Tracy Smothers

At 58 years old, Tracy Smothers has this physical status:

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

He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Early life

Smothers was from Springfield, Tennessee. He graduated from Springfield High School, where he played football, golf, and wrestled. Smothers was the first person in Springfield High School history to go to the state championship in wrestling.

Personal life

In July 2016, Smothers was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE. US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the case in September 2018.

Smothers announced on his Facebook page in December 2019 that he was diagnosed with lymphoma after he visited a doctor the month prior, but that it was not terminal. Despite this, Smothers died from the illness on October 28, 2020 at the age of 58. Smothers was survived by his three sons, Tony Shook, Kyle Smothers and Austin Elliot.

Source

Professional wrestling career

After being trained by Steve Keirn and Jerry Jartt, Smothers began his career in 1982. He made his television debut at a taping in Memphis, TN, on September 18, 1984. He was later discovered in the united promotional effort Pro Wrestling USA. In a losing battle against the Road Warriors, he joined Keith Eric. He also wrestled Mr. Saito and team against Dory Funk and Harley Race at the same time, despite being teamed against Dory Funk and Harley Race.

On October 22, the rookie made his debut in Memphis, Tennessee, and the Continental Wrestling Association a month later. They lost to The Nightmares after being matched with John King. The young wrestler appeared on Saturday morning television in 1985 as an enhancement artist. Danny Davis, Kareem Muhammad, Jerry Bryant, and Eddie Gilbert all competed for Danny Davis, Kareem Muhammad, Jerry Bryant, and Eddie Gilbert. He won his first show on March 12, 1985, beating Billy Travis at a house show in Louisville, Kentucky. On January 5, 1986, he came to an end with a time limit draw against The Spoiler at a Memphis, Tennessee house show.

On February 11, 1986, the Smothers soared to Mid South Wrestling, losing to Taras Bulba on television. Mid-South was the Universal Wrestling Federation less than a year ago. Although the majority of his matches were lost, Smothers were also winning victories over Bulba and Gustavo Mendoza. At a house show in Springfield, MO, the Smothers defeated a teenage Blade Runner Sting.

Tracy returned to the CWA in June 1986, working with Pat Tanaka against The Hunter & The Strong Machine. Smothers' career got off to a rocky start, for the first time in his nascent years. Danny Davis, Gypsy Joe, Ron Sexton, and David Haskins all won, beating them. He defeated the vacant NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship on August 11, 1986. Smothers claimed his first singles championship after defeating Mr Universe in the quarterfinals and Ron Sexton in the semi-finals.

He retained the title against Sexton and The Great Kabuki before losing it to The Ninja on September 20. Tracy recovered the championship six days later and held it until October 10, 1986, when he defeated the title to Boy Tony at a house show in Memphis, Tennessee.

Tracy brought the bear to the mat several times while wrestling an unmuzzled bear that had been declared as 550 pounds in Continental; The bear, who was not able to comprehend the situation, was sure they were playing.

In February 1987, Smothers joined Championship Wrestling from Florida and immediately formed "The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" with Steve Armstrong. They lost in Tampa, Florida, to The New Breed, in their first match on February 17. The Southern Boys, however, defeated The New Breed in their first ever title, the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship. Smothers and Armstrong remained in control until March 15, when they were stripped out by the MOD Squad. In June, they unsuccessfully bid for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship, losing to The Midnight Express (Stan Lane & Bobby Eaton).

In the CWA, the Southern Boys will make a stopover, where they last met Rough & Ready in October 1987. They feuded with The Stud Stable during this period.

The Southern Boys went on tour in New Japan Pro-Wrestling after a brief stop in the CWA without Armstrong. Smothers' first match for the competition was as a singles wrestler, where he defeated Osamu Kido on July 15, 1988 at the NJPW Summer Fight Series 1988 tournament. The Southern Boys enjoyed success, defeating Kantaro Hoshino & Osamu Kido, Kuniaki Kobayashi & Norio Honaga, Kensuke Sasaki & Norio Honaga, and Seiji Sakatoshi Goto. The final match of the NJPW Japan Cup Series 1988, 1988 – day 21 television show, where they lost to Kotetsu Yamamoto & Yoshinari Tsuji. Smothers defeated Japanese veteran Antonio Inoki in a singles match on April 17, 1989. By 1990, the Smothers had converted to a singles coemption before heading back to the United States.

Tracy Smothers returned to the CWA three days later, defeating Mike Davis in his debut at a house show in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 12, 1988. The United States Wrestling Association was renamed shortly after the promotion was announced. John Paul teamed up with John Paul in the vacated CWA Tag Team Championship from Action Jackson and Robert Fuller. Brian Lee and Fuller will be the titles withdrawn on May 4 and Fuller. He will work with John Paul regularly and also compete in singles matches.

Steve Armstrong eventually joined Smothers and reformed the Southern Boys, and the two boys became embroiled in a feud with The Stud Stable.

Smothers reunited with Steve Armstrong in Marietta, GA, for their first television appearance at a World Championship Wrestling taping, defeating Kevin Sullivan and Cactus Jack by disqualification in 1990. In a non-title match on May 20, the new squad defeated WCW Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express. They went to a house show series against WCW World Tag Team Champions Doom later this month, but they were dissatisfied with their attempts.

They were victorious at the Clash of the Champions XI "Coastal Crush" exhibition on June 13, 1990, when they met the Fabulous Freebirds. After losing the tights, Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes were able to obtain a measure of revenge by defeating them on the 1990 episode of WCW Worldwide. Jim Cornette, the Midnight Express's boss, will move the Southern Boys to their first feud. When Smothers and Armstrong collapsed to The Great American Bash in 1990, they revealed their first PPV showing. The Smothers and Armstrong would continue to feud with the Midnight Express before moving to a series starring the self-proclaimed "Southern Champions" The Fabulous Freebirds. They participated in a "best of three" series against the Freebirds in August, and on September 5, 1990, they defeated Hayes and Garvin at "Clash of the Champions XII: Mountain Madness."

The Southern Boys lost once more to The Midnight Express on September 22, 1990, in a match where the champion received a United States Tag Team Championship shot. The pair was unable to join the newly arrived Nasty Boys on The Main Event on October 6th. Their televised slump continued at the Halloween Havoc 1990, where they were defeated by The Master Blasters after Jim Cornette interfered in the match. Cornette and Stan Lane resigned from the promotion right after, and there was no conclusion to the Southern Boys/Midnight Express storyline. They converted to a home show series with the Blasters (Al Green and a rookie Kevin Nash).

The young team's fortunes were reversing immediately in 1991. They began the year in January with several victories over The Master Blasters, and on February 24, 1991, they defeated The Royal Family (Jack Victory and Rip Morgan). The Young Pistols were renamed The Young Pistols a few days earlier during television taping in Montgomery, Alabama. They began a house show series against Moondog Rex and Dutch Mantell, the former being the Desperados. The televised victory streak of the Toronto Freebirds came to an end on May 19, 1991 when they were defeated by the Freebirds at SuperBrawl I in a match to regain the vacant United States Tag Team Championship after "Badstreet" (a masked Brad Armstrong) interfered. The Freebirds' feud began anew, and the pair defeated Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin, and Badstreet at Clash of the Champions XV on June 12, 1991.

The WCW World Tag Team Championship was postponed due to Scott Steiner's injury in the summer. The Young Pistols took part in a tournament to crown new champions on August 3, 1991; the York Foundation defeated them. On September 21, 1991, the Enforcers, the eventual winners of the tournament, were defeated in a non-title match (Arn Anderson and Larry Zybysko), but were unsuccessful. Steve Austin was battling Stunning Steve Austin for the WCW World Television Championship on November 17, 1991. On the house show circuit, the Pistols continued to face The York Foundation in October.

The Pistols started to show the first signs of a mindset shift at Halloween 1991, claiming that they didn't care who was the "WCW Phantom" (eventually announced it that night as Rick Rude), but now are waiting for their first match against The WCW Patriots as the Wrestling Champions (Firebreaker Chip and Todd Champion). They finally got their shot on The Main Event's December 8, 1991 episode. The match was revived and the Patriots took the championship after being announced the winners earlier. They said they were unconcerned with what the fans believed, a heel turn followed the next week. The Pistols won the United States Tag Team Championship later that night after defeating the WCW Patriots.

In another rematch between the Young Pistols and the Patriots in another rematch in the WCW Pro's January 18 episode, the Young Pistols emerged as champions and defeated the Patriots. Former champions Tom Zenk and Brian Pillman were defeated by WCW Worldwide on January 25. However, they did not qualify for the championships until a February 16 episode of WCW Pro, where they lost the championship to Ron Simmons and Big Josh. In February, the Young Pistols appeared on a house show series against The Steiner Brothers. On February 29, they were supposed to compete with The Vegas Connection (Vinnie Vegas and Dallas Pages) in an eight-man tag team match against El Gigante, Big Josh, Johnny B. Badd, and Mike Graham at SuperBrawl II; however, the match was called off.

Steve Armstrong, the Smothers' partner, left WCW in April 1992, leaving Tracy to fight as a singles competitor. He began a house show series against Johnny B. Badd, but he was winless in each match. Badd at WrestleWar 1992, pinned him on May 17. Following The dissolution of The York Foundation, Richard Morton formed a temporary alliance with him; the new tag team will face the Steiner Brothers, Freebirds, and the WCW Patriots. He'll be a heel, Dustin Rhodes, Brian Pillman, and Nikita Koloff in singles matches this summer. He teamed with Morton once more, this time in a six-man tag team match against Junkyard Dog, Big Josh, and Tom Zenk on June 20, 1992 at Beach Blast. In August, he left the company.

Tracy Smothers resurfaced in Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion, which was based out of Knoxville, Tennessee, three months after leaving World Championship Wrestling and following a brief period in the United States Wrestling Association. Smothers would be here when they had their best singles debut. Tracy Smothers made his SMW television debut on October 31, 1992, defeating Paul Lee. He was now known as "The Wild Eyed Southern Boy." He remained undefeated for the remainder of the year, defeating Robbie Eagle, Dutch Mantell, Jimmy Golden, Killer Kyle, and The Nightstalker, who was competing as a babyface. He was crowned inaugural SMW Beat the Champ Television Champion in December 1992 in a tournament.

He began feuding with SMW Heavyweight Champion "Dirty White Boy" Anthony Anthony, restricting his access to multiple times and later pinning him in non-title matches. On February 8, 1993, he lost the Beat the Champ Championship to The Nightstalker. Smothers defeated DWB in a chain match to win the SMW Heavyweight Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 2, 1993. When he was pinned by "Prime Time" Brian Lee in Johnson City, Tennessee, he would keep the Championship until July 17th. The mother of the Jim Cornette henchman Jimmy Del Ray of the United States would win the Champ TV Championship for the second time on December 11, 1993.

Smothers were crowned champion on 1994, but they would lose it to Chris Candido on the 1994 episode of SMW television to Chris Candido. He became embroiled in a rivalry with Candido, winning in non-title matches at house shows after being victorious. He advanced to another feud with Kendo the Samurai after a lengthy string of matches. He defeated Kendo to win the Beat the Champ TV Championship for the third time on June 18, 1994 episode of SMW. In July, he will leave the championship and join Jim Cornette's charge Bruiser Bedlam in a feud. Smothers teamed with Road Warrior Hawk and Bob Armstrong to defeat Bruiser Bedlam, Terry Funk, and Dory Funk Jr. in a number of handicap matches on August 5, 1994. He came out of a year of feuding with Bryant Anderson.

Scott Armstrong, another Armstrong brother, after winning his feud with Anderson in early 1995, formed a team with another Armstrong brother, Scott Armstrong. With the new arrivals of Gangstas, the immediate feud was sparked and was winless. The Thugs were then formed as the Dirty White Boys. During the spring, the Thugs then feuded with The Gangstas, but they didn't win until April 13. The war between the two groups raged on until June, when the Gangstas left for Extreme Championship Wrestling.

SMW and the USWA began a war in the summer of 1995; the Thugs defeated the USWA Tag Team Champions PG-13 in a non-title match in Knoxville, Tennessee. The pair defeated Al Snow and Unabomb to win the SMW Tag Team Championship on July 6, 1995. They successfully maintained their titles against Snow and Unabomb, as well as The Headbangers, before losing the titles at the "SuperBowl of Wrestling" major event in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 4 to The Heavenly Bodies. In a losing propositions town match eight days later, the Thugs defeated Snow and Unabomb. Until the promotion was over in November 1995, the two teams continued to feud with the Heavenly Bodies.

In 1994, the Smothers first toured for the International Wrestling Association of Japan (IWA). With Jason the Terrible, he made his first appearance as the New Jason the Terrible team. They feuded with each other later on. Leatherface is also partnered. He, along with Cactus Jack, won the IWA World Tag Team in 1995, defeating The Headhunters. The titles were renamed to Tarzan Goto and Mr. Gannosuke a few days ago, but Mr. Gannosuke and Makoto were deprived of them. In a losing bid to Cactus Jack and Takashi Okano, he returned in 1996 for his third tour squading with masked USWA wrestler Doug Gilbert (wrestling as Freddie Krueger). He would compete with Tiger Jeet Singh, and late in the tour, he would face Cactus Jack in singles competition.

Smothers continued to work for the USWA after SMW's dissolution. The new pair, who are now working with Steve's younger brother Jesse James Armstrong, won the USWA Tag Team Championship on December 11, 1995 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Smothers and Armstrong will keep the belts until January 3, 1996, when they will be unable to move to Doug Gilbert and Tommy Rich. Throughout the spring, they will clash with PG-13 and then face each other for the vacant USWA World Heavyweight Championships.

Shaquille Ali, a play on NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, joined the United StatesWA affiliate of the Nation of Domination in January 1997, renaming him Shaquille Ali (a play on NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali). Bill Dundee and Brian Christopher semi-finals where he was the Number One Contender for the USWA World Heavyweight Championship in the same month that he won a tournament over King Mabel in the first round, as well as Bill Dundee in the finals. Later that night, he lost to USWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler, where Smothers failed to win. He will leave the United StatesWA before the company's doors were shut down later this year.

Faced with an increasing WCW's expanding talent pool, Jim Cornette suggested that a number of unsigned wrestlers be brought in to flesh out the WWF roster. Tracy Smothers, Tony Anthony, Bill Irwin, Tom Brandi, and Alex Porteau were all signed, leading to the signing of Tracy Smothers, Tony Anthony, Tony Anthony, Bill Irwin, Tom Brandi, and Alex Porteau. All but Porteau's names were changed, and Smothers was given the monicker "Freddie Joe Floyd." Freddie Joe Brisco and Gerald Floyd Brisco, both WWF front office officials, were rated as a rib on WWF front office officials. Both Briscos came from Bowlegs, Oklahoma (the same home town where Freddie Joe Floyd was reported as being from). He made his WWF Superstars debut on June 29, 1996, defeating Justin Hawk Bradshaw. Bradshaw pinned him in a subsequent rematch on the 1993 Superstars' episode. His first RAW appearance came on July 22, when Mankind defeated him.

Floyd was initially used primarily for television tapings, and he beat Uncle Zebekiah on the WWF Superstars' August 3 episode. He teamed with Savio Vega two weeks later and defeated both Zebekiah and Justin Bradshaw. Floyd was winless in singles matches against Valiant, Steve Austin, and Crush over the next month. In September 1996, he began a house show series against T.L. Hopper (former SMW partner Tony Anthony) is the host. Smothers made his first Madison Square Garden appearance when he met Hunter Hearst Helmsley on September 29. Mr. Connor won by a margin over Triple H later today. Helmsley is a natural distracter (and inadvertently became the first person to kick out of the Pedigree). Hunter Hearst Helmsley was a contender for the Intercontinental Champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley, but he lost to match against Helmsley on January 5, 1997.

He wrestled numerous singles matches on home shows, including Glen Jacobs (now known as "the New Diesel"), Headbanger Mosh, and Headbanger Thrasher. He began working with Barry Horowitz in the spring; on the first edition of Monday Night RAW, the pair faced The Headbangers. On April 12, Smothers defeated his partner Barry Horowitz at a house show in Kuwait. In Huntington, West Virginia, where he defeated T.L., his final WWF match came on June 2, 1997. Hopper.

Floyd, who was still a member of the WWF, became "The Big Man" Tracy Smothers in February 22, 1997. Chris Chetti, the Rookie", teamed with the Full Blooded Italians (FBI), Little Guido, and former SMW competitor "The Big Don" Tommy Rich on March 15, 1997 at Hostile City Showdown. During the match, the Smothers clocked on Chetti and joined the FBI, despite not being Italian). Smothers, who had long been associated with being a stereotype southern wrestler, were referred to as "Nashville, Italy" or "Southern Italy" at this time. He began doing a goofy dance that ECW announcer Joey Styles often remarked on by saying, "what the hell is with this horrible dance?" Smothers were often mocked by the crowd with chants of "Freddy Joe." He was involved in the WWF for a period of time.

Smothers has been an ECW regular, often assisting Little Guido in matches against the Pitbulls. Smothers and Guido were defeated by the Pitbulls at Wrestlepalooza 1997 in Philadelphia, PA, including Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten. On October 17, 1997, the Mahoney and Rotten defeated Mahoney and Rotten on ECW television. Smothers and Guido defeated John Kronus and New Jack to win the ECW Tag Team Championship a day later. They successfully protected their titles against Mahoney & Rotten, as well as New Jack and Kronus, as the year came to an end. Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon's reign came to an end on December 5, 1997, when they were defeated for the titles by Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon.

Guido and Smothers appeared on television in 1998 after transferring to a house show competition with Tommy Dreamer, Balls Mahoney, and Axl Rotten, but they were unable to proceed. Al Snow, a former SMW competitor, wrestled him at CyberSlam 1998, on February 21, 1998. He teamed with Guido once more in 1998 to face Jerry Lynn and Chris Chetti. After Tommy Rich mistakenly struck Smothers with the Italian flag, the mother was pinned. After the match as a result, the two became arguing, but the house stayed intact. Super Nova and The Blue Meanie defeated Guido and Smothers at Wrestlepalooza 1998. The F.B.I. had a field day on May 16th. Nova and Meanie were thrown into the ring with Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" (Sinatra died two days before. Smothers and Guido continued to feud with Nova and Meanie through the summer.

On October 30, 1998 on ECW television, Smothers and Guido met Balls Mahoney & Masato Tanaka, but they were dissatisfied. He appeared 1998 in New Orleans, LA, but was disqualified. He then won a lucrative house show series where he and Guido defeated Rogers and Chetti in numerous matches. On December 10, he teamed with Guido and The One Man Gang to defeat Tommy Dreamer and Nova. On the December 31 edition of ECW television, the pair ended the year by defeating Danny Doring and Roadkill. The One Man Gang was announced as the newest member of The F.B.I.

The F.B.I. pleaded guilty in Kissimmee, Florida, on January 10, 1999. (Guido and Smothers) In an elimination match against Rotten & Mahoney and Roadkill and Doring, but they were disqualified. Antifaz del Norte & Nova defeated them on February 11 on ECW television. Smothers were on ECW television on April 4 and wrestled Jerry Lynn to a no contest after Rob Van Dam interfered. On the house show circuit, the Smothers will meet Lynn several times this summer. On December 2, 1999, he met Rob Van Dam for the ECW Television Championship on TNN, but was pinned. When he met Kentaro Kanemura on December 24, his last match came on ECW television's December 24 edition.

Smothers competed at both of the ECW reunion shows in June 2005, defeating The Blue Meanie at Hardcore Homecoming with J.T. At ECW One Night Stand 2005, Smith, his companion Little Guido, and his brother Yoshihiro Tajiri and Super Crazy were on ringside for his match with Yoshihiro Tajiri and Super Crazy. Smothers challenged WWE employee John "Bradshaw" Layfield to a match at One Night Standout on June 18, 2005, after JBL fired on the Blue Meanie during a brawl at the end of One Night Standoff. He also competed at all four of the Hardcore Homecoming competitions.

In 1999, the Smothers returned to the World Wrestling Federation for the second time. On the 1999 episode of Shotgun Saturday Night, "Freddie Joe Floyd" was no longer remembered, he wrestled under his long-name and met former Freebird Michael Hayes. Against Chaz and The Colorado Kid, Smothers would work as a jobber. On November 21, 1999, he appeared on Sunday Night Heat, losing to Rikishi. He defeated Rikishi on house shows at the end of the year.

On February 21, 2000, he and Rick Michaels teamed up with Rick Michaels to face The Headbangers on Jakked. Scott Vick was wrestled in a dark match in Chicago, Illinois, where a RAW is WAR taping is underway. He appeared on Jakked on April 24 against Taz on April 24. On June 19, then lost to Val Venis on Jakked taping. His last appearance appeared in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 20, 2000, where he finally met Scott Vick.

Smothers made a surprise appearance in World Championship Wrestling, while appearing for the World Wrestling Federation. Smothers faced The Barbarian in an episode of WCW Worldwide taped in Cape Girardeau, MO, but the Barbarian appeared on January 29.

Smothers migrated to Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in March 2000 while still serving occasional independents as well as the World Wrestling Federation. He made his debut on March 27, partnering with Balls Mahoney, Chocoball Mukai, and Crazy Boy in a losing effort against Hideki Hosaka, Hido, Hisakatsu Oya & Kintaro Kanemura at the FMW Winning Road 2000 PPV in Tokyo, Japan, in a losing effort against Hideki Hosaka, Hido, Hisakatsu Oya & Kintaro Kanemura. Smothers will find himself regularly working with fellow ECW alumni Masato Tanaka, including H. Jado & Kintaro Sasaki, H. Yoshinori Sasaki, and Tetsuhiro Kuroda. He also participated in singles racing, defeating Ricky Fuji in Niigata, Japan, and Hisakatsu Oya on April 3, 2000 in Sapporo, Japan.

Smothers advanced to Xtreme Pro Wrestling, defeating Tony Jones on May 26, 2000 at the D-Day parade in Los Angeles, CA. Smothers lost to Kid Kaos on July 27 in a loser leaves town match after defeating Jones in a rematch and then Perro Russo and Nosawa at subsequent matches.

In December 2002, he would return to the job. "Southern Comfort" was a tag team formed by Chris Hamrick, a SMW and ECW alumni, who also sang of "Southern Comfort." They first met Angel and Shark Boy in Philadelphia, PA, on January 17, 2003. They were brief in the promotion, their last match being at the Battle at the Burgh event in Pittsburgh, PA, on March 8, 2003, they defeated Josh Cross & Matt Cross, Danny Doring & Christian York in a three-way match.

Smothers will make occasional forays into IWA Mid-South, although they were otherwise involved with WWF, USWA, and ECW. He played in former SMW stomping grounds of Louisville, Kentucky, on October 10, 1996, where he lost to Reckless Youth. The bulk of his career will be spent in IWA Mid-South. His appearances were patchy over the next three years, but he fought and defeated Flash Flanagan, J. C. Ice, and Bull Pain, among other things. He beat Pain on September 11, 1997 to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship, but Salvatore Sincere would lose it the following day.

Smothers became a full-time regular after appearing at a handful of shows in 1998 and 1999 for IWA Mid-South. He'll find himself competing in his first matches against other ECW members; at the An IWA Odyssey event in Charlestown, IN, he defeated Sabu and Ian Rotten in a three-way dance. Over the next two months, he will meet Taz, Spike Dudley, and former Little Guido. He was a student at Smothers in April 14, 2001, and the eventual star would owe a lot to his teachers.

Smothers fought Trent Baker for the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship at the Night on August 18, 2001. The Lights Went Out In Charlestownevent He fought for the title again on November 22, 2001, this time losing to Chris Hero.

He started 2002 on a winning streak, reeling off victories against Chris Candido, J. C. Ice, Tarek the Great, Bobby Eaton, and Dave Donovan. Simply the Best 4 in Clarksville, IN, defeated Shark Boy on March 7, 2003. Chris Hambrick, who competed as a singles wrestler in the IWA, joined Smothers in the IWA and reformed their Southern Comfort tag team in 2003. A tournament was held on May 29, 2004, capturing the IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship. Southern Comfort defeated The Wild Cards (Eddie Kingston and Jack Marciano) in the quarterfinals and then defeated B-Boy and Homicide in the semis. They will face the Second City Saints (CM Punk & Colt Cabana) in the finals to win the tag team championship. Their reign in Hammond, IN, however, lasted just a day; Brad Bradley and Ryan Boz were defeated by Brad Bradley & Ryan Boz on May 30. He then competed at the Ted Petty Invitational 2008, where he lost to Dave Taylor in the first round.

Smothers teamed with Corporal Robinson to battle Cult Fiction's Vulgar Display of Power, Brain Damage, and Deranged managed by Halfbreed Billy Gram on October 19, 2008 in the Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South's Double Death Tag Team Tournament. Following Smothers' appearances in the IWA, he took to Cult Fiction, although he continued to fight for the title until 2010.

After a six-year absence, the Smothers returned to IWA Mid-South in 2016. Smother defeated JJ Garrett to win the IWA Mid-South Championship on October 6, 2016. He defeated Ian Rotten on October 15 to keep the title, and in November he will face Chris Hero in championship matches as well. Mitch Page was finally disqualified for the title on December 22, 2016, at the IWA Mid-South Winter Tryout Show. On February 28, 2019, he tried to regain the IWA Mid-South Championship but was defeated by Aaron Williams at The Heartbreak Ends tournament. Jordan Kage's last match in IWA Mid-South was a tag team, with Jordan Kage defeating Amazing Maria and Lincoln Moseley on April 11, 2019.

Smothers, who had been a part of the industry for more than 20 years, had become a well-known figure to the crop of young wrestlers around him, sharing tips on car rides and finding somewhere for them to stay. Smothers worked a full time at several independent promotions in Tennessee and eastern Tennessee, including the IWC (International Wrestling Championship Wrestling), WOW (West Virginia Wrestling), VCW (Vanguard Championship Wrestling), NWA Wrestling), and NWA Midwest. Southern Comfort defeated Matt Cross & Josh Prohibition in Utown, PA, on February 25, 2005; the day after, the Smothers faced Shirley Doe for the IWC World Heavyweight Championship but was unsuccessful. At the IWC Night of Legends 2 event on April 9, 2005, he will meet Doe once more, but he was unable to capture the trophy once more. The BBW defeated JC Bailey in central City, KY, on June 1, 2005, when Smothers briefly added the WOW West Virginia title to his collection, defeating Eric Steel in Whitesville, WV. At the WOW Summer Blast 2005 tournament two days later, he would lose the West Virginia crown to Steel. Southern Comfort won the IWC Tag Team Championship in a ladder match at IWC Summer Sizzler 2 on August 25, 2005; they would keep the belts until they lost them to The Gambino Brothers Moving Company on November 25.

Smothers and Hamrick travelled to 1PW (One Pro Wrestling) in the United Kingdom and defeated The JOB Squad (Al Snow & Blue Meanie) on January 6, 2006 at the event 1PW No Turning Back. Southern Comfort will travel to the United Kingdom on several occasions, where they will also compete in a tag team ladder match against Team SHAG (Darren Burridge and Colt Cabana) and Jonny Storm and Jody Fleisch, eventually losing to Team SHAG. They defeated Team Supreme (Dave Moralez & Jack Storm) on July 29, 2006, becoming the top contenders for the 1PW Tag Team Championship. Team SHAG and champions Jody Fleisch & Jonny Storm were disqualified for the titles on October 14 in South Yorkshire, but they were unsuccessful.

Smothers returned to CCW (Collective Wrestling), back in the United States. Chuck Taylor was defeated in the main event of the CCW Heavyweight Championship in Evansville, IN, on January 11, 2006. Tracy Smothers was named the inaugural OPW (Omni Wrestling Promotions) Heavyweight Championship on February 26, 2006; he lost the tournament the following night to Chuck Taylor. He also served for the HWA (Heartland Wrestling Association) in 2005, battling TJ Dalton, Tack, and The GP Code (Andre Heart & Deja Vu). In September 2006, he returned to WZW (Wrestle Zone Wrestling). Lance Thunder defeated Lance Thunder in the WZW Heavyweight Championship on September 26 in Northumberland. The belt was held by the mothers until vacating it on October 14. Smothers defeated Anthony Blaze & Buzz Dupp on November 1, 2006, a team of Tim Renesto defeated Tim Renesto to win the CCW Tag Team Championship. They lost the title seven days later in a rematch to Blaze and Dupp, but they would recover them on November 22. Smothers from December 2006 to CAPW (Cleveland All Pro Wrestling). He defeated champion Claudio Castagnoli and Jason Bane to win the CAPW Heavyweight Championship in 2006.

The Pro Wrestling Unplugged Hardcore Championship was won by Smothers in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 25, 2007. In contrast, the Smothers remained champion until he was overthrowened by the Blue Meanie on June 3, 2007. He then traveled to the CCW, where he defended his CCW Heavyweight Championship against Mitch Ryder, Lonestar, and Chris Michaels. He was finally disqualified from the CCW championship by Ryder at an event held in Evansville, IN, on July 18, 2007. Southern Comfort defeated Chris Faith and Vincent Nothing for the CAPW Tag Team Championship on August 5, 2007, but they were disqualified. Smothers travelled in October 2007 to Wales in the United Kingdom to compete for the CW after a one-shot appearance in IWA Mid-South. (Celtic Wrestling). Smothers defeated Maddog Maxx to win the CW Heavyweight Championship in Cardiff, Wales, after winning a battle royal to advance to the Number One contender for the title.

Although he was the CW Champion on tour, he will soon be competing in the IWW (Irish Whip Wrestling) competition. He faced a variety of opponents, including El Generico and Dillon Jones. On October 28, he qualified for the IWW International Heavyweight Championship against champion Vic Viper, but he was unable to win the title. Maddog Max, the CW All or Nothing tournament held in Aberfan, Wales, lost the CW Championship to former champion Maddog Max on November 1, 2007.

In 2008, the Smothers returned to the United States and competed in a variety of independent leagues, including CCW, MPW (Mad-Pro Wrestling), XCW Wrestling Mid-West, and IWA East Coast. He defeated former SMW and ECW rival Al Snow on March 18, beating him at IWA East Coast. He revived Southern Comfort once more in June and competed at the Steel City Wrestlefest in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, on May 24. Southern Comfort defeated Antonio Dinero and Julio Dinero. He wrestled at PWX Summer Assault 2, a joint event hosted by Pro Wrestling eXpress, National Wrestling Alliance East, and the National Wrestling Alliance, on July 9, 2008. He challenged Crusher Hansen for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship but was disqualified. Smothers returned to Japan in August 2008 for a match against Kintaro Kanemura, Masato Tanaka, Tetsuhiro Kuroda. Smothers finished the year off by rebuilding his FBI relationship with Little Guido and appearing in JAPW (Jersey All Pro Wrestling), where they defeated the JAPW Tag Team Championship in Jersey City, NJ, where they defeated the JAPW Tag Team Championship on November 15, 2008. The FBI will hold the titles for a month after losing them at the 'APW 11th Anniversary Exhibition in Rahway, New Jersey, on December 13, 2008.

In 2009, Tracy Smothers began to wind down his schedule. He will not wrestle again until April 17, 2010, after appearing in IWA Deep South, IWA Mid-South, and XCW between January and June. Southern Comfort, working together for the last time with Chris Hamrick, was defeated by PWF Tag Team Champions Jay Shaft & JD Hogg, but they were disqualified. He captured the Mid-American Heavyweight Championship earlier this year. Smothers lost the championship to Jerry "The King" Lawler at an event held in North Olmsted, Ohio, on July 9, 2010. He wrestled regularly for the remainder of the year, appearing in the NWA Main Event, BWF, and MECW (Main Event Championship Wrestling).

Smothers appeared in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (ECW) reunion show, Hardcore Justice, on August 8, 2010, where he, Little Guido and Tony Luke defeated Kid Kash, Simon Diamond, and Johnny Swinger in a six-man tag team match. A.J. struck Impact!, the ECW alumni, collectively known as Extreme Version 2.0 (EV 2.0). Styles, Robert Roode, James Storm, Douglas Williams, and Matthew Morgan of Ric Flair's Fourtune stable, who said they didn't deserve to be in TNA. In the week after, TNA president Dixie Carter told each member of EV 2.0 TNA contracts in order for them to resolve their scores with Fourtune.

Tracy Smothers debuted in Juggalo Championship Wrestling by a series of promos in which he slammed the company, the founders (Insane Clown Posse), and the Juggalo fanbase. Tracy grew to become the company's greatest villain by losing a large portion of their roster and ending most of his matches by coughing out his opponents. In the sixth episode of the internet wrestling show SlamTV!, Tony Tuff Tony was attacked, causing Tony to be out of action for several weeks. Smothers were arrested just days before Tony's return from the eighth episode, leaving Tony with no way to seek revenge. Smothers were defeated by Ron Killings at Bloodymania.

Tracy and 2 Tuff Tony's feudance continued into season two. Both men clashed in the first episode, with Tracy winning after a fast count by the referee, who was later identified as Tracy's unlegitimate daughter, Isabella. Isabella was captured by Tracy two weeks later listening to Boondox, the rapper who performs 2 Tuff Tony's entrance songs. 2 Tuff Tony was stabbed after his match this week. Isabella was later discovered to be involved in sexual relations with Boondox through storyline, and she assaulted him. At Bloodymania II, Tracy and Isabella Smothers were then scheduled to face Boondox and 2 Tuff Tony. Isabella was later recalled by Bull Pain after she broke her leg, and Smothers and Pain were lost to Tony and Boondox.

Tracy was defeated by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan at Flashlight Wrestling: Legends and Loonies. He lost to Booker T, who was accompanied by Boondox on the following night at Bloodymania IV. He lost to former ECW star Rhyno and former F.B.I. Tommy Rich, a teammate, died on August 16, 2011. He left his company and began on the independent route afterward.

On February 16, 2013, he returned to JCW for a one-night appearance with Isabella Smothers as they lost to Ring Girl Randy and the Weedman in Detroit. He appeared on a couple of occasions in 2015 where he defeated Necro Butcher on April 19. Rude Boy lost his last match for JCW on July 26, where he had to forfeit to Rude Boy.

In the first decade, Tracy Smothers began wrestling on the independent circuit. Bill Dundee & Brian Christopher met with JD Maverick at a MECW function in Monroe City, Indiana, on January 15, 2011. He created a new version of The F.B.I. With Romeo Valentino, and the FCW Tag Team Championship at WrestleRock 3 was unsuccessful on July 9, 2011. The mothers then moved to Ohio Valley Wrestling, where he and his daughter Jessie Belle Smothers teamed in a winless televised mixed-tag match against CJ Lane & Mysterie on August 31, 2011. He defeated Lady JoJo, Lennox Norris, and Taryn Shay together on September 3, 2011 with Jessie Belle and Isabella Smothers. In 2012, he did not wrestle any games.

Smothers were last seen in JCW and in attendance at the new CWA's Night Of The Legends festival on May 4, 2013. The pair, partnering with Matt Yaden, defeated Wolfie D and Chris Rocker. On May 11, Greg Excellent was defeated at Combat Zone Wrestling's Proving Grounds. After appearing on the Cleveland-based Absolute Intense Wrestling as a singles wrestler, he then competed at The JT Lightning Invitational Tournament on May 25, 2013. He fought Jock Samson at the tournament but was disqualified due to disqualification. Tracy Smothers teamed with old partner Steve Armstrong for the first time in more than 20 years on June 16, 2013, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The reunited Southern Boys teamed with Doug Gilbert to defeat Paul Lee, The Storm Trooper & Vordell Walker. The smothers then traveled to Destination One Wrestling, where they defeated Lennox Norris for the D1W Heavyweight Championship at an event in Charlestown, IN.

However, he defeated Norris in a three-way match with Hy-Zaya a month later. This time, the Smothers were victorious and took home yet another award. Smothers defended the D1W Heavyweight Championship against Adam Gooch and Brian Christopher before meeting opponent Mad Man Pondo at the D1W Mad Man Pondo's Birthday Bash in New Albany, IN, on June 25, 2014. Pondo won the championship after defeating Smother and then beating him in a lumberback rematch on July 5. He then split time between D1W and IWA Mid South to end the year.

He appeared at the annual CW Night Of The Legends festival on March 8, 2015, defending Chris Rocker. Smothers returned to Absolute Intense Wrestling, this time with Little Guido as the F.B.I. The pair competed at The JT Lightning Invitational Tournament 2015, but were defeated by champions Cheech & Colin Delaney. The F.B.I. was the year's premier F.B.I. At AIW's Big Trouble in Little Cleveland, wrestled Tracy Williams & Tyson Dux. He appeared in the CWA on December 12, 2015, when he joined Chris Rocker in losing to Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee at the CW Christmas With Legends exhibition.

Smother first appeared in HLW (Heroes And Legends Wrestling), where he partnered with Bobby Fulton and defeated Jake Omen & Scotty Young to win the HLW Tag Team Championship in March 2016. This will not be the only surprise from the elderly veteran. Fulton and Smothers stayed in the HLW Tag Team Championship until being defeated by Alexander Kirk & Matt O'Hare at HLW Heroes & Legends VII on October 22, 2016.

Smothers continued to wrestle regularly in 2017, including appearances in PWA (Pure Wrestling Association) in Canada, RCCW (Rocket City Championship Wrestling), ZERO-1 USA, and IWA Mid-South. He competed at WrestleJam V in Ringgold, GA, winning a match royal on May 25, 2017. He qualified for the FPW Heavyweight Championship on September 16, 2017, but CJ O'Doyle defeated him. On November 23, 2017, the Smothers returned to Japan for the final time; Smothers joined Doug Gilbert to defeat Great Kabuki & Masao Inoue.

He began to see less often in 2018 and only sparred sporadically throughout the year. He defeated D-Lo Brown to win the HLW Legends Championship at the HLW Heroes And Legends XIII tournament on April 20, 2019. On September 27, 2019, he appeared at the Supreme Surviving Then defeated Josh Lewis to win the AWA Central States Championship, defeating him. He had his last match at the HLW Heroes And Legends XIII exhibition in Fort Wayne, IN, where he lost the HLW Legends title to Dru Skillz.

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