| WRESTLING MEMORIES |
| Southern Tag Team Title Dispute 1968 |
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On a cold Saturday night in the middle of March 1968 I am watching Championship Wrestling on WGHP Channel 8 High
Point, NC. The Main Event is George Becker and Johnny Weaver defending the Southern Tag Team Championship
against Gene and Lars Anderson in a two out of three falls match. The match ended with the Anderson's winning the third
fall over Johnny Weaver with their patented double knee finisher. Of course, the referee had his back turned and did not
see the double team. When Becker and Weaver disputed the decision announcer Charlie Harville asked the studio
technicians if they could play the tape back. What resulted was the first replay I can ever remember seeing on a wrestling
T.V. program. It was very crude as black vertical and horizontal lines were running through it but it did show what
happened. The following week Charlie Harville announced that the NWA had looked at the tape and decided they would
not reverse the referee's decision but they would hold the belts up. A rematch between the two teams was signed for April
4, 1968 in Greensboro, NC. Below you will see a rare photo of Gene Anderson wearing one of the Southern Tag Team
Belts. This photo is provided by our good friend Dick Bourne of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.
Carroll Hall
June 18, 2005
Point, NC. The Main Event is George Becker and Johnny Weaver defending the Southern Tag Team Championship
against Gene and Lars Anderson in a two out of three falls match. The match ended with the Anderson's winning the third
fall over Johnny Weaver with their patented double knee finisher. Of course, the referee had his back turned and did not
see the double team. When Becker and Weaver disputed the decision announcer Charlie Harville asked the studio
technicians if they could play the tape back. What resulted was the first replay I can ever remember seeing on a wrestling
T.V. program. It was very crude as black vertical and horizontal lines were running through it but it did show what
happened. The following week Charlie Harville announced that the NWA had looked at the tape and decided they would
not reverse the referee's decision but they would hold the belts up. A rematch between the two teams was signed for April
4, 1968 in Greensboro, NC. Below you will see a rare photo of Gene Anderson wearing one of the Southern Tag Team
Belts. This photo is provided by our good friend Dick Bourne of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.
Carroll Hall
June 18, 2005
A side note here: This was Gene Anderson's
first Main Event ever in Greensboro, NC. Also,
Becker and Weaver won the belts back this
night.
first Main Event ever in Greensboro, NC. Also,
Becker and Weaver won the belts back this
night.