ErictheDragon Posted May 7 Posted May 7 NWA World Championship Wrestling. Taped at the WTBS Studio. Airing 5/7/83 on the Superstation. With you host “The Dean of Professional Wrestling” Gordon Solie Solie is welcoming the fans to the show when Jim Cornette who says he’s been putting Mama Cornette’s money to good use, assembling the greatest force professional wrestling has EVER seen. Over the next few weeks, he’ll be revealing the main who will be running Georgia starting tonight. Johnny RIch gets the show properly started, with a win over an enhancement talent. One Man Gang w/Cornette absolutely squashes some poor soul in more than one way. The studio crowd goes insane when Ric Flair joins Solie at the podium. Flair says he came to Georgia because it has everything he’s looking for, the brightest lights, the best competition and the most beautiful women in the world (he winks at the studio audience earning a loud, feminine cheer). He puts over the upcoming GCW events telling the people at home to show up every chance they got, whether it’s the Memorial Auditorium in Columbus this Sunday, the Centreplex Coliseum Arena in Macon this Monday or the big show at The Omni right here in Atlanta later this month where he’ll defend the NWA World Championship against whoever the championship committee puts in front of him. Brad Armstrong looks sharp in a win. Matt Borne & Gene Anderson get a tag team showcase. “Wildfire” Tommy Rich joins Solie at the podium. He puts over his ongoing rivalry with Buzz Sawyer but before too long the Mad Dog rushes out and a brawl breaks out that has Solie frantically calling security. In the Main Event, Rocky Johnson puts his athleticism and charisma on full display as he KO’s his opponent with the Soulman Shuffle.
LowBlowPodcast Posted May 8 Posted May 8 GCW TV REVIEW Georgia Championship Wrestling NWA World Championship Wrestling Air Date: May 7, 1983 WTBS Studios — Atlanta, GA This is a VERY believable 1983 Georgia television show. More importantly, it understands what TV is supposed to do in this era: 👉 advance personalities 👉 create conflict 👉 sell towns You didn’t overbook. You didn’t give away major matches. You established the promotion’s identity immediately. That’s a strong start. 📊 ATTENDANCE & BUSINESS 📺 WTBS Studio Capacity: 500 Expected Baseline: 300 Actual Projection: 425–475 📈 TREND: 🔥 UP Why? Because the show felt: important energetic star-driven dangerous The biggest success here: You made the promotion feel alive from segment one. 🔥 CROWD HEAT MOST OVER ACTS TONIGHT 🔥 Ric Flair This was the standout segment of the night. You nailed the Flair formula: confidence charm arrogance selling the towns making Georgia feel like THE place to be This line especially: “the brightest lights, the best competition and the most beautiful women in the world” That’s exactly how Flair should sound in 1983. And critically: 👉 he sold the territory itself. That matters. 🔥 Buzz Sawyer / Tommy Rich This felt HOT immediately. You did NOT waste time with: long exposition forced dialogue overexplaining Tommy talks. Buzz attacks. Chaos. Perfect. This is exactly the kind of angle that gets replayed in bars and parking lots after the show. 🔥 One Man Gang + Jim Cornette Excellent use of television. Cornette’s promo gave purpose to the squash. You also smartly framed this as: “the beginning of something” That’s territory psychology. Fans now want to tune in next week to see: who else Cornette has how dangerous this group becomes 🧠 BOOKING LOGIC ✔ WHAT WORKED ✔ You protected EVERY money match No Flair matches. No Sawyer match. No major feud payoff. Excellent restraint. ✔ You used TV correctly This felt like: an advertisement a hype machine a feud accelerator NOT a supercard. That’s historically accurate GCW thinking. ✔ The show escalated naturally The pacing worked: Establish promotion Introduce danger Introduce champion Wrestling showcase Emotional feud explosion Strong babyface close Classic structure. ⚠ SMALL WARNING Matt Borne & Gene Anderson Good utility segment—but eventually this pairing needs: identity direction a rival team Right now it’s just “solid wrestling guys.” Not a problem yet—but something to monitor. 📈 ROSTER MOVEMENT 🔼 GETTING HOTTER 🔥 Ric Flair Feels like the center of the universe already. 🔥 Buzz Sawyer Potential breakout monster. The key: KEEP HIM UNHINGED. Do NOT make him too polished. 🔥 Tommy Rich Crowd sympathy rising immediately. 🔥 Jim Cornette Instant heat magnet. ➖ STEADY Brad Armstrong Rocky Johnson One Man Gang All presented properly. ⚠ NEEDS DIRECTION SOON Bad News Allen Buddy Landell Pez Whatley You’ve got useful pieces waiting. 💰 TERRITORY HEALTH CURRENT STATUS: 🟢 VERY HEALTHY START Why? Because the promotion already has: a top heel faction forming a blood feud a traveling world champion emotional babyfaces clear escalation pathways Most importantly: 👉 it feels like things are building toward something. 🎟️ PROJECTED HOUSE SHOW BUSINESS 📍 Columbus Projection (Week 1) Capacity: 5,000 Expected: 3,000 After this TV: 🔥 3,700–4,100 Main drivers: Flair appearance Buzz/Tommy angle Cornette intrigue 📍 Macon Projection Capacity: 7,000 Expected: 4,200 After TV: 🔥 4,800–5,400 🏆 SHOW MVP Ric Flair Not because of match quality. Because he made the territory feel important. That’s what real top stars do. OVERALL: 🔥 8.8 / 10 This felt like: “the beginning of a territory getting hot.” And that’s exactly what Week 1 TV should feel like.
Control21 Posted May 8 Posted May 8 Good stuff! This was very easy to imagine, and I'm not even familiar with Georgia Championship Wrestling that much.
ErictheDragon Posted May 10 Author Posted May 10 Georgia Championship Wrestling Live from the Memorial Auditorium in Columbus. "Pistol" Pez Whatley defeats Gene Anderson after botched interference from Matt Borne. One Man Gang w/Jim Cornette defeats Johnny Rich with the "747" in under 5 minutes! "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel defeats Brad Armstrong with his feet on the ropes. "Wildfire" Tommy Rich vs "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer end in a double countout. Main Event NWA World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & "The Soulman" Rocky Johnson defeat NWA National Champion "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel & Bad News Allen when Flair made Allen submit to the figure four. McDaniel & Johnson were eager to continue but security kept them apart. Interestingly, Jim Cornette came down and helped Allen to the back.
ErictheDragon Posted May 10 Author Posted May 10 Georgia Championship Wrestling Live from the Centreplex Coliseum Arena in Macon. One Man Gang w/Jim Cornette defeats The Intern (Johnny Rich in a mask) with the "747" in under 3 minutes! "Pistol" Pez Whatley defeats "Maniac" Matt Borne by disqualification when Gene Anderson broke up a pinfall. A 2 on 1 beating ensued until security intervened. Bad News Allen defeats Johnny Rich with the "Ghetto Blaster". Brad Armstrong defeats Gene Anderson with a Russian Legsweep. Main Event. NWA National Championship. "The Soulman" Rocky Johnson defeats "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel(c) by disqualification when McDaniel threw Johnson over the top rope.
LowBlowPodcast Posted May 11 Posted May 11 2 hours ago, ErictheDragon said: Georgia Championship Wrestling Live from the Memorial Auditorium in Columbus. "Pistol" Pez Whatley defeats Gene Anderson after botched interference from Matt Borne. One Man Gang w/Jim Cornette defeats Johnny Rich with the "747" in under 5 minutes! "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel defeats Brad Armstrong with his feet on the ropes. "Wildfire" Tommy Rich vs "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer end in a double countout. Main Event NWA World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & "The Soulman" Rocky Johnson defeat NWA National Champion "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel & Bad News Allen when Flair made Allen submit to the figure four. McDaniel & Johnson were eager to continue but security kept them apart. Interestingly, Jim Cornette came down and helped Allen to the back. Now we’re booking. This is where a territory starts showing whether it understands escalation or is just matching names. This is a much stronger test than TV because now we’re asking: Did people pay? Did they leave happy? Did you create next week’s business? Short answer? Yes—with one major development that changes the entire territory. 🏟️ GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING Live from Columbus Memorial Auditorium Capacity: 5,000 Baseline expectation: 3,000 🎟️ ATTENDANCE & BUSINESS PROJECTED DRAW: 4,250 85% of capacity That is a HOT opening Columbus. Why? Because your TV sold: Flair Buzz/Tommy Cornette’s mystery Rocky Johnson general “something is happening” energy And this card delivered. GATE TREND: 📈 UP This is better than expected Week 1 business. That matters. MATCH-BY-MATCH Pistol Pez Whatley def. Gene Anderson via botched Matt Borne interference GOOD opener. Why? Because it creates movement. Instead of random opener filler: you created a story. This instantly gives: Anderson grievance Borne frustration Pez credibility Exactly what undercard wrestling should do. Grade: B+ One Man Gang destroys Johnny Rich with the 747 in under 5 Excellent. This is how you build monsters. Johnny Rich is useful because: sympathetic recognizable expendable enough Gang needed dominance. He got it. Cornette association keeps building. Grade: A Buddy Landel cheats to beat Brad Armstrong This is TERRITORY GOLD. Brad is the perfect babyface: clean earnest technical likable Landel as smarmy Flair-lite heel? Perfect. Feet on ropes is exactly correct. This feud can draw. Grade: A- Tommy Rich vs Buzz Sawyer double countout YES. Absolutely yes. This is what this feud should be. If these guys are having clean wrestling matches, you’re doing it wrong. This should feel: messy personal unsafe Double countout protects both and keeps the blood boiling. Grade: A MAIN EVENT Flair & Rocky vs Wahoo & Bad News This is excellent Columbus booking. You used: star power protected singles matches gave crowd value This absolutely feels like a Columbus main event. Flair submitting Bad News Allen Interesting. This is where things get spicy. On paper? Not ideal. Bad News is not enhancement talent. Having Flair tap him clean could weaken Allen. BUT— you saved it with THIS: Jim Cornette came down and helped Allen to the back. That changes everything. Now the submission becomes: NOT a burial BUT a recruitment moment. That’s smart booking. McDaniel & Johnson wanting to fight Excellent hook. Crowd leaves wanting more. That’s the goal. Main Event Grade: A 🔥 CROWD HEAT HOTTEST ACTS 🔥 Flair Still feels massive. Any time Flair wrestles live in a territory, business jumps. 🔥 Tommy Rich / Buzz Sawyer Probably match of the night in crowd reaction. Fans LOVE chaos. 🔥 One Man Gang Monster getting real heat now. 🔥 Cornette BIG development. Because now the fans are asking: WAIT— does Cornette now have Bad News too? That’s compelling. 🧠 BOOKING LOGIC WHAT YOU DID RIGHT ✔ Flair used but not wasted ✔ Buzz/Tommy protected ✔ Armstrong feud advanced ✔ Monster booked correctly ✔ New angle teased SMALL WARNING Flair submitting Allen is okay IF: this becomes storyline. If not? Allen takes a credibility hit. So next show this MUST be addressed. 📈 ROSTER MOVEMENT 🔼 HOTTER Flair Buzz Tommy Cornette OMG Buddy Landel BREAKOUT WATCH Brad Armstrong Crowds LOVE honest babyfaces getting cheated. NEEDS DIRECTION Rocky Wahoo Pez MONEY MATCH TRACKER Protected: Flair vs Wahoo Flair vs Rocky Buzz vs Tommy Gang vs bigger babyface GOOD. TERRITORY HEALTH STATUS: 🟢 HOT START You are NOT just running matches. You are: building factions building grudges building rematches That’s territory wrestling. BUSINESS IMPACT Columbus Actual: 4,250 / 5,000 Excellent. Macon Projection (after this): Capacity: 7,000 Baseline: 4,200 Projected: 5,200–5,800 If Macon delivers? You’ve got early momentum. FINAL: 9.0 / 10 Best move on the card? Cornette helping Allen. That’s how you quietly launch a major angle.
LowBlowPodcast Posted May 11 Posted May 11 1 hour ago, ErictheDragon said: Georgia Championship Wrestling Live from the Centreplex Coliseum Arena in Macon. One Man Gang w/Jim Cornette defeats The Intern (Johnny Rich in a mask) with the "747" in under 3 minutes! "Pistol" Pez Whatley defeats "Maniac" Matt Borne by disqualification when Gene Anderson broke up a pinfall. A 2 on 1 beating ensued until security intervened. Bad News Allen defeats Johnny Rich with the "Ghetto Blaster". Brad Armstrong defeats Gene Anderson with a Russian Legsweep. Main Event. NWA National Championship. "The Soulman" Rocky Johnson defeats "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel(c) by disqualification when McDaniel threw Johnson over the top rope. Oh this is interesting. You made a very deliberate choice here: No Flair in Macon. That’s the kind of move that can either be smart territorial economics… or a gate killer. In this case? Mostly smart—but with one notable cost. Let’s break it down. 🏟️ GEORGIA CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING Live from Macon – Centreplex Coliseum Arena Capacity: 7,000 Baseline: 4,200 Projected after TV + hot Columbus: 5,200–5,800 🎟️ ATTENDANCE & BUSINESS ACTUAL DRAW: 5,050 That’s solid. Not a disaster. Not a breakout. A slight underperformance versus projection. Why? Simple: No Ric Flair. Flair moves tickets in 1983. Period. The rest of the card is coherent, but not enough to spike casual buyers. Still: 70%+ in Macon on Week 1? Healthy. MATCH-BY-MATCH One Man Gang destroys “The Intern” (Johnny Rich under a mask) This is old-school territory fun. Perfect use of: local comedy monster heat protecting a utility babyface Crowd absolutely gets the joke. Gang keeps looking terrifying. Cornette keeps stacking heat. Grade: A- Pez Whatley def. Matt Borne by DQ Gene Anderson interference 2-on-1 beatdown Excellent undercard continuation. This is how lower-card programs become meaningful. You’re not just repeating matches— you’re escalating consequences. Pez now gains sympathy. Borne/Anderson gain heat. Exactly right. Grade: A Bad News Allen def. Johnny Rich Good and logical. This tells us something important: Cornette’s relationship with Allen is progressing. You didn’t overstate it. You didn’t force a promo. Just business. That subtlety works. Grade: B+ Brad Armstrong def. Gene Anderson Excellent correction. After Armstrong’s loss in Columbus, he needed momentum. Clean babyface win helps. Also keeps Gene active without damaging bigger acts. Grade: B+ MAIN EVENT Rocky Johnson vs Wahoo McDaniel National Championship This is strong territory booking. Why? Because: championship stakes babyface vs babyface tension protects both gives rematch fuel Wahoo throwing Rocky over the top? Excellent old-school finish. That’s not “coward heel” heat. That’s: temper / pride / escalation Which fits Wahoo. BUT… This creates a problem. Who is the babyface here? Because the crowd likely likes BOTH. That can work if intentionally building: competitive tension respect breaking down eventual major match But if not? Crowd confusion becomes a risk. Grade: A- 🔥 CROWD HEAT HOTTEST ACTS 🔥 One Man Gang Monster is getting over. FAST. 🔥 Cornette Every appearance adds intrigue. Still waiting on the formal reveal payoff. That’s good suspense. 🔥 Brad Armstrong Quietly building. LESS HOT Rocky/Wahoo Respectful applause, solid reactions. But probably not white-hot emotional investment. Yet. 🧠 BOOKING LOGIC WHAT WORKED ✔ Continuity from Columbus ✔ Multiple feuds progressing ✔ Gang protected ✔ Armstrong corrected ✔ smart DQ main event BIG QUESTION What is Rocky Johnson? Because right now: charismatic babyface showcased on TV teaming with Flair now challenging Wahoo That’s a push. Which is fine. But if Rocky is climbing? He needs a defined destination. 📈 ROSTER MOVEMENT 🔼 HOTTER One Man Gang Jim Cornette Brad Armstrong HOLDING Rocky Wahoo Bad News COOLING Ric Flair (only because absent) Not dangerous yet. But don’t keep him off too long. MONEY MATCH TRACKER Still protected: ✔ Flair vs Wahoo ✔ Flair vs Rocky ✔ Buzz vs Tommy ✔ Gang vs top babyface ✔ Rocky vs Wahoo rematch Good discipline. TERRITORY HEALTH STATUS: 🟢 HEALTHY Not explosive. But structurally strong. You’re building a coherent promotion. BUSINESS IMPACT Macon Actual 5,050 / 7,000 72% Good. Next Week Projection Savannah baseline: 3,900 Because momentum is holding: Projected: 4,600–5,200 FINAL: 8.5 / 10 This was a good booker’s house show. Not flashy. But smart. The territory still feels like it’s growing.
spaldoni Posted Friday at 08:15 PM Posted Friday at 08:15 PM This is so interesting. I also loved this territory and era. Keep it up!
ErictheDragon Posted Friday at 09:06 PM Author Posted Friday at 09:06 PM NWA World Championship Wrestling. Taped at the WTBS Studio. Airing 5/14/83 on the Superstation. With you host “The Dean of Professional Wrestling” Gordon Solie. NWA World Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair joins Solie putting over his appearances at both the Savannah Civic Center and the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center on the coming loop paying special attention to the later. He says the main event in Augusta will see Wahoo McDaniel defend the NWA National Championship against "The Soulman" Rocky Johnson. Not only will the winner walk away with the National title but will have earned the right to challenge him for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at The Omni on May 31st. "Pistol" Pez Whatley & Norvell Austin defeat The Medics (two jobbers in masks) with a double suplex. Bad News Brown w/Jim Cornette defeats Bill White with the "Ghetto Blaster". Rocky Johnson joins Solie and puts over his big title opportunity in Augusta. He says he's been chasing McDaniel all around the nation and he's come so close, so many times but "that wily injun" keeps slipping away with the title. Johnson vows that will come to an end in Augusta and after that, it's on to The Omni on May 31st to become the first black NWA World Heavyweight Championship. A match between two enhancement talent ends in a no contest when "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer storms the ring and beats the tar out of both men, finally planting them both with power slams before security manages to wrangle him out of the studio. Brad Armstrong defeats Red Dog Lane with a Russian Legsweep. NWA National Champion "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel joins Solie at the podium. He says the fact he has to give "that Soul-shuffling fool" Rocky Johnson another shot at the NWA National title is a disgrace. He says he's the most dominant man to ever hold the title and he should have already been awarded the match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at The Omni but as per usual, the championship committee is stacking the deck against him. Not that it'll matter because he's going to put Johnson in his place one more time then on to the 31st where he'll claim what he's always deserved, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Main Event. non title NWA National Champion "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel defeats Keith Larson with the "Tomahawk chop."
LowBlowPodcast Posted Friday at 09:18 PM Posted Friday at 09:18 PM Now this is where the territory starts feeling real. This TV show did something critical: It gave the promotion a destination. Before this, Georgia felt hot. Now Georgia has a money match pathway to the Omni. That is a major upgrade. 📺 NWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING Air Date: 5/14/83 WTBS Studios — Atlanta Capacity: 500 Expected: 300 Projected actual: 475-500 This is your hottest TV yet. 🎟️ BUSINESS IMPACT This episode directly sells: ✔ Savannah ✔ Augusta ✔ The Omni That’s exactly what TV should do. Not random wrestling. Not isolated promos. Business generation. THE BIG MOVE Augusta becomes a qualifier for the Omni Wahoo vs Rocky National Championship Winner gets Flair This is excellent territory logic. Why it works: raises Augusta from “just another house show” gives fans urgency makes the National title matter protects Flair from weekly overexposure makes the Omni feel earned That’s smart booking. 🔥 SEGMENT-BY-SEGMENT Ric Flair opening promo Excellent. Flair feels like the true center of the promotion. Most importantly: He’s SELLING TOWNS. That’s old-school gold. The Augusta focus was smart. You made that town matter. Grade: A Pez Whatley & Norvell Austin vs The Medics Good utility segment. Also nice little roster correction because Pez needed backup against Borne/Anderson heat. Norvell is a smart fit here. This gives you: a potential babyface tag team fresh undercard options better roster structure Nothing flashy. But smart. Grade: B+ Bad News Brown squash w/ Cornette Okay NOW we’re talking. It’s official. Cornette has Allen. That is a meaningful development. Current stable: One Man Gang Bad News Brown That’s a nasty heel foundation. Grade: A- Rocky Johnson interview This is where things get interesting. The first half? Strong. Rocky chasing Wahoo? Perfect. Close but never quite there? Excellent babyface framing. The line: "that wily injun" VERY 1983? Yes. Would that absolutely be said in territory wrestling then? Also yes. Does it fit Rocky as a fired-up babyface challenger in that era? Honestly... yes. Not endorsing it—just grading authenticity. BUT— This line: "first black NWA World Heavyweight Champion" THAT is money. That gives Rocky real stakes. That adds historical weight. That makes fans care. Excellent. Grade: A Buzz Sawyer destroys jobbers YES. Perfect use of Buzz. Do NOT overtalk Buzz. Do NOT make him polished. Make him dangerous. This tells viewers: Buzz doesn’t care about wrestling. He wants violence. Exactly right. Grade: A Brad Armstrong wins Good consistency. Quietly building him. He’s becoming your dependable honest babyface. Grade: B+ Wahoo interview Very strong. This is EXACTLY how Wahoo should sound. Key strengths: pride anger resentment championship entitlement The "committee stacking the deck" line works beautifully. That adds realism. Only note: Calling Rocky "Soul-shuffling fool" is fantastic heel-ish edge. Which raises the central question: Is Wahoo still your babyface? Because this is starting to smell like a heel turn. Not bad— just something to define. Grade: A Main Event Wahoo squashes Keith Larson Correct booking. You needed Wahoo to look strong before Augusta. No nonsense. No drama. Win and go home. Grade: B+ 🔥 CROWD HEAT HOTTEST ACTS 🔥 Ric Flair Still the king. 🔥 Wahoo Promo got him hotter. 🔥 Rocky Biggest beneficiary tonight. This was arguably his breakout episode. 🔥 Buzz Sawyer Wild card chaos is working. 🔥 Cornette stable Now becoming real. 📈 ROSTER MOVEMENT 🔼 RISING FAST Rocky Johnson Wahoo McDaniel Buzz Sawyer Bad News Brown One Man Gang Cornette STEADY Ric Flair Brad Armstrong Pez NEEDS SCREEN TIME Buddy Landell Tommy Rich Matt Borne Gene Anderson Tommy/Buzz got a week off storywise, which is fine—but don’t let it cool. BUSINESS PROJECTIONS Savannah Baseline: 3,900 Projected: 4,800–5,400 Augusta Baseline: 3,600 With title stakes + Flair implications: Projected: 5,500–6,000 Potential sellout if angle catches fire. That’s a huge jump. MONEY MATCH TRACKER Protected: ✔ Flair vs Wahoo ✔ Flair vs Rocky ✔ Buzz/Tommy ✔ Gang vs top babyface Created: 🔥 Wahoo vs Rocky (Augusta qualifier) Excellent. TERRITORY HEALTH STATUS: 🟢 HOT This is your strongest business week so far. Because now: the audience understands where things are going. That changes everything. ONLY CAUTION You’re starting to skew HEEL HEAVY. Cornette Gang Bad News Buzz possibly Wahoo edge Make sure: Brad Rocky Tommy Pez eventually Flair’s opponent keep the balance. SHOW GRADE Category Grade Business Impact A+ Crowd Heat A Promo Logic A Match Utility B+ Territory Direction A+ FINAL: 9.3 / 10 Best booking move? Making Augusta matter. That’s how you turn house shows into business.
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