The SmarK Rant for Georgia Championship Wrestling – 12.29.79

The SmarK Rant for Georgia Championship Wrestling – 12.29.79

OK, let’s finish off the 70s!

Taped from Atlanta, GA

Your host is Gordon Solie

Tommy Rich joins Gordon to start, talking about how Kevin Sullivan and Austin Idol were the co-winners of the two ring battle royale on Christmas at the Omni. They were supposed to team up after winning, but Austin Idol turned on him and walked out. Not sure why we needed Rich to recap that. Gordon also explains that the bogus Mr. Wrestling II was actually a local wrestler named Joe Power, and his gear was supplied by the Masked Superstar. So the Superstar bursts in and accuses Solie of spreading fake news, but Gordon points out that it was merely an allegation made to him by other people.

Back from the break, and Masked Superstar is still complaining about people making false allegations about him, and he’s pretty sure that Wrestling II is the guy who made those allegations. Plus it’s easy to fake Wrestling II, because all you have to do is find a cheap white mask and go do some dancing in the ring. So Wrestling II comes out to confront Superstar, but Superstar gets flustered and leaves.

Eddie Mansfield v. Steve Travis

For those who don’t know the story on Eddie Mansfield, he’s probably worth a Google. I think there was a Dark Side of the Ring episode involving him, or he might have been the side-story in the Dr. D episode, I can’t remember. Basically he was blackballed from the business in the early 80s after doing an expose of wrestling secrets on TV, back when that was a big deal. Travis takes him down and works the arm to start. Mansfield has the same bleached blond Hollywood heel look that was all the rage, like Flair and Austin Idol and others. Travis keeps him on the mat with an armbar, but Mansfield goes to a chinlock and beats on Travis. Travis makes a comeback with a hiptoss for two and they collide off a headlock, and time expires at 10:00. Not a really stellar debut in the territory for Mansfield.

Mr. Wrestling II talks further with Gordon about having his identity stolen and how the mask is the most important thing in his life, and claims Superstar is jealous of another masked man stealing his thunder.

Kevin Sullivan joins us, all banged up after Austin Idol walked out on him and left him for dead against Bruiser Brody and Toru Tanaka on Christmas, and he’s gonna track down Austin Idol and claim all $12,500 from him because he deserves the whole $25K for doing the match by himself. Young babyface Sullivan continues to weird me out.

Koko Ware & Chick Donovan v. Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff

Another Georgia debut as Koko gets his start here, only about a year in the business. Koko fights off the Russians to start, but Smirnoff drops a knee on him and slams him to take over. Ivan comes in with a big boot for two, but Koko fights back and makes the tag to Chick, who runs wild with a crossbody on Koloff for two. Smirnoff jumps Donovan from behind and the Russians take Chick back to their corner for a chinlock from Ivan, and then he drops knees on Chick and Smirnoff comes in with a knee to the gut. Front suplex onto Ivan’s knee finishes at 4:16. That’s a hell of a finisher for 1979.

Afterwards, the Russians join Solie at the desk, and at the Omni on January 13, they’re gonna take on Wahoo and that punk Tommy Rich!

Meanwhile, we take a look at some new talent showing up in Georgia in the new year. First up, it’s Bruiser Brody from All Star Wrestling in Texas again, which we also saw last week. I think that’s actually NWA Big Time Wrestling because that’s clearly the Sportatorium and Bill Mercer on commentary. We also head to Florida to take a look at young Mike Graham, who is apparently a “future World champion” according to Gordon. Um, no. Graham finishes off a jobber with a figure-four. Also we take a look at Dusty Rhodes down in Florida, and he’ll be stopping by Georgia in 1980 as well. Also we take a look at former Georgia tag champs Wahoo McDaniel & Tommy Rich, who are teaming up against to start 1980 and will be challenging the Russians at the Omni as noted. And finally, the Shiek will be around as well. So stay tuned!

Tony Atlas joins Gordon, and he’ll be wrestling strongman Ken Patera at the Omni on January 13. Patera actually had a very notable 1980 in Georgia.

Abdullah the Butcher v. Roger Howell

Abby quickly hits a backbreaker and drops a pair of elbows to finish the geek at 0:18.

Austin Idol v. Jerry Cain

Idol is the TV champion and looks like a STAR. He takes Cain down and wraps his knee around the post a few times before putting him away with the figure-four at 0:51. Tommy Rich promises that his New Year’s resolution is to take the TV title away from him and calls out Idol RIGHT NOW. Idol thinks Rich isn’t good enough to shine his boots, so Tommy hauls off and slaps him, prompting Austin to sign the contract for a tag match in the next hour. So Kevin Sullivan pops in and wants the spot as Tommy’s partner so he can get revenge on Idol, and we’ve got our main event for later tonight.

Mr. Wrestling II v. Mr. X

Gordon points out that the fake Wrestling II EXISTS NO MORE, which is pretty harsh. I mean, loser leaves town is one thing, but wiping him from existence? Wrestling went HARD in the old days. II takes the other masked guy down and works the leg and then hits him with the kneelift and pins him at 1:50. So Wrestling II tries to tear off the guy’s mask, but his head is too fat and he can’t get it off, and that allows Superstar to jump Wrestling II and go for HIS mask. Wrestling II desperately sticks his head under the ring while a referee gives up his shirt to protect the secret identity and they get him back to the dressing room. So then Masked Superstar does a promo with Wrestling II’s mask, daring him to come out and get his mask back. Hell of a heavy heat angle to end the first hour here.

Tony Atlas v. Tony Perkins

Atlas takes him down off a pair of wristlocks, and then slams the 300 pound Perkins with ease. I’m guessing that Perkins was the guy working under the mask as Mr. X in the last match, actually. Perkins gets a cheapshot and tries to hide in the corner, but Atlas shoves the ref aside and whips him into the corner, and then powers him up into an airplane spin and splashes him for the pin at 2:53. Atlas was doing some freaky strength moves here.

Mr. Wrestling II chats with Freddie, wearing a backup mask that he keeps for just such an occasion, and he’s challenging Masked Superstar on January 13 at the Omni for the Georgia heavyweight title!

Austin Idol joins us, celebrating his victory over Ric Flair on Christmas in the Omni, which means he’s the greatest. Oh also Eddie Mansfield can’t make it to tonight’s tag team match due to family emergency, but he has a backup partner ready. Tommy Rich interrupts and thinks that Idol is full of shit, but Austin promises he does have a replacement.

Tommy Rich & Kevin Sullivan v. Austin Idol & Roger Howell

So yeah, Idol has grabbed the first jobber handy and stuck him in there. Howell starts with Sullivan and goes to tag out, but Idol immediately walks out on him and leaves the kid to be beaten down by Sullivan. Rich comes in and slams Howell for two, inviting Idol to tag in, but NOPE. Sullivan drags the kid over to the corner and Idol leaves again, not interested in participating here, but then he hits Rich from the apron and decides to tag in. But then Rich immediately fires back on Idol and Austin tags out to poor Howell, allowing Rich to finish him off with the sleeper at 2:34. And Austin Idol takes his TV title and leaves, victorious in his own way, while his hapless “partner” is revived from unconsciousness.

Masked Superstar joins us again, still with Wrestling II’s mask, and he’s DISGUSTED that Wrestling II didn’t take the hint and leave Georgia after getting run out of town by Superstar last time.

Georgia heavyweight champion Masked Superstar v. Chick Donovan

Superstar drops knees on Chick and goes to a chinlock, and then beats on him with knees and goes to a facelock. And then he finishes with the cobra sleeper at 2:00.

And Bob Armstrong shows up to remind us that he exists to end the show.

Man another Omni show coming up where I wish I could travel back in time and get some of the great seats still available at all ticket outlets.