The Ted Petty Invitational tournament (the TPI) is an independent wrestling tournament in North America, run and promoted by Independent Wrestling Association 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. The tournament was expanded to 24 participants, with a three-way final, in 2003. Over the years, the tournament has attracted numerous famous independent wrestlers from Ken Anderson to A.J. Styles to James Gibson.
The Tournament Setup In the first three years of the Sweet Science Sixteen/TPI, there were only sixteen participants. With eight opening round matches, four quarterfinal matches, two semifinal matches, and a final, the tournament shows were reasonable in length. The expansion to twenty-four in 2003 caused the addition of another eight person bracket. It also created three semifinals matches and a three way final. The final is now an elimination match.
Tournament winners 2000: Chris Hero 2001: Ace Steel 2002: B. J. Whitmer 2003: Danny Daniels 2004: A.J. Styles 2005: Matt Sydal 2006: Low Ki 2007: Mike Quackenbush 2008: Drake Younger 2015: Kongo Kong 2016: Chris Hero 2017: Aaron Williams 2018: Aaron Williams 2019: Larry D 2020: Tyler Matrix 2021: Jake Crist
Results
2000 Sweet Science Sixteen The first annual Sweet Science Sixteen was held on September 8 and 9, 2000 outside the House of Hardcore in Charlestown, Indiana.
2001 Sweet Science Sixteen The second annual Sweet Science Sixteen was held on September 7 and 8, 2001 at the House of Hardcore in Charlestown, Indiana.
2002 Ted Petty Invitational The first-annual Ted Petty Invitational took place on November 1 and 2, 2002 at the IWA Arena in Clarksville, Indiana.
* Whitmer won the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship by defeating Punk in the finals.
Non-tournament matches:
Night One Necro Butcher defeated Corporal Robinson in a Fans Bring the Weapons Drunken Deathmatch
Night Two A.J. Styles defeated MDogg20, Matt Stryker and Super Dragon in a Four Corners match Hailey Hatred defeated Lacey and Rain in a three-way match Ian Rotten defeated Josh Prohibition Bull Pain defeated Necro Butcher, Corporal Robinson, Rollin' Hard, 2 Tuff Tony and Nate Webb in a Gauntlet match
2003 Ted Petty Invitational 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 the Salem High School in 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.
Finals: Danny Daniels defeated Chris Hero and Alex Shelley to retain the IWA-MS World title and win the 2003 TPI.
Non Tournament Matches: Night Two: Mickie Knuckles defeated Rain Brad Bradley & Ryan Boz defeated J.C. Bailey & Nate Webb Colt Cabana defeated Arik Cannon, Ken Anderson, M-Dogg 20, Chris Sabin and Michael Shane in an elimination match
2004 Ted Petty Invitational The 2004 Ted Petty Invitational tournament was held on September 17–18, 2004 from the Lincoln Center in Highland, Indiana. Among the participants were Styles, Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Chris Hero, Mike Quackenbush, CM Punk, Claudio Castagnoli, A J Styles, Nigel McGuiness 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.
Finals: A.J. Styles d. Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson to win the 2004 TPI
Non Tournament Matches: Night One: Mercedes Martinez defeated Lacey to win the IWA-MS/NWA Midwest Women's title Jimmy Jacobs defeated Delirious in a Ladder Match to win the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight title
Night Two C. J. McManus defeated Billy McNeil and Thunderbolt Jimmy Jacobs defeated 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 defeated Gran Akuma, Icarus & Trik Davis MsChif defeated Rain, Mickie Knuckles, Daizee Haze, Lacey and Mercedes Martinez in a Non-Title 6-Woman Elimination Match The Wild Cards (Eddie Kingston & Blackjack Marciano) defeated Iceberg & Tank and Brad Bradley & Ryan Boz to win the IWA-MS Tag Team titles B. J. Whitmer defeated Chris Sabin, Jimmy Rave, Austin Aries, Alex Shelley, Todd Sexton and Claudio Castagnoli in an elimination match
2005 Ted Petty Invitational The 2005 Ted Petty Invitational took place on September 23–24, 2005 at the National Guard Armory 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 included: defending champion Styles (due to strep throat) and Homicide (alleged 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 crowd-pleasing match. 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. Chris Hero and Arik Cannon had a violent encounter with audibly loud headbutts that culminated in Hero turning heel and injuring Cannon's arm. American Dragon's match with Claudio Castagnoli headlined the first night.
Finals: Matt Sydal defeated Arik Cannon and Kevin Steen to win the 2005 TPI
Non Tournament Matches:
Night One Jimmy Jacobs defeated Colt Cabana to retain the IWA-MS World title
Night Two Marek Brave defeated Trik Davis Jimmy Jacobs defeated Mickie Knuckles to retain the IWA-MS World title The Iron Saints (Sal & Vito Thomaselli) defeated Rainman & Tank to retain the IWA-MS Tag Team titles Super Dragon, Alex Shelley, Joey Ryan & Claudio Castagnoli defeated El Generico, Puma, Brandon Thomaselli & Nate Webb in an elimination match
2006 Ted Petty Invitational
The 2006 TPI was held on September 29 & 30, 2006 in Midlothian, IL. It was another loved tournament featuring matches and performances from the likes of Low Ki, Strong, Quackenbush, and many more. In addition, it saw the returns of Jimmy Jacobs and Necro Butcher to IWA-MS after a leave of absence as well as Chuck Taylor winning the IWA-MS World title from Toby Klein.
The 2006 TPI saw the return of M-Dogg 20, a former IWA-MS World Champion, to the company and he managed to get to round 2. Pro Wrestling Guerrilla was represented by six regulars (Chris Bosh, Scott Lost, Scorpio Sky, Kevin Steen, El Generico and Davey Richards) but finished the tournament with a combined 3–6 record.
Finals: Low-Ki defeated Arik Cannon and Roderick Strong to win the 2006 TPI
Non Tournament Matches:
Night Two The Iron Saints (Sal & Vito Thomaselli) and American Kickboxer & Tarek the Great wrestled to a no contest BLK OUT (Eddie Kingston & Joker) & Ricochet defeated The Iron Saints (Sal, Vito & Brandon Thomaselli) The North Star Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz) won a 6 team Battle Royal, last eliminating B-Boy & Ricky Reyes Josh Abercrombie defeated Tyler Black in a Loser Leaves Town Match to retain the IWA-MS Light-Heavyweight title Chuck Taylor defeated Toby Klein to win the IWA-MS World title
2007 Ted Petty Invitational The 2007 TPI took place on September 28 and 29 in Midlothian. Samoa Joe, Alex Shelley, Low-Ki, Matt Sydal, El Generico, B-Boy, and Tony Kozina were previously scheduled but were later removed from the tournament. Matt Sydal reported to OVW and was not be able to participate, El Generico was out due to hamstring injury, B-Boy was planning on retiring and wanted to heal up before his retirement tour, Jimmy Rave signed with TNA and Tony Kozina removed himself.
Finals: Mike Quackenbush defeated Claudio Castagnoli and Chuck Taylor to win the 2007 TPI, retain the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship and win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship.
Non Tournament Matches:
Night Two - Eddie Kingston defeated Chris Hero in a Last Man Standing match The Irons Saints defeated Nigel McGuinness and B. J. Whitmer via DQ to retain the IWA-MS Tag Team Titles
2008 Ted Petty Invitational The 2008 TPI took place on September 26 and 27 at the Hartman Recreation Center in Joliet, Illinois. Non-tournament matches included a Steel Cage I Quit Match for the Light Heavyweight Championship between Jayson Quick and Jason Hades, a Falls Count Anywhere match between Chris Hero and Trik Davis, and a Loser Leaves IWA Mid-South for a Year Match between Dingo def. Jayson Strife.
The 2008 poster was designed by Mark Young of Wardust Design.
Roster changes On July 15, 2008, IWA Mid South announced that previously announced entrant Delirious had been taken out of the tournament to work in England along with Roderick Strong. Later, El Generico was also announced to be working the show in England. On August 8, Arik Cannon was announced as being unavailable to compete in both nights, and was therefore replaced by AAA wrestler Cassandro. On August 12, it was announced that B. J. Whitmer was undergoing surgery on his hand, and would be replaced by Ares. At the We Are Family 2 show on August 17, it was announced that Jayson Quick and Jason Hades were both pulled from the TPI and will instead meet in a Steel Cage I Quit Match for the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship, with the added stipulation that the loser must drop Ja(y)son from their name. Before Night One started, it was announced that defending champion Mike Quackenbush would not be taking part in the tournament due to a family emergency. During the introductions on Night One, Dingo was attacked by Jayson Strife, later demanding he was removed from the tournament. As such, a Match was booked between Dingo and Strife for the IWA-MS Heavyweight Championship later that night, with the added stipulation that the loser must leave IWA Mid-South for a year Quackenbush and Dingo were replaced by Necro Butcher and Eddie Kingston
Finals: Drake Younger defeated Claudio Castagnoli and Sami Callihan to win the 2008 TPI.
Non Tournament Matches:
Night 1 - Loser Leaves IWA Mid-South for a Year Match: IWA-MS Heavyweight Championship: Dingo defeated Jayson Strife
Night 2 Tag Team Challenge Match: The Age of the Fall (Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black) defeated Da Soul Touchaz (Acid Jazz and Marshe Rockett) "I Quit" Steel Cage Match for the IWA-MS Light Heavyweight Championship AND rights to the name Ja(y)son: Jason Hades defeated Jayson Quick Six Man Tag Match: Dingo, Ricochet, and Bobby Fish defeated Prince Mustafa Ali, 2 Tuff Tony, and Ares Falls Count Anywhere Match: Trik Davis defeated Chris Hero
2015 Ted Petty Invitational