Tracy Smothers has passed away at the age of 58.
Smothers, a longtime wrestler who had runs in WWE, WCW, and ECW, was suffering from lymphoma, heart issues, and hernia surgery before he passed.
Smothers began his career in 1982. Starting out in Memphis and Florida Championship Wrestling, he soon joined with Steve Armstrong. The duo made their way to WCW as The Southern Boys. They would later be known as The Young Pistols and had a rivalry with Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin of the Fabulous Freebirds.
In the mid-1990s, he would join WWF/E as an enhancement talent named Freddie Joe Floyd, working with many of the top heels in the promotion. One of his most well known runs came in ECW as a member of the FBI. While in that promotion, he would capture the ECW Tag Team Titles with the group.
In recent years, Smothers was appearing on ECW reunion shows and other independent promotions. His autobiography “Everybody Dies” came out earlier this year.
On behalf of the staff of Wrestleview, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tracy Smothers as they deal with this loss.
WWE issued a statement on the passing of Smothers, which you can read below:
Tracy Smothers passes away
WWE is saddened to learn that Tracy Smothers passed away today at the age of 58.
A native of Springfield, Tennessee, Smothers teamed with Steve Armstrong, as his career began in Florida Championship Wrestling. The duo competed in WCW as The Southern Boys and The Young Pistols and were engaged in a long rivalry with The Fabulous Freebirds tandem of Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin.
After another stint on the independent wrestling circuit, Smothers began wrestling in WWE as Freddie Joe Floyd. Smothers shared the ring with icons such as Triple H and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin during his time with WWE. Later, the wrestling veteran had a memorable run with ECW.
Ricochet, Adam Pearce, Eric Bischoff and others around the WWE Universe have shared tributes to Smothers on social media.