Ted Petty Invitational
The Ted Petty Invitational tournament (the TPI) is one of the most prestigious independent wrestling tournaments in North America. It is run and promoted by IWA Mid-South. Created as the Sweet Science Sixteen in 2000 by Ian Rotten, the tournament was originally supposed to showcase the top technical independent wrestlers. After the death of Ted Petty in September, 2002, Rotten changed the name to honor his friend. He later expanded the tournament to twenty-four participants and a three person final. Over the years, the tournament has attracted numerous famous independent wrestlers from A.J. Styles to James Gibson.
There have been six Sweet Science Sixteen/Ted Petty Invitational tournaments, starting in 2000. There have been six winners: Chris Hero (2000), Ace Steel (2001), B.J. Whitmer (2002), Danny Daniels (2003), A.J. Styles (2004), and Matt Sydal (2005).
The Tournament Set Up
In the first three years of the Sweet Science Sixteen/TPI, there were only sixteen participants. With eight quarterfinal matches, two semifinal matches, and a final, the tournament shows were reasonable in length. The expansion to twenty-four in 2003 caused the additional of a third, eight person bracket. It also created three semifinals matches and a three way final. The final is now an elimination match.
The 2003 TPI
The 2003 tournament was the first to expand to twenty-four participants. Since it was no longer known as the Sweet Science Sixteen, Rotten didn't limit the number to just sixteen wrestlers. The weekend is still regarded as the hook for drawing in new fans for IWA-MS.
The 2003 Ted Petty Invitational tournament was held on November 7-8, 2003 from Salem, Indiana. Among the participants were Styles, former ECW World Champion Jerry Lynn, Michael Shane, the cousin of Shawn Michaels, and future WWE Smackdown star Ken Anderson. Among the highlights are: Ian Rotten's Cinderella run to the semifinals; Alex Shelley's breakthrough in IWA-MS; and Danny Daniels trying to save his IWA-MS World title throughout the entire tournament.
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| A.J. Styles | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Todd Sexton | ||||||||||||||
| A.J. Styles | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Jerry Lynn | ||||||||||||||
| Jerry Lynn | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Michael Shane | ||||||||||||||
| AJ Styles | ||||||||||||||
| Danny Daniels | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Colt Cabana | ||||||||||||||
| Jimmy Rave | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Jimmy Rave | Finals TPI | |||||||||||||
| Danny Daniels | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Danny Daniels | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Ken Anderson | ||||||||||||||
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Ian Rotten | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Mickie Knuckles | ||||||||||||||
| Ian Rotten | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Jimmy Jacobs | ||||||||||||||
| Jimmy Jacobs | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Sal Rinauro | ||||||||||||||
| Ian Rotten | ||||||||||||||
| Alex Shelley | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Jonny Storm | Pin | |||||||||||||
| M-Dogg 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Jonny Storm | Finals TPI | |||||||||||||
| Alex Shelley | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Alex Shelley | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Chris Sabin | ||||||||||||||
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Chris Hero | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Arik Cannon | ||||||||||||||
| Chris Hero | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Sonjay Dutt | ||||||||||||||
| Nate Webb | ||||||||||||||
| Sonjay Dutt | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Chris Hero | Pin | |||||||||||||
| B-Boy | ||||||||||||||
| Brad Bradley | ||||||||||||||
| Nigel McGuinness | Pin | |||||||||||||
| B-Boy | Pin | Finals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Nigel McGuinness | ||||||||||||||
| B-Boy | Pin | |||||||||||||
| J.C. Bailey | ||||||||||||||
Finals: Danny Daniels d. Chris Hero and Alex Shelley to retain the IWA-MS World title and win the 2003 TPI.
Non Tournament Matches:
Night Two: - Mickie Knuckles d. Rain - Brad Bradley & Ryan Boz d. J.C. Bailey & Nate Webb - Colt Cabana d. Arik Cannon, Ken Anderson, M-Dogg 20, Chris Sabin and Michael Shane in an elimination match
The 2004 TPI
The 2004 Ted Petty is highly regarded as one of the best independent wrestling events ever. It featured a mix of every type of wrestling: mat work, strong style, aerial abilities, Lucha libre, women's, and a little hardcore. It also was more than ten hours in length when both nights are combined. It was taped by Smart Mark Video and is one of the best selling tapes/DVDs the company has to sell.
The 2004 Ted Petty Invitational tournament was held on September 17-18, 2004 from Highland, Indiana. Among the participants were Styles, Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Chris Hero, Mike Quackenbush, CM Punk, and Matt Sydal. On Night One, Danielson beat Alex Shelley in a technical classic; Joe survived a stiff match with Roderick Strong. Hero's losing streak in Highland continued with a loss to Quackenbush. Sydal managed to beat Sal Rinauro. In a tournament match that was also for the company's heavyweight championship, Petey Williams beat 2002 T.P.I. winner B.J. Whitmer to retain the belt.
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Samoa Joe | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Roderick Strong | ||||||||||||||
| Samoa Joe | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Nigel McGuinness | ||||||||||||||
| Nigel McGuinness | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Claudio Castagnoli | ||||||||||||||
| Samoa Joe | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Rainman | ||||||||||||||
| Chris Sabin | ||||||||||||||
| Rainman | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Rainman | Pin | Finals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Danny Daniels | ||||||||||||||
| Danny Daniels | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Todd Sexton | ||||||||||||||
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| A.J. Styles | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Jimmy Rave | ||||||||||||||
| A.J. Styles | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | ||||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Sal Rinauro | ||||||||||||||
| A.J. Styles | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Arik Cannon | ||||||||||||||
| Super Dragon | ||||||||||||||
| Arik Cannon | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Arik Cannon | Pin | Finals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Petey Williams | ||||||||||||||
| Petey Willliams | Pin | |||||||||||||
| BJ Whitmer | ||||||||||||||
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Chris Hero | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Quackenbush | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Nate Webb | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Quackenbush | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Nate Webb | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Hallowicked | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Quackenbush | ||||||||||||||
| Bryan Danielson | Pin | |||||||||||||
| CM Punk | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Austin Aries | ||||||||||||||
| Bryan Danielson | Pin | Finals TPI | ||||||||||||
| CM Punk | ||||||||||||||
| Bryan Danielson | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Alex Shelley | ||||||||||||||
Finals: A.J. Styles d. Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson to win the 2004 TPI
Non Tournament Matches:
Night One: - Mercedes Martinez d. Lacey to win the IWA-MS/NWA Midwest Women's title - Jimmy Jacobs d. Delirious in a Ladder Match to win the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight title
Night Two - Billy McNeil d. C.J. McManus and Thunderbolt - Jimmy Jacobs d. Sal Rinauro to retain the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title - Ian Rotten and Steve Stone wrestled to a no contest - Larry Sweeney, Hallowicked & Jigsaw d. Gran Akuma, Icarus & Trik Davis - Mercedes Martinez d. Rain, Mickie Knuckles, Daizee Haze, Lacey and MsChif in a Women's Match - The Wild Cards (Eddie Kingston & Blackjack Marciano) d. Iceberg & Tank and Brad Bradley & Ryan Boz to win the IWA-MS Tag Team titles - B.J. Whitmer d. Chris Sabin, Jimmy Rave, Austin Aries, Alex Shelley, Todd Sexton and Claudio Castagnoli in an elimination match
The 2005 TPI
The 2005 Ted Petty Invitational took place on September 23-24, 2005 in Hammond, Indiana. Although the tournament suffered through numerous drop outs and injuries, it is still highly regarded by independent wrestling fans. Among the drop outs include: defending champion Styles (due to strep throat) and Homicide (legal issues).
A year after losing in the quarterfinals, Sydal came through with the biggest break of his career. He beat El Generico in the first round in a match that is regarded as a classic. He also eliminated Tyler Black (quarterfinals), Chris Sabin (semifinals), before overcoming the odds and beating Kevin Steen and Cannon to win the tournament.
Other great matches from that weekend include a title match between Jacobs and Knuckles that saw everyone from Ian Rotten to The Iron Saints get involved. Shelley and Quackenbush put on a technical classic. And American Dragon's match with Claudio Castagnoli headlined the first night.
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Kevin Steen | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Nate Webb | ||||||||||||||
| Kevin Steen | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Brad Bradley | ||||||||||||||
| Brad Bradley | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Tank | ||||||||||||||
| Kevin Steen | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Mike Quackenbush | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Quackenbush | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Alex Shelley | ||||||||||||||
| Mike Quackenbush | Pin | Finals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Skyade | ||||||||||||||
| Skyade | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Puma | ||||||||||||||
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Arik Cannon | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Joey Ryan | ||||||||||||||
| Arik Cannon | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Delirious | ||||||||||||||
| Brandon Thomaselli | ||||||||||||||
| Delirious | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Arik Cannon | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Chris Hero | ||||||||||||||
| Chris Hero | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Rainman | ||||||||||||||
| Chris Hero | Pin | Finals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Bryan Danielson | ||||||||||||||
| Claudio Castagnoli | ||||||||||||||
| Bryan Danielson | Pin | |||||||||||||
| 1st Round TPI | Quarterfinals TPI | Semifinals TPI | ||||||||||||
| James Gibson | ||||||||||||||
| Josh Abercrombie | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Josh Abercrombie | ||||||||||||||
| Chris Sabin | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Chris Sabin | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Marek Brave | ||||||||||||||
| Chris Sabin | ||||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | Pin | |||||||||||||
| El Generico | ||||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | Pin | Finals TPI | ||||||||||||
| Tyler Black | ||||||||||||||
| Tyler Black | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Sal Thomaselli | ||||||||||||||
Finals: Matt Sydal d. Arik Cannon and Kevin Steen to win the 2005 TPI
Non Tournament Matches:
Night One - Jimmy Jacobs d. Colt Cabana to retain the IWA-MS World title
Night Two - Marek Brave d. Trik Davis - Jimmy Jacobs d. Mickie Knuckles to retain the IWA-MS World title - The Iron Saints (Sal & Vito Thomaselli) d. Rainman & Tank to retain the IWA-MS Tag Team titles - Super Dragon, Alex Shelley, Joey Ryan & Claudio Castagnoli d. El Generico, Puma, Brandon Thomaselli & Nate Webb in an elimination match
The 2006 TPI
The 2006 Ted Petty Invitational tournament is scheduled for September 29 & 30 in Midlothian, Illinois. There are twenty of the twenty-four participants announced thus far. In addition, Toby Klein will defend the IWA-MS World title against the winner of the Lethal Lottery (to be held on August 5th) for the belt. The biggest name announced is current Total Nonstop Action Wrestling X Division Champion, Low-Ki.
Here is the tournament field: Scott Lost, Scorpio Sky, B-Boy, Cannon, Hero, Strong, Steen, El Generico, Davey Richards, Cabana, Jack Evans, Ricochet, Delirious, Davis, Chris Bosh, Low-Ki, Quackenbush, Hallowicked, Jigsaw, Castagnoli, M-Dogg 20, and Abercrombie.
Matt Sydal had to pull out of the tournament due to a conflict in scheduling. He has been replaced by Jack Evans.
Over the next few weeks, the final two participants and non-tournament matches will be announced.