The television program would recap all the angles and matches from the previous Omni show, and start angles on the television program. Matches were fast paced, and the GCW program was one of the better produced wrestling programs of that era. The studio (on Techwood Drive in Atlanta) was small enough to give the crowd and excellent vantage point for the matches. Solie conducted interviews from a podium close to the ring (similar to how the studio matches in Memphis were done). The show evenly paired matches with interviews, and most commercial breaks featured upcoming Georgia Championship Wrestling television shows. The GCW program drew tremendous television ratings (before most fans started caring about that sort of thing), and was consistently one of the highest rated programs on cable. 

By 1982, GCW was promoting several shows outside of Georgia, due to the exposure on WTBS. Cards were promoted in Cincinnati , Canton, and Columbus in Ohio, Wheeling, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Many of the smaller Georgia towns no longer had live cards promoted there due to the expansion. GCW was at its zenith in 1982, with NWA World Champion Ric Flair, Tommy Rich, Ole Anderson, Stan Hansen, Ivan Koloff, the Freebirds, Paul Orndorff, Masked Superstar, Mr. Wrestling II, Ernie Ladd, the Samoans, the Super Destroyer, Bob Armstrong, and Buzz Sawyer all regularly making appearances in GCW. The talent depth began decreasing by 1983 and 1984. While television ratings remained high, attendance at live shows were decreasing. 

On June 14, 1984 (called Black Saturday to wrestling fans) Vince McMahon, Jr. took controlling interest of Georgia Championship Wrestling, and began broadcasting WWF wrestling in the Saturday night timeslot. Longtime fans were dismayed, and began a successful letter writing campaign to get Georgia wrestling back on WTBS. Ted Turner responded to the public opinion by giving Ole Anderson a wrestling slot on TBS Saturday mornings at 7:35, Eastern Standard Time. Ratings were low, and the talent available in Georgia at that time was not up to the standards set in years past. Sadly, Georgia Championship Wrestling faded away slowly in early 1985, being absorbed by Jim Crockett Promotions out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

NEXT MONTH:     

In our next look back at Georgia Championship Wrestling, we examine the Austin Idol-Fabulous Freebirds feud, and the famous "4 flat tires" angle.