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{{short description|Professional wrestling tag team}}
{{Short description|Professional wrestling tag team}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox Wrestling team
{{Infobox Wrestling team
|article_name= The Southern Boys
|article_name = Southern Boys
|type=T
|type = T
|image=
|image =
|caption=
|caption =
|members=[[Steve Armstrong]]<br>[[Tracy Smothers]]
|members = [[Steve Armstrong]]<br />[[Tracy Smothers]]
|names=The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys<br>The Southern Boys<br>The Young Pistols
|names = Southern Boys<br />Wild-Eyed Southern Boys<br />Young Pistols
⚫
|heights = Steve Armstrong:<br />{{height|ft=6|in=1}}<br />Tracy Smothers:<br />{{height|ft=6|in=1}}
|former_members=
⚫
|weights = {{convert|459|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
⚫
|heights= Steve:<br>{{height|ft=6|in=1}}<br>Tracy:<br>{{height|ft=6|in=1}}
⚫
|billed = "The Heartlands of the South" (as the Southern Boys)<br />[[Cheyenne, Wyoming]], United States (as the Young Pistols)
⚫
|weights= {{convert|459|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
⚫
|debut = 1987
⚫
|billed= The Heartlands of the South (as the Southern Boys)<br>[[Cheyenne, Wyoming]] (as The Young Pistols)
⚫
|disbanded = 1991
|hometown=
⚫
}}
|trainer=
⚫
The '''Southern Boys''' - also known as the '''Wild-Eyed Southern Boys''' and the '''Young Pistols''' - were a [[professional wrestling]] [[tag team]] active between 1987 and 1991 in [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]], [[Southeastern Championship Wrestling]], and [[World Championship Wrestling]]. The tag team was composed of [[Steve Armstrong]] and [[Tracy Smothers]].
⚫
|debut=1987
⚫
|disbanded=1991
⚫
|}}
⚫
'''The Southern Boys''' - also known as '''The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys''' and '''The Young Pistols''' - were a [[professional wrestling]] [[tag team]] active between 1987 and 1991 in [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]], [[Continental Championship Wrestling|Southeastern Championship Wrestling]], and [[World Championship Wrestling]]. The tag team was composed of [[Steve Armstrong]] and [[Tracy Smothers]].


==History==
==History==
=== Championship Wrestling from Florida (1987) ===
=== Championship Wrestling from Florida (1987) ===
[[Steve Armstrong]] and [[Tracy Smothers]] started teaming as "The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" and then simply "The Southern Boys" in [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]] in 1987. Their first match came on February 17 in Tampa, FL, where they lost to [[The New Breed (professional wrestling tag team)|The New Breed]]. However four days later The Southern Boys defeated The New Breed to gain their first ever championship, the [[NWA Florida Tag-Team Championship]].<ref>https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=177900</ref> Smothers and Armstrong held the belts until March 15, when they were defeated by [[The MOD Squad]].<ref>https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=177900</ref> In June they unsuccessfully challenged for the [[NWA United States Tag-Team Championship]], losing to The Midnight Express ([[Stan Lane]] & [[Bobby Eaton]]).<ref>https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=177969</ref><ref>http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/jcp87.htm</ref>
[[Steve Armstrong]] and [[Tracy Smothers]] started teaming as the "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" and then simply the "Southern Boys" in [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]] in 1987. Their first match came on February 17 in [[Tampa, Florida]], where they lost to [[The New Breed (professional wrestling tag team)|The New Breed]]. However four days later the Southern Boys defeated The New Breed to gain their first ever championship, the [[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]].<ref name="auto">[https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=177900 Events Database » CWF] Cage Match</ref> Smothers and Armstrong held the belts until March 15, when they were defeated by [[The MOD Squad]].<ref name="auto"/> In June 1987, they unsuccessfully challenged for the [[NWA/WCW United States Tag Team Championship|NWA United States Tag Team Championship]], losing to the Midnight Express ([[Stan Lane]] and [[Bobby Eaton]]).<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=177969| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210729205537/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=177969| archive-date = 2021-07-29| title = CWF « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/jcp87.htm |title=JCP 1987 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=16 January 2023 }}</ref>


=== Continental Wrestling Association (1987) ===
=== Continental Wrestling Association (1987) ===
Smothers and Armstrong would next make a stop in the CWA, where they faced [[Rough & Ready]] on October 1987.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYP4O2Wqba4</ref>
Smothers and Armstrong would next make a stop in the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), where they faced [[Rough & Ready]] in October 1987.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211206/vYP4O2Wqba4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201114023542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYP4O2Wqba4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYP4O2Wqba4| title = Southern Boys vs. Rough & Ready CWA Memphis 10/03/1987 | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


=== New Japan Pro Wrestling (1988) ===
=== New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1988) ===
The Southern Boys went on tour in [[New Japan Pro Wrestling]] in 1988 and experienced success, beating [[Kantaro Hoshino]] & [[Osamu Kido]], [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]] & [[Norio Honaga]], [[Kensuke Sasaki]] & Norio Honaga, and [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] & [[Tatsutoshi Goto]]. Their final match came on December 9, 1988 at the NJPW Japan Cup Series 1988 - Tag 21 television show, where they lost to [[Kotetsu Yamamoto]] & [[Yoshinari Tsuji]].<ref>https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=55953</ref>
The Southern Boys went on tour in [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] in 1988 and experienced success, beating [[Kantaro Hoshino]] and [[Osamu Kido]], [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]] and [[Norio Honaga]], [[Kensuke Sasaki]] and Norio Honaga, and [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] and [[Tatsutoshi Goto]]. Their final match came on December 9, 1988, at the NJPW Japan Cup Series 1988 - Tag 21 television show, where they lost to [[Kotetsu Yamamoto]] and Yoshinari Tsuji.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=55953| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131114035507/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=55953| archive-date = 2013-11-14| title = NJPW Japan Cup Series 1988 - Tag 21 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database}}</ref>


=== United States Wrestling Association (1988 - 1989) ===
=== United States Wrestling Association (1988–1989) ===
Tracy Smothers and eventually Steve Armstrong made a jump back to the CWA, where they became embroiled in a feud with [[The Stud Stable]].
Tracy Smothers and eventually Steve Armstrong made a jump back to the CWA, where they became embroiled in a feud with the [[Stud Stable]].


===World Championship Wrestling (1990-1992)===
===World Championship Wrestling (1990–1992)===
Smothers and Armstrong made their debut for [[World Championship Wrestling]] on April 23, 1990 in a dark match at a [[Main Event]]/[[NWA Worldwide]] taping in Marietta, Georgia. Wrestling as "The Wild-Eyed [[Southern Boys]]", their first television appearance came on May 12 at a ''World Championship Wrestling'' taping where they defeated [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] and [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] via disqualification. On May 20 on the ''Main Event'' the new team upset [[WCW United States Tag Team Champions]] [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)|The Midnight Express]] in a non-title match. Later that month they entered a house show series against [[WCW World Tag Team Champions]] [[Doom (professional wrestling)|Doom]], but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
Smothers and Armstrong made their debut for [[World Championship Wrestling]] on April 23, 1990, in a dark match at a [[WCW Main Event|Main Event]]/[[NWA Worldwide]] taping in Marietta, Georgia. Wrestling as "The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys", their first television appearance came on May 12 at a ''World Championship Wrestling'' taping where they defeated [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] and [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] via disqualification. On May 20 on the ''Main Event'' the new team upset [[WCW United States Tag Team Champions]] [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)|The Midnight Express]] in a non-title match. Later that month they entered a house show series against [[WCW World Tag Team Champions]] [[Doom (professional wrestling)|Doom]], but were unsuccessful in their efforts.


On June 13, 1990 they faced off against [[The Fabulous Freebirds]] at the [[Clash of the Champions XI]] "Coastal Crush" show and were victorious. [[Jimmy Garvin]] and [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]] were able to gain a measure of revenge by defeating them on the June 16th, 1990 episode of WCW Worldwide after holding the tights. An appearance by the Midnight Express' manager [[Jim Cornette]] would transition the Southern Boys to their first feud. This led to the first PPV showing for Smothers and Armstrong, as they fell to The Midnight Express on July 13, 1990 at the [[Great American Bash 1990]]. Smothers and Armstrong would continue to feud with the Midnight Express before transitioning to a series against the self-declared "Southern Champions" The Fabulous Freebirds. In August they engaged in a "best of 3" series against The Freebirds, and on September 5, 1990 they defeated Hayes and Garvin at [[Clash of the Champions XII]] "Fall Brawl: Mountain Madness".
On June 13, 1990, they faced off against [[The Fabulous Freebirds]] at the [[Clash of the Champions XI]] "Coastal Crush" show and were victorious. [[Jimmy Garvin]] and [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]] were able to gain a measure of revenge by defeating them on the June 16th, 1990 episode of WCW Worldwide after holding the tights. An appearance by the Midnight Express' manager [[Jim Cornette]] would transition the Southern Boys to their first feud. This led to the first PPV showing for Smothers and Armstrong, as they fell to The Midnight Express on July 13, 1990, at the [[Great American Bash 1990]]. Smothers and Armstrong would continue to feud with the Midnight Express before transitioning to a series against the self-declared "Southern Champions" The Fabulous Freebirds. In August they engaged in a "best of 3" series against The Freebirds, and on September 5, 1990, they defeated Hayes and Garvin at [[Clash of the Champions XII]] "Fall Brawl: Mountain Madness".


On the September 22, 1990 episode of ''World Championship Wrestling'' the Southern Boys fell once more to The Midnight Express in a match where the winner received a United States Tag Team Championship shot. On the October 6th episode of ''The Main Event'', the duo fell to the newly arrived [[Nasty Boys]]. 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]] departed from the promotion immediately afterwards, and there was no resolution to the Southern Boys/Midnight Express storyline. They moved instead to a house show series with the Blasters ([[Al Green]] and a rookie [[Kevin Nash]]).<ref>http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm</ref>
On the September 22, 1990, episode of ''World Championship Wrestling'' the Southern Boys fell once more to The Midnight Express in a match where the winner received a United States Tag Team Championship shot. On the October 6th episode of ''The Main Event'', the duo fell to the newly arrived [[Nasty Boys]]. 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]] departed from the promotion immediately afterwards, and there was no resolution to the Southern Boys/Midnight Express storyline. They moved instead to a house show series with the Blasters ([[Al Green]] and a rookie [[Kevin Nash]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm |title=WCW 1990 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=16 January 2023 }}</ref>


1991 saw an immediate reversal of fortunes for the young team. In January they opened the year with several wins over The Master Blasters, and on February 24, 1991 at [[WrestleWar 1991]] they beat [[The Royal Family]]. A few days earlier at TV taping in Montgomery, AL they were renamed "The Young Pistols". In March they began a house show series against [[Moondog Rex]] and [[Dutch Mantell]], the latter who would ultimately become [[The Desperados]]. On May 19, 1991 their televised win streak came to an end when they were defeated by The Freebirds at [[SuperBrawl I]] in a match to claim the vacated United States Tag Team Championship after "Badstreet" (a masked [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]]) interfered. This began a renewed feud with the Freebirds, and on June 12, 1991 they teamed with [[Tom Zenk]] to defeat Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin, and Badstreet at [[Clash of the Champions XV]].
1991 saw an immediate reversal of fortunes for the young team. In January they opened the year with several wins over The Master Blasters, and on February 24, 1991, at [[WrestleWar 1991]] they beat [[The Royal Family]]. A few days earlier at TV taping in Montgomery, AL they were renamed "The Young Pistols". In March they began a house show series against [[Moondog Rex]] and [[Dutch Mantell]], the latter who would ultimately become [[The Desperados]]. On May 19, 1991, their televised win streak came to an end when they were defeated by The Freebirds at [[SuperBrawl I]] in a match to claim the vacated United States Tag Team Championship after "Badstreet" (a masked [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]]) interfered. This began a renewed feud with the Freebirds, and on June 12, 1991, they teamed with [[Tom Zenk]] to defeat Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin, and Badstreet at [[Clash of the Champions XV]].


That summer an injury to [[Scott Steiner]] led to the WCW World Tag Team Championship being vacated. On August 3, 1991 the Young Pistols participated in a tournament to crown new champions; they were defeated by [[The York Foundation]]. On September 21, 1991 they received a non-title match against the eventual winners of that tournament, The Enforcers ([[Arn Anderson]] and [[Larry Zybysko]] but were unsuccessful. On the November 17, 1991 episode of [[WCW Main Event]] Smothers challenged "Stunning" [[Steve Austin]] for the [[WCW World Television Championship]]. That fall the Pistols continued to face The York Foundation on the house show circuit.
That summer an injury to [[Scott Steiner]] led to the WCW World Tag Team Championship being vacated. On August 3, 1991, the Young Pistols participated in a tournament to crown new champions; they were defeated by [[The York Foundation]]. On September 21, 1991, they received a non-title match against the eventual winners of that tournament, The Enforcers ([[Arn Anderson]] and [[Larry Zybysko]] but were unsuccessful. On the November 17, 1991, episode of [[WCW Main Event]] Smothers challenged "Stunning" [[Steve Austin]] for the [[WCW World Television Championship]]. That fall the Pistols continued to face The York Foundation on the house show circuit.


At [[Halloween Havoc 1991]] the Pistols began to show the first signs of an attitude change, stating that they did not care who was the "WCW Phantom" (eventually revealed that night as [[Rick Rude]]), but were instead waiting for a United States Tag Team Championship title shot against The WCW Patriots. On the December 8th, 1991 episode of The Main Event they finally received their shot. After initially being declared the winners, the match was restarted and the Patriots won. The following week they declared that they were unconcerned with what the fans thought, confirming a heel turn. Later that night the Pistols defeated the WCW Patriots to win the United States Tag Team Championship.<ref>http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw91.htm</ref><ref name=WCW8994Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2014 | isbn=1499656343}}</ref>
At [[Halloween Havoc 1991]] the Pistols began to show the first signs of an attitude change, stating that they did not care who was the "WCW Phantom" (eventually revealed that night as [[Rick Rude]]), but were instead waiting for a United States Tag Team Championship title shot against The WCW Patriots. On the December 8th, 1991 episode of The Main Event they finally received their shot. After initially being declared the winners, the match was restarted and the Patriots won. The following week they declared that they were unconcerned with what the fans thought, confirming a heel turn. Later that night the Pistols defeated the WCW Patriots to win the United States Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw91.htm |title=WCW 1991 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=16 January 2023 }}</ref><ref name=WCW8994Book>{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2014 | isbn=978-1499656343}}</ref>


The Young Pistols entered 1992 as champions and defeated The Patriots in another rematch on January 18 episode of WCW Pro. On January 25th on WCW Worldwide they beat former champions Tom Zenk and [[Brian Pillman]]. However their run with the titles ended on the February 16th episode of Pro where they lost the championship to [[Ron Simmons]] and [[Big Josh]]. In February the Young Pistols moved to a house show series against The Steiner Brothers. They were schedule to team with The Vegas Connection ([[Vinnie Vegas]] and [[Dallas Page]]) in an eight man tag team match against [[El Gigante]], Big Josh, [[Johnny B. Badd]], and [[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]] at SuperBrawl II on February 29; however the match was cancelled.
The Young Pistols entered 1992 as champions and defeated The Patriots in another rematch on January 18 episode of WCW Pro. On January 25 on WCW Worldwide they beat former champions Tom Zenk and [[Brian Pillman]]. However their run with the titles ended on the February 16th episode of Pro where they lost the championship to [[Ron Simmons]] and [[Big Josh]]. In February the Young Pistols moved to a house show series against The Steiner Brothers. They were scheduled to team with The Vegas Connection ([[Vinnie Vegas]] and [[Dallas Page]]) in an eight man tag team match against [[El Gigante]], Big Josh, [[Johnny B. Badd]], and [[Mike Graham (wrestler)|Mike Graham]] at SuperBrawl II on February 29; however the match was cancelled.


In April 1992 Smothers' partner Steve Armstrong left WCW, leaving Tracy to soldier on as a singles competitor.<ref>http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw92.htm</ref> Tracy departed that August and joined [[Smoky Mountain Wrestling]] later that year. Armstrong went to WWF for a brief singles run as Lance Cassidy before joining Smothers in SMW, teaming with his brother [[Joseph James Jr.|Scott]].
In April 1992 Smothers' partner Steve Armstrong left WCW, leaving Tracy to soldier on as a singles competitor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw92.htm |title=WCW 1992 |website=thehistoryofwwe.com|date=16 January 2023 }}</ref> Tracy departed that August and joined [[Smoky Mountain Wrestling]] later that year. Armstrong went to WWF for a brief singles run as Lance Cassidy before joining Smothers in SMW, teaming with his brother [[Joseph James Jr.|Scott]].


===Post WCW (2000)===
===Ohio Valley Wrestling (2000)===


In 2000 they teamed up briefly in [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] where they feuded with "The Disciples of Syn".
In 2000, the Southern Boys teamed up briefly in [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] where they feuded with the Disciples of Syn.

⚫
== Championships ==

⚫
* '''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
⚫
**[[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] (1 time)

⚫
* '''[[Continental Championship Wrestling]]''' / '''[[Continental Wrestling Federation]]'''
⚫
**[[NWA Southeast Tag Team Championship]] / [[CWF Tag Team Championship]] (2 times)


⚫
==Championships==
⚫
* '''Continental Wrestling Federation'''
⚫
:*[[NWA Southeast Tag Team Championship|CWF Tag Team Championship]] (2 times)
* '''[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]]'''
* '''[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]]'''
:*[[OVW Southern Tag Team Championship]] (1 time)
**[[OVW Southern Tag Team Championship]] (1 time)

⚫
* '''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
:*'''Regional'''
⚫
::*[[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] (1 time)
::*[[NWA Southeast Tag Team Championship]] (1 time)
* '''[[World Championship Wrestling]]'''
* '''[[World Championship Wrestling]]'''
:*[[WCW United States Tag Team Championship]] (1 time)
**[[WCW United States Tag Team Championship]] (1 time)


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}


{{WCW United States Tag Team Championship}}
{{WCW United States Tag Team Championship}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern Boys, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern Boys}}
[[Category:World Championship Wrestling teams and stables]]
[[Category:World Championship Wrestling teams and stables]]
[[Category:Independent promotions teams and stables]]
[[Category:Independent promotions teams and stables]]

Latest revision as of 19:59, 6 December 2023

Southern Boys
Tag team
MembersSteve Armstrong
Tracy Smothers
Name(s)Southern Boys
Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
Young Pistols
Billed heightsSteve Armstrong:
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Tracy Smothers:
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Combined
billed weight		459 lb (208 kg)
Billed from"The Heartlands of the South" (as the Southern Boys)
Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States (as the Young Pistols)
Debut1987
Disbanded1991

The Southern Boys - also known as the Wild-Eyed Southern Boys and the Young Pistols - were a professional wrestling tag team active between 1987 and 1991 in Championship Wrestling from Florida, Southeastern Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling. The tag team was composed of Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers.

History

[edit]

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1987)

[edit]

Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers started teaming as the "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" and then simply the "Southern Boys" in Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1987. Their first match came on February 17 in Tampa, Florida, where they lost to The New Breed. However four days later the Southern Boys defeated The New Breed to gain their first ever championship, the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship.[1] Smothers and Armstrong held the belts until March 15, when they were defeated by The MOD Squad.[1] In June 1987, they unsuccessfully challenged for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship, losing to the Midnight Express (Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton).[2][3]

Continental Wrestling Association (1987)

[edit]

Smothers and Armstrong would next make a stop in the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), where they faced Rough & Ready in October 1987.[4]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1988)

[edit]

The Southern Boys went on tour in New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1988 and experienced success, beating Kantaro Hoshino and Osamu Kido, Kuniaki Kobayashi and Norio Honaga, Kensuke Sasaki and Norio Honaga, and Seiji Sakaguchi and Tatsutoshi Goto. Their final match came on December 9, 1988, at the NJPW Japan Cup Series 1988 - Tag 21 television show, where they lost to Kotetsu Yamamoto and Yoshinari Tsuji.[5]

United States Wrestling Association (1988–1989)

[edit]

Tracy Smothers and eventually Steve Armstrong made a jump back to the CWA, where they became embroiled in a feud with the Stud Stable.

World Championship Wrestling (1990–1992)

[edit]

Smothers and Armstrong made their debut for World Championship Wrestling on April 23, 1990, in a dark match at a Main Event/NWA Worldwide taping in Marietta, Georgia. Wrestling as "The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys", their first television appearance came on May 12 at a World Championship Wrestling taping where they defeated Kevin Sullivan and Cactus Jack via disqualification. On May 20 on the Main Event the new team upset WCW United States Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express in a non-title match. Later that month they entered a house show series against WCW World Tag Team Champions Doom, but were unsuccessful in their efforts.

On June 13, 1990, they faced off against The Fabulous Freebirds at the Clash of the Champions XI "Coastal Crush" show and were victorious. Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes were able to gain a measure of revenge by defeating them on the June 16th, 1990 episode of WCW Worldwide after holding the tights. An appearance by the Midnight Express' manager Jim Cornette would transition the Southern Boys to their first feud. This led to the first PPV showing for Smothers and Armstrong, as they fell to The Midnight Express on July 13, 1990, at the Great American Bash 1990. Smothers and Armstrong would continue to feud with the Midnight Express before transitioning to a series against the self-declared "Southern Champions" The Fabulous Freebirds. In August they engaged in a "best of 3" series against The Freebirds, and on September 5, 1990, they defeated Hayes and Garvin at Clash of the Champions XII "Fall Brawl: Mountain Madness".

On the September 22, 1990, episode of World Championship Wrestling the Southern Boys fell once more to The Midnight Express in a match where the winner received a United States Tag Team Championship shot. On the October 6th episode of The Main Event, the duo fell to the newly arrived Nasty Boys. 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 departed from the promotion immediately afterwards, and there was no resolution to the Southern Boys/Midnight Express storyline. They moved instead to a house show series with the Blasters (Al Green and a rookie Kevin Nash).[6]

1991 saw an immediate reversal of fortunes for the young team. In January they opened the year with several wins over The Master Blasters, and on February 24, 1991, at WrestleWar 1991 they beat The Royal Family. A few days earlier at TV taping in Montgomery, AL they were renamed "The Young Pistols". In March they began a house show series against Moondog Rex and Dutch Mantell, the latter who would ultimately become The Desperados. On May 19, 1991, their televised win streak came to an end when they were defeated by The Freebirds at SuperBrawl I in a match to claim the vacated United States Tag Team Championship after "Badstreet" (a masked Brad Armstrong) interfered. This began a renewed feud with the Freebirds, and on June 12, 1991, they teamed with Tom Zenk to defeat Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin, and Badstreet at Clash of the Champions XV.

That summer an injury to Scott Steiner led to the WCW World Tag Team Championship being vacated. On August 3, 1991, the Young Pistols participated in a tournament to crown new champions; they were defeated by The York Foundation. On September 21, 1991, they received a non-title match against the eventual winners of that tournament, The Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zybysko but were unsuccessful. On the November 17, 1991, episode of WCW Main Event Smothers challenged "Stunning" Steve Austin for the WCW World Television Championship. That fall the Pistols continued to face The York Foundation on the house show circuit.

At Halloween Havoc 1991 the Pistols began to show the first signs of an attitude change, stating that they did not care who was the "WCW Phantom" (eventually revealed that night as Rick Rude), but were instead waiting for a United States Tag Team Championship title shot against The WCW Patriots. On the December 8th, 1991 episode of The Main Event they finally received their shot. After initially being declared the winners, the match was restarted and the Patriots won. The following week they declared that they were unconcerned with what the fans thought, confirming a heel turn. Later that night the Pistols defeated the WCW Patriots to win the United States Tag Team Championship.[7][8]

The Young Pistols entered 1992 as champions and defeated The Patriots in another rematch on January 18 episode of WCW Pro. On January 25 on WCW Worldwide they beat former champions Tom Zenk and Brian Pillman. However their run with the titles ended on the February 16th episode of Pro where they lost the championship to Ron Simmons and Big Josh. In February the Young Pistols moved to a house show series against The Steiner Brothers. They were scheduled to team with The Vegas Connection (Vinnie Vegas and Dallas Page) in an eight man tag team match against El Gigante, Big Josh, Johnny B. Badd, and Mike Graham at SuperBrawl II on February 29; however the match was cancelled.

In April 1992 Smothers' partner Steve Armstrong left WCW, leaving Tracy to soldier on as a singles competitor.[9] Tracy departed that August and joined Smoky Mountain Wrestling later that year. Armstrong went to WWF for a brief singles run as Lance Cassidy before joining Smothers in SMW, teaming with his brother Scott.

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2000)

[edit]

In 2000, the Southern Boys teamed up briefly in Ohio Valley Wrestling where they feuded with the Disciples of Syn.

Championships

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Events Database » CWF Cage Match
  2. ^ "CWF « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2021-07-29.
  3. ^ "JCP 1987". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
  4. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Southern Boys vs. Rough & Ready CWA Memphis 10/03/1987". YouTube.
  5. ^ "NJPW Japan Cup Series 1988 - Tag 21 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2013-11-14.
  6. ^ "WCW 1990". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
  7. ^ "WCW 1991". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
  8. ^ Cawthon, Graham (2014). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1499656343.
  9. ^ "WCW 1992". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Boys&oldid=1188648847"