 | |
| Acronym | SSW |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Style | Wrasslin' |
| Headquarters | Fall Branch, Tennessee (1991-1998) Kingsport, Tennessee (1999-present) |
| Founder(s) | Beau James |
| Owner(s) | Beau James (1991-present) |
| Parent | National Wrestling Alliance |
| Sister | Championship Wrestling |
| Formerly | NWA Championship Wrestling |
| Website | SouthernStatesWrestling.com |
Southern States Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Kingsport, Tennessee. Founded by wrestler Beau James in early 1991, SSW (along with NWA Bluegrass) succeeded Smoky Mountain Wrestling as the top promotion in eastern Tennessee following its close. It featured a number of former SMW mainstays including Steve Flynn, Tracy Smothers, Killer Kyle, Tom Prichard, Bunkhouse Buck, Buddy Landell, The Mongolian Stomper[1] and The Batten Twins (Bart & Brad Batten). While in the promotion, Ricky Morton teamed with longtime Fantastics rival Bobby Fulton as the Fantastic Express as well as forming a second incarnation of the Rock 'n' Roll Express with Ricky Harrison capturing the promotion's tag team title with both men.
Others to appear in the promotion have included former National Wrestling Alliance veterans Ivan Koloff, Jimmy Valiant, Junkyard Dog, Pez Whatley, Terry Taylor, Shane Douglas and female wrestlers Sherri Martel, Debbie Combs, Brandi Alexander, Lexie Fyfe and Malia Hosaka. Jillian Hall,[2] E. Z. Money, Joey Corman and Samir and Andy Douglas. The promotion also runs a wrestling school in Fall Branch, Tennessee.[3]
In 2015, Beau James began cutting back SSW's schedule due to his commitments to Appalachian Mountain Wrestling as manager of The Progressive Liberal, however, the promotion continued to hold events at county fairs and high school gyms. Later on in 2022, Beau James announced that SSW would resume to full time competition, with a tournament to crown a new Southern States Heavyweight Champion, a tournament won by Lord Murphy Costigan.
- ^ Nevada, Vance; Rodgers, Mike; Rose, Barry; Taylor, Becky; Will, Gary (2008-05-11). "Wrestlers Results Archive: Archie "The Stomper" Gouldie". SLAM! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Xamin, Mark (2007-06-18). "Jillian Hall". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Macika, Dominic; Cal Jewell (1994). "Wrestling Schools". Professional Wrestling Online Museum.