Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South (also known as IWA Mid-South, IWA-MS, and IWA Mid South Wrestling) is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.
History
Independent Wrestling Association: Mid-South (IWA-MS) formed in 1996 in Louisville, Kentucky. The owner, Ian Rotten , is one of the first to bring hardcore style of wrestling to the United States with his violent feud with former tag team partner Axl Rotten and formed the promotion shortly after leaving Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid-1990s . IWA-MS first came on the scene on October 10, 1996 with the first, of what would become weekly shows in Louisville, Kentucky. On April 3, 1997 IWA Mid-South would crown its first Heavyweight Champion, Tower of Doom, when he won a three way dance in the finals of a tournament.In early 2000 IWA Mid-South would move its operations to Charlestown, Indiana. Many changes were made to IWA and its roster while in Charlestown. In late 2000 IWA started to make a slow shift to more technical based wrestlers, and matches. During that year Dave Prazak became a featured manager, ring announcer, commentator and he played a prominent role in bringing in Colt Cabana and CM Punk to join Chris Hero and others to get IWA Mid-South recognized for its technical matches as well as its hardcore. IWA:MS became known as a place to see the best up and coming Indy wrestlers in the Midwest, and many of its alumni now wrestle for WWE, TNA, and ROH. With this change brought the birth of the Ted Petty Invitational Tournament (TPI for short), then known as Sweet Science 16. The first TPI was held in 2000, named after former ECW, WCW, and WWE wrestler Rocco Rock, and won by Chris Hero. In the years after its birth the TPI has become one of the most respected tournaments in the wrestling world.
Along with the Ted Petty Invitational tournament their annual King of the Death Match Tournament is among their highest drawing shows.
In 2002 IWA Mid-South would once again move its base to Clarksville, Indiana following a disagreement with the landlord of the Charlestown building over rent. While in Clarksville IWA would introduce another tournament a Strong Style tournament. IWA Mid-South would again leave the Clarksville building, also known as the IWA Arena, after another disagreement with the landlord over rent.
IWA Mid-South currently runs shows in Indiana and Illinois, with their own arena about to open in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the Hartman Recreation Center in Joliet, Illinois and the Don Preston Recreation Center (also known as the "MidloDome") in Midlothian, Illinois being the three main buildings, with locations in Rock Island, Illinois being run on an inconsistent basis.
IWA Mid South has started a feud with stars from their sister company IWA Deep South. IWA: Mid-South returned home in Sellersburg, Indiana with Gory Days 3.
IWA Mid-South held their 11 Year Anniversary Show on October 13, 2007. Midway through the show, Ian Rotten came out and addressed the crowd, stating that due to mounting debts IWA Mid-South will most likely close after their 500th show on December 7. However, after a strong sell of DVDs the following week, most notably the Ted Petty Invitation which was released the day before the announcement, IWA made enough money to stay in business into 2008.
Championships
Current
| Championship: | Current holder: | Won from: | Date won: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship | Dingo | Chuck Taylor | June 20 2008 | Sellersburg, Indiana |
| IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship | Jason Hades | Chuck Taylor | April 12 2008 | Joliet, Illinois |
| IWA Mid-South Strong Style Championship | Michael Elgin | Drake Younger, Roderick Strong and Viking | March 1 2008 | Joliet, Illinois |
| IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship | Up in Smoke (Cheech and Cloudy) | Mickie Knuckles and Devon Moore | May 3 2008 | Joliet, Illinois |
| IWA Mid-South Deathmatch Championship | Corporal Robinson | Danny Havoc | May 3 2008 | Joliet, Illinois |
| IWA Mid-South Women's Championship | Daizee Haze | Mickie Knuckles | May 2 2008 | Joliet, Illinois |
| IWA Mid-South King of the Deathmatch | Devon Moore | Danny Havoc | June 21 2008 | Sellersburg, Indiana |
Defunct
| Championship: | Final holder: | Won from: | Date won: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWA Mid-South Television Championship | Shark Boy | Chip Fairway | April 2 1998 | Louisville, Kentucky |
| NWA Midwest Women's Championship | MsChif | Daizee Haze | May 7 2005 | Streamwood, Illinois |
| IWA Mid-South Hardcore Championship | 2 Tuff Tony def. Delilah Starr and Mad Man Pondo to unify titles | Delilah Starr | March 4 2000 | Charlestown, Indiana |
Roster
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Inactive roster
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Past Personalities
- 2 Cold Scorpio
- 2 Tuff Tony
- American Kickboxer
- "Kamikaze" Ken Anderson
- Colt Cabana
- Arik Cannon
- Daffney
- Darin Corbin
- Steve Corino
- Ryan Cruz
- Jaime D
- Christopher Daniels
- Tower of Doom
- Cash Flo (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)
- Eddie Guerrero
- Billy Gunn
- Matt Hardy
- Uncle Honky (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)
- Hy-Zaya (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)
- B.G. James
- Nigel McGuinness
- Rey Mysterio, Jr.
- CM Punk
- Reckless Youth
- Chris Sabin
- Sabu
- Samoa Joe
- Tracy Smothers (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)
- Ace Steel
- A.J. Styles
- Matt Sydal
- Tank
- Tarek the Great (Returned August 5th at Hardcore Hell & Back in Sellersburg, IN)
- Petey Williams
- Honky Tonk Man
See also
References
External links
- IWA Mid-South - Official Website
- IWA Mid-South Results - Near complete results database
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Last updated on Saturday July 12, 2008 at 01:13:09 PDT (GMT -0700)
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