Bison Smith | |
---|---|
![]() Smith's Pro Wrestling Noah publicity photo. | |
Birth name | Mark Thomas Smith[1] |
Born | September 24, 1973[2] Fresno, California, United States[1] |
Died | November 22, 2011[3] Carolina, Puerto Rico[3] | (aged 38)
Cause of death | Heart complications |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Bison Smith |
Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[4] |
Billed weight | 280 lb (127 kg)[4][5] |
Billed from | Denver, Colorado, United States |
Trained by | Donovan Morgan[4] Michael Modest[4] |
Debut | April 1998[5] |
Mark Thomas Smith[1] (September 24, 1973 – November 22, 2011) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bison Smith. He was best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan; and World Wrestling Council and International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico.[6] In January 2009, he joined the American promotion Ring of Honor.[5]
After being trained by Donovan Morgan and Michael Modest, Smith began wrestling on the independent circuit. He began competing for the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico in 2003, and held the IWA World Heavyweight Championship on two occasions, the IWA World Tag Team Championship once, the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship once, and the IWA Hardcore Championship one time. He also wrestled for Pro Wrestling Noah, and on May 23, 2008, he won the GHC Tag Team Championship with Akitoshi Saito and again on April 14, 2010, with Keith Walker. He also won the Global Tag League tournament with Saito in 2008. In January 2009, he debuted for Ring of Honor, where he was pushed as "unstoppable", before he joined Prince Nana's Embassy faction.
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