On July 14, 1984, wrestling fans around the country tuning into WTBS expecting to see Gordon Solie and Ole Anderson host "World Championship Wrestling" were shocked to see instead Vince McMahon stride onto the set and take the microphone from longtime Georgia wrestling sideman Freddie Miller. The World Wrestling Federation had taken over the wresting TV time slots on the Superstation, the result of gaining majority equity control of the company. The change sent shockwaves through the wrestling industry and deeply disappointed wrestling fans who shared a long standing relationship with the Georgia brand of wrestling.
In 1982, Georgia Championship Wrestling began promoting under the name World Championship Wrestling, a name that most wrestling fans would consider to still be part of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) throughout the 1990s. Jack Brisco and Gerald Brisco had major stakes in the organization while Ole Anderson was head booker and was basically in charge of operations.
GCW also became the first NWA territory to gain access to a cable television deal on Saturday evenings. GCW was famous for providing a more athletic showcase rather than cartoonish characters like the WWF did and therefore had a completely different fanbase.
While still running steadily, both Briscos sold their entire stock in the business (including the TV deal) to Vince McMahon; Jim Barnett immediately followed, as all parties were unhappy with booker Ole Anderson. The WWF show on TBS was a ratings disaster.
Reception
GCW's core audience hated the WWF's soap opera approach, preferring a more athletic style. Bill Watts' Mid South Wrestling (MSW) and Ole Anderson's Championship Wrestling from Georgia were both able to even gain better TBS ratings over this program as well.[1] Despite originally promising to produce original programming for the TBS timeslot in Atlanta, McMahon chose instead to provide only a clip show for TBS, featuring highlights from other WWF programming as well as matches from house shows at Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden and other major arenas.
Aftermath
In April 1985, McMahon sold the TBS timeslot and GCW name to Jim Crockett, Jr., under heavy pressure from Ted Turner, who was unhappy with the fact Vince was not providing original material as agreed. That would set up a rivalry between McMahon and Turner that would continue for over a decade.
(Thanks to wikipedia)
for the territories. Thats why pro wrestling so screwed up today due to the lack of opportunities to learn various styles.