrestling company on TBS. To register for novice tournaments you must be a first or second year wrestler, you can not have placed at kids state. View cart for details. Yes this is some of the most legendary of all Georgia Championship Wrestling television with the angle in full and all the promos in the aftermath from every. 9/30/55 Losing money on the deal and desperately looking for help, McMahon turned to Jim Barnett, who directed him to NWA President Jim Crockett Jr., the owner of Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), which promoted wrestling shows in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Join us to honor history and carve. Jim Barnett. 10/18/55 3/25/57 2/15/70 January 1, 1981 (Thursday) - Columbus, GA - Columbus Municipal Auditorium (Fred Ward - Promoter / Georgia Championship. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Hamilton began wrestling as the original Assassin in the Georgia territory in the mid-60s. 10/28/55 2/14/61 The Brisco Brothers also worked GCW during these years. 7/28/44 No pads or helmets or jerseys. 2/14/70 Rich got his training from Jerry Jarrett when he was still a young man, and he took to the roads and worked most of the major NWA markets in the South and Southeast. 4/9/70 11/30/55 3/12/65 9/16/70 This program was hosted by Gordon Solie and was recorded in the studios of WTCG in Midtown Atlanta. As the Georgia Championship Wrestling promotion headed into 1972, some major changes were set into motion. Within a year of McMahons debut on the Superstation, Jim Crockett, Jr. was able to purchase the WWFs TBS time slots and Jim Crockett Promotions absorbed Andersons Championship Wrestling from Georgia group, thus establishing the entity that would eventually become WCW. Both Mid South Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Georgia outdid the WWF in ratings. 4/27/70 1/9/70 8/21/57 5/19/44 The shortest reigning champion was Hiro Matsuda, whose first and only reign lasted 21 days. 1/9/61 2/8/63 , 10/29/60 3/27/50 Jack Brisco and Gerald Brisco had major stakes in the organization while Ole Anderson was head booker and was basically in charge of operations. 10/21/55 3/27/67 After losing the titles for a final time in Savannah, The Vachons were pushed out of the way and sent packing by the team of Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto, better known as The Assassins. 4/9/70 1/21/57 His battles with Wahoo McDaniel were also the stuff of legend in GCW. 1/4/69 1/20/50 7/4/66 1/7/57 Finally, on March 2, 1985, the WWF changed the name of their program to WWF Georgia Championship Wrestling and began airing in-studio squash matches co-hosted by ring announcer Miller and play-by-play commentator Gorilla Monsoon. 2/18/57 1/1/70 When the gates returned, so did the wrestlers, and the Omni once again was cranking out the classics. At the time, Crockett was trying to counter the WWF's national expansion by unifying the remaining NWA territories that McMahon had not driven out of business into one nationwide unit. No one was safe, and no quarter was given when the Wrecking Crew hit the ring. 2/9/70 The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! 12/29/61 4/8/55 12/16/55 Shipping calculated at checkout. 1/21/55 Georgia Championship Wrestling has roots in Atlanta dating back to 1944. 3/10/70 Promoter and businessman, Grady Odum acquired the rights to Georgia Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s. 3/11/70 1/23/61 1/21/70 12/7/62 4/17/64 He got his early training in part by Pat OConnor and made his professional debut as Johnny Walker at 20. 2/23/70 When Georgia Championship Wrestling's local television carrier, WTCG Channel 17 (later renamed WTBS) was broadcast nationally via satellite beginning on December 17, 1976, it became cable TV's first "superstation" and the NWA's Georgia promotion was poised to become the first wrestling program with nationwide coverage since the days of the Dumont Despite his setback with regard to the TBS time slot, McMahon's USA Network contract and syndicated programming were not affected in any way. 1/22/69 Noah competed at the 170 lbs weight class and was the eventual Georgia State Freshman Champion. In the shakeup that occurred following the death of his top star (and minority owner in ABC Booking) Ray Gunkel, Jones company went into an unforeseen tailspin that took some time to recover from. 11/14/58 free shipping. 1/6/69 What became known as Black Saturday happened solely due to greed and spite. 4/21/70 1/30/68 5/5/44 Firstly, it started promoting matches at the then-brand-new Omni Coliseum. Team Georgia's Mission & Vision, Click the donate button below to help support our athletes in achievingtheir Olympic Dreams. 9/25/58 [4] Turner himself was angered by the sinking ratings and made two decisions that would fix the ratings problem. 7/29/61 > Tony Atlas vs. Alexis. 1/25/69 The new Omni Coliseum had opened up in the facility that would become the CNN Center in later years. Georgia High School Wrestling Photo by Steven Ryan In Partnership with the GA High School Assn. The 2022 NJSIAA Wrestling Championships kicked off on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. In addition, WWF World Championship Wrestling was mainly used as a re-cap show, featuring matches which had previously aired on the WWF's main programming venues such as WWF Championship Wrestling and WWF All-Star Wrestling. 1/11/69 11/15/69 7/24/57 1/30/69 1/6/61 3/21/67 Ann Gunkel decided to start her own promotion outside of the National Wrestling Alliance, which she named the "All-South Wrestling Alliance.". BMS Coach and Athletic Director, Chad Smith, had the opportunity of welcoming in Noah on day one of his enrollment and was immediately excited about the skill set Noah contained in both sports. 12/29/62 The promotion was affiliated with what had been the world's top sanctioning body of championship titles for decades before, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia. Parade Of Champions This failed to last, and JCP took over everything that was GCW when Crockett bought out the contract from Vince in late 1984, as McMahon was trying to pool all his resources for WrestleMania I. 12/28/55 National Television title (1979-1984). 8/3/68 3/18/55 Eadie was a hard-hitting bruiser that met every challenge with a flurry of fists and a hail of boots. ( GHSA) Photo Galleries All Galleries GHSA Traditional State Championships Day 1 (Class 5A & 6A) Published: 2023 | 148 Photos GHSA Traditional Consolidation Finals (Classes 1A, 4A, 5A & 6A) Published: 2023 | 178 Photos WWE: The Incredible Story Of Black Saturday, Explained. Join Al Getz as he looks at all the known house shows for Georgia Championship Wrestling for a one-week period in 1971. Consequently, he approached Turner with an offer to buy the Saturday night GCW time slot, only for Turner to reject him out of hand. 4/11/70 12/29/58 , 1/1/57 2/18/44 1/23/50 1/11/70 2/2/70 Throughout the 1970s, Georgia Championship Wrestling was one of the main shows that kept the Superstation alive.[1]. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. McMahon also guaranteed jobs with the WWF for the Briscos; Jerry Brisco remained with WWF/WWE before suffering three strokes in 2009. 2/20/70 1/1/70 A small percentage was even owned by part-time booker and a man with one expression: Ole Anderson. This angered WTBS owner Ted Turner, who believed McMahon reneged on a promise to have live matches originating from Turner Broadcasting System's Atlanta studios. Georgia Championship Wrestling alumni Category page Edit this page This category is for all wrestlers who have wrestled in Georgia Championship Wrestling at some point within their career. Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) Inactive promotion in the Americas region Overview News and Rumors Articles Events Event Statistics Results Titles All-Time Roster Matchguide Win/Loss Records Promos Tournaments Rivalries Books Ratings Comments Year: All-Time Roster Displaying items 1 to 117 of total 117 items that match the search parameters. The Columbus titles were one of two sets of GCW's city-wide championships, along with the NWA Macon Heavyweight Championship and NWA Macon Tag Team Championship, and one of a select few city championships recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance. By 1980, Georgia mainstays like Dusty Rhodes, Mr. Wrestling II, Tommy Wildfire Rich, The Masked Superstar, Tony Atlas, Austin Idol, Ole Anderson, Wahoo McDaniel and many others were genuine national wrestling celebrities due to the fact that Georgia Championship Wrestling had become cable TVs first legitimate hit show. 7/18/60 Secondly, it switched its television outlet from its original home, then-ABC-affiliated WQXI-TV (now WXIA-TV) to UHF independent station WTCG, then owned by Ted Turner. 3/3/66 1/4/61 Experience, preparation and the will to succeed will determine the victor. 11/6/57 The past wrestling season Noah transferred in from Ohio to begin the season and finish with a near flawless record losing only once during the middle school and high school season. 1/14/44 9/23/61 Please disable your ad blocker to view the video content self-titled TV program aired in studios... 11/30/55 3/12/65 9/16/70 this program was hosted by Gordon Solie and was the eventual Georgia state Freshman champion Nielsen than. 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