1980 Georgia Championship Wrestling: January (1/2)
The Superstar goes after Mr. Wrestling II's mask. Kevin Sullivan has a personal issue with Austin Idol. Plus, Abdullah The Butcher targets Dusty Rhodes.
Welcome to Georgia Championship Wrestling, in this edition you’ll read about The Superstar, Mr. Wrestling II, Austin Idol, Kevin Sullivan, Tommy Rich, Wahoo McDaniel, Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff, Dusty Rhodes, Abdullah The Butcher, The Andersons, Toru Tanaka & Killer Khan, Tony Atlas, Ken Patera, and a whole lot more!
I couldn’t find the first TV of the new year so instead I’ve included the results from last Omni show of 1979 and a full recap of the TV show. Therefore, we’ll be caught up with the fallout from The Omni and the start of the build to the next Omni show.
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 1979 @ The Omni
Steve Travis vs. Toru Tanaka ended without a winner as a time limit draw
Tommy Rich and Ray Candy defeated Ernie Ladd and Ox Baker
Judo Jacket Match: Killer Khan defeated Bob Armstrong
NWA Georgia Television Title Match: Austin Idol (c) vs. Ric Flair ended without a winner as a no contest
WWF Heavyweight Title Match: Bob Backlund (c) defeated Kevin Sullivan
Abdullah the Butcher defeated Tony Atlas
No Disqualification - NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: The Superstar (c) defeated Dick Slater
Special Referees: Gene Anderson & Tom Shaft - NWA Georgia Tag Team Titles Match: Ole Anderson and Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Ivan Koloff and Alexis Smirnoff (c) by disqualification
Mr. Wrestling II defeated Mr. Wrestling II (Imposter)
Sat. Dec. 29, 1979 Georgia Championship Wrestling
WTBS Studios in Atlanta
The show Intro is "Welcome to Georgia Championship Wrestling. In this hour you'll see…" with wrestler names and the featured match. The two hour show is broken up into two separate one hour broadcasts.
Gordon Solie hosts from ringside looking back at the Christmas Wrestling Spectacular at The Omni. Austin Idol and Kevin Sullivan won a $12.5K Battle Royal (Not listed in the results). Tommy Rich joins to comment on it. Says what happened was ridiculous. He knows that there’s something going on with those two. It’s explained that Idol walked off, Sullivan won the battle royal, and Idol came back to take the money! Things are fixing to come to a head. Tommy thanks people for the Christmas presents and leaves. I like that wrestlers discuss angles and happenings between other wrestlers. Tommy’s a wholesome babyface without being lame. (Watch)
Solie shifts to the Mr. Wrestling II imposter situation getting cleared up. It turned out to be a wrestler named Joe Power from Macon, Georgia. Solie heard the bogus outfit was supplied by The Superstar! Our Georgia Heavyweight Champion comes out tired of these allegations! The garbage! False statements. He wants to know the source and wants proof! Superstar looks awesome in the suit with the mask and the title. (Watch)
We come back from break at the set and Superstar is still here. That big crybaby Mr. Wrestling II must be the one behind the allegations. Very funny. II comes out to a big pop and Superstar leaves in a huff. II thinks he’s disturbed. I already love The Superstar, what a terrific top heel. (Watch)
Eddie Mansfield vs. Steve Travis. Travis gets a big pop. The first appearance for Mansfield. He has the common Nature Boy blond look of the time with the hair and mannerisms. Some good classical american pro wrestling with mat wrestling, and arm drags, headlocks.They go to a double knockdown at the time limit. Decent match. (Watch)
Mr. Wrestling II interview. You gotta keep fighting hard. A loss doesn’t end things. He explains how much a mask means and when you lose it, you’re through. He built it up for young people to be good people. Georgia is not big enough for both him and The Superstar. Good work putting over the mask as being on a different level than even championships. (Watch)
Kevin Sullivan interview. He’s still feeling the effects of the battle royal. Bruiser Brody and Toru Tanaka beat his brains in. He wants all the money back that Idol took. Talks about Jan. 13th Omni show with Dusty and all the stars coming. He’s a great Boston babyface. (Watch)
Georgia Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff vs. Chic Donovan & Coco Ware. First appearance for Koko Ware. The Russians are billed as cousins. They get a quick win with a suplex-gutbuster combo. Solie explains that it was ok because it was within the five count. That’s a tag team wrestling detail that’s often overlooked. Double team moves are supposed to happen within the five count. (Watch)
Koloff & Smirnoff post-match interview. Solie puts them over. Ivan puts over their opponents as good but not good enough. Facing the returning Wahoo McDaniel and that punk Tommy Rich at The Omni. (Watch)
Solie is joined by Freddie Miller and they’re hoping 1980 will be a peaceful year. I believe they’re referencing the Iran Hostage Crisis. They walk us through some clips to give a sample of who and what’s to come in 1980. Giants like Andre The Giant, Ernie Ladd, The Superstar and Bruiser Brody. Next they put over Mike Graham as a great second generation wrestler from Florida. Talk about Dusty Rhodes as a unique attraction. Wahoo McDaniel and Tommy Rich are a great team. The Sheik is wild and unpredictable, throwing fire. (Watch)
Tony Atlas interview. Battle of the strongmen versus Ken Patera at The Omni. The only American to lift 505 pounds. (Watch)
Abdullah The Butcher vs. Roger Howell. Quick impressive squash for Abby. He could move! (Watch)
Bob Armstrong interview. Butcher’s impressive. Lots of big men are coming in. So much great talent. The Omni is where it’s happening. (Watch)
TV Champion Austin Idol vs. Jerry Cain. Big reaction for Idol despite being a heel. Tommy Rich joins Solie on commentary. Idol’s aggressive, punishes the leg and wins quick with the Las Vegas Leglock. Rich is upset at the tactics Idol used and wants that belt. Idol gets in his face. Darling. Not good enough to shine my boots! Rich smacks him and gets in the ring ready to fight!! Idol says Rich will feel the fury. Eddie Mansfield comes out to back up Idol. They sign to face Rich and a partner in the next hour. Kevin Sullivan comes out and wants to be the partner real bad. Rich agrees. Great segment. I love that there is an actual match contract sitting there that could be signed. A small bit of logic that goes a long way. (Watch)
Mr. Wrestling II vs. Mr. X. Superstar is out giving advice to X. II wins quick and takes the mask off X. Superstar jumps II going for his mask. People are screaming. Superstar gets the mask and II hides his face under the ring. Superstar goes over to Solie with the mask in his hand. II is hiding under there with all the other slime! He’s supposed to be tough? He destroyed Mr. Immortal himself. Superstar is very proud of himself. Gonna destroy II and takes his mask because it means everything. Superstar is a great heel. A fantastic angle here. (Watch)
Second Hour
Tommy Rich interview. Whole lot happening today. Match tonight and at The Omni. Wahoo is coming back. (Watch)
Tony Atlas interview. He’s Mr. USA. You train hard to work your way to the top. His opponents are getting bigger and stronger. Tony’s a very humble babyface. Like him. (Watch)
Tony Atlas vs. Tony Perkins. Perkins was the masked Mr. X in the first hour. A 300 pounder. Solie talks up all the strong wrestlers these days. Impressive squash for Atlas. Airplane spins the big man. (Watch)
Mr. Wrestling II ringside focus. An interview with Freddie Miller talking about what happened earlier. II knows Superstar has paid guys to come after him. The first time someone has taken his mask off. All going to come down the line. Jan 13th at The Omni for the Georgia Title. II gonna do Superstar in. (Watch)
Austin Idol interview. The greatest between him and Flair. He claims that he beat him at The Omni. Eddie Mansfield has been called away by an emergency but he has a replacement. Tommy Rich comes out telling Idol not to back out. (Watch)
Kevin Sullivan & Tommy Rich vs. Austin Idol & Roger Howell. Idol gets Howell as a partner and won’t tag in. Great bit. Nails Rich from behind and tags in but gets out quick when Rich fires back. Rich quickly beats Howell with a sleeper. Idol walks away posing. A good way to keep things going. One of the things I appreciate about studio wrestling is that if the match is there to be an angle, they get to the point quickly. (Watch)
Superstar interview. He still has the mask. All good things come to those who wait. II disgusts him. He thought he ran him out of wrestling. He’s destroyed II’s morale. You want my belt? I want your head! (Watch)
Georgia Heavyweight Champion The Superstar vs. Chic Donovan. Superstar was such an imposing figure. Big, strong, aggressive and could move. He roughs up Chic and puts him out. (Watch)
Bob Armstrong interview. Never thought II’s mask would come off. It just made him mad. Bob’s talking up all feuds for The Omni. The 1980 season is getting underway at The Omni. (Watch)
Other Results: Ray Candy d. Bobby Garrett. Killer Khan d. Coco Ware. Bob Armstrong d. Mike Fever.
Current Champions (As of Jan. 1, 1980)
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Harley Race
Defeated Giant Baba (Nov. 7, 1979)
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion: The Superstar
Defeated Tommy Rich (Dec. 7, 1979)
NWA Georgia Tag Team Champions: Alexis Smirnoff & Ivan Koloff
Defeated Jerry Brisco & Ole Anderson (Dec. 7, 1979)
NWA Georgia Television Champion: Austin Idol
Defeated Ray Candy (Dec. 8, 1979)
Sat. Jan. 5 Georgia Championship Wrestling
I can’t find this episode so I’ll list the results. The major happening is Steve Travis taking the TV Title from Austin Idol.
WTBS Studios in Atlanta
Kevin Sullivan defeated Coco Ware
Lars Anderson defeated Buck Starr
Toru Tanaka and Killer Khan defeated Chick Donovan and Gino Rozelli
NWA Georgia Television Title Match: Steve Travis defeated Austin Idol (c) - TITLE CHANGE!!!
The Superstar defeated Tom Vito
Eddie Mansfield defeated Chic Donovan
Ivan Koloff and Alexis Smirnoff defeated Gerald Finley and Coco Ware
Tony Atlas and Ray Candy defeated Bob Garrett and Jack Poure
Mr. Wrestling II defeated Mr. X
Sat. Jan. 12 Georgia Championship Wrestling
WTBS Studios in Atlanta
Tony Atlas interview. He’s glad to wrestle Ken Patera if he comes to Georgia. He’d wrestle a gorilla from the zoo if that’s what the contract called for. (Watch)
Gordon Solie sends us to Abdullah The Butcher and his new manager The Great Mephisto from another territory. Mephisto gives his background. A former U.S. Champion. The arab sands will turn green with grass before Abdullah is defeated. The greatest attraction in wrestling. Next, Solie sends us to Stardust himself, Dusty Rhodes. Wearing a great shirt. There’s heavy demand for the man. He’ll tell it like it is. He’s glad it’s the baddest in The Omni. Abdullah is the baddest. A big special attraction match. (Watch)
Superstar interview. This belt belongs to him, understand. Mr. Wrestling II, Tommy Rich, Tony Atlas, Steve Travis, Kevin Sullivan. It’s his, fellas. He’s the brick wall at the end of the road. Mr. Wrestling II at The Omni. A failure to communicate. Going to go down his throat, tear his insides out and walk out with a white mask. Killer go-home promo. (Watch)
Fake Mr. Wrestling II interview. He always wanted to be a wrestler. Superstar paid him $5K. It bothered him. He feels bad. He was about to take mask off but Rick Craven attacks him. This goes right into a match and the fake II wins quick with the kneelift. Superstar in and takes the mask off. Hits some clotheslines. The cobra hold puts the fake II out. Great submission hold for him. The real Mr. Wrestling II charges the ring but Superstar flees. II goes to the interview area but gets ambushed by Superstar. II hits two kneelifts and sends Superstar packing. Tommy Rich comes out and says something has to be done. II says he’lll bring the fight and gets fired up! Tommy wishes him good luck. Lars Anderson comes out next and hopes II runs Superstar out of Georgia! Really good segment again. I love all the faces being mad and rallying behind Mr. Wrestling II. (Watch)
Tommy Rich interview by the ring. Hypes up Superstar and Mr. Wrestling II. His money is on II. Talks about the people getting behind him more and he’s looking forward to 1980. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race put a bounty on him. Rich beat the bounty man, Ernie Ladd, and now he has a contract to face Race for the World Title whenever he’s back in Georgia. Tommy’s a very good babyface. (Watch)
Gorgeous George Jr. interview. He’s managing Professor Toru Tanaka. He displays Tanaka breaking boards with his hand and then his head. He ups it by breaking a cement block with his elbow. (Watch)
Killer Khan vs. Gerald Finley. Khan is also managed by George. Finley doesn’t back down but Khan takes him out with the stomach claw. In this post-match interview, George says it’s suicide stepping in the ring with Khan and Tanaka. They’re facing The Andersons in The Omni and it's been awhile since they’ve been together. (Watch)
Superstar interview. He has two masks now. Gloating. He’s gonna take all of his masks. He’s the dictator of this area. The main dog. He’s gonna go through II. Great promo. (Watch)
Kevin Sullivan vs. Sammy Hall. Hall tries to jump him but Sullivan takes him out. He’s aggressive and physical. Wins quick with the spinning toe hold. (Watch)
Kevin Sullivan and Steve Travis interview. Travis is facing Idol soon. He’s nervous and not the best talker. They have a big match in The Omni against Idol and Eddie Mansfield. Solie talks about Florida and shows Sullivan and Mike Graham going for the Tag Team Titles against the Lewis Brothers. Solie says Sullivan cancelled on Graham after and left Florida. Solie presses him on why. Sullivan says it’s personal and embarrassing so he shouldn’t say. Solie says it’s Idol related. I like the connection to things that happened in other territories. (Watch)
Austin Idol interview. People are screaming about Idolmania in all the arenas. Sullivan’s jumped in his matches too many times and he’ll feel the fury. What a presence. (Watch)
NWA Georgia TV Title Steve Travis (c) vs. Austin Idol. Solie says the Georgia TV Title is “in essence” the National TV Title now. This is an immediate rematch from last week. We get some amateur wrestling. There’s a good pace to this. Idol uses a big knee as a cutoff. Idol gets the Las Vegas Leglock and wins the title back! Good match. Sullivan comes out from the shower to run off Idol! (Watch)
Other Results: Lars Anderson d. Aaron Holt. Tommy Rich and Wahoo McDaniel d. Bob Garrett and Aaron Holt. Ivan Koloff and Alexis Smirnoff d. Marvin Turner and Chic Donovan. The Superstar d. Sammy Hall.
Sun. Jan. 13 @ The Omni:
Ray Candy defeated Tom Shaft
Kevin Sullivan and Steve Travis defeated Austin Idol and Eddie Mansfield
Ken Patera vs. Tony Atlas ended without a winner as a time limit draw
Dick Slater vs. The Sheik ended without a winner as a double disqualification
Toru Tanaka and Killer Khan defeated Lars Anderson and Ole Anderson
Terry Funk defeated Bob Armstrong
NWA Georgia Tag Team Titles Match: Wahoo McDaniel and Tommy Rich defeated Ivan Koloff and Alexis Smirnoff (c) by disqualification
Abdullah the Butcher vs. Dusty Rhodes ended without a winner as a no contest
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: The Superstar (c) defeated Mr. Wrestling II by countout
Thank you for joining me in Part One for January. We’ll pick things up next time with the fallout from the Jan. 13th Omni show and build to the second Omni show of the month.
If anything is missing or incorrect, please let me know!
Credits: WrestlingData, Retro Wrestling Archive, Kris Zellner, Cagematch