Jerry Oates, territorial wrestler and longtime Georgia promoter, dies at 78 – POST Wrestling
Jerry Oates, a longtime professional wrestler who competed throughout the NWA territories and All Japan Pro Wrestling, has died at 78.
Oates’ family announced his passing on Friday night in a statement posted through the Facebook page for Oates Gym, the Columbus, Georgia fitness center he operated for more than two decades. A cause of death was not disclosed. The post stated:
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Jerry Oates announces his passing. Born in Columbus, Georgia, Jerry lived a full and impactful life marked by his passion for professional wrestling, fitness, and service to his community.
From 1970 to 2010, he enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional wrestler. He owned and operated the Oates Gym, a cornerstone of the Columbus fitness community for more than two decades.
He also promoted bodybuilding and wrestling events and later served as a deputy with the Tybee Island Police Department and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office. Jerry touched countless lives through his strength, generosity, and enduring spirit.
His formal obituary states that Oates died September 4, one day before his 79th birthday. He was born September 5, 1947, in Columbus.
Oates entered professional wrestling in 1970 after training under his brother-in-law, Dick Steinborn. Much of his career came during the territorial era, with stops in Georgia, Central States and the Pacific Northwest, as well tours of Japan, primarily for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
He frequently teamed with his brother Ted Oates. The Oates Brothers won the NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship and captured All Japan’s All Asia Tag Team Championship in October 1976, defeating Great Kojika & Motoshi Okuma in Tokyo.
He held singles championships in Central States and Portland, teamed with Jesse Ventura to win the Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship, and partnered with Ronnie Garvin in Georgia.
One of Oates’ most notable title victories came on July 4, 1984, when he and Garvin defeated The Road Warriors for the NWA National Tag Team Championship in Columbus.
Oates also had a small but notable place in one of the pivotal business developments of the 1980s. He was a minority shareholder in Georgia Championship Wrestling and joined Jack & Jerry Brisco and Paul Jones in selling their stock to Vince McMahon.
That transaction gave McMahon control of the promotion and its WTBS television slot, leading to the July 14, 1984 broadcast that became known as “Black Saturday.”
Away from his own in-ring career, Oates helped train wrestlers including Marty Jannetty and remained involved in promoting wrestling around Columbus.
A memorial service will be held at Evangel Church in Columbus on Saturday, September 12. Les Thatcher and Von Hardin will host the service, with Bobby Simmons officiating.
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