Innovate Pro Wrestling Explained

Innovate Pro Wrestling
Style:Professional wrestling
Established:2004
Predecessor:Smoky Mountain Wrestling (unofficial)
Location:Kingsport, Tennessee
Owner:Tony Givens

Innovate Pro Wrestling (formerly Championship Wrestling Alliance and NWA Smoky Mountain) is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Kingsport, Tennessee.[1] The company was established in 2004 and until 2017 it was associated with the National Wrestling Alliance. During its time in the NWA, NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling was considered the flagship promotion of the National Wrestling Alliance.

History

The promotion was founded by wrestler Tony Givens in 2004, as the Championship Wrestling Alliance, after breaking away from Southern States Wrestling. That same year, Championship Wrestling TV began airing locally on WCYB-DT2 and was later syndicated nationally on AMG-TV. It held weekly television tapings at the National Guard Armory in Morristown, Tennessee as well as house shows throughout East Tennessee. The promotion joined the National Wrestling Alliance as NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling in early-2011.[2] The announcement was made by CWA Commissioner Robbie Cassidy on the March 13th TV taping of Championship Wrestling TV in Gray, Tennessee.[3] On July 7, 2012, an unidentified fan attacked Cassidy and Tony Givens at an interpromotional show co-hosted by the Pro Wrestling Federation. The fan was subdued by Cassidy and police escorted him out of the building.[4]

On April 6, 2013, NWA Smoky Mountain drew its biggest crowd to date with 2,017 fans attending a NWA Smoky Mountain TV television taping at Elizabethton High School.[5] In October 2013, Givens attempted to raise $15,000 on Kickstarter.com to improve the production values for NWA Smoky Mountain TV. The appeal raised only $1,485 before the 60-day deadline.[6] The show became available on YouTube the following year.

NWA Smoky Mountain is advertised as a "spiritual successor" of the original Smoky Mountain Wrestling and has used a mix of SMW alumni and younger Southern independent wrestlers since its inception. Among the SMW talent to appear for the promotion include, most notably, Bunkhouse Buck, Eddie Golden, Tom Prichard, Tracy Smothers and Ricky Morton. On January 6, 2014, Morton defeated Chase Owens at an NWA Smoky Mountain show to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.[7]

A number of top NWA stars have also visited the promotion. In February 2015, Jason Kincaid was interviewed on Pipebomb Radio. He was billed as the longest-reigning NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship in the company's history.[8] On April 17, 2015, Jax Dane won the Smoky Mountain Cup and earned a title shot for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[9] He defeated then champion Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the title four months later. NWA Smoky Mountain's "Collision Course 10", held on May 9, 2015, nearly sold out the Civic Auditorium in Kingsport, Tennessee. Bobby Eaton also made a special appearance managing Eddie Golden against Jeff Tankersley on the undercard. Larry Goodman of GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com claimed that the show, headlined by an A.J. Styles versus Chase Owens bout, "[shattered] the company's attendance and gate records".[10] NWA President R. Bruce Tharpe visited Kingsport for the first time at this event.[11]

On October 17, 2015, NWA Smoky Mountain held a special tribute show, "Enter the Dragon", for Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat served as Ricky Morton's cornerman in a "student vs. teacher" grudge match against Kid Kash as part of Kash's retirement tour. This turned a no-holds-barred grudge match after a falling out between the two during a tag team bout.[12] [13]

At ReGenesis on August 19, 2017; promoter Tony Givens announced that NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling was leaving the NWA, and thus the promotion was changing their name to Innovate Wrestling.

Championships and accomplishments

Current championships and accomplishments

ChampionshipChampionPreviousDate wonDays heldLocation
Innovate United States Tag Team ChampionshipThe Adkins Boys
Inglorious
March 4th, 202379+Kingsport, Tennessee
Smoky Mountain CupChase OwensJason KincaidApril 29th, 2023Kingsport, Tennessee
Innovate Grand ChampionshipCaleb CourageousTobey FarleyApril 29th, 202323+Kingsport, Tennessee

Past championships

Retired championships

ChampionshipFinal championDate retiredNotes
NWA Southeastern Heavyweight ChampionshipChase OwensAugust 19, 2017At ReGenesis, promoter Tony Givens announced that NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling was leaving the NWA thus the promotion was changing their name to Innovate Wrestling and the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship was officially retired as a result.
NWA United States Tag Team ChampionshipThe Ugly Ducklings
August 19, 2017At ReGenesis, promoter Tony Givens announced that NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling was leaving the NWA thus the promotion was changing their name to Innovate Wrestling and the NWA United States Tag Team Championship was officially retired as a result.
NWA Mountain Empire ChampionshipToby FarleyAugust 19, 2017At ReGenesis, promoter Tony Givens announced that NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling was leaving the NWA thus the promotion was changing their name to Innovate Wrestling and the NWA Mountain Empire Championship was officially retired as a result. Farley defeated Timmy Lou Retton to become the Interim Innovate United States Heavyweight Championship as a result.
NWA Smoky Mountain Television ChampionshipChris RichardsAugust 19, 2017
AWA World Heavyweight Championship/CWA World Heavyweight Championship (American Wrestling Affiliates/Championship Wrestling Alliance)Chris Richards February 4, 2011
Innovative United States Heavyweight ChampionshipToby FarleyMay 29, 2021

Other championships

Roster

Current roster

Ring nameNotes
Aden Cross
Arawn
Austin Tyler MorrisInnovate United States Tag Team Champion
Austin West
Chance Rizer
Chase Owens
Chris Richards
Christian Cross
Cody Blades
Cooper Jones
Devon Driscoll
Dylan Wayne Sizemore
Evan Golden
Elliot Russell
Gavin Daring
Garrett Coleman
Hogan Jones
Jason Kincaid
Jax Dane
Jeff ConnellyInnovate United States Heavyweight Champion
Jordan KageInnovate United States Tag Team Champion
Lance Lude
Lenny StrattonInnovate Television Champion
Mickey Midas
Myron Reed
Nick Hammonds
Robbie Cassidy
Rob Conway
Rob Killjoy
Sigmon
Skylar Kruze
Timmy Lou Retton
Toby Farley
Travis Dykes
Travis Lee
Tyler Foshie
Tyler Thorn
Vince Brent
Wayne Adkins
Wild Bill

Managers

Ring nameNotes
Dylan SizemoreManager
KaelaValet
Mr. CiceroManager of Austin West
Rob KnightManager of Tobey Farley

Other personnel

Ring nameNotes
Tony GivensOwner
Matt RhoadesCommentator

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NWA Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
  2. Web site: The Independent Pro Wrestling Pot Calling the Kettle Black . Gargiulo, Eric . Eric Gargiulo . September 2, 2011 . CamelClutchBlog.com.
  3. Web site: BILL BEHRENS NWA NEWS & NOTES for 3-14-11 . Behrens, Bill . March 14, 2011 . NWAwildside.com . December 20, 2015 . December 22, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222131329/http://nwawildside.com/notes.html . dead .
  4. News: Bobo, Jeff . July 9, 2012 . Zealous fan tangles with wrestler at Mount Carmel Block Party . Kingsport Times-News.
  5. Web site: NWA Smoky Mountain's Biggest Crowd Ever . Gerweck, Steve . April 7, 2013 . Gerweck.net . December 20, 2015 . December 22, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222151017/http://www.gerweck.net/2013/04/07/nwa-smoky-mountains-biggest-crowd-ever/ . dead .
  6. Web site: Help NWA Smoky Mountain upgrade our production to make our 10th Season the best on yet . Givens, Tony . October 1, 2013 . Kickstarter.
  7. Web site: VETERAN RICKY MORTON WINS NWA WORLD JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE . January 6, 2014 . 1wrestling.com.
  8. Felix Olmedo, Austin James and Nate Milton . NWA Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Champ Jason Kincaid joins us live Tonight . . Pipebomb Radio . 3 February 2015. 03:14 . 22 September 2015.
  9. Web site: "Godzilla" Jax Dane is on a rampage through the NWA . April 24, 2015 . OnlineWorldofWrestling.com.
  10. Web site: NWA Smoky Mountain Collision Course Report form Kingsport on May 9 . Goodman, Larry . May 10, 2015 . GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com . Georgia Wrestling History News and Notes.
  11. News: May 2015 . NWA Wrestling Collision Course at Civic Auditorium, Kingsport . Bristol Herald Courier.
  12. Web site: SHOW RESULTS - 10/3 NWA Smoky Mountain in Kingsport, Tenn.: NWA Hvt. Title match, Rob Conway, Kid Kash, Ricky Morton, more . October 5, 2015 . PWTorch.com . Pro Wrestling Torch.
  13. Web site: Ricky Morton, Steamboat, More What's Happening @Smoky Mt. Wrestling . Apter, Bill . Bill Apter . October 16, 2015 . 1wrestling.com.
  14. Web site: Smoky Mountain Tennessee Tag Team Title . 2003 . Puroresu Dojo . Wrestling-Titles.com.