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.

Jim Barnett, indeed one of the most successful and controversial wrestling promoters in the history of the mat game, 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)