1981 Georgia Championship Wrestling: April
Ric Flair arrives in Atlanta, Ted Dibiase recovers, and there's a new World Heavyweight Champion to close the month. Plus, links to watch along!
Welcome to Georgia Championship Wrestling, in this edition you’ll read about Tommy Rich, The Fabulous Freebirds, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Junkyard Dog, Ted Dibiase, Tony Atlas, Bill Watts, The Mongolian Stomper, Steve O, Bobby Eaton, Blackjack Mulligan, and a whole lot more!
Current Champions (As of Apr. 1, 1981)
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Harley Race
Defeated Giant Baba (Sept. 9, 1980)
NWA National Heavyweight Champion: Steve O
Defeated The Mongolian Stomper (Mar. 29, 1981)
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion: Tony Atlas
Defeated Dennis Condrey (Oct. 24, 1980)
NWA National Tag Team Champions: The Fabulous Freebirds
Defeated Stan Frazier & Ted DiBiase (Feb. 2, 1981)
NWA National Television Champion: Steve Keirn
Defeated Kevin Sullivan (Mar. 1, 1981)
Sat. Apr. 4 Georgia Championship Wrestling
Steve O interview. He's the new National Champion. He won it at The Omni from The Mongolian Stomper. Mr. Wrestling II joins and we see some Omni clips of The Andersons taking out Mike Davis. II made the save. Steve Keirn and O helped. II has had it w The Andersons! He’s wearing a nice sweater. The Superstar is coming back to be his partner!! Big pop for that. Very unexpected.
Steve O interview. Show clips from The Omni with Dusty Rhodes neutralizing Don Carson. The match was Steve O and Steve Keirn vs. The Andersons. Carson snuck back in. We go to a taped Dusty Rhodes promo on Don Carson. There’s always some way to get even. The BULLROPE. It’s time to get BAD! It’ll be pain, blues, and agony. Really good Dusty promo. Steve O explains the doctor had pulled Dusty from the match. Now we get clips of Steve O taking Dusty’s place vs The Stomper for the National Title. He’s such a consummate babyface. His airplane spin gets it done! New champion. I like that they use the Stomper and Dusty to help elevate Steve O.
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Harris. FLAIR IS HERE. He’s wearing pink and in great shape. Solie puts him over as number one contender for Harley Race. The fans know him well. It’s all offense and he wins with the Figure 4. Good appearance.
Ric Flair interview. It’s been a long time. When they want to sell out, they call the Nature Boy! Big money. Big Towns. Harley won’t come to him so he’ll come to Harley. That gets huge cheers. A great promo and reintroduction on Georgia TV.
Tommy Rich vs. The Invader. Michael Hayes comes out to say something to Invader. Tommy sells a lot then wins. Interesting to compare that to Flair at this point who was all offense in his showcase match.
Tommy Rich interview. Show clips of him and Junkyard Dog vs. The Freebirds at Omni. A substance was thrown into JYD’s face for the DQ. It was Hayes. Now JYD has to wear a patch. They show footage from the hospital of Ted Dibiase thanking fans. He’s in a neckbrace and out indefinitely from the piledrivers. Good followup.
JYD and Rich promo. They’re coming for Hayes. It could be anywhere! It’s on sight.
Georgia Champion Tony Atlas vs. Snake Brown. Tony squash. Quick post-match promo.
Fabulous Freebirds interview. Hayes is upset and reminds Dibiase that it was his own fault. Calls Rich a liar. He’s upset about being called sissy. Hayes is on fire and in a territory filled with great talkers, he’s at the top of the heap.
Don Carson interview. He’s a southern gentleman. The best dressed man. He doesn’t want to fight Dusty. This was my first exposure to Carson and I think he’s really good.
The Andersons interview. Ole and Gene are suited up and it’s from Mid-Atlantic. They’re going to rip both Mr. Wrestling II and The Superstar’s masks off. Solid promo. I assume Superstar must have turned face in Mid-Atlantic and maybe they explained it more in missing footage.
Ric Flair interview. Puts over his Figure 4. Big daddy is coming for Harley. He’s staying in Atlanta until he takes the World Title! Flair feels like he’s in an elite tier.
Mongolian Stomper and Don Carson interview. Stomper’s facing Tony Atlas in The Omni. They’re not through with Dusty Rhodes and have a surprise for him.
Tommy Rich vs. Snake Brown. Snake is a weird one. Rich seems offput by him, takes all the offense and wins quick. Rich does an interview after. He’s feeling good and wants a Freebird. He’s confident. It does feel like his big return mission is on the backburner because of Flair, though.
The Freebirds interview. Hayes is a heat machine Show Omni clips and Hayes is great on commentary. It looks like it was a good match. They show the blinding and Hayes blames JYD for it. It’ll be JYD & Rich vs. The Freebirds at The Omni. No one can get rid of the Birds! It’s one hot feud after another for The Freebirds.
National TV Title Steve Keirn vs. The Invader. Quick win for Keirn.
Results: Steve O d. Gerald Finley. Tommy Rich d. The Invader. Tony Atlas d. Snake Brown. Fabulous Freebirds (Buddy Roberts and Terry Gordy) d. Charlie Cook and Tom Hart. Roberto Soto d. Bobby Garrett. Ric Flair d. Charlie Fulton. Mongolian Stomper d. Ed Timbs. Tommy Rich d. Snake Brown. Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts) d. Zane Hickey and Jimmy Powell. Steve Keirn d. The Invader. Ric Flair d. Ricky Harris
Sat. Apr. 11 Georgia Championship Wrestling
National Tag Team Champions Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) vs. Charlie Cook & Steve Keirn. This is competitive. Cook shows good fire and he’s a good wrestler. Birds sell for them until Hayes comes in with the blinding agent. Junkyard Dog, Tommy Rich, and Tony Atlas make the save! A great crew of babyfaces.
Ted Dibiase is back home in his neckbrace. He’s going to keep his chin up. This feels so real. He’s gotta keep fighting and driving. Tommy Rich is there with him. His concussion clearing up but his neck injury is still severe. A very grounded and effective presentation.
Results: Robert Gibson d. Gypsy Joe. Mr. Wrestling II d. Bob Garrett. NWA National Tag Team Titles Match Charlie Cook & Steve Keirn d. Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) (c) by disqualification. Ric Flair d. Ed Timbs. Tommy Rich & Junkyard Dog d. Bobby Eaton & Ken Timbs. Dick Slater d. Snake Brown. Steve O d. Richard Winters. Ric Flair d. Tim Horner. Roberto Soto d. French Angel. Tommy Rich & Junkyard Dog d. Bobby Eaton & Marty Wilson
Sun. Apr. 12 at The Omni
Steve Keirn d. French Angel
Roberto Soto d. Gypsy Joe
Robert Gibson d. Jim Duggan
Mongolian Stomper vs. Tony Atlas ended without a winner as a no contest
The Andersons (Ole & Gene Anderson) vs. Mr. Wrestling II & The Superstar ended without a winner as a time limit draw
NWA National Heavyweight Title Match Steve O (c) d. Bobby Eaton
Tommy Rich & Junkyard Dog d. Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts)
Texas Bullrope Match Dusty Rhodes d. Don Carson
Sat. Apr. 18 Georgia Championship Wrestling
Ted Dibiase promo. He knows he’ll be back and he’s coming for those responsible. The neck brace is off. It’s only a matter of weeks! He’ll never be a quitter.
Tommy Rich promo. He’s coming after Bull Ramos at The Omni. Ramos is being paid by Michael Hayes
Blackjack Mulligan vs. Rick Link. Mulligan is a specimen. Solie puts him over. I can see a lot of Barry Windham in him. Lands big shots and a great dropkick. Wins with the claw. Mulligan cuts a good promo after about his truck being stolen and losing his woman. Great talker. The rotating cast of characters continues to deliver top talent.
Dusty Rhodes and Bill Watts are teaming up to face The Andersons. Solie shows clips of a Bunkhouse match with Watts and Rhodes to hype it.
Bill Watts promo from Mid South. He’s on his way to Columbus, Ohio. He’s a specialist. They picked on Dusty and he called him. Watts makes some football references. He’s going to walk tall just like Buford Pusser with his 2x4.
Tommy Rich interview. Michael Hayes put a bounty on him but he takes care of his fights.
Ted Dibiase update. Show training footage of his recovery in the gym. It’s been five long weeks. It was no accident. It was deliberate attempt. Wrestling is his way of life. An awesome video montage closes this out. The babyfaces have been booked very well.
Results: Robert Gibson d. Mike Jackson. Ric Flair d. Frank Sherman. Charlie Cook d. Mongolian Stomper by disqualification. Bobby Eaton d. Mike Davis. Tommy Rich d. Chuck Levin. Ted & Jerry Oates d. Jim Duggan & Bob Garrett. Robert Gibson d. Denny Albert. Blackjack Mulligan d. Rick Link. Ric Flair d. The Executioner. Gypsy Joe and French Angel d. Gerald Finley & Mike Ray. Steve Keirn d. Chick Donovan. Roberto Soto d. Snake Brown
Sat. Apr. 25 Georgia Championship Wrestling
Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Mulligan Jr. vs. Ken Timbs & John Holmes. Jr is a very skinny Barry Windham. Solie explains that. He’s a natural. Good squash.
Blackjacks post-match interview. Barry wanted to make his own name before taking his father’s name. Mulligan is very proud. He calls out Bruiser Brody to come face him. The West Texas Express has arrived in Georgia!
Tommy Rich interview. Ted Dibiase is with him. He’s back tomorrow night at The Omni. They’re not quitters. Dibiase’s teaming with JYD vs. The Freebirds!
Ric Flair vs. Tony Russo. Quick Flair squash.
Tommy Rich vs. Bobby Eaton. This is another Hayes bounty match. Ted Dibiase is with Rich. Good action. Hayes is great at ringside. The crowd is rabid for Rich. Feels like a red hot feud. Ted gets Hayes and Rich wins. Good match. The Freebirds attack after but Ted counters the piledriver! Good reintroduction for DIbiase.
Ric Flair vs. Gypsy Joe. Another win for Flair. Joe tried to take way too much of the match which seemed to annoy Flair. Solie loves pushing that Flair uses his Figure 4 on the other leg.
Flair promo. He’s facing Harley for the World Title at Omni on April 26th. They’ve built him up well with wins and promos. Flair does feel like he could be the World Champion and top guy on a show filled with them. That says a lot.
Results: Mr. Wrestling II d. Ricky Harris. Ric Flair d. Tony Russo. Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) d. Mike Jackson & Pat Rose. Robert Gibson d. Mike Davis. Bounty Match Tommy Rich d. Bobby Eaton. Ric Flair d. Gypsy Joe. Tommy Rich d. Pete Martin. Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Mulligan Jr. d. John Holmes and Ken Timbs
Sun. Apr. 26 at The Omni
Bobby Eaton d. Roberto Soto
Robert Gibson d. Gypsy Joe
Steve Keirn & Mr. Wrestling II d. Jim Duggan & French Angel
Dusty Rhodes d. Mongolian Stomper
Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) vs. Ted DiBiase & Junkyard Dog ended without a winner as a no contest
Tommy Rich d. Bull Ramos
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match Ric Flair d. Harley Race (c) by disqualification
BREAKING NEWS!!! TOMMY RICH WINS THE WOLRD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FROM HARLEY RACE!!! (Monday, April 27 in Augusta, Georgia)
We’ll have full coverage in May…
If anything is missing or incorrect, please let me know.
Credits: WrestlingData, Retro Wrestling Archive, Kris Zellner, Cagematch.