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'''The Southern Boys''' were a [[professional wrestling]] tag team in [[World Championship Wrestling]] also known as '''The Young Pistols'''. It was composed of [[Tracy Smothers]] and [[Steve Armstrong]].
'''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==
===Early Years (1987 - 1990)===
===Early Years (1987 - 1990)===
[[Steve Armstrong]] and [[Tracy Smothers]] started teaming as '''The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys''' and then '''The Southern Boys''' in [[Championship Wrestling from Florida|Florida Championship Wrestling]] in 1987 where they feuded with The [[The New Breed (professional wrestling tag team)|New Breed]]. They moved on to [[Continental Championship Wrestling|Southeastern Championship Wrestling]] where they feuded with The [[Stud Stable]].
[[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 where they feuded with The [[The New Breed (professional wrestling tag team)|New Breed]]. They moved on to [[Continental Championship Wrestling|Southeastern Championship Wrestling]] where they feuded 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, GA. Wrestling as the "Wild Eyed [[Southern Boys]]", their first television appearance came on May 12th at a ''World Championship Wrestling'' taping where they defeated [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] and [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] via disqualification. On May 20th 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 [[Main Event]]/[[NWA Worldwide]] taping in Marietta, Georgia. Wrestling as "The Wild-Eyed [[Southern Boys]]", their first television appearance came on May 12th at a ''World Championship Wrestling'' taping where they defeated [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] and [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] via disqualification. On May 20th 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 13th, 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 90]]. 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 13th, 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>http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm</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 '91]] 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 '91]] 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>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>


The Young Pistols entered 1992 as champions and defeated The Patriots in another rematch on January 18th 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 29th; however the match was cancelled.
The Young Pistols entered 1992 as champions and defeated The Patriots in another rematch on January 18th 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 29th; 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>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]].

Revision as of 12:41, 2 November 2020

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

Early Years (1987 - 1990)

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 where they feuded with The New Breed. They moved on to Southeastern Championship Wrestling where they feuded with The Stud Stable.

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 12th at a World Championship Wrestling taping where they defeated Kevin Sullivan and Cactus Jack via disqualification. On May 20th 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 13th, 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). [1]

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. [2] [3]

The Young Pistols entered 1992 as champions and defeated The Patriots in another rematch on January 18th 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 at SuperBrawl II on February 29th; however the match was cancelled.

In April 1992 Smothers' partner Steve Armstrong left WCW, leaving Tracy to soldier on as a singles competitor. [4] 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.

Post WCW (2000)

In 2000 they teamed up briefly in Ohio Valley Wrestling where they feuded with "The Disciples of Syn".

Championships

  • Continental Wrestling Federation
  • Regional
  1. ^ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw90.htm
  2. ^ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw91.htm
  3. ^ Cawthon, Graham (2014). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 1499656343.
  4. ^ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw92.htm
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