Former WWE star booked for IWA:MS

[King Cucaracha 0]

IWA-MS will present "April Bloodshowers 2005" on Friday night 4/1 as we debut at the Civic Center in Herrin, IL. The venue is located just outside of Carbondale, and about 60 miles out of Cape Girardeau, MO. The show will feature a TRIPLE MAIN EVENT! The first has already been signed as "New Age Outlaw" BILLY GUNN takes on "The Wild Eyed Southern Boy" TRACY SMOTHERS... also signed, on the heels of their wild match in Muscatine, IA on 2/5, MICKIE KNUCKLES will face MsCHIF once again, this time in a First Blood Match... DAIZEE HAZE will defend the NWA Midwest/IWA Mid-South Women's Title in a singles match against former champion ARIEL... plus much more to be announced in the coming weeks.

 

I literally did a doubletake when I read that. Billy Gunn in the IWA? Crazy. So, anyway, am I the only one who thinks he'll get the "Jeff Hardy in ROH" treatment?

[Youth N Asia 0]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he'll get crapped on by IWA fans. And rightfully so.

[Guest BrokenWings]

That will be entertaining for all the wrong reasons. I wonder if he knows what he's getting himself into.

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

It's kinda relative really. IWA in Herrin probably isn't going to draw the crowd that ROH does so it won't be quite the same as the Jeff Hardy treatment. I'm sure there will be some people talking shit about Mr Ass and all but I don't think it'll be as bad as the east coast crowds seem to get. I don't recall them crapping on Road Dogg too bad last year anyway.

 

It's IWA's first show in Herrin......in southern Illinois possibly..that I don't know. I'm sure Ian is hoping that Billy Gunn's name will draw some of the casual fans in and then hopefully the rest of the show will hook them into coming back.

[Youth N Asia 0]

Yeah, other than Highland he pretty much has to try and use names to draw in these other towns, especially the new towns.

[Guest jobsquad]

well it is Vs tracey smothers so if anybody is gonna get gunn out of the hardy treatment it is tracey.

[King Cucaracha 0]

To be honest, I'm half expecting/fearing that he'll pull out of the show. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong. Because, this'll be interesting to say the least.

[Phoenix Fury Legdrop 0]

The funny thing is, I think Ian's expecting Billy to get lots of boos coming in. Tracy's a mega-face in IWA and can do no wrong. While he is a tweener (...maaaan), he hasn't been a heel in IWA in forever.

[ISportsFan 0]

Carbondale is VERY south in Illinois, and if Herrin is right by it then it's probably going to be similar. Basically, very southern Illinois is much more similar to Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, and the southeastern states than it is to Chicago, or even Champaign or Peoria. Take that for what it's worth when it comes to how Gunn will be treated.

 

Jason

[Toxxic 0]

I thought WWE owned 'Billy Gunn' anyway, and he'd have to be appearing as Monty Sopp or something else? I can't imagine that they wouldn't own 'New Age Outlaws', anyway.

[Cuban Linx 0]

While i have little desire to see Billy Gunn vs. anyone, if he can help draw a few more people for IWA and avoid another criminally low crowd then i'm for it.

[Guest Moses The Monkey]

well it is Vs tracey smothers so if anybody is gonna get gunn out of the hardy treatment it is tracey.

Forgive my ignorance, but can Tracy Smothers still go in the ring?

[Phoenix Fury Legdrop 0]

Tracy's still really, really great in the ring. He's one of the major mentors and influences to a lot of the guys who've come through IWA throughout the years (Hero, Punk, Cabana, etc.), as well as others on the indies (Spanky and Bryan Danielson are two that come to mind). Tracy's a treasure in the wrestling ring.

[Youth N Asia 0]

I haven't seen him lately, but I've seen Tracy on 2002 and 2003 IWA tapes and he can still go. His matches are usually pretty good.

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

Carbondale is VERY south in Illinois, and if Herrin is right by it then it's probably going to be similar. Basically, very southern Illinois is much more similar to Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, and the southeastern states than it is to Chicago, or even Champaign or Peoria. Take that for what it's worth when it comes to how Gunn will be treated.

 

Jason

Yeah Herrin is not very far at all from Carbondale.

 

It's only about an hour's drive from Cape Girardeau as well and that is Delirious/ Daizee/ Sydal/ MsChif territory since GCW runs there every two months or so. Hopefully the people in Cape who haven't seen them live in about a year or so might make the drive over to Herrin.

[Guest Fook_Theta]

With enough promo work, he can draw on name recognition. Add in an interesting stipulation, and you've solidified a break-even show.

 

Money is money, and if the rest of the card can get paid decent then I'm all for it.