A Look Back: Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling

SMW was founded in 1991 by Jim Cornette after leaving Turner’s WCW (World Championship Wrestling) with backing from record producer Rick Rubin, I believe. Soon after its formation, the group began on TV as well as running house shows throughout Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky. SMW, in all likelihood, was the last major attempt at running a true old-style regional territory. They also had a very good working relationship with the WWF that saw the group from time to time use WWF stars on their major shows and the WWF use their top talent on TV and p-p-v shows.

From the onset, they had a great mix of established stars and coming talent not yet seen on a national stage. Such established talent as Paul Orndorff, Hector Guerrero, Tim Horner, The Dirty White Boy, Tracey Smothers, Rip Morgan, Tom Prichard, Stan Lane, The Rock -n- Roll Express, Buddy Landel, Dick Murdoch, Terry and Dory Funk, Jr., Ron Garvin, Kevin Sullivan, etc. But perhaps SMW’s most-lasting and greatest impact on the industry was in grooming young talent. Over its five-year existence, SMW provided a learning ground away from the glare of the national spotlight for many of today’s superstars. Tammy Sytch started her career here as Tammy Fytch and later gained fame in the WWF as Sunny. Chris Candido, D-Lo Brown, The Gangstas, Balls Mahoney, The Thrillseekers (Chris Jericho and Lance Storm), Road Dog (Jesse James), The Night Stalker working, I believe, the second territory in his career all got their real first push in the business with SMW! They also in many ways were a place where journeyman workers like Al Snow and Bob Holly and Bobby Fulton got the chance to work and be noticed by the WWF and WCW!

It is hard for me to choose just one favorite memory as there were many. I guess if I had to choose one, it would be their Night Of The Legends card and specifically the match between The Thrillseekers and Heavenly Bodies. The match was the highlight (at least for me!) of the best all-around cards of that year and cemented the status of Jericho and Storms as future stars. Perhaps the thing I liked most about the promotion was its old-time atmosphere and the fact that it was not hard at all to suspend one’s disbelief while watching, unlike many of the groups of the day and more so today. Another favorite was when Bobby Eaton and Arn Anderson worked brief tours with the group. Bobby Eaton had arrived first, joining long-time manager (and friend) Cornette as part of the Heavenly Bodies, followed by Anderson soon thereafter. Arn arrived during an interview segment with the Rock -n- Roll Express and Cornette and Bodies. The Express brought him in under a large bed sheet for the interview as a surprise partner for a coming match and the look on Cornette’s face when the sheet was removed was absolutely priceless.

On the following pages you will find a rundown of all the major cards the group held throughout its existence. One thing stands out while looking back at what the group accomplished, and that is that they were able to draw some really good houses. Some of the best were over 5,000 strong and that is something that few indy groups, and even WCW these days, can’t do!

All in all, SMW provided (for me at least) the best day-in-and-day-out wrestling during the mid-‘90s and it is sorely missed!

Road Warrior Hawk, Bob Armstrong & Tracey Smothers beat Dory, Jr. & Terry Funk and Bruiser Bedlam in a coward waves the flag match


Aug. 6, 1994 Johnson City, TN (Freedom Hall)

“Fire On The Mountain”

The Gangstas beat Anthony Michaels & Steve Skyfire
Doug Furnas beat Bob Orton, Jr.
SMW champion The Dirty White Boy beat Dick Slater to retain his title
Lance Storm & Tracey Smothers beat The Heavenly Bodies
Brian Lee & Chris Candido (w/Tammy Fytch) beat The Rock -n- Roll Express to win the SMW tag team championship in a match with Ricky Morton and Tammy Fytch’s hair on the line.
Road Warrior Hawk, Tracey Smothers & Bob Armstrong beat Dory, Jr. & Terry Funk and Bruiser Bedlam


Aug. 13, 1994 Morristown, TN (East High School)

SMW champion The Dirty White Boy & Lance Storm beat The Heavenly Bodies
Bob Armstrong beat Killer Kyle & Jim Cornette in a handicap match

King Of The Mountain Tournament

Ricky Morton beat Jimmy Del Rey
Ricky Morton beat Killer Kyle
Chris Candido beat Ricky Morton
Robert Gibson beat Chris Candido
Tracey Smothers beat Robert Gibson
Bruiser Bedlam beat Tracey Smothers
Bruiser Bedlam beat Tracey Smothers to win the tournament


Aug. 19, 1994 Marietta, GA (Cobb County Civic Center)

Jailhouse Rocker beat The Flame
Chris Candido beat Lance Storm
Bruiser Bedlam beat Mr. U.S.A.
Ricky Morton beat Chris Candido in a hair vs. mask match
Bob Armstrong & Tracey Smothers beat Bruiser Bedlam, Killer Kyle & Jim Cornette in a handicap match
SMW tag team champions The Rock -n- Roll Express beat The Gangstas
Tracey Smothers won a battle royal


Jan. 28, 1995 Knoxville, TN (Civic Coliseum)

“Super Saturday Night Fever”

D-Lo Brown beat Bryan Logan
Boo Bradley beat NWA World champion Chris Candido in a non-title match
Ricky Morton beat Unabomb (Glen Jacobs)
Buddy Landel beat Tracey Smothers
Jerry Lawler beat The Dirty White Boy to win the SMW championship
The Heavenly Bodies wrestled The Gangstas to a no-contest
Ricky Morton won a $10,000 battle royal


May 19, 1995 Knoxville, TN (Civic Coliseum)

“Volunteer Slam”
Bobby Blaze beat D-Lo Brown
Robert Gibson beat Unabomb in a falls-count-anywhere match
Steve Armstrong beat SMW champion Buddy Landel by DQ. in a title match
Boo Bradley beat Killer Kyle in a dog collar match
USWA World tag team champions PG-13 (Jamie Dundee and Wolfie D) beat Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy by DQ. to retain their title
Bob Armstrong beat Terry Funk in a Texas death match
Ricky Morton beat Al Snow in a scaffold match


May 20, 1995 Charlotte, NC (Grady Cole Center)

“Charlotte Memories”

Boo Bradley beat Killer Kyle in a falls count-anywhere match
Steve Armstrong beat SMW champion Buddy Landel by DQ. in a title match
NWA World champion Dan Severn beat Bobby Blaze to retain his title
The Dirty White Boy & Tracey Smothers beat The Gangstas in a street fight match
SMW tag team champions Al Snow & Unabomb beat The Rock -n- Roll Express in a steel cage match


Aug. 4, 1995 Knoxville, TN
(Civic Coliseum)

“Super Bowl Of Wrestling”

Brian Armstrong beat D-Lo Brown
The Headbangers beat Chris Michaels & Flash Flanagan
USWA World tag team champions PG-13 beat Jackie Fulton and Curtis Thompson to retain their title
The Punisher beat Bob Armstrong
Al Snow beat Marty Jannetty to win the MTW (Midwest Territorial Wrestling) heavyweight championship
NWA World champion Dan Severn beat Bobby Blaze to retain his title
Terry Gordy & Tommy Rich beat The Mongolian Stomper and Boo Bradley
Brad Armstrong beat Billy Jack Haynes to win the USWA title
The Undertaker beat Unabomb
The Heavenly Bodies beat Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy in a bloody match to win the SMW tag team championship
WWF Intercontinental champion Shawn Michaels beat Buddy Landel to retain his title


Aug. 12, 1995 Johnson City, TN (Freedom Hall)

“Fire On The Mountain”

Boo Bradley beat Tommy Rich in a blindfold match
Robert Gibson beat The Headbangers in a handicap match that if he lost he would have to have worn a dress
No winner in a 6-man battle royal
Tommy Rich & The Punisher beat Boo Bradley & Brian Armstrong in a falls count anywhere match
Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy beat Al Snow and Unabomb in a match with Jim Cornette as the referee, winners get a tag title shot and the loser of the fall leaves town
Brad Armstrong beat Brian Lee
Ron Wright beat The Dirty White Boy
Jim Cornette beat Bob Armstrong in a first blood match
Brad Armstrong beat Buddy Landel in a lumberjack match to win the held up SMW championship
Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy beat SMW tag team champions The Heavenly Bodies (Prichard & Del Rey) by DQ in a title match


Aug. 13, 1995 Charlotte, NC
“Carolina Cup Tag Team Tournament”

Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy beat Tommy Rich and The Punisher
The Headbangers beat Robert Gibson & Curtis Thompson
SMW tag team champions The Heavenly Bodies (Prichard & Del Rey) beat Bobby Fulton & Boo Bradley
Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy beat The Headbangers

Non-tournament Match

SMW champion Brad Armstrong beat Buddy Landel to retain his title

Tournament Final

Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy beat SMW tag team champions The Heavenly Bodies to win the Carolina Cup


Nov. 23, 1995 Knoxville, TN (Civic Coliseum)

“Thanksgiving Thunder”

Flash Flanagan beat Headbanger Thrasher
Sgt. Rock (Miss Texas) beat Wolfman
Butch Cassidy beat Jim Cornette by DQ.
Brad Armstrong beat Terry Gordy in a Bad Street country whipping match to win the SMW championship
Buddy Landel & The Bullet (Bob Armstrong) beat Tommy Rich & The Punisher
Robert Gibson & SMW tag team champions The Heavenly Bodies (Prichard and Del Rey) beat Ricky Morton, Tracey Smothers & The Dirty White Boy by DQ.


Anyone wishing to make contributions to the SMW record book, be it, results, photo scans, title info, real names, roster lists, programs or whatever, please send them along! All contributors will be recognized in print within the Record book. Picture scans, and other info can be sent to wpwr@juno.com or to my snail mail address 163 School House Rd., Old Saybrook, CT 06475-4045 Thanks!

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Email: MarkZog@mail.snet.net