Over the years, Walker, as Wrestling II, feuded with men such as the Andersons, Dick Slater, Pak Song, Larry Zbyszko, Ivan Koloff, and the Masked Superstar.

Walker also held the Georgia Heavyweight title on ten occasions, and won the Georgia Tag Team title eight different times with five various partners: Mr. Wrestling I (4), Bob Orton, Jr. (1), Thunderbolt Patterson (1), Tony Atlas (1), and Steve Keirn(1).

The only other person who could possibly compare in terms of popularity among Georgia fans, and maybe at times did surpass Walker, would be Tommy Rich. Although he turned pro in 1974 working in the Memphis area, Georgia fans knew little if anything about him until he arrive in 1977.

Rich wasn’t the most technically sound wrestler, but he could sellout arenas on charisma alone. His early days in GCW saw a huge push right away, partnering with another newcomer in Tony Atlas, as well as a young Rick Martel was alongside as a tag team partner for awhile upon his arrival.

Rich stayed in Georgia for many years, but left for Memphis in the early 80’s before returning once again, where he would stay until the middle of the decade. During his time in Georgia, his two biggest feuds were perhaps with the Masked Superstar and Buzz Sawyer. There were numerous other series’ with people such as Killer Karl Kox, Ken Patera, the Freebirds, Austin Idol, and Kevin Sullivan.

He won the Georgia Heavyweight title three times, the Georgia TV belt once, and the National Heavyweight title three times. He also managed to defeat Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in April 1981, but only held the strap for five days before losing it back to Race.

He won the Georgia Tag Team title seven times with six partners: Stan Hansen (2), Tony Atlas (1), Rick Martel (1), Thunderbolt Patterson (1), Wahoo McDaniel (1), and Crusher Lisowski (1).

Another popular wrestler who never stayed too long, but had memorable stints throughout the territory was Dusty Rhodes. He feuded with men like Terry Funk, the Andersons, Harley Race, Ivan Koloff, Dick Slater, and Stan Hansen.

Rhodes only held the Georgia Heavyweight belt once, but he always seemed to be considered a top man when he was around. His great charisma on the mic brought fans to the shows in droves.

Also considered popular wrestlers in Georgia were people like Wahoo McDaniel, Thunderbolt Patterson, Steve Keirn, Tony Atlas, and Bob and Brad Armstrong.

When you consider the most hated men to ever pass through Georgia, you have to think of Ole Anderson. Whether working with his "brothers" Lars and Gene, or with other partners like Stan Hansen and Ivan Koloff, Ole knew just how to turn the fans inside out with anger and hatred.

He was terrific both in the ring and on the mic, and even wound up working behind the scene for the management of GCW. From the first time he came to Georgia through Black Saturday, he stayed possibly longer than any of the heels that made appearances, although he never stayed too long.

His feuds were too numerous to list them all, as just about everyone had a reason to fight Ole, but the most memorable were perhaps with Dusty Rhodes, Tommy Rich, Wahoo McDaniel, Bob Armstrong, and Mr. Wrestling II.

Anderson never held the Georgia Heavyweight title, but did win the TV title twice. In tag team action, he won the Georgia Tag Team Championship more than anyone else since 1974. With Gene, he won the belt seven times, and with Lars twice. He also held the title with: Jacques Goulet (1), Ivan Koloff (5), Stan Hansen (1), Ernie Ladd (1), and Jerry Brisco (1). He also wore the National Tag belts with Thunderbolt Patterson and Arn Anderson at different times.

The only other person who could possibly have been more hated would be the Masked Superstar. Bill Eadie entered the area in the late 70’s, challenging anyone to break his excruciating cobra hold, which was all a holdover fro his first introduction of the gimmick in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Superstar will long be remembered for his feuds with Mr. Wrestling II and Tommy Rich. Many times, both he and Wrestling II removed each others’ masks, and the battles between Rich and the Superstar spilled blood all over the state.

Similarly to Ole Anderson, the Superstar had a highly skilled ring style, while being able to deliver an interview rarely found in the business.

He held the Georgia Heavyweight title four times, and the National Heavyweight crown three different occasions. Together with Austin Idol, he won the Georgia Tag Team straps, and the National Tag title with the Super Destroyer and King Kong Bundy.

Many other hated heels came through such as Ivan Koloff, the Assassins, Ken Patera, Terry Funk, Larry Zbyszko, and Ernie Ladd. Over the years, the arenas all over Georgia were terrorized by these men.

Possibly the most hated team of the GCW era, even more so than the Andersons or Assassins, would be the Fabulous Freebirds. Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy, and Buddy Roberts came in and instantly began to cripple opponents. Probably the most memorable incident ever seen on television from Georgia was when Gordy delivered a series of piledrivers to Ted DiBiase on the floor beside the ring. If the fans didn’t already hate these men, they had plenty of reason to do so now.

They feuded with everyone on the roster from the time they entered the area until they left. People such as Tommy Rich, Austin Idol, Kevin Sullivan, and Ted DiBiase.

They held the Georgia Tag Team belts once, and the National straps once, also. It wasn’t too long after they arrived that Roberts faded away, and Hayes and Gordy split the team, which set off a new feud altogether that spread out between Georgia and the Southeastern territory. While Gordy took Jimmy Snuka as his partner, Hayes worked with Otis Sistrunk in what was clearly a bad move on the part of the GCW booking team. Eventually though, they found themselves back together again.

Between 1972 and 1984, many of the greatest wrestlers worked in GCW either long term or simply stopped in for some of the national exposure. Georgia was considered as a building block toward setting future stars up in other territories, such as Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, and Paul Orndorff.

Aside from those mentioned above, many others worked in the area: Ron and Robert Fuller, Buddy Colt, Luke Graham, Rocky Johnson, the Spoiler, Toru Tanaka, Paul Jones, Baron Von Raschke, Angelo Mosca, Ron and Terry Garvin, Roger Kirby, Jack and Jerry Brisco, Dory Funk, Jr., Ken Mantell, Dean Ho, Jimmy Valiant, Ted and Jerry Oates, Les Thornton, Alexis Smirnoff, Jay Strongbow, Ray Candy, Ken Timbs, Bobby Eaton, Dennis Condrey, Steve Olsonoski, Stan Lane, Steve Travis, Dutch Mantell, the Samoans, the Road Warriors, Stan Frazier, Brett Sawyer, Mr. Fuji, Mr. Saito, among others.

Georgia also saw many different devious managers during this time. Gary Hart, Rock Hunter, Bobby Heenan, Jim Dillon, Don Carson, and Paul Ellering were just some of the dangerous minds to send their men after the top faces.

All in all, between 1972 and 1984, Georgia had one of the greatest territories in operation. The fact that GCW had the advantage of cable television exposure long before many others helped it to be seen by more than any other territory during it’s time. It possibly also allowed it to still remain hugely popular despite lulls in booking opportunities, either missed or simply failed.

I hope to be able to make a return in the future and be able to elaborate more on the territory I grew up with, and even go further back in history prior to 1972. I wish my successor luck in providing us all with their brand of writing and knowledge of a truly wonderful territory from a really great era for professional wrestling.