Fueding with Ian for the entire year of 1996, Pondo then began teaming with Ian in 1997 out of mutual respect. Another foe would then come along, Ox Harley.

Pondo and Ox basically have a love-hate relationship. WHEN they get along, they can form one of the best tag teams out there. Honestly folks, that doesn’t happen very often. These two men have had some of the most brutal matches in IWA history including OX PUTTING PONDO THROUGH A BIG SCREEN TELEVISION SET. Matches between these two men are still talked about to this day.

Mad Man Pondo received his very first IWA Heavyweight Title shot against “Dangerous” Doug Gilbert at Derby Madness 1997. Although he was unsuccessful in gaining the championship on that night (partly due to outside interference from J.C. Ice), Pondo would later win the Heavyweight Title in 1999.

Mad Man Pondo is one of the featured wrestlers in ICP’s Juggalo Championshxt Wrestling “Strangle Mania Live” tour this summer all across the United States.

He will also fullfill a lifelong dream later in the year when he will board a plane and travel overseas and wrestle in Japan.

Pondo has had several tours of Japan and is now teaming with Mean Mitch Page in a feud with Corporal Robinson and Blaze to determine who is the greatest tag team in IWA history. The feud started between the fans of the two teams on the IWA Mid-South message board and quickly moved into the squared circle. Pondo is coming off two matches against former 5 time ECW World Heavyweight Champion Sandman so he and Mitch might have the momentum in this feud as Mitch comes in as IWA Mid-South Heavyweight champion as well. The first matchup was won by Pondo at Nightmare on Highway 62 on March 3, 2001. Sandman gained revenge in the I Quit matchup at April Blood Showers 2001 but to call either one a winner or loser after that matchup would be inaccurate. The main event at No Blood No Guts No Glory 2001 on May 12th just might determine who the greatest tag team is in IWA as the two teams battle in a barbed wire tables, ladders and chairs match with lighttubes taped to the ringropes all around the ring. It has definitely been a successful 2001 so far for Mad Man Pondo

IWA TITLE HISTORIES

HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

(1) defeated Rollin Hard in Louisville, KY on 9-29-1999
lost to 2 Tuff Tony in Charlestown, IN on 2-23-2000

HARDCORE TITLE

(1) defeated "The Human Wrecking Ball" Pete Madden in Salem, IN on 4-15-1999
lost to 2 Tuff Tony in Salem, IN on 4-29-1999 (*1)

(2) defeated 2 Tuff Tony in Tell City, IN on 5-14-1999
lost to 2 Tuff Tony in Bloomington, IN on 5-15-1999

(*1) Pete Madden is champion when he brings Hardcore Title to the IWA. The title's origin & lineage before this match are unknown.