ERN Presents Throwback Thursday-PWR SLAM! Revisits Georgia Champonship Wrestling

Original air date-1/12/16

Tonight PWR SLAM! goes back to the early days of cable TV when Ted Turner put his shows on at 5 and 35 after the hour "so you can see how boring everyone else's stuff is then come watch MY shows". In those days, the whole nation was starting to turn to something called Super 17 on Saturday night starting at 6:05 P.M. Eastern for a little show called "Georgia Championship Wrestling". At that time, the Georgia territory, owned and run by Ole Anderson, was part of the National Wrestling Alliance when it was still a powerhouse and part of the Big 3 along with Verne Gagne's AWA and a little promotion then run by Vince McMahon Sr. called the World Wrestling Federation.

The roster was one of the top groups of its time, from the enhancement guys such as George South, Alabama Jr. Heavyweight Champion Mike Jackson and The Mulkey Brothers to the top stars, NWA World Champion Nature Boy Ric Flair, Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy, who were feuding at the time, Tommy "Wildfire" Rich and many more. Among that group were two good old Southern boys who definitely were "rasslers", Joel Deaton and Bob Cook.

Joel Deaton was working as a personal trainer when Lars Anderson took him under his wing and trained him for an in ring career. After a short stint in Anderson's promotion Joel left for his first stint at GCW. He not only wrestled as Joel Deaton, he put on a mask and wrestled as Thunderfoot, where he was managed by the legendary James J. Dillon. Joel has been with us on our Promoter's Roundtable and was part of our Anniversary, but this will be his first featured appearance.

Joining Joel will be another stalwart from those Georgia days, Bob Cook. Bob is also a protege of Professor Boris Malenko so his heritage is stellar. We will discuss his beginnings in the ring, wrestling new WWE Hall Of Fame member Sting and donning a familiar mask.