Mongol won the Georgia Heavyweight crown from Buddy Fuller in February, but lost it to Nick Kozak the next month.  Mongol regained the belt three weeks later, but after a three week reign of his own, dropped it back to Fuller in April.  In June, Mongol once again became the Georgia champion and would remain so for two months.  He lost it to another new man on the scene, Mr. Wrestling, but would take it back in September.  Later that month, “Wonder Boy” Bobby Shane captured the title from Mongol, but he traded it back in a loss to Mongol in October.  Mongol finished the year out as the reigning champion. 

Mongol had also become involved with the Vachon-Torres feud, as the Vachons were also part of Jack Crawford’s stable.  This also brought Mr. Wrestling into it quite often, as he would help the Torres brothers from time to time.  During December, Mongol was banned by Paul Jones, leaving the reigning state champion unable to defend his title.  Oki Shikina returned and picked up Mongol’s feud with Mr. Wrestling for “Dandy” Jack. 

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski also came to the state and defended his belt against Enrique Torres, El Mongol, and Lou Thesz (twice).  Also putting her World Title at stake was the Fabulous Moolah, turning back Bette Boucher on two occasions, as well as Judy Grable. 

Other stars to wrestle throughout Georgia this year included Bob Armstrong, Bill Dromo, Ike Eakins, Ricky Hunter, Tim Geohagen, Bobby Graham, Jerry Graham, Bobby Hart, Corsica Jean, Greg Peterson, Jack Bence, Pancho Rosario, and Choo-Choo Lynn. 

NEXT MONTH:

I will cover the year of 1968 – a year that saw many more new faces that would shape the Georgia territory for the next decade, as well as numerous twists to existing feuds that lingered beyond 1967.