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Tracy Smothers
Ring name(s)	Tracy Smothers Freddie Joe Floyd Jason The Terrible Shaquille Ali The Wild Eyed Southern Boy "The Main Man"
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Born	(1962-09-02) September 2, 1962 (age 49) Atlanta, Georgia
Resides	Evansville, Indiana
Billed from	Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, Italy (as a member of the FBI)
Trained by	Stan Lane Steve Keirn
Debut	1982

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

Career[link]

Early career[link]

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.^[1]

World Championship Wrestling (1990–1992)[link]

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 Clash of the Champions, as he teamed with Terry Taylor in a loss to Marcus Alexander Bagwell and Brian Pillman.

Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1992–1995)[link]

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)[link]

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)[link]

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)[link]

Later in his career he joined Extreme Championship Wrestling as "The Main Man" Tracy Smothers and was part of the Full Blooded Italians (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" or "Southern 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 four of the Hardcore Homecoming events.

Independent circuit (2001–present)[link]

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 One 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.

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

Smothers was the Cleveland All Pro Wrestling heavyweight champion until he was defeated by the Blue Meanie on June 3, 2007.

Smothers also shows up in Independent Wrestling Association 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.

On October 19, 2008 in Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South's Double Death Tag Team Tournament, Smothers teamed with Corporal Robinson to face Cult Fiction's Vulgar Display of Power, Brain Damage and Deranged managed by Halfbreed Billy Gram. Smother's turned on his partner and joined Cult Fiction.

Juggalo Championship Wrestling (2007-present)[link]

Tracy Smothers debuted in Juggalo Championship Wrestling by cutting a series of promos in which he insulted the company, the owners (Insane Clown Posse), and the Juggalo fanbase.^[2] Tracy quickly became the company's main villain by defeating much of their roster and ending most of his matches by choking out his opponents.^[2] He attacked hero 2 Tuff Tony in the sixth episode of the internet wrestling show SlamTV!, causing Tony to be knocked out of action for several weeks.^[2] Per storyline, Smothers was arrested just days before Tony's return on the eighth episode, leaving Tony with no way to seek revenge.^[2] At Bloodymania, Smothers lost to Ron Killings.^[3]

Tracy and 2 Tuff Tony continued their rivalry into season two. In the first episode, both men faced off in a match which saw Tracy win after a fast count by the referee, who was later revealed as Tracy's illegitimate daughter, Isabella.^[4] Two weeks later, Tracy caught Isabella listening to Boondox, the rapper who sings 2 Tuff Tony's entrance music.^[5] The following week, 2 Tuff Tony attacked Tracy after his match. Tracy later caught Isabella engaging in sexual actions with Boondox, through storyline, and assaulted him.^[6] Tracy and Isabella Smothers were then scheduled face Boondox and 2 Tuff Tony at Bloodymania II.^[7] However, Isabella was replaced by Bull Pain after she injured her leg, and Smothers and Pain lost to Tony and Boondox.

At Flashlight Wrestling: Legends and Loonies, Tracy was defeated by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan.^[8] The following night at Bloodymania IV, he lost to Booker T, who was accompanied by Boondox.^[8]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010)[link]

On August 8, 2010, Smothers took part in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's ECW reunion show, Hardcore Justice, where he, Little Guido and Tony Luke defeated Kid Kash, Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger in a six man tag team match.^[9] On the following edition of Impact!, the ECW alumni, known collectively as Extreme, Version 2.0 (EV 2.0), were assaulted by A.J. Styles, Kazarian, Robert Roode, James Storm, Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan of Ric Flair's Fourtune stable, who thought they didn't deserve to be in TNA.^[10][11] The following week TNA president Dixie Carter gave each member of EV 2.0 TNA contracts in order for them to settle their score with Fourtune.^[12]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves

• Jaw Jacker (Diving back elbow drop to the opponent's face)
• Southern Kick (Spinning wheel kick)
• Spinebuster

• Signature moves

• Back elbow strike
• Baseball slide
• Knee drop
• Pumphandle slam
• Superkick

• Managers

• "The Big Don" Tommy Rich
• Marcus Woodrow III
• Victor Quiñones
• Jason James
• Sherri Martel
• Spragga Benz
• L.A. Warren
• Jimmy Falcon
• Jake Johnstone
• "Mr. Terrific" Tim Lawler
• Isabella Smothers

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• All-Star Wrestling

• ASW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• ASW Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• All-State Wrestling
  • ASW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[13]

• Bad 2 The Bone Wrestling

• BBW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Celtic Wrestling

• CW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Central Wrestling Federation
  • CWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Paul Diamond^[13]

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Armstrong

• Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling

• CAPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[14]

• Cloverleaf Radio Hall of Fame

• Class of 2008

• Continental Wrestling Association / Championship Wrestling Association

• CWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with John Paul
• NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Extreme Championship Wrestling

• ECW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Little Guido^[15]

• Georgia Wrestling Federation

• GWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South

• IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[16]
• IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Hamrick

• International Wrestling Association of Japan

• IWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Cactus Jack

• International Wrestling Cartel

• IWC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Chris Hamrick

• Jersey All Pro Wrestling

• JAPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Little Guido

• Main Event Championship Wrestling

• MECW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Midwest Wrestling United

• MWU Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Mountain Wrestling Association
  • MWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[13]

• New Focus Wrestling

• NFW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with "Marvelous" Mitch Ryder

• New South Championship Wrestling
  • NSCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[13]

• NWA Mid-South

• NWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Ohio Valley Wrestling

• OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Armstrong

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him #371 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003

• Pro Wrestling Unplugged

• PWU Hardcore Championship (1 time)

• Smoky Mountain Wrestling

• SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship (3 times)
• SMW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
• SMW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dirty White Boy

• Southeastern Championship Wrestling / Continental Wrestling Federation

• CWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Armstrong
• NWA Southeastern Continental Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Amrstrong

• Southern Wrestling Alliance

• SWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Steel Domain Wrestling

• SDW Television Championship (1 time)

• United States Wrestling Association

• USWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jesse James Armstrong

• World Championship Wrestling

• WCW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve Armstrong

• Wrestle Zone Wrestling

• wZw British Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[17]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• Most Improved Wrestler (1993)

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• Tracy Smothers at OWW.com

Chris Candido
Candido in 1998
Ring name(s)	Skip[1] Chris Candido[1]
Billed height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Billed weight	225 lb (102 kg)[1]
Born	(1972-03-21)March 21, 1972[1] Spring Lake, New Jersey
Died	April 28, 2005(2005-04-28) (aged 33)[1] Matawan, New Jersey
Billed from	Spring Lake, New Jersey Asbury Park, New Jersey
Trained by	Larry Sharpe[1]
Debut	1986[1]

Christopher Raulvtvtuy Candito^[2] (March 21, 1972 – April 28, 2005)^[1] was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido. Throughout most of his career, he was accompanied by his high school sweetheart Tammy Lynn Sytch.

Candido held major titles in Extreme Championship Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation. His highest-profile role was in the World Wrestling Federation as Skip, part of the tag team known as The Bodydonnas with Zip, and his girlfriend and valet Sunny.

Early life[link]

Candito was the grandson of "Popeye" Chuck Richards, a wrestler for the World Wide Wrestling Federation, a precursor to the WWF. He started training at age 14 with Larry Sharpe and wrestled for Sharpe's World Wrestling Association. He began using the alternate spelling of "Candido" for his ring name.

While in high school, he met and fell in love with Tammy Lynn Sytch, and the two began a lifelong relationship. Sytch would later become his valet.

Career[link]

In the early 1990s, Candido was a part of Eastern Championship Wrestling (later Extreme Championship Wrestling). While in ECW, he was part of a stable called "The Suicide Blonds" with Johnny Hotbody and Chris Michaels. The trio had two stints as the Tag Team Champions; the first from April 2, 1993 to May 15 after winning them from Tony Stetson and Larry Winters.^[3] They lost the titles to the Super Destroyers, only to regain them the same day.^[3] They later vacated the titles when Candido left the promotion.

Candido became famous in Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW), alongside his manager and girlfriend Tammy Lynn Sytch.^[4]

On November 19, 1994, Candido won a 10-man tournament, defeating Al Snow, Dirty White Boy, and Tracy Smothers to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, which had been won and immediately vacated by Shane Douglas and ECW that August.

Candido's reign came at a time when national exposure for the National Wrestling Alliance was at an all-time low, as there was no national television outlet for the organization. His title defense matches were mostly held in small independent federations and SMW. Candido dropped the belt to Dan Severn on February 24, 1995, whose subsequent reign lasted over four years.

Candido and Sytch moved on to the WWF where Sytch was dubbed "Sunny" and Candido "Skip", the fitness fanatics The Bodydonnas.^[4] On March 31, 1996, Candido won the WWF Tag Team Championship with Zip from The Godwinns during the finals of a tournament for the vacated titles.^[4][5] They lost the titles on May 19, 1996, however, at a house show.^[6] According to Tammy Sytch in interviews post Candido's death, Candito and Sytch had a brief separation behind the scenes while working for the WWF.

Candido in ECW in 1998

After leaving the WWF, Candido joined ECW again, becoming part of the revived Triple Threat stable alongside Shane Douglas.^[4] While in the Triple Threat with the nickname "No Gimmicks Needed", he developed a rivalry with fellow member Lance Storm, who was soon replaced by Bam Bam Bigelow. However, Candido teamed with Storm to win the ECW Tag Team Championship.^[4] They won the tag titles on December 5, 1997 from Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon.^[3] Despite being a reluctant team who hated each other, Candido and Storm had a lengthy championship run. The duo held the titles for approximately six months until they lost them on June 26, 1998 to Sabu and Rob Van Dam.^[3]

He also had a brief run in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which started when he was cleared to compete on March 16, 2000.^[7] During his stint there, he won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.^[4] He won the title on April 16, 2000 in a six-way match at Spring Stampede against The Artist, Juventud Guerrera, Shannon Moore, Lash LeRoux, and Crowbar.^[8] He lost the title on May 15 of that same year.^[8] Later, the Triple Threat reformed in WCW, with Candido, Douglas, and Bam Bam Bigelow. However, the reformation was short lived, after Tammy was released from WCW due to backstage problems with Kimberly Page.

Candido had two runs with Xtreme Pro Wrestling. The first was in 2000, and he won the XPW World Heavyweight Championship before leaving for WCW. The second run was from late 2002 until the company's final show in 2003.

Candido debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in January 2005, and wrestled with them throughout 2005, until he died from a post-surgery blood clot. Because his last performance was taped to air later in the week, he was featured on an episode of TNA Impact! after his death.

In addition to wrestling, Candido also trained new wrestlers, including his brother Johnny Candido.

Death[link]

At Lockdown on April 24, 2005 Candido fractured both his tibia and fibula and dislocated his ankle during a steel cage match with Lance Hoyt against Apolo and Sonny Siaki.^[4] He underwent surgery the next day to have steel plates and screws inserted into his leg. Later in the week, Sytch picked Candido up from the airport, and was told he was given only pain medication but no antibiotics, which are normally given after surgery. He was at the following Impact! tapings managing The Naturals to defeat America's Most Wanted to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship.^[4] On April 28, 2005, Candido felt ill and his condition worsened during the day. He collapsed in the evening and was rushed to the hospital.^[4] He was diagnosed with pneumonia. Doctors drained his lungs, but Candido died soon afterwards. He was 33 years old. According to his brother Johnny, Candido died due to a blood clot, a complication from surgery.^[4] TNA acknowledged his death on their website^[4] and in late 2005 held the Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament, a tag team tournament in honor of Candido's memory.

In wrestling[link]

Candido performing a Delayed vertical suplex on Jerry Lynn in 1998.

Candido performing a leg drop on Lance Storm

• Finishing moves
  • Blonde Bombshell (Superbomb)
  • Diving headbutt
  • New Jersey Jam (Diving leg drop)

• Signature moves
  • Delayed vertical suplex
  • Reverse piledriver
  • Super frankensteiner
  • Superplex

• Managers
  • Sunny/Tammy

• Wrestlers managed
  • The Naturals (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens)^[9]

• Nicknames
  • "Hard Knox"
  • "Mr. Charisma"
  • "The Suicide Blond"
  • "No Gimmicks Needed"
    

Championships and accomplishments[link]

Candido's Hardcore Hall of Fame banner in the former ECW Arena.

• California Creative Wrestling
  • CCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[10]

• Extreme Championship Wrestling
  • ECW World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Johnny Hotbody and Chris Michaels (2), and Lance Storm (1)
  • Hardcore Hall of Fame (2009) ^[11]

• Legacy Wrestling Enterprises
  • LWE World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[12]

• Mid-American Wrestling
  • MAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[13]

• National Wrestling Alliance
  • NWA New Jersey Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• NWA Midwest
  • NWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2005)^[14]
  • PWI ranked him # 45 out of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1998.^[15]

• Smoky Mountain Wrestling
  • SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship (2 times)
  • SMW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • SMW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Brian Lee
  • SMW United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

• United States Extreme Wrestling
  • USEW United States Heavyweight Championship (3 times)^[16]

• USA Pro Wrestling
  • USA Pro United States Championship (1 time)^[17]

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW World Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Association

• WWA Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[10]
• WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Chris Evans^[10]

• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC World Television Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Zip

• Xtreme Pro Wrestling
  • XPW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Most Underrated Wrestler (1995)

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chris Candido

• Chris Candido at the Internet Movie Database
• Commentary on Candido's Death by former tag team partner Lance Storm