=== IWA Mid-South Hardcore Wrestling ===
## Official Internet Newsletter/Yahoo Group ##

[The following message is from the IWA Mid-South Wrestling Yahoo Group
mailing list. This is not unsolicited E-mail. If you wish to be removed from the
list, E-mail: iwamidsouth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com]


REMEMBERING CHRIS CANDIDO
by Dave Prazak

We received word late Thursday night of the passing of Chris Candido. He
sustained injuries to his leg this past weekend at the TNA pay-per-view.
Complications following surgery were the cause. Chris was just 33 years old.

To say I'm in shock right now is a complete understatement.

Chris Candido was such an amazing locker room presence for the IWA Mid-South
roster during the past eight months.

Much like Tracy Smothers, Chris was very eager to help the younger talent to
improve their game, and had a newfound desire and determination to step up his
own game several notches, and prove to everyone that he was a real
contributor to pro wrestling in 2005. Everyone within the promotion, as well as
our fans
were so very proud to see that he had gotten his career back on track.

Personally, I didn't really start following independent level wrestling until
about 1993. The initial smaller organizations I began to follow at the time
were Smoky Mountain Wrestling and Dennis Coralluzzo's NWA promotion in New
Jersey. Without a doubt, the one independent level star I marked out for more
than
anyone at the time was Chris Candido. His over the top personality, comedic
ability, and hard work in the ring were such an entertaining combination that I
couldn't help but become a fan of his work. At the time I was publishing a
wrestling newsletter while attending high school, and made sure to send Chris a
complimentary copy of each issue, knowing he read the sheets himself.

I was incredibly proud to watch his career progress into becoming a major
star on national television during the mid-90's for the WWF as part of the
Bodydonnas, despite his lack of size. When opportunity knocked for me to get
involved with an independent promotion as a ring announcer, that promotion was
run by
Dennis Coralluzzo. I'll admit that a big part of why I was eager to work for
Dennis was the idea that I'd be working for the same promoter who helped Chris
get many of his early opportunities in the wrestling business.

When I finally got the chance to appear on a wrestling show with Chris and
Tammy in June of 1996 for Dennis, I was sent back into mark-out mode. It was
such an honor to share a locker room with someone whose talents I appreciated so
greatly. The same was still very true five years later when Chris and Tammy
made their way to IWA Mid-South in 2001 for shows in Dayton, Charlestown, and
Indianapolis.

Late last year, IWA Mid-South welcomed Chris Candido back into the fold. He
had really turned things around, and was determined to work his way back into
national prominence once again for being such a versatile performer. The locker
room was full of young wrestlers that were happy to see someone with such
amazing abilities get his career back on track, and bust his ass even for just a
few hundred fans in a rec center outside Chicago or a double digit crowd in
southern Indiana. Ian put together a Chris Candido vs. AJ Styles match
specifically to show everyone just how good Chris was, and that he could still
"go"
with a current junior heavyweight star if given the opportunity. His match with
Jimmy Jacobs in Rock Island, and the eight man tag in Lafayette, will go down
as two of the most entertaining matches I've ever witnessed.

Whenever Chris would say hello in the locker room in recent months, he'd call
me "Dave Meltzer," remembering back to when I'd send him my newsletter twelve
years ago. Every time I'd look across the IWA Mid-South locker room and see
Chris Candido place his gear bag alongside guys like Matt Sydal, Chris Hero,
and Trik Davis, I'd shake my head and smile. It was so awesome to have Chris be
a part of our roster of hungry young talent.

"Hey Meltzer, what happened the the blond hair?"

"I realized the short guy with bleached blond hair gimmick wasn't over, so I
shaved it off."

"I wish I'd have known that sooner."

Truth be told, the gimmick was over, but only Chris Candido could actually
pull it off.

Rest in peace, Chris. You will be missed.

A special Chris Candido thread has been opened on the message board. Fans are
encouraged to post their memories and pay tribute to Chris.

http://iwamidsouth.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=IWA&action=display&num=1114
748127


IWA Mid-South News for 04.29.05
--by Stacy McMackin, Moderator--

IWA Mid-South Wrestling, in association with NWA Midwest, presents a double
shot of events this weekend in Valparaiso, IN and Herrin, IL. The shows feature
the IWA-MS return of "Outlaw" BILLY GUNN, as well as the debut of JAMES
GIBSON (formerly known as Jamie Knoble in WWE).

Tonight, Friday, 4/29, IWA-MS returns to the National Guard Armory (1502
Linwood Avenue) in Valparaiso, IN with "Revenge Served Cold '05." Bell time is
8pm. Tickets are $20, $15, and $10 general admission, and will be available at
the door. Already signed for Valpo...

***IWA World Heavyweight Title Match***
[Champion] JIMMY JACOBS vs. JAMES GIBSON

***Tables & Ladders & Chairs Match***
BRANDON THOMASELLI & "The New Age Punisher" B-BOY vs. "The Iron Saints" VITO
& SAL THOMASELLI

***Special Attraction***
"Outlaw" BILLY GUNN vs. BJ WHITMER

AXL ROTTEN vs. "Underwear Model" ERIC PRIEST

DANNY DANIELS vs. TYLER BLACK

MICKIE KNUCKLES vs. ODB

Plus JOSH ABERCROMBIE on the card, and more IWA-MS stars in action!

This Saturday, 4/30, IWA-MS returns to the Civic Center (101 S. 16th Street)
in Herrin, IL. Bell time is 7:30pm. Tickets will be available at the door.
Already set for Herrin...

***IWA World Heavyweight Title Match***
[Champion] JIMMY JACOBS vs. BRANDON THOMASELLI

***Women's Steel Cage Grudge Match***
MsCHIF vs. MICKIE KNUCKLES

***Rematch from 4/2 in Salem***
"Outlaw" BILLY GUNN vs. "Underwear Model" ERIC PRIEST

"The New Age Punisher" B-BOY vs. JOSH ABERCROMBIE

AXL ROTTEN vs. SAL THOMASELLI

TYLER BLACK vs. MAREK BRAVE

Plus TJ DALTON, VITO THOMASELLI, and more IWA-MS stars in action!

Appearing both nights, available for autographs and pictures will be the one
and only SABU. Look for more matches to be announced for both shows during the
coming weeks.


Directions to the Venues
------------------------------------

VALPARAISO NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY
1502 Linwood Avenue - Valparaiso, IN

Coming from the north (Chicago)...

Merge onto I-65 S.
Merge onto US-30 E via EXIT 253 toward VALPARAISO/MERRILVILLE/SCHERERVILLE.
Turn RIGHT onto LINWOOD AVE.
End at 1502 Linwood Ave, Valparaiso, IN

Coming from the south (Indianapolis)...

Merge onto I-65 N.
Merge onto US-30 E via EXIT 253 toward VALPARAISO/MERRILVILLE/SCHERERVILLE.
Turn RIGHT onto LINWOOD AVE.
End at 1502 Linwood Ave, Valparaiso, IN


HERRIN CIVIC CENTER
101 S. 16th Street - Herrin, Illinois

Coming from the north (Chicago)...

Merge onto I-57 S via EXIT 151A on the LEFT toward MEMPHIS.
Take EXIT 59 toward JOHNSTON CITY/HERRIN.
Turn RIGHT onto CR-2/HERRIN RD. Continue to follow CR-2.
Turn LEFT onto IL-148/N PARK AVE.
Turn RIGHT onto W WALNUT ST.
Turn RIGHT onto S 16TH ST.

Coming from the west (St. Louis)...

Merge onto I-64 E via the ramp on the LEFT toward ILLINOIS.
Take I-57 S toward MEMPHIS.
Take EXIT 59 toward JOHNSTON CITY/HERRIN.
Turn RIGHT onto CR-2/HERRIN RD. Continue to follow CR-2.
Turn LEFT onto IL-148/N PARK AVE.
Turn RIGHT onto W WALNUT ST.
Turn RIGHT onto S 16TH ST.

Coming from the east (Evansville)...

Merge onto US-41 N.
Merge onto I-64 W.
Merge onto I-57 S via the exit on the LEFT toward MEMPHIS.
Take EXIT 59 toward JOHNSTON CITY/HERRIN.
Turn RIGHT onto CR-2/HERRIN RD. Continue to follow CR-2.
Turn LEFT onto IL-148/N PARK AVE.
Turn RIGHT onto W WALNUT ST.
Turn RIGHT onto S 16TH ST.


Smart Mark Video has added 3/5 Vincennes, IN "An IWA Action/Comedy," 4/1
Herrin, IL "April Bloodshowers 2005," 4/2 Salem, IN "Payback, Pain & Agony II,"
4/8 Midlothian, IL "Spring Heat 2005," and 4/9 Highland, IN "Simply The Best 6"
to their list of available VHS titles. Keep your eyes peeled to
www.smartmarkvideo.com for select shows to be released on DVD in the near
future.

Call the IWA-MS hotlines: 502-569-1701 in Louisville, 630-585-3958 in
Chicago, and 317-579-3230 in Indianapolis.


IWA-MS MATCHES AVAILABLE AT CLICKWRESTLE.COM
------------------------------------

For those who may be unaware, IWA Mid-South has been in partnership with the
ClickWrestle.com service for the past several months to provide wrestling fans
with full matches for download online. Select matches are available for
download on a pay-per-minute basis, as well as a set price to download a full
match. We currently have 27 IWA-MS matches available for viewing on the site,
and
provide ClickWrestle.com with new footage (both recent and from the past) on a
regular basis.

The majority of ClickWrestle.com's customer base are fans of women's matches,
and as a result, the majority of our content on the site features the IWA-MS
women's division. We also provide them with occasional men's matches. We plan
to expand our working relationship with ClickWrestle.com during the coming
months.

Other promotions that feature content at ClickWrestle.com currently include
All Pro Wrestling, NWA Wildside, and Revolution Pro. Be sure to pay a visit to
ClickWrestle.com and take a look at what they have to offer.

http://www.clickwrestle.com/


Hotline Friends of IWA Mid-South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Ringside Report with Dwight & Andre
(based in Chicago)
847-604-3769

The Gerweck Report Hotline
(based in New York)
212-502-6636


IWA MID-SOUTH LIVE EVENT SCHEDULE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Event dates and locations subject to change)

04.29.05 Valparaiso, IN @ National Guard Armory
04.30.05 Herrin, IL @ Civic Center
05.06.05 Midlothian, IL @ Park District Rec Center
05.20.05 Salem, IN @ National Guard Armory
05.21.05 Vincennes, IN @ National Guard Armory
05.27.05 Valparaiso, IN @ National Guard Armory
05.28.05 Highland, IN @ Lincoln Center "No Blood, No Guts, No Glory 2005"
06.11.05 Philadelphia, PA @ Viking Hall

----------------------------
Call the IWA Mid-South Hardcore Hotlines
(502) 569-1701 Louisville
(630) 585-3958 Chicago
(317) 579-3230 Indianapolis
----------------------------
Visit us on the web at http://www.iwamidsouthwrestling.com/
----------------------------
Visit the NWA Midwest web site
http://www.midwestwrestling.com/
----------------------------
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----------------------------


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