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Bios

Jerry Oates

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 240 lbs.

From: Columbus, GA

Birthday: Sep 5th

Pro Debut: 1970

Feds Worked For: MSW, TSW, WCCW, NWA, WWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All South Wrestling Alliance (GA), Big Time Wrestling (MI), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling from Georgia (GA), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Deep South Wrestling (GA), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Great Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling (AL/TN), International Championship Wrestling (MS), International Wrestling Enterprise (Japan), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO)

Signature Moves: Spinning Toe Hold, Brainbuster

Career Highlights: -AJPW All Aia Tag Team Champion (w/ Ted Oates)
-NWA Central States Champion
-NWA Central States Tag Team Champion (w/ Ted Oates)
-NWA (Central States) World Tag Team Champion (3x; 1 each w/ Mike George, Ted Oates, and Danny Little Bear)
-NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (w/ Ted Oates)
-NWA National Tag Team Champion (w/ Ron Garvin)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Champion
-NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (w/ Jesse Ventura)
-TSW North American Champion
-TSW United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Karl Kox)

Affiliates: Mike George, Ted Oates, Danny Littlebear, Ron Garvin, Jesse Ventura, Karl Kox

Notable Feuds: Ed Wiskowski, Ted Oates, Rip Rogers, The Interns, The Martin Brothers, Oki Shikina, Yasu Fuji, Tank Patton, Buddy King, Bob Slaughter, Erik Watts, Dick Murdoch, Rene Goulet, Gene Anderson, Billy Spears, Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, Bob Brown

Other Facts: -Real name was Jerry Wayne Oates
-Father of pro wrestling promoter Bo Oates
-Brother of pro wrestler Ted Oates
-Brother-in-law of pro wrestler Dick Steinborn, who trained him for pro wrestling
-Trained Marty Janetty for wrestling. When Janetty began his career, he used the name Marty Oates and was billed as Jerry's brother.
-Founded Georgia Championship Wrestling in 2004 and the fed became a member of the NWA. Renamed the company Great Championship Wrestling in 2005.
-Announced his retirement in 2006 and sold controlling interest in GCW.
-Passed away due to heart failure on September 4, 2026, one day shy of his 81st birthday