1980 Georgia Championship Wrestling: July (1/2)
Tommy Rich gets his shot at Harley Race for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title. Ole & Dusty battle The Assassins. Tony Atlas goes after the Baron. Plus, links to watch along!
Welcome to Georgia Championship Wrestling, in this edition you’ll read about Tommy Rich, Harley Race, Ole Anderson, Dusty Rhodes, The Assassins, Austin Idol, Kevin Sullivan, Abdullah the Butcher, Mark Lewin, Mr. Wrestling II, Tony Atlas, Baron von Raschke, Wahoo McDaniel, The Superstar, and a whole lot more!
Get caught up with June.
Current Champions (As of July 1, 1980)
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Harley Race
Defeated Giant Baba (Nov. 7, 1979)
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion: Baron von Raschke
Defeated Austin Idol (Jun. 8, 1980)
NWA Georgia Tag Team Champions: The Assassins
Defeated Lars & Ole Anderson (Jun. 20, 1980)
NWA National Television Champion: Vacant
Tommy Rich gave up the title (Jun. 28, 1980)
NWA Georgia Junior Heavyweight Champion: Kevin Sullivan
Defeated Dutch Mantell for vacant title (Jun. 8, 1980)
Sat. Jul. 5 Georgia Championship Wrestling
Great Mephisto, Mark Lewin, and Abdullah The Butcher interview. Mephisto is upset about the potential banning of Lewin’s Shanghai Sleeper. He will sue everybody. He’s having trouble getting matches for them. (Watch)
Mark Lewin vs. Mike Davis. A great explosive squash by Lewin. Mephisto has to cover his eyes to break it. He’s the only one who can revive Davis. After, Mephisto says it’s alright. Kevin Sullivan and Austin Idol are dogs. They’ll grind them through the mat. We see clips of Lewin and Idol from last week. Idol had Lewin in the Leglock but Mephisto came in for the DQ. Put Idol out with the Sleeper. Back to the studio, Mephisto says he won’t let anyone suffer. Tag match tomorrow at The Omni. (Watch)
Wahoo McDaniel interview. There are tough competitors here. He talks about Lewin’s Shanghai Sleeper. Puts over the danger. Here to face Alexis Smirnoff and help Tommy Rich prepare for his World Title match with Harley. Really like that callback to when Wahoo was Tommy’s tag partner. (Watch)
Georgia Champ Baron von Raschke vs. Gerald Finley. Tony Atlas is supporting Finley. He gets a good comeback. Has a nice headscissors. Baron gets the claw but Finley gets to the ropes! Baron wins with a second claw. Good match and showing for Finley. Tony Atlas comes in to help after. Afterwards, Atlas gives an interview where he talks about how he worked hard to fight and be a wrestler. He’s coming after the belt. Really good fired up promo from Atlas. (Watch)
Austin Idol & Kevin Sullivan interview. Sullivan hated Idol before but now they’re together. They’ve formed an alliance to deal with Mephisto’s cult. Kevin is a really top notch promo. Idol calls them devil worshippers who slaughter sheep. It’s time to choose sides. Idol’s no saint but he has some beliefs. He’s gonna kick Lewin’s ass. Very good promo! (Watch)
Baron von Raschke interview. He has a fistful of dollars. $10K. He’s given the Georgia Title honor. He’s selective about who gets a shot and he won’t give Atlas one. He’ll give him $1K if he can pin or submit him. (Watch)
Georgia Tag Champs The Assassins vs. Terry Taylor & Mike Fever. Squash for the champs. Assassins do a post-match interview. When you’re at the top, everybody is after you. They’re upset about all the stipulation matches. (Watch)
Dusty Rhodes promo. Incredible look. Talks about Ole as his partner. Going to be a good heavy duty whipping. The first time ever, double bull rope, texas tornado. He wants the Georgia Tag Titles. Hypes up the match well. (Watch)
Ole Anderson interview. The only way to keep The Assassins in the ring is to tie em up! (Watch)
Wahoo McDaniel interview. He’s training Tommy Rich. Has a surprise for him. (Watch)
Alexis Smirnoff vs. Zane Hickey. Squash for Smirnoff. Gives a post-match interview. He was ordered from his country to go after Wahoo. There’s a reason Ivan cut most of the promos for their team. (Watch)
Tommy Rich interview. He’s in a suit. His mother told him to never give up. The biggest thing in his life is coming up. Solie goes back in time to comments from Jerry Jarrett in Tennessee. It was Tommy’s tenacity and spirit that set him apart. The fans saw heart and effort. They show Rich against Jerry Lawler. Back to the studio, Mr. Wrestling II joins them. He talks up Rich’s championship credentials. II gave him a lot of knowledge about Race. Next they show Rich and Rick Martel getting a win. Tony Atlas comes out to hype up his friend. Very well done. Feels historic. (Watch)
Wahoo McDaniel surprises Tommy Rich by bringing out his mother. It’s very wholesome. She has pictures to share and the crowd awws. Solie is great here. Tommy’s teary eyed mother wishes for him to do his best. This was all excellent. One of the best builds I’ve seen for a title challenger. (Watch)
NWA World Champion Harley Race promo. Rich saw his life flashed before him. He’s at the crossroads. This is where this belt comes into both of their lives. Only one man is gonna survive. This is his life. (Watch)
They show an old win for The Angel & Bob Sweetan. (Watch)
Tommy Rich and his mother back out for an interview. There’s pressure. Rich thanks his mother. He’s gonna do it for her and the people. Cheek turning time is over. World Title match Sunday at The Omni. (Watch)
Mr. Wrestling II and Tony Atlas interview. II is facing Superstar once again. Atlas taking on Baron. (Watch)
Wahoo McDaniel vs. Charlie Fulton. Wahoo squash. Smirnoff attacks Wahoo with a boot. Mr. Wrestling II makes the save. (Watch)
Other Results: Dennis Condrey defeated David White. Mike George defeated Bill White. Mark Lewin defeated Zane Hickey. Baron Von Raschke defeated Bob Garrett. Assassins defeated Mike Davis and David White. Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated David White.
Sun. Jul. 6 @ The Omni
Terry Taylor defeated French Angel
Big Red and Mike Sharpe defeated Dutch Mantell and Bob Sweetan
Dennis Condrey defeated Don Diamond
Wahoo McDaniel defeated Alexis Smirnoff
The Superstar vs. Mr. Wrestling II ended without a winner as a no contest
Tony Atlas defeated Baron Von Raschke
Mark Lewin and Abdullah the Butcher vs. Kevin Sullivan and Austin Idol ended without a winner as a no contest
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Harley Race (c) vs. Tommy Rich ended without a winner as a no contest
The Assassins defeated Ole Anderson and Dusty Rhodes
Sat. Jul. 12 Georgia Championship Wrestling
Missing Episode. Let’s look over the results.
Mr. Wrestling II defeated The Avenger. Assassins defeated Gerald Finley and Mike Davis. Mark Lewin defeated Charlie Fulton. Kevin Sullivan defeated Jim Nelson. Terry Taylor defeated Dennis Condrey. Mike George defeated Charlie Fulton. Mike Sharpe defeated Mark Lewin by disqualification. Mr. Wrestling II defeated Bill White
If anything is missing or incorrect, please let me know!
Credits: WrestlingData, Retro Wrestling Archive, Kris Zellner, Cagematch.