Jim Barnett

James E. Barnett (9 June 1924 – 18 September 2004) was an American professional wrestling promoter, and owner of Georgia Championship Wrestling and Australia's World Championship Wrestling.
==Professional wrestling career==
A former wrestler born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Barnett traveled in 1964 to Sydney with Johnny Doyle to inspect the Australian wrestling scene. They returned under the banner of World Championship Wrestling, presenting their first card on 23 October 1964, at the Sydney Stadium, and continued until 1974 when Barnett sold the promotion to Tony Kolonie and returned to the United States to become owner of Georgia Championship Wrestling.
Tommy Rich's less-than-a-week NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign was one of Barnett's attempts to boost Georgia gates and cover his losses. He was sued by wrestler and booker Ole Anderson.
In later years, Barnett served as an adviser to the World Wrestling Federation, Jim Crockett Promotions and Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling.
== Death ==
Jim Barnett died on September 18, 2004 at the age of 80. He had been suffering from the effects of cancer as well as pneumonia.
==Championships and accomplishments==
*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
*World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2019)
==External links==
* Profile
Category:American wrestlers
Category:Wrestling executives
Category:Promoters
Category:1924 births
Category:2004 deaths
Category:1949 debuts
Category:2001 retirements
Category:Georgia Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:Jim Crockett Promotions alumni
Category:World Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:World Championship Wrestling (Australia) alumni
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment alumni
Category:Oklahoma wrestlers
Category:Male wrestlers
Category:Wrestlers who have died
Category:WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Inductee