Blackjack Mulligan
Shortly after leaving ICW, Smith joined Southern Championship Wrestling based Knoxville, Tennessee. Owned by Blackjack Mulligan and Ric Flair, the small promotion also had the backing of NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling owner Jim Crockett, Jr.. Smith contacted Kevin Sullivan who was booking for SCW and agreed to use him albeit on the bottom of the card. Smith's first appearance was a house show in Virginia where he was a last-minute replacement for The Mongolian Stomper in the tag team main event against Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Mulligan, Jr.. Neither Smith or the promoters were aware that they were in an area where local wrestling fans received ICW television. The crowd immediately recognized Smith as Izzy Slapowitz and loudly booed him as he entered the ring. The strong fan reaction impressed Blackjack Mulligan and used Smith as a mid-card performer for the rest of the time in the promotion. Sullivan also remembered Smith from the Sunnyside Gardens incident ten years earlier. The wrestler no longer held a grudge towards Smith and they became good friends while in the promotion.