“The Original Paul Jones” (Andrew Lutzi)

Paul Jones, born Andrew Lutzi in Hungary, was a significant early wrestling promoter in the Southeastern United States, primarily known for running the **Georgia territory** based in Atlanta. Under his leadership, the territory became one of the most vibrant and competitive regions in the **National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)**. Jones played a crucial role in developing the Atlanta wrestling scene from the 1940s through the early 1970s, which eventually set the stage for the promotion's takeover by **Jim Barnett** in 1974.

### **Early Career and Founding of the Georgia Territory**

- **Background and Establishment:**

- Paul Jones was a former professional wrestler who transitioned into a successful promoter. By the early 1940s, he had already begun to make a name for himself in the wrestling business. He established the Georgia territory, which primarily centered around Atlanta but also included smaller towns throughout Georgia.

- Jones took over the promotion in the 1940s from **Henry Weber**, who had previously run wrestling events in the area. Under Jones, Atlanta became one of the key cities in the NWA network, attracting top talent and drawing considerable crowds.

- **Affiliation with the NWA:**

- When the NWA was formed in 1948, Paul Jones became a charter member, aligning his Georgia territory with the larger network of promoters. This partnership allowed Jones to book the NWA World Heavyweight Champion for his shows, increasing the prestige of his events and solidifying Atlanta's position as a critical market in the NWA territory system.

### **Growth and Development of the Territory (1940s-1960s)**

- **Building a Strong Promotion:**

- Paul Jones was instrumental in developing a thriving wrestling scene in Georgia. His promotion ran regular events at the **Atlanta City Auditorium** and later the **Municipal Auditorium**, both of which became wrestling hotbeds during this period.

- Jones was known for his ability to create exciting cards featuring a mix of local stars and national talent. He promoted top NWA stars like **Lou Thesz**, **Buddy Rogers**, **Pat O'Connor**, and others, often featuring them in main event matches that drew significant crowds.

- He also fostered local talent, helping build the careers of wrestlers such as **Ray Gunkel**, who would become one of the territory's biggest stars, and later played a crucial role in the territory's internal politics.

- **Innovations and Television Expansion:**

- Jones recognized the importance of television early on and was one of the first wrestling promoters to embrace the medium. In the 1950s, he began airing wrestling shows on **WSB-TV** in Atlanta, which helped him reach a broader audience and increase attendance at live events.

- By the 1960s, the television program, often featuring live or taped matches from the **Atlanta City Auditorium**, became a staple of local programming, boosting the visibility and popularity of wrestling in Georgia. This expanded viewership allowed Jones to market his events to a much larger audience, solidifying the territory's profitability.

### **Territorial Conflicts and Expansion Challenges (1960s-1970s)**

- **Internal Conflicts and Competitors:**

- In the early 1960s, a power struggle emerged within the Georgia promotion between Paul Jones and **Ray Gunkel**, one of his top wrestlers who also became involved in the business side of the promotion. Gunkel had significant influence due to his popularity with fans and his business acumen.

- This tension grew when Gunkel's wife, Ann Gunkel, became involved in the promotion's financial affairs, further complicating the business dynamics. These conflicts created tension between Jones and Gunkel, which began to affect the promotion's stability.

- **The Death of Ray Gunkel and Its Aftermath (1972):**

- In August 1972, Ray Gunkel tragically died of a heart attack shortly after a match. His death triggered a significant crisis within the territory. Ann Gunkel believed she was entitled to part of the business due to her late husband's role and began to assert her claims over the promotion's assets.

- This led to a split in the territory, with Ann Gunkel forming a rival promotion called the **All-South Wrestling Alliance (ASWA)**. Many wrestlers loyal to Ray Gunkel defected to the new promotion, creating direct competition for Jones’s Georgia Championship Wrestling. This split created a challenging period for Jones, as the two promotions competed fiercely for the Atlanta market.

### **Jim Barnett’s Takeover and the End of the Paul Jones Era (1972-1974)**

- **Jim Barnett Enters the Scene:**

- During the early 1970s, the power struggle in the Georgia territory caught the attention of **Jim Barnett**, a savvy wrestling promoter known for his success in **Australia** and his involvement in U.S. wrestling. Barnett was a prominent figure in the NWA and saw an opportunity to stabilize the market in Georgia and capitalize on the turmoil within the territory.

- In 1974, Barnett, with backing from other NWA members and financial partners, bought out Paul Jones' interests in **Georgia Championship Wrestling**. Barnett's takeover effectively ended Jones' control of the promotion, and Jones stepped away from his role as the head promoter.

- **Barnett Consolidates Power:**

- After the purchase, Barnett set out to consolidate the Georgia wrestling scene under the NWA banner, eliminating the competition posed by Ann Gunkel’s ASWA. Barnett managed to bring back many of the defected wrestlers and rebuild Georgia Championship Wrestling into a major promotion within the NWA.

- Under Barnett's leadership, Georgia Championship Wrestling became a key part of the NWA network, producing nationally televised programming, including the successful "Georgia Championship Wrestling" show on **WTBS** (then a local Atlanta station that would become a national cable superstation). This exposure helped make the territory one of the most visible in the United States, with a reach far beyond its regional roots.

### **Legacy of Paul Jones and His Georgia Territory**

- **Contributions to Wrestling:**

- Paul Jones' role in establishing the Georgia territory as a major player in the NWA and his early adoption of television broadcasting helped lay the foundation for the territory's future success. His promotion fostered significant talent and drew national attention to Atlanta, paving the way for later promoters like Jim Barnett.

- Despite the turbulent end of his promotional career, Jones is remembered for his contributions to professional wrestling in the Southeast, his influence on the NWA, and his role in developing Atlanta into a wrestling powerhouse.

- **Transition to Modern Wrestling:**

- The takeover by Jim Barnett marked a new era for the Georgia territory, transitioning it from a regional promotion under Jones to a nationally recognized entity that played a critical role in the expansion of professional wrestling on cable television. This period set the stage for wrestling’s growth into a national entertainment phenomenon in the years to follow.

Paul Jones' contributions to the wrestling business in Georgia were foundational, and his promotion's eventual consolidation under Barnett would lead to significant developments in professional wrestling, influencing the industry's direction for decades.