Great Kabuki
Smothers continued to wrestle frequently in 2017, making appearances in the PWA (Pure Wrestling Association) in Canada, as well as RCCW (Rocket City Championship Wrestling), ZERO-1 USA, and IWA Mid-South. On May 25, 2017 he competed at WrestleJam V in Ringgold, GA, winning a battle royal. On September 16, 2017 he challenged for the FPW Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated by CJ O'Doyle. Smothers traveled to Japan for a final time on November 23, 2017 when he appeared at the Junichi Sato Retirement Memorial Show; Smothers teamed with Doug Gilbert to defeat Great Kabuki &amp; Masao Inoue.