Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 3:51 PM EST
Dory Funk Jr. sent this in:
Funk's Corner - Thoughts on my Final Match in Professional Wrestling
Not since my days as NWA World Champion have I felt as challenged as I will be on the upcoming All Japan Pro Wrestling "Excite Series" and my Sayonara Tour leading to my Final Match in Professional Wrestling at Tokyo's Sumo Hall where my partner, Osamu Nishimura and I will face Masanobu Fuchi and Genichero Tenryu. (Tenryu, Fuchi and Osamu Nishimura are all my students in professional wrestling).
Between our first show February 17, High Noon at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall and my final wrestling match Saturday March 1st at Tokyo's Sumo Hall, I will have wrestled 10 matches in 14 days against some of the best competition in professional wrestling.
It will be my honor for the first time ever to team with and fight against Keiji Mutoh (Famous wrestler known in America as Great Muta wrestling for WCW)
My tag team partner on the tour will be one of my best students of professional wrestling, Osamu Nishimura.
On February 21st in Shizuoka, Osamu Nishimura and I will team with my current student from the Funking Conservatory Flyin' Ryan "Air" Mitchell to face Kensuke Sasaki, Seya Sanada and Katsuhiko Nakajima (My young and athletic partner in Japan two years ago against Abdullah The Butcher and Kamala).
It will be awesome watching my student from the Funking Conservatory, Flyin's Ryan "air" Mitchell in competition with Nakajima. (Both are now 21 years old and stars of the future).
I will have the opportunity to compete with and against my Student who has fought his way to Stardom in Pro Wrestling in Japan, Taiyo Kea.
It is always a thrill to face a new opponent for the first time. Such will be the case on this tour as I face for the first time in competition, Keiji Mutoh, Masanobu Fuchi, Taiyo Kea, Seya Sanada, Katsuhiko Nakajima, T28, Kensuke Sasaki, Satoshi Kojima, Brother Yasshi, Silver King, Shuji Kondo, Kaz Hayashi, Joe Doering, KAI, Hiroshi Yamato, Nosawa Rongai, Mazada, Nobutaka Araya, Nobukazu Harai and Ryuji Hijikata.
My thanks to Keiji Mutoh for the honor of having my last match in professional wrestling for his company, All Japan Pro Wrestling. For me it is a "New Beginning" as I will devote full time to the training of the future stars of professional wrestling as Coach of the Funking Conservatory Wrestling School.
I will do my best. "Ganbaritai To Omoimasu."
More to come - Dory Funk Jr. - http://www.dory-funk.com.
Full Schedule for AJPW's Excite Series, Dory Funk Sayonara Tour is on our website.
For training information at the Funking Conservatory, Call 352-895-4658
GEORGIA WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 02/10/2008
NEWS
Southern Extreme Championship Wrestling runs in Carrollton, GA, on February 10 at the VFW Fairgrounds, beginning at 6:00 PM. Doors open at 5:00. Ringside seats are $10, and all other tickets are $8. Call (770) 355-5742 for more info. Advertised: Bull Buchanan & Buff Bagwell versus Steve Lawler & Bulldog Raines; the Nightmare versus the Super Destroyer in a no disqualification match; Tommy Rich versus Billy Love; Scotty Blaze & Kid Ego versus the Southside Trash; Adrian Hawkins & Vordell Walker versus Will Owens & Sal Rinauro; and Kyle Matthews versus the Eliminator. (Rich Tate)
Total Nonstop Action will be in Greenville, SC, tonight at the Bi-Lo Center for the Against All Odds PPV. The live broadcast begins at 8:00 PM. The lineup: Kurt Angle will defend the TNA World Heavyweight Title against Christian Cage; Awesome Kong will defend the TNA Women’s Title against O.D.B.; Johnny Devine & Team 3-D versus Jay Lethal & the Motor City Machine Guns; A.J. Styles & Tomko will defend the TNA World Tag Team Title against B.G. James & Bob Armstrong; Robert Roode versus Booker T; and James Storm versus Eric Young; and Scott Steiner versus Petey Williams. There is also a pre-taped match that will be shown, featuring a barbed wire match between Judas Mesias and Abyss. (Rich Tate)
Results from NWA Top Rope in Lebanon, TN, on February 9, with all the stars of Southern All-Star Wrestling. Attendance was 180: Hammerjack won a battle royal; "Wildthing" Will Owens & "Sweet" Teddy Tender beat Lennox Lightfoot; Rick Santel (with Paul Adams) beat Arrick Andrews to win the NWA Top Rope Jr. Heavyweight Title; Hammerjack (with Paul Adams) beat Arrick Andrews; "Boogie Woogie Boy" Gary Valiant (with Miss Boogie) beat Kid Kash; and The Bomb Squad beat Homicidal Tendencies via DQ. Click here for a report. (Larry Goodman)
Here are the results from the February 9 American Pro Wrestling show held in Spartanburg, SC, before a crowd of 115: Country Boy Sam b Frank Savage; Matt Burns b K9 to keep the APW Cruiserweight Title; Jake Jeckel b Vinnie Valentine by DQ; Squeaks the Clown b Supreme; Chief J Eagle & Shane Steele b Heath Havoc & AJ Frost; Boomer Payne b Adam Jaxon; Dirty & Nathan Lee b Mike Madden & Ken Magnum to keep the APW tag titles; James Drake b Chad Colt; Ike Stevens b Tony Teabags in a pillow fight; and Bobby Diamond b Dash Riprock in a lumberjack match. (Gene Restaino)
Results from the February 8 Southern All-Star Wrestling house show in Millersville, TN, at the Bakery with a reported attendance of 130. "Stylin" Shane Eden beat Chris Eckos. Babyface match. They shook hands before and after. Said to be a good match that the crowd was into; J-5 beat Chris Bomb (with Cocky Cody) after Cody turned on Bomb. Mike Sircy was interviewing Bomb about his match the next night in Lebanon, when J-5 stormed into the building. Security escorted him out several times, until finally Bomb demanded promoter T.J. Weatherby let Bomb in the building to finish unsettled business from about 4 months back. (J-5 had quit the promotion in the middle of an angle with Bomb to work for Tony Falk's USWO). Finish saw Bomb giving J-5 the 10 punch treatment in the corner. Cody tripped him up, and J-5 covered him with the feet on the ropes as Cody held them for leverage. J-5 left with Cody; Arrick Andrews beat Lawrence Lane; Tribal Nation (Lennox Lightfoot & Indian Outlaw) beat Hammerjack & Matt Dillinger to retain the SAW tag titles; and "Boogie Woogie Boy" Gary Valiant beat Rick Santel by DQ. Boogie hit the Boogie blaster, went for the cover, and Hammerjack and Dillinger hit the ring. Next shows are 2/15 in Millersville, TN, for a TV Taping, and 2/16 house show in Columbia, TN, at Morton's Auction House. Columbia has Valiant versus Santel, Andrews versus Hammerjack, plus Eden, Black Label Saints & Anita Page, Chris Eckos versus Chris Cane, Shane Morton, Tatsu, and more. (Larry Goodman)
Results from the February 9 Georgia Wrestling Promotions show in Lafayette, GA, at the Recreation Center. Attendance reported as 80: Chit Martinez over the Destroyer; Slim J defeated "Kid Ego" Chip Day; The Hellbillies (Bighead Hanson & Jessco Blue & Timbo Bryant) beat Tracy Smothers & J.T. Talent & Andrew Pendleton III; the Regular Guys (Bobby Hill & Tyler Smith) retained the GWP Southern Tag Titles via DQ over the Hollywood Brunettes (Andrews Alexander & Kyle Matthews); and David Young beat Shaun Tempers on a DQ in the match for the GWP Southern Championship, allowing Tempers to retain the title. GWP has canceled their February 17 show in Woodstock, GA, at the Hot Wheels Skate Center. The next GWP show will be February 29 at the Cherokee Parks and Recreation Center in Woodstock, GA. Next show at the Lafayette Rec Center will be May 3. (Larry Goodman)
NOTES
Amy ‘Lita’ Dumas’ band, the Luchagors, will be playing at the Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta, GA, tonight. Check your local directories or the band’s site for more info. (Rich Tate)
GWH wishes a happy birthday to Victoria (37) and Kevin Matthews (25).
Today is the thirty-fifth anniversary of the death of Everett Marshall. He was 67.
David Von Erich died on this day in 1984 at the age of 25.
On this day in 2003, Curt Hennig passed away at 44.
NOSTALGIA
1931: Pete Sauer defeated Ghafoor Khan in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber. Also, Paul Jones defeated Charley Lehman. It was reported that 4,000 were in attendance for this card.
1937: Jack Ross defeated Lee Meyers in two straight falls in the main event at the New Coliseum in Augusta for promoter Bill Metzger.
1939: We do not have results for this match, but Jack McAdams was scheduled to defend the Southern Light Heavyweight Title against Young Londos (Fred Ward) at the Warren Arena in Atlanta for promoters Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby.
1950: Jim Coffield & Tom Mahoney defeated Nick Carter & Johnny Long in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Chief Saunooke defeated George Temple in the semi-main event.
1958: We do not have results for this match, but Ray Gunkel and the Mighty Yankee (Roger Mackay) were advertised to be in a main event boxing match at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Robert ‘Bibber’ McCoy.
1960: Brownie the Brute, a wrestling bear, defeated Freddie Blassie by disqualification in the main event at the Columbus Sports Arena for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward.
1964: Bill Dromo & Chief Little Eagle defeated Stan Stasiak & Corsica Joe in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Steve Manderson.
1967: Enrique & Ramon Torres defeated Lars & Gene Anderson in the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. El Mongol & Oki Shikina, managed by Jack Crawford, defeated Nick Kozak & Bobby Hart in the semi-main event.
1970: The Assassins defeated Alberto & Ramon Torres to retain the Southeastern Tag Team Title at the Macon City Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. El Mongol defeated Buddy Colt, managed by Homer O’Dell, in the semi-main event.
1973: On the “Georgia Championship Wrestling” television program hosted by Gordon Solie, promoter Paul Jones joined Solie to announce that a rematch had been scheduled for the Georgia Heavyweight Title tournament later that night in Griffin, as a result of the ending of the match between Mr. Wrestling #2 and the Zodiac from February 3, 1973. He said that after the events of that night, he had conferred with Sam Muchnick, and both agreed the only real solution to clear up the situation was a rematch.
1973: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated the Zodiac by judges decision in the main event at the Griffin-Barnesville Sports palace for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones to advance to the final round of the Georgia Heavyweight Title Tournament. This was a rematch from February 3, 1973. For the match, ring announcer Jim Bell had chosen two fans before the match who, in the event of a time limit draw, would vote for the winner, with Bell being the tiebreaker if necessary. As time expired and neither man had won, both fans selected Wrestling #2.
1974: Jerry Lawler & Robert Fuller were co-winners of a $5,000 battle royal at the Omni Auditorium in Atlanta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. It was reported that Lawler, managed by Gary Hart, and Fuller decided to split the money rather than wrestle each other. Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Tim Woods in a hair versus mask main event, and Kevin Sullivan, Eddie & Mike Graham defeated Jim Kent & the Bounty Hunters in the semi-main event.
1975: Jerry Brisco & Rocky Johnson defeated Rock Hunter & Assassin #2 in the main event at the William Bell Auditorium in Augusta for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Charlie Harben. Abdullah the Butcher defeated Ken Patera in the semi-main event, and Don Muraco defeated Ron Garvin, managed by Jimmy Garvin.
1976: Bob Armstrong & Dick Slater defeated Abdullah the Butcher & the Spoiler, managed by Gary Hart, in the main event at the Macon Coliseum for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Fred Ward. Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Stan Stasiak by disqualification in the semi-main event. Mike Graham defeated Ken Mantell to retain the US Junior Heavyweight Title. In other matches, Ted & Jerry Oates defeated Moondog Mayne & Skandor Akbar, while Bob Backlund and Les Thornton wrestled to a draw. Skip Young defeated Tony Charles in the opener.
1977: Rufus R. Jones defeated Greg Valentine in the main event at the Savannah Civic Center for Jim Crockett Promotions promoter Aaron Newman. Blackjack Mulligan defeated Paul Jones by disqualification to retain the US Heavyweight Title in the semi-main event. Also, the Hollywood Blonds (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) defeated Bill Dromo & Frankie Lane.
1978: Georgia Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen and Dick Slater wrestled to a draw in a main event title match at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Paul Jones. Nick Bockwinkel, managed by Bobby Heenan, defeated Tommy Rich to retain the AWA Heavyweight Title in the semi-main event. Also, Ole Anderson defeated Bob Armstrong, and Dusty Rhodes defeated Abdullah the Butcher, managed by Rock Hunter.
1983: Butch Reed and Buzz Sawyer wrestled to a draw in the main event at the Canton (OH) Civic Center for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Les Thatcher. Paul Orndorff defeated the Super Destroyer in the semi-main event. Also, Stan Hansen & Tommy Rich defeated Bob Roop & Ivan Koloff. In other matches, Bruiser Brody defeated Brad Armstrong, while Paul Ellering and Tito Santana wrestled to a draw. Buck Robley defeated Tom Prichard in the opener.
– GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com