May 4th 2024 10:24am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

JR's Blog: Giant Gonzalez...FCW...MSG...Orders This Weekend Shipped Monday & FREE in USA.

JR's Blog:  Giant Gonzalez...FCW...MSG...Orders This Weekend Shipped Monday & FREE in USA.

Posted: Sep 26th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Quick update from Cincinnati where Oklahoma plays the Bearcats tonite @ 6 eastern on ESPN2.

Sorry to hear of the passing of Giant Gonzalez this week at the age of 44 due to complications from diabetes. Jorge was a kind soul who inadvertantly backed into the wrestling biz after a failed attempt to join the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. Hawks head honcho Stan Kasten told Jim Herd and me that the 7'7" former member of Argentina's Olympic basketball team was being cut and if WCW, another Turner property along w/ the Hawks at the time, would like to see if we could utilize Jorge as a wrestling 'attraction.'

George was a really nice guy who probaly was closest to Havey Whippleman of any one in the biz. George even contacted Harvey a few years ago needing to borrow money. I am under the impression that Gonzalez bought a small farm in his home country but also cared for many of his family member's financial needs.

I can recall a WCW PPV from Phoenix where Dusty Rhodes produced some vignettes w/ Gonzalez where Dream had to teach the big fella how to dance. That was quite the sight.

Giant Gonzalez was limited as to what he could do in the ring but was a true, see him occasionally on a card, wrestling attraction. My first Wrestlemania featured an Undertaker vs Giant Gonzalez bout.

George will never be remembered as a great wrestler but he should be remembered as a nice, respectful man who knew his physical limitations but always tried to do his best in the ring.

WWE sold out Paris, France Friday night to the tune of a $1M plus gate. The traveling superstars are all healthy.

FCW has some amazing ethnic diversity. Very positive and needed in all businesses. Plus some of the 2nd generation, 3rd too, athletes have solid chances to be successful if they continue to come to work with the mindset to leave work better than when they arrived.

Byron Saxton had an overall, impressive week. Abe Washington was one of the stars w/ promo work. A Steamboat vs Colon 15 minute, FCW15 bout was really sound. I'm always excited to watch the FCW TV shows when I receive them.

Rookie PXP man Mark Martalo had an impressive first taping session working along side the entertaining Abe Washington in Tampa.

Big nite in MSG Saturday w/ WWE honoring Bret Hart who hasn't been at the Garden in over a decade. HOF'er Howard Finkle will be there to lend his familiar voice to the proceedings. Wish I could have been there but OU football calls tonight.

Be well and let us send you some sauce, ketchup and beef jerky. Thanks.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

 

Tags: Jim Ross, WCW, Dusty Rhodes, WWE

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

2
Fritz Von Erich and the Christmas Day Massacre

Fritz Von Erich and the Christmas Day Massacre

Among professional wrestling’s most infamous incidents and despicable angles, this will forever be remembered as one of th... Read More

All News

The Scoop

The Scoop

NEWS WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash weighed in on the warning sent to AEW by the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission. OSAC alleged that the company had viol... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion

Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04

  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
  • 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
05-04
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th Today!
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th Today!
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th Today!
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Shane Rawls May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Payton Scott May 13th
  • Maggie Rae May 13th
  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Karl Krupp May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
  • Lars Manderson May 13th
  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Pete Maguire May 13th
  • Dave Ryda May 13th
  • Shawn Bragan May 14th
  • Steve Williams May 14th
  • Scott Irwin May 14th
  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
  • Big Van Vader May 14th
  • Joe Cuedo May 15th
  • Erwin IV May 15th
  • Andrew Bridge May 15th
  • Oscar Amazing May 15th
  • Koko May 15th
  • Kevin Von Erich May 15th
  • Alan Jefferson May 16th
  • Buddy Roberts May 16th
  • Buddy Knox May 16th
  • Ryan Martin May 16th
  • Ryker James May 16th
  • Billy Red Lyons May 17th
  • Wage May 17th
  • Mike Pappas May 17th
  • Dan Maestro May 17th
  • Kyle Hawk May 17th
  • J. B. Pain May 17th

More Look Back In History

Current Champions

All Star Pro

Malik Mayfield

Livestream Champion
Malik Mayfield

 
  • Heavyweight Champion: Tino Valentino
  • Women's Champion: Olivier Vegos
  • Tag Team Champions: Wrestlers of Mass Destruction
  • Mid-American Champion: Johnny Kove
  • 5-Star Champion: Gatekeeper