Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South

Last updated
IWA Mid-South
AcronymIWA MS [1]
Founded1996 [1]
Style Professional wrestling
Hardcore wrestling
Strong style
Death Match
Headquarters Louisville, Kentucky
Founder(s) Ian Rotten
Owner(s)Kevin Adams
Mike Miller
Vince Jones
SisterIWA Deep South
IWA East Coast
IWA Texas

Independent Wrestling Association (IWA) Mid-South (also known as IWA Mid-South, IWA-MS, and IWA Mid South Wrestling) is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis Indiana. It was formed by Ian Rotten in 1996. In 2011, the Bleacher Report ranked IWA Mid-South No. 22 on its list of the 25 worst professional wrestling promotions in history. [2] is one of the first to bring hardcore style of wrestling to the United States with his feud with former tag team partner Axl Rotten. He formed the promotion shortly after leaving Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid-1990s. [3] IWA Mid-South 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 crowned its first Heavyweight Champion, Tower of Doom, when he won a three way dance in the finals of a tournament. [4]

In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indie circuit is the collective name of independent professional wrestling promotions which are smaller than major televised promotions. It is roughly analogous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.

Professional wrestling entertainment form that mimics contact sports

Professional wrestling is a form of performance art and entertainment that combines athletics with theatrical performance. It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, that mimic a title-match combat sport. The unique form of sport portrayed is fundamentally based on classical and "catch" wrestling, with modern additions of striking attacks, strength-based holds and throws and acrobatic maneuvers. Much of these derive from the influence of various international martial arts. An additional aspect of combat with improvised weaponry is sometimes included to varying degrees.

A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. "Promotion" also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event. Within the convention of the show, the company is a sports governing body which sanctions wrestling matches and gives authority to the championships and is responsible for determining the divisions, rankings, etc. of wrestlers. In truth, the company serves as a touring theatre troupe, as well as event promotion body for its own events.

Contents

Move to Indiana

In early 2000, IWA Mid-South moved its operations to Charlestown, Indiana. In late 2000, IWA Mid-South started to make a slow shift to more technical based wrestlers and matches. During that year Dave Prazak became a featured manager, ring announcer, and commentator. He played a prominent role in bringing in Colt Cabana and CM Punk to join Chris Hero and other technical wrestlers. With this change brought the birth of the Ted Petty Invitational Tournament (TPI), then known as Sweet Science 16. The first TPI was held in 2000 and won by Chris Hero. During this time, a match featuring Punk and Hero lasted 92 minutes and has since been referred to by ESPN's SportsCenter as one of the longest sporting events. [5]

Charlestown, Indiana City in Indiana, United States

Charlestown is a city in Clark County, Indiana, United States. The population was 7,585 at the 2010 census.

Colt Cabana American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and podcaster

Scott Colton is an American professional wrestler and color commentator better known by his ring name Colt Cabana. He is currently working for Ring of Honor (ROH). Colton also wrestled as Scotty Goldman in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and as old school masked wrestler Matt Classic in Wrestling Society X and Chikara.

CM Punk American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist

Phillip Jack Brooks, better known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American mixed martial artist, comic book writer and retired professional wrestler. He is currently signed to both the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he competes in the welterweight division, and to Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), where he works as a commentator. He is perhaps best known for his time in WWE, where he is recognized as the sixth longest reigning WWE Champion of all-time.

In 2002 IWA Mid-South moved its base to Clarksville, Indiana. From 2003 to 2007, IWA Mid-South ran shows in a wide variety of venues, mostly Indiana and Illinois. During this span, they had a 51-month streak of running at least one show in every calendar month. [6] IWA Mid-South then went on a planned hiatus, restarting operations with their 500th show on March 1, 2008.

Clarksville, Indiana Town in Indiana, United States

Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River and is a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town was founded in 1783 by early resident George Rogers Clark at the only seasonal rapids on the entire Ohio River, it is the oldest American town in the former Northwest Territory. The town is home to the Colgate clock, one of the largest clocks in the world and the Falls of the Ohio State Park, home to the world's largest exposed Devonian period fossil bed.

On August 26, 2009, IWA Mid-South announced that it would cease its operations after the Kings of the Crimson Mask show on August 28. However, on November 3, IWA Mid-South announced that it would return with smaller budget shows, starting with Chapter 2: In The Beginning on November 20, 2009. On March 28, 2011, IWA Mid-South announced it would end operations immediately. [7]

In July 2011, IWA Mid-South re-opened under new ownership. On September 16–17, 2011 the company returned with its annual King of the Death Match tournament. During that autumn, IWA Mid-South promoted a number of small shows in the Bellevue, Illinois area. IWA Mid-South then closed down once again.

In July 2013, Ian Rotten announced he was once again promoting shows under the IWA-MS banner, this time returning to the old Clarksville Arena. They ran multiple shows there before the building went under new ownership. They then relocated to Jammerz Rollerdrome also In Clarksville. They also ran at The Arena based in Jeffersonville Indiana before moving to the New IWA Arena at the Memphis Trading Post in Memphis Indiana where they are currently running two shows a week, Thursday nights and Saturday nights.

Jeffersonville, Indiana City in Indiana, United States

Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky, along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Clark County.

Memphis, Indiana CDP in Indiana, United States

Memphis is a census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Indiana, United States. The population was 695 at the 2010 census.

Current championships

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays heldLocationNotes
IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship Nick Gage 1 May 19, 2018240+ Memphis, Indiana Defeated John Wayne Murdoch at day two of King Of The Death Matches 2018.
IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship The Gymnasty Boys
(Timmy Lou Retton & White Mike)		 1 April 20, 2018269+ Memphis, Indiana Defeated FireArms (Myron Reed & Trey Miguel) at Candido Cup Finals 2018.
IWA Mid-South Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipLogan James1July 1, 2018197+ Memphis, Indiana Defeated Jake Lander in a tournament final at We're Still Breathing to become the inaugural champion.
IWA Mid-South Women's Championship Shotzti Blackheart 1 April 19, 2018270+ Memphis, Indiana Defeated Kikyo in the finals of the Miss Independent Tournament to win the vacant title that had been retired in 2008.

Defunct championships

ChampionshipFinal champion(s)Date wonLocationNotes
IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship Devon MooreSeptember 1, 2012Bellevue, IllinoisDefeated Bucky Collins at an IWA Midwest live event
Championship retired in 2012.
IWA Mid-South Strong Style Championship Nick Gage August 17, 2008 Joliet, Illinois Defeated Michael Elgin at We Are Family 2.
Championship retired on December 6, 2008 at the Revolution Strong Style Tournament 2008.
IWA Mid-South Hardcore Championship 2 Tuff Tony March 4, 2000 Charlestown, Indiana Defeated Delilah Starr and Mad Man Pondo in a Fans Bring the Weapons three-way match to unify title with the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship.
IWA Mid-South Television Championship Shark Boy April 2, 1998 Louisville, Kentucky Defeated Chip Fairway at a live event and retired the championship.
IWA Mid-South Deathmatch Championship Devon MooreJune 21, 2008Sellersburg, IndianaDefeated Danny Havoc in a tournament final at day two of King of the Death Matches 2008 for the vacated title.
Championship retired on December 6, 2008.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Cagematch : IWA Mid-South (in German)
  2. ↑ https://bleacherreport.com/articles/890889-wwe-the-25-worst-wrestling-promotions-ever#slide2<ref>

    History

    Hardcore wrestling

    Independent Wrestling Association: Mid-South (IWA-MS) formed in 1996 in Louisville, Kentucky. The owner, Ian Rotten,<ref>Bell, Jason. "Ian Rotten's Bio". Official Home of Ian Rotten. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  3. ↑ 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
  4. ↑ "I.W.A. Mid-South Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  5. ↑ "UFC News: C.M. Punk appears on ESPN SportsCenter, has a new answer regarding the difference between Dana White and WWE's Vince McMahon". prowrestling.net. December 17, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  6. ↑ "I.W.A. Mid-South Results History". WrestlingData.com. 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  7. ↑ Gerweck, Steve (2011-03-30). "Indy group closes down in midst of real life drama". WrestleView. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
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