Bison Smith

Real name: Mark Smith
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 275 lbs.
Date of birth: September 24, 1970
Date of death: November 22, 2011
Born: LA, CA
Pro debut: April 12, 1998
Trained by: Michael Modest & Donovan Morgan
Finishing move: Bisontenial

Biography

– Smith began his career in California’s APW under his real name in the late 90s
– Smith lost a retirement match to Ma’Och on August 26, 2000, but would be back in action under a mask as ‘Super Destroyer 2000’ in October
– Smith was unmasked in June 2001
– On June 9, 2001, Smith & Boyce LeGrande defeated The Original Westside Playaz (Tony Jones & Robert Thompson) to win the APW Tag Team Titles, but would lose them to The Ballard Brothers (Shane & Shannon) barely a month later
– Smith travelled to Japan in August 2001, working a tour for NOAH under the name ‘Bison Smith’. He would transition this initial tour into a full-time deal by year’s end
– On June 7, 2003, Smith defeated Bart Blaxson in the final of a tournament to win the vacant PWI International Title
– On September 26, Smith defeated Donovan Morgan to retain the PWI International Title, and would retain against Morgan’s tag partner Michael Modest the next day
– On November 1, Smith defeated Glamour Boy Shane to win the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– On November 29, Smith fought Shane to a no-contest to retain the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title, although the belt was later held up due to the inconclusive finish. Smith would lose the rematch for the now-vacant title to Shane
– On June 11, 2004, Smith defeated BJ Whitmer to retain the PWI International Title and retained against Nigel McGuinness the next day
– On July 16, Smith defeated Slash Venom to win the IWA Puerto Rico Hardcore Title, but lost it back later that day
– On November 20, Smith defeated Glamour Boy Shane to win the IWA Puerto Rico Intercontinental Title
– On December 17, Smith defeated Rikishi to retain the IWA Puerto Rico Intercontinental Title
– On January 15, 2005, Smith defeated Slash Venom to retain the IWA Puerto Rico Intercontinental Title
– On July 15, 2007, Smith defeated Chicano to win the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– On August 18, Smith defeated Vampiro & Glamour Boy Shane to retain the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– On September 1, Smith defeated Vampiro to retain the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– Smith & Akitoshi Saito won the 2008 NOAH Global Tag League, defeating Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa in the final
– On May 23, Smith & Saito defeated Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura to win the GHC Tag Team Titles
– On October 25, Smith & Saito defeated Takeshi Rikio & Jun Akiyama to retain the GHC Tag Team Titles
– On November 28, Smith & Saito defeated Takeshi Morishima & Akira Taue to retain the GHC Tag Team Titles
– On January 6, 2009, Smith & Miguel Perez Jr defeated The Arabians (Zaeir Arafat & Hardam Kadafi) to win the IWA Puerto Rico Tag Team Titles, but lost them to Noel Rodriguez & Dennis Rivera within the month
– Smith debuted for ROH at the 2009 Proving Ground event, defeating Sal Rinauro on night one and squashing John Kermon on night two
– On June 13, Smith & Akitoshi Saito defeated Mitsuharu Misawa & Go Shiozaki to retain the GHC Tag Team Titles
– At Death Before Dishonor VII, The Embassy (Smith, Jimmy Rave, Claudio Castagnoli & Joey Ryan) defeated Colt Cabana, Brent Albright, Necro Butcher & Grizzly Redwood in an Elimination Match
– At Final Battle 2009, The Embassy (Smith & Erick Stevens) defeated Bobby Dempsey & Delirious
– On April 14, 2010, Smith & Keith Walker defeated Disobey (Takeshi Rikio & Mohammed Yone) to win the GHC Tag Team Titles
– On June 6, Smith & Walker defeated Takashi Sugiura & Shuhei Taniguchi to retain the GHC Tag Team Titles
– Walker’s father passed in September 2010 and he, understandably, chose not to return to Japan and as a result, he and Smith vacated their GHC Tag Team Titles
– Smith passed of heart failure in November 2011