George Burrell "Tim" Woodin, (born July 28, 1934 in Utica, New York; died 2002 in Charlotte, North Carolina) better known as "Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods, was an accomplished American amateur and professional wrestler.
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Career
Wrestling
Began his wrestling career at the age of 29 using the name Tim Woods. He was given the name "Mr. Wrestling" by Nebraska promotor Joe Dusek. Mr Wrestling became a major superstar in the Georgia, Florida, Texas & Mid-Atlantic territories. He had his final match in 1983, teaming up with [Mr.Wrestling II] against the Road Warriors.
Woodin was involved in the same 1975 plane crash that involved pilot Joseph Michael Farkas (he was put in a coma and died the next year), wrestling legend Johnny Valentine (broke his back and bone fragments inpacted into his spinal cord, which ended his career), wrestler Bob Bruggers (broke his back and had a steel rod put in; Bruggers could have made a comeback, but he decided to retire), future legend Ric Flair (broke his back, but recovered and returned to wrestling), and JCP announcer David Crockett. At the hospital, Woodin gave them his real name (George Burrell Woodin), and told them that he was a promoter. Since Woodin wrestled under the name Tim Woods, a newspaper article in the Charlotte Observer listed his name as his real name, George Burrell Woodin, and mentioned that he was a promoter.
Woodin was the only babyface wrestler on the plane, while the rest wrestled as heels, and this was back in the days when kayfabe was not broken (at the time, Woods was feuding with Flair and Valentine). Eventually, rumors began circulating that Tim Woods WAS in fact on the plane. Unwilling to risk the exposure of professional wrestling, he got back in the ring 2 weeks after the crash and was obviously in extreme pain. Ric Flair later said in his book "To Be the Man", that he was more than just 'Mr. Wrestling' that day, he was the man who saved wrestling. Woodin eventually returned to wrestling but retired shortly thereafter.
On November 30, 2002, Tim "Mr. Wrestling" Woods, died from a heart attack at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 68.
Outside of Pro Wrestling
Tim Woodin earned an Agricultural Engineering degree at Cornell University and a Mechanical Engineering degree at Michigan State University. He was an accomplished amateur wrestler at Michigan State University and had a very strong amateur wrestling background.
He was an avid collector of motorcycles as well as an accomplished photographer and saxophone player. Woods also ran a heating and air conditioning business after retiring from the ring.
Championships
NWA Florida
- 1-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion
- 4-time NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion
- 2-time NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (with Hiro Matsuda, then Big Bad John)
- 1-time NWA Florida Television Champion
NWA Georgia
- 4-time NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (with Mr. Wrestling II)
- 1-time NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (with Dino Bravo)
Other NWA titles
- 1-time NWA Mid Atlantic Tag Team Champion (with Dino Bravo)
- 1-time NWA American Tag Team Champion (with George Scott)
- 1-time NWA Television Champion
- 1-time NWA United States Champion
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Woods is ranked #394 in the PWI Years
- Tim Woods & Johnny Walker, Mr Wrestling #1 & #2 were multiple times holders of the Georgia State Tag Team Championships in the 70's, they were featured performers at the Altanta Omni and had a feud with each other for a short time in Georgia.
Tim Woods & Mr. Wrestling II, 74/08/02, Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling I & II, 74/09/06, Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling & Mr. Wrestling II [2], 77/01/14
Mr. Wrestling & Mr. Wrestling II [3], 80/09/19 Griffin, GA
confirmation at http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ga/ga-t.html