GCW on WTBS (09.19.81)
Georgia Championship Wrestling on WTBS
September 19, 1981
Atlanta, GA
This won’t be a recurring series for me. I’m just trying to clear off my hard drive and recap some of these cool things I’ve found on the interwebs.
Your host is Gordon Solie.
Back in the territory days of the NWA when you would share a world champion, your commentator would sometimes announce when a new champion had been crowned. Dusty Rhodes is out, Ric Flair is in. This marks Flair’s very first of many world title runs. Solie goes on to say that the new champion will be making his first TV appearance since winning the gold here today in the WTBS studios within the hour.
In the past two weeks, the NWA National Heavyweight champ the Masked Superstar has defeated Tommy Rich and unified his belt with the NWA Georgia Heavyweight title. He tells us to not feel too bad about Dusty losing the NWA world title, because he was going to beat him pretty soon anyways. Who knows. He still might beat Ric Flair. The man sure is confident.
Gordon introduces the former defensive end of the Super Bowl XI winning Oakland Raiders – Otis Sistrunk. Naturally, he’s a big dude. Like any of the old timers would do, the Masked Superstar comes over and reminds Otis that wrestlers don’t wear shoulder pads. Get out while you still can, punk. Nice! Sistrunk’s career was short because the man just isn’t Mongo (ha), but he still managed to win the National tag team titles with Michael Hayes by defeating Terry Gordy and Jimmy Snuka on 9/26. By November of 1981, Sistrunk would already be done with wrestling.
- Iron Mike Sharpe & Izzy Slapowitz vs. Bruno Sammartino Jr. & George Wells
There’s Bill Goldberg and then there’s Izzy Slapowitz. Unlike Goldberg, Izzy is an orthodox Jew who turns out to be quite the schmuck in the squared circle. He’s probably better known by ICW fans as a manager than a wrestler. Slapowitz gets his arm worked over for the majority of this match. Sharpe tags in and makes some noise as only Mike Sharpe can. You may remember George Wells as the opponent for Jake Roberts at WrestleMania 2. Bruno Jr misses a legdrop on Sharpe and gets stuck on the Jewish side of town. Back over to Slapowitz, he proves no match for Bruno Jr. Tag to Sharpe, he misses a corner charge and Wells gets the hot tag. Ric Flair corner pin on Wells gets two. Sharpe continues to try for the quick pin, but he can’t pin Wells. Tag to Bruno Jr, he hits Slapowitz with a backdrop and Wells connects with the Jumping Shoulder Tackle for the 1-2-3 at 9:09. After the bell, Sharpe dumps Sammartino Jr over the top rope to the floor and attacks Wells from behind. CANADIAN BACKBREAKER! Once Sammartino Jr makes it back inside, Sharpe drops Wells and runs. Well, the black guy does usually die first in movies. I’m guessing a Wells/Sharpe match will be signed for the Omni. It’s a main event anywhere in the world!
Ray Stevens comes over to Gordon Solie to tell him he’s here to win a championship. Why has he never won the world title? Because all the world champs are afraid of him. He bets anything that sissy Ric Flair is scared of him too. Solie tells us that his “Bombs Away” finisher (flying knee drop) has been outlawed, so don’t get your hopes up. Darn!
Get pumped for that next Omni show on September 27. Such stars that will be appearing: Steve O, Iron Mike Sharpe, George Wells, and Brian Blair. Matches include: Ray Stevens vs. Bruno Sammartino Jr., Tor Kamata vs. Abdullah the Butcher, NWA National Heavyweight champ The Masked Superstar battles Tommy Rich in a Texas Street Fight, the NWA world champ Ric Flair defending his title against Mr. Wrestling II. In the main event, the NWA National tag team champs Jimmy Snuka & Terry Gordy take on Michael Hayes & Kevin Von Erich inside a STEEL CAGE! All for around five bucks! That main event gets changed to Otis Sistrunk subbing for Von Erich.
- Jerry Lawler vs. Ric Thor
This is Jerry Lawler before his feud with Andy Kaufman and when he was merely just a 24-time southern heavyweight champ in Memphis. Lawler disrespects Thor to start, but he looks like he needs disrespecting. Lawler stops a wristlock with a right hand. Who throws a better worked punch than Lawler? He shrugs off Thor’s comeback and unloads all over his face. Back elbow and a flying elbow drop gets the win at 4:09.
The Great Mephisto is the mouthpiece for Tor Kamata. Mephisto was a crazy man most well known for his work in the Florida territory. Abdullah the Butcher – YOU GOING DOWN!
- Mr. Wrestling II vs. Tomahawk Thompson
It’s Jimmy Carter’s favorite wrestler! Wrestling II has no problem with Thompson. He puts him away with the cross armbreaker at 4:10. The man does a finisher other than a knee lift?
Out comes the NWA National tag team champs Terry Gordy & Jimmy Snuka. Gordy does all the talking and shouts threats directed to Michael Hayes.
- Ray Stevens vs. Eddie Dean & Ken Hall
Under these handicap match rules, Stevens has to pin both men to win the match. He tosses Hall aside almost instantly and kills Dean dead with the Piledriver in about forty seconds. Hall tries to give him a run for his money, but Stevens is on him as he drives his knee into Hall a bunch to get the 1-2-3 at 2:10. If you can’t deliver the flying knee drop, you do what you can. Still an awesome squash on these scrubs.
Over to Gordon Solie, he’s got Mr. Wrestling II with him. He wishes he could have wrestled Dusty Rhodes for the NWA world title, but that was not to be. Pull yourself together Ric, because Mr. Wrestling II is coming for you.
- Steve O & Brian Blair vs. Bill Landrum & Professor Sonata
Boy, Landrum gets OWNED. Airplane Spin by Blair confuses Landrum into a flying bodypress from Steve O gets the three count at 2:14.
- Tor Kamata (w/The Great Mephisto) vs. Tony Russo
What? We go from one match to another just like that. Basically, Kamata is an Abdullah clone with a tad more crazy in him. Big running splash to Russo is enough for the pin at 1:40.
Gordon Solie meets with Steve O and Brian Blair. While Steve O blabs on about winning the match, Kamata shoves him around just because he can. HA! And with that, Steve O makes a challenge to Kamata. How come Blair looks OLDER here than when he was a Killer Bee?
So who won the most popular wrestler contest? Why, Tommy Rich of course. It’s 1981! Duh! Tommy is so surprised. He’s presented with a plague and a trophy. It’s like Japan! Michael Hayes and Steve O come out to congratulate him. Mr. Wrestling II isn’t quite as humble. He tells Tommy that he thinks the trophy would look better on his mantle. Will he break it over Tommy’s head? Nah. He wishes Tommy the best. Too bad his career pretty much goes nowhere from here on out.
Once they all clear out, make way for the new NWA world champion Ric Flair. What’s the champ waiting around backstage while Tommy Rich is getting some lame trophy? He’s talked about wearing the nicest clothes and now the NWA world title belt completes him. If you think you can beat him, sign on the dotted line and let him destroy your illusion of the NATCHA BOY. WOOO. RIC FLAIR.
- NWA National Tag Team Champions Terry Gordy & Jimmy Snuka vs. Ken Timms & Bobby Garrett
Gordy and Snuka just have fun torturing these two. During the match, Solie brings up Ric Flair mentioning to him prior to his title victory that he would win the world title at any cost and that he would be the most active NWA world champion they had ever seen. Flair definitely came through on that statement. When Garrett starts to get riled up, Gordy hits him with a spinebuster to set up the SUPERFLY SPLASH for the win at 6:54.
Out comes Tommy Rich. He thanks his fans again for voting him as the most popular wrestler in Georgia Championship Wrestling. Look out, Masked Superstah! He’s coming for you!
After a break, Gordon Solie brings Michael Hayes and Kevin Von Erich to the podium. Flashback to September 12 for the Gordy/Snuka vs. Hayes/Von Erich match. They skip ahead to Hayes avoiding a Superfly Splash for the hot tag. Von Erich has his wrestling boots on! Winds of a thousand hurricanes on his back! Fire in his finger tips! Gordy gets the Claw, but it doesn’t finish him off. Hayes hits the Bulldog and follows up with a piledriver. Snuka pulls Gordy out and the tag champs exit stage right. And there’s your REASON for the cage match.
- NWA National Heavyweight Champion The Masked Superstar vs. Danny Brown
Masked Superstar outwrestles and overpowers Danny Brown into the COBRA CLUTCH for the win at 3:14.
The Masked Superstar gets some interview time, but Tommy Rich antagonizes him. LOL U MAD, BRO.
- Tommy Rich vs. Bob Mackenzie
Mackenzie tries to get a knee in on Rich, so he throws him hard to the floor. Back in, Rich is getting PISSED. With Rich so frazzled and concentrated on Superstar, Mackenzie tries to get Rich to make a mistake. He’s not just a jobber. He has a BRAIN, ya know. Flying fist drop is followed by the Abdominal Stretch for the win at 4:50.
The NWA world champ Ric Flair makes a second appearance. Remember folks, he’s not YOUR champion, he is HIS champion.
- Tor Kamata (w/The Great Mephisto) vs. Jerry Mahoney
Another big lug beat-him-up for Kamata. Lots of oriental nerve hold stuff too. He’s got that wacky look on his face too. WHY WON’T THIS END ALREADY? Throat punch leads to a SPLASH from Kamata for the academic 1-2-3 at 5:38.
- Mr. Wrestling II vs. Jose Medina
Even Mr. Wrestling II is working double duty tonight. No Knee Lift in this one either. Wrestling II wins with the Cross Armbreaker at 2:30.
And that’s a wrap.
Posted on January 11, 2010, in NWA and tagged Abdullah the Butcher, B. Brian Blair, David Sammartino, Dusty Rhodes, George Wells, Great Mephisto, Iron Mike Sharpe, Izzy Slapowitz, Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Snuka, Kevin Von Erich, Masked Superstar, Michael Hayes, Mr. Wrestling II, Otis Sistrunk, Ray Stevens, Ric Flair, Steve O, Terry Gordy, Tommy Rich, Tor Kamata. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
PDRwrestling 
No star ratings?
Nah, it’s just a bunch of squash matches.
Well, there was some long squashes then.
Yeah they were. You bring up an interesting thought, brother. The squashes in the ’80s were a tad more realistic and competitive where the jobber actually got in a jab or two (unless the star was on a hurried rampage like Ray Stevens was here) as compared to the ’90s where the jobber was almost always just a punching bag who took your best stuff and it was over in two minutes or less. Also, the star had less high impact secondary moves too in the ’80s. While everybody had a finisher no matter how weak compared to today’s standards, everything that led up to the finisher move-wise were fairly elementary and for the most part just like everybody else unless you were a savage or a brawler for instance. An example: Masked Superstar had the Cobra Clutch, someone like Vader in the ’90s had the Powerbomb, the pump splash, the moonsault, the body attack, the avalanche, the poundings in the corner, the standing vertical suplex. Vader had a bunch of different signature moves he could run through while Masked Superstar was your standard wrestler with a fitting finisher that’s overbearing on an opponent. Neither one is bad, it just means that these are certain aspects that make up different eras in wrestling.
Hi Matt,
Been reading your site for a while now, but this is the first time I’ve commented. In regards to what you say about jobber matches being more competitive, I have to agree. I think, as well, that there was more of a subtle grading system in promotions back then.
Using WWF/E as an example – these days every superstar seems to be either a jobber, a midcarder, an upper midcarder or a main eventer.
Back in the mid-eighties, you still had those distinctions, but there were so many different levels going on. You had your guys like Mario Mancini and Frankie Williams, of course, who were going to lose no matter what. However, you also had guys like Koko B. Ware or Moondog Spot, who would occasionally eke out a win over someone higher up the card. The announce team would always play these guys up as cagey veterans who would win due to their experience, when facing a more proficient rookie.
I loved that. These days most of the midcarders spend their time trading wins with one another and it starts to get a little dull. Back in the day, you’d have Koko losing to Hercules (say) but then scoring a win against Brooklyn Brawler a couple of weeks later. For many future stars, beating guys at that sort of level was normally their first step toward a more prominent place on the card. A new heel might come in, he’d beat up some jobbers for a couple of weeks and then he’d face the likes of Koko and the announcers would put it over as being the new guy’s first big test – “Sure, he’s beaten up those other guys, but how will he fare against the veteran instincts and experience of a well-seasoned pro like Koko B. Ware?”
Just my thoughts on the forgotten art of the jobber.
Great comment, Kevin. Koko B. Ware and Moondog Spot would be considering what us interweb wrestling people call a JTTS (jobber to the stars). In my opinion, Brad Armstrong is the greatest and most consistent example of a JTTS. He could beat and pin your common overweight child molester looking jobber any time he wanted, but he just couldnt beat the TV champ Mike Rotunda.