INDEPENDENT WRESTLING ASSOCIATION MID-SOUTH

'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.

Contents

History

Current champions

Roster

Inactive roster

Past Personalities

See also

References

External link

History

Independent Wrestling Association: Mid-South (IWA-MS) formed in 1996 in Louisville, Kentucky. The owner, Ian Rotten ^[1], 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 ^[2]. 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. ^[3]
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 the Capital Sports Center in Plainfield, 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.
On July 22nd IWA: Mid-South returned home in Sellersburg, IN with Gory Days 3.

Current champions

★ ''IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion'': Chuck Taylor

★ ''IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Champion'': Mike Quackenbush

★ ''IWA Mid-South Women's Champion'': Mickie Knuckles

★ ''IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions'' : The Iron Saints (Vito and Sal Thomaselli)

★ ''IWA Mid-South Deathmatch Champion'' : Tank

★ ''IWA King Of Deathmatch'' : Corporal Robinson

Roster

★ Mickie Knuckles ★ Josh Abercrombie ★ J.C. Bailey ★ Necro Butcher ★ Madman Pondo ★ Tracy Smothers ★ Brain Damage ★ Marek Brave ★ Jeff Brooks ★ Claudio Castagnoli ★ Darin Childs ★ Delirious ★ Deranged ★ Dysfunction ★ Jim Fannin ★ "Spyder" Nate Webb ★ Toby Klein

★ Chris Hero ★ Icarus ★ Jigsaw ★ Joker ★ Indiana Kidd Jr. ★ "Mr. Insanity" Toby Klein ★ "Diehard" Dustin Lee ★ Low-Ki ★ "Mean" Mitch Page (Retired July 22nd) ★ Mike Quackenbush ★ Ricky Reyes ★ Davey Richards ★ Ricochet ★ Corporal Robinson ★ Billy Roc ★ BJ Whitmer

★ Jimmy Jacobs ★ Ian Rotten ★ Ruckus ★ "HYPE" Jimmy Shalwin ★ Kevin Steen ★ Roderick Strong ★ Larry Sweeney ★ Tank ★ Chuck Taylor ★ Brandon Thomaselli ★ Sal Thomaselli ★ Vito Thomaselli ★ Vortekz ★ Drake Younger ★ OMG ★ Ash ★ "Unreal" Michael Elgin ★ Rollin' Hard

Inactive roster

★ Flash Flanagan ★ Silas Young ★ Shane Storm ★ Chuck E. Smooth ★ Omega

★ Jake O'Neal ★ Eric Priest ★ Matt Sydal ★ Esteban Molina ★ Dinn T. Moore

★ M-Dogg 20 ★ Benjamin Sailer ★ El Generico ★ Hallowicked ★ Hardcore Craig

★ Jason Dukes ★ "The Human Rulebook" Chandler McClure ★ Blue Meanie ★ Eddie Kingston ★ Trik Davis

★ Gran Akuma

Past Personalities

★ 2 Cold Scorpio

★ Arik Cannon

★ Darin Corbin

★ Steve Corino

★ Ryan Cruz

★ Tower of Doom

★ Cash Flo (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)

★ Hy-Zaya (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)

★ Uncle Honky (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)

★ Dave Prazak

★ CM Punk

★ Colt Cabana

★ Sabu

★ Tracy Smothers (Returned July 22nd at Gory Days 3 in Sellersburg, IN)

★ Ace Steel

★ Tarek the Great (Returned August 5th at Hardcore Hell & Back in Sellersburg, IN)

★ Reckless Youth

★ Matt Hardy

★ Mark Wolf

★ "Kamikaze" Ken Anderson

★ Chris Sabin

★ Jaime D

★ Petey Williams

★ A.J. Styles

★ Christopher Daniels

★ Samoa Joe

★ Nigel McGuinness

★ B.G. James

★ Billy Gunn

★ Eddie Guerrero

★ Rey Mysterio Jr.

★ American Kickboxer

See also

★ Ted Petty Invitational

References

1. Ian Rotten's Bio Bell, Jason
2. Williams, Scott E. ''Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW''. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing L.L.C., 2006. (pg. 68) ISBN 1-59670-021-1
3. I.W.A. Mid-South Heavyweight Title

External link

★ IWA Mid-South - Official Website