Tracy_Smothers

Tracy Smothers

Tracy Smothers (born September 2, 1962) is an American professional wrestler.

Career

Early career

Tracy started his career in the Memphis promotion on Saturday morning TV. Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers started teaming as The Southern Boys in Florida Championship Wrestling in 1987 where they feuded with The New Breed. They moved on to Southeast Championship Wrestling where they feuded with The Stud Stable. In 1989, he won the CWF Tag Team Championship in the newly renamed Continental Wrestling Federation. While in Continental, Smothers wrestled an unmuzzled bear that was announced as 550 lbs; Tracy took the bear to the mat several times.

World Championship Wrestling (1990–1992)

Smothers and Armstrong competed in World Championship Wrestling for a number of years and were known as the Southern Boys and later the Young Pistols upon turning heel. Smothers and Armstrong had a long feud with The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin). Smothers' last major appearance for WCW was on January 21, 1992 at The Clash of Champions, as he teamed with Terry Taylor in a loss to Marcus Alexander Bagwell and Brian Pillman.

Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1992–1995)

Smothers achieved his greatest singles success in Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion which was based out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Between 1992 and 1995, "The Wild Eyed Southern Boy," competed as a babyface for SMW and won the Heavyweight title twice, the tag team titles once (with "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony, known as the "T.H.U.G.'S"), and the "Beat the Champ" TV title on three separate occasions. Smothers had notable feuds during this time against "Prime Time" Brian Lee, Chris Candido, Tony Anthony, The Heavenly Bodies, and The Gangstas. He also competed as a heel in the United States Wrestling Association during the SMW vs. USWA feud in 1995.

United States Wrestling Association (1995–1996)

After SMW folded, Smothers continued to work for the USWA (and the WWF). Smothers at one pointed even joined the USWA branch of the Nation of Domination, changing his name to Shaquille Ali (a take off of NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali).

World Wrestling Federation (1995–1998)

Before SMW folded in late 1995, Smothers began wrestling in the summer of that year as Freddie Joe Floyd in the WWF as a babyface jobber to various up and comers, most notably Hunter Hearst-Helmsley and Stone Cold Steve Austin. His only meaningful win under the Floyd gimmick was an upset of Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw in his debut, which resulted in Bradshaw beating Floyd in a subsequent rematch. He also scored a count out win over Triple H, thanks to Mr. Perfect distracting Helmsley. His entire gimmick was a rib on Gerald Brisco and Jack Brisco, as they both came from Bowlegs, Oklahoma (the same home town Freddie Joe Floyd was billed as being from). Jack Brisco’s real name is Fred Joe Brisco, and Gerald’s full name is Floyd Gerald Brisco.

Extreme Championship Wrestling and ECW reunion shows (1998–2000, 2005)

Later in his career he joined Extreme Championship Wrestling as "The Main Man" Tracy Smothers and was part of the Full Blooded Italians (or F.B.I.). He was most notably remembered for doing a goofy dance, that ECW announcer Joey Styles often commented on by saying "what the hell is with that awful dance." The FBI during this time was mostly a comedy heel tag team, which also featured Little Guido, "The Big Don" Tommy Rich, and (briefly) the "Italian Stallion" John T. Smith. Smothers, long associated with being a stereotypical southern wrestler, was billed as being from "Nashville, Italy" during this time. Smothers wrestled at both of the June 2005 ECW reunion shows, defeating The Blue Meanie at Hardcore Homecoming with the help of J.T. Smith, and accompanying Little Guido to ringside for his match with Yoshihiro Tajiri and Super Crazy at ECW One Night Stand 2005. On June 18, 2005 at a Championship Wrestling event, Smothers challenged WWE employee John "Bradshaw" Layfield to a fight after JBL shot on The Blue Meanie during a brawl at the end of One Night Stand. He also wrestled at all 4 Hardcore Homecoming events.

Independent circuit (2001–Current)

Smothers still competes on a regular basis in various independent promotions throughout the country, although based largely in the south/mid-south/midwest area. He formed a tag team with fellow SMW and ECW alumni Chris Hamrick known as "Southern Comfort" and together they won several tag team championships on the indy circuit.

In late 2005 and early 2006, Smothers worked a full-time schedule at various independent promotions in Tennessee and around the midwest and eastern United States. He also toured the United Kingdom and teaming with Chris Hamrick on 1 Pro Wrestling shows as 'Southern Comfort', where they competed in a tag team ladder match for the Tag Team Championship against Team SHAG (Darren Burridge and Colt Cabana) and Jonny Storm and Jody Fleisch, eventually losing to Team SHAG.

In late 2006, he worked a multi-month, full-time tour of Europe for a number of small independent promotions in the UK and Germany such as Wrestle Zone Wrestling where in Hartlepool, Britain, Smothers was crowned the new wZw Heavyweight Champion. He later relinquished that title.

On February 25, 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Smothers defeated Corporal Robinson to win the Pro Wrestling Unplugged Hardcore Championship.

October 2006 saw him beat "Mr. #1" Jonny Costello on an RPW show in Sheffield UK to win the HCW Supreme championship.

One year later Smothers and Costello formed 'The New Southern Boys' in South Wales Championship Wrestling

At various dates in 2006 and 2007 Smothers also wrestled for Celtic Wrestling in Wales becoming Celtic Wrestling Heavyweight Champion on October 12, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales.

Smothers was the Cleveland All Pro Wrestling heavyweight champion until he was defeated by the Blue Meanie on June 3, 2007. He is also a former Coliseum Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion out of Evansville, Indiana. He defeated the "Texas Hangman" Lonestar on June 6, 2007 at CCW's 666 show.

Smothers also shows up in IWA Mid South wrestling from time to time. Most Recently beating the legendary Ricky Morton from The Rock 'n' Roll Express on July 22 at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, Indiana. He has also taken the young guns Jason James and L.A. Warren under his belt as a sidekick.

Smothers also takes part in Juggalo Championship Wrestling which is owned and run by Insane Clown Posse

On May 18, 2008 in Huntington, West Virginia, Cole Cash defeated Smothers in Supreme Wrestling Alliance