Tennessee Volunteers (professional wrestling)
Encyclopedia
Tennessee Volunteers was a professional wrestling
tag team
, consisting of Reno Riggins
and Steven Dunn
. They competed in National Wrestling Alliance
and its territory, Music City Wrestling (MCW) during the late 1990s. During their tenure in MCW, Volunteers were the promotion's top tag team, having won the promotion's North American Tag Team Championship
6 times. They were also 1 time NWA World Tag Team Champions
.
and Steven Dunn
began teaming in National Wrestling Alliance
's territory, Music City Wrestling (MCW) as Tennessee Volunteers, named after the sports teams
of University of Tennessee
. They received a quick push
, winning their first MCW North American Tag Team Championship from Thrillbilly and Shane Eden on January 27, 1998. They lost the titles to Ladies Night Out (Frenchy Rivera and Shane Eden) on February 21. On February 28, Volunteers regained the titles from Ladies Night Out. On March 21, Volunteers attacked MCW's promoter and were stripped of the titles. On May 30, Dunn won the title with his former Well Dunn
partner Rex King
. Immediately after the win, Dunn turned on King by joining Riggins in attacking King. Riggins took King's place as Dunn's tag team partner for the title.
On August 1, Volunteers dropped the titles to MCW Blacksheep (Wolfie D and Flash Flanagan). The titles were renamed NWA North American Tag Team Championship. On August 29, Volunteers were booked to defeat MCW Blacksheep for their fourth tag titles. On February 5, 1999, the title was held up after a match between Volunteers and The Australians (Bill Dundee
and Ashley Hudson). On February 6, Volunteers defeated Australians in a rematch for their fifth tag title. On February 20, Volunteers lost the title to Brian Christopher
and Spellbinder
. Volunteers won their sixth tag title, defeating Christopher and Spellbinder on March 25.
. Volunteers left MCW and were renamed Main Event. They won the NWA World Tag Team Title, defeating xXx (Firebreaker Chip
and Drake Dawson) at a card in Saudi Arabia
on April 7, 2000. Main Event lost the titles to The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton
and Robert Gibson
) on April 12. Main Event attempted to regain the titles but failed in winning back the titles. This caused the team to disband.
. Dunn died on March 22, 2009 after a blood clot from his lungs reached his heart.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
, consisting of Reno Riggins
Neal Hargrove
Neal Hargrove, known by his ring name Reno Riggins, is an American professional wrestler who has competed in Southeastern independent promotions including the United States Wrestling Association and the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1990s...
and Steven Dunn
Steve Doll
Steve Doll was an American professional wrestler, best known for his tenure in the World Wrestling Federation as Steven Dunn in the tag team Well Dunn.-Professional wrestling career:...
. They competed in National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
and its territory, Music City Wrestling (MCW) during the late 1990s. During their tenure in MCW, Volunteers were the promotion's top tag team, having won the promotion's North American Tag Team Championship
NWA North American Tag Team Championship
The NWA North American Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship that is currently used and defended in various territories throughout the National Wrestling Alliance. This is the fifth NWA sanctioned championship to bear this name...
6 times. They were also 1 time NWA World Tag Team Champions
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
.
Music City Wrestling (1997-1999)
In 1997, Reno RigginsNeal Hargrove
Neal Hargrove, known by his ring name Reno Riggins, is an American professional wrestler who has competed in Southeastern independent promotions including the United States Wrestling Association and the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1990s...
and Steven Dunn
Steve Doll
Steve Doll was an American professional wrestler, best known for his tenure in the World Wrestling Federation as Steven Dunn in the tag team Well Dunn.-Professional wrestling career:...
began teaming in National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
's territory, Music City Wrestling (MCW) as Tennessee Volunteers, named after the sports teams
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
of University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. They received a quick push
Push (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a push is an attempt by the booker to make the wrestler win more matches and become more popular or more reviled with the fans depending on whether they are a heel or a face...
, winning their first MCW North American Tag Team Championship from Thrillbilly and Shane Eden on January 27, 1998. They lost the titles to Ladies Night Out (Frenchy Rivera and Shane Eden) on February 21. On February 28, Volunteers regained the titles from Ladies Night Out. On March 21, Volunteers attacked MCW's promoter and were stripped of the titles. On May 30, Dunn won the title with his former Well Dunn
Well Dunn
Well Dunn, also known as the Southern Rockers, was a professional wrestling tag team that competed in several promotions in the United States. The team was composed of Timothy Smith, who competed under the ring names Timothy Well and Rex King, and Steve Doll, who wrestled both under his real name...
partner Rex King
Timothy Well
Timothy A. Smith is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by the ring names Rex King and Timothy Well. He wrestled in several promotions, including the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling . Much of his career was spent wrestling as a tag team with Steve...
. Immediately after the win, Dunn turned on King by joining Riggins in attacking King. Riggins took King's place as Dunn's tag team partner for the title.
On August 1, Volunteers dropped the titles to MCW Blacksheep (Wolfie D and Flash Flanagan). The titles were renamed NWA North American Tag Team Championship. On August 29, Volunteers were booked to defeat MCW Blacksheep for their fourth tag titles. On February 5, 1999, the title was held up after a match between Volunteers and The Australians (Bill Dundee
Bill Dundee
William "Bill" Cruickshanks is a Scottish born-Australian professional wrestler better known by his stage name Bill Dundee. Cruickshanks is the father of Jamie Dundee and the father-in-law of wrestler Bobby Eaton....
and Ashley Hudson). On February 6, Volunteers defeated Australians in a rematch for their fifth tag title. On February 20, Volunteers lost the title to Brian Christopher
Brian Lawler
Brian Christopher Lawler is a professional wrestler. He is the son of color commentator and professional wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler and brother of wrestling referee Kevin Christian...
and Spellbinder
Harry Del Rios
Harry Del Rios is an American professional wrestler. Rios is best known as the Spellbinder, however, he has competed under many other ring names during his career....
. Volunteers won their sixth tag title, defeating Christopher and Spellbinder on March 25.
NWA World Tag Team Champions (2000)
Being MCW's top tag team, Volunteers vacated the NWA North American Tag Team Championship in May 1999 to focus on the NWA World Tag Team ChampionshipNWA World Tag Team Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
. Volunteers left MCW and were renamed Main Event. They won the NWA World Tag Team Title, defeating xXx (Firebreaker Chip
Curtis Thompson
Curtis Thompson is an American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling as Firebreaker Chip.-Professional wrestling career:Curtis Thompson started wrestling in 1987...
and Drake Dawson) at a card in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
on April 7, 2000. Main Event lost the titles to The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell "Ricky" Morton is an American professional wrestler who has worked for such wrestling organizations as Jim Crockett Promotions, the American Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and Total Nonstop Action...
and Robert Gibson
Robert Gibson
Robert Gibson may refer to:* Robert W. Gibson , English-American ecclesiastical architect active in New York City* Robert Gibson , Australian businessman* Robert Gibson , American baseball player...
) on April 12. Main Event attempted to regain the titles but failed in winning back the titles. This caused the team to disband.
Aftermath
Reno Riggins and Steven Dunn opened a wrestling school based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Later on, Riggins and Dunn went on their separate ways. Riggins is now a booker for Showtime All-Star WrestlingShowtime All-Star Wrestling
Showtime All-Star Wrestling is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. SAW has local broadcasts every Saturday night on Nashville’s WNAB, and throughout the country on syndicate...
. Dunn died on March 22, 2009 after a blood clot from his lungs reached his heart.
Championships and accomplishments
- Music City Wrestling
- MCW North American Tag Team Championship (3 times)
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA World Tag Team ChampionshipNWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
(1 time) - NWA North American Tag Team ChampionshipNWA North American Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA North American Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship that is currently used and defended in various territories throughout the National Wrestling Alliance. This is the fifth NWA sanctioned championship to bear this name...
(3 times)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship