Chris Champion

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Not to be confused with Chris Kanyon.
Chris Champion
Birth nameChristopher Dennis Ashford-Smith
Born(1961-02-17)February 17, 1961
The New Breed)
Hunan / Hong Kong
(as Yoshi Kwan)
Trained byBoris Malenko[1]
Dean Malenko[1]
Joe Malenko[1]
Debut1984
Retired2017

Christopher Dennis Ashford-Smith (February 17, 1961 – August 22, 2018), better known by his ring name Chris Champion, was an English professional wrestler. He primarily worked for various National Wrestling Alliance member territories, including Championship Wrestling from Florida and Jim Crockett Promotions. He is also known as Yoshi Kwan, initially from World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Ashford-Smith started wrestling in 1984 using the ring name Dennis Smith.[2]

Championship Wrestling From Florida (1986–1987)

In 1986, he began working for

2000 election, and addressed him as "Mr. President". They also referred to having robots and sported very unusual haircuts and bright "futuristic" ring gear in neon colors. Their entrance music was the Beastie Boys' song "Fight For Your Right to Party".[3]

On August 3, 1986, Champion defeated Tyree Pride to win the

Vic Steamboat in the finals of a tournament for the vacant titles. The New Breed held the Florida Tag titles from December 25, 1986 until February 21, 1987 where they lost the belts to the Southern Boys (Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers).[5] Shortly after the title loss the New Breed left Florida to work for Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP).[2][6]

Jim Crockett Promotions (1987–1988)

In JCP the New Breed worked a feud with

Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament, teaming with his brother Mark Starr. The team defeated the Twin Devils in the opening round, but were defeated by the Powers of Pain in the second round.[7] Following the Crockett Cup, Champion briefly competed in the NWA as "The Karate Kid",[8] but Ric Flair, Barry Windham and others complained of Champion's stiff kicks and he was soon pushed out of the Crockett territory.[citation needed
]

Continental Wrestling Association/United States Wrestling Association (1988–1991)

Following his departure from JCP Champion showed up in

The Dirty White Boy. For a while Champion worked as "Kowabunga", dressed in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bodysuit and mask.[1] Champion left the USWA in 1991.[2]

Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling and Independent circuit (1991–1993)

Champion, using the Kowabunga gimmick, but using the name "Turtle Kamen," wrestled a tour of Japan for

Amigo Ultra and battled the likes of Eiji Ezaki, Masashi Honda, and kickboxer Katsuji Ueda. After FMW, Champion returned to the States to compete in the independent circuit, namely the International Championship Wrestling Alliance in Florida and the Mountain Wrestling Association in Kentucky. He would briefly appear in Smoky Mountain Wrestling.[citation needed
]

World Championship Wrestling (1993)

In June 1993, Champion returned to

Fall Brawl which Cactus Jack won.[10] Kwan was set to face Ricky Steamboat at Halloween Havoc, but a knee injury prevented him from wrestling and he was soon out of WCW.[2]

Later Career (1993–2008, 2017)

Champion worked as "Yoshi Kwan" on the American

BattlARTS in 1999.[citation needed
]

Champion later adopted a character called "Sinn" that he used both in the United States and, later, in the United Kingdom.[11]

In 1998, Champion worked with Chris Alexander against Frost and Mindbender for the New Age Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Championship. The title was held up due to a double countout.[citation needed]

In July 2002, Champion had a major stroke and was in the critical care unit for a while after that.[1] He was able to make a full recovery from the stroke and returned to wrestling.[1] In 2006, he teamed with Blackie West in the Southern Wrestling Federation, as "The SS". They won the SWF Tag Team Championship from Mighty Hojo and Scotty McKeever in 2006. He also worked as a booker there.[2][1]

Champion returned to the ring for a one night appearance as Yoshi Kwan in October 2017 for Southern Wrestling Federation in Tullahoma, Tennessee losing to Petey St. Croix.[12]

Death

Champion died on August 22, 2018, at the age of 57.[13] According to Ringsidenews.com and fellow friend Wolfie D, it is rumored that Champion's death was caused by another stroke.[14] A YouTube user claiming to be Champion's daughter verified this, saying he suffered multiple strokes during his final days. She further adds Champion was on life support for 3 or 4 days before dying.[15]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Wrestler profiles: Chris Champion". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lentz III, Harris M. (2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. p. 68.
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-55022-584-7
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-9698161-5-4
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-9698161-5-4
    .
  6. ^ Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "JCP: 1987". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  7. ^ "3rd Annual Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament Cup". ProWrestlingHistory. April 22, 1988. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  8. ^ Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "JCP: 1988". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  9. ^
    ISBN 0-9698161-5-4
    .
  10. ^ "Fall Brawl 1993". Prowrestlinghistory. September 19, 1993. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  11. ISBN 978-0-87349-625-4
    .
  12. ^ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=4269&page=4&year=2017&promotion=2611. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ Former NWA Star Chris Champion Passes Away at Age 57
  14. ^ Former WCW Star Chris Champion Passes Away
  15. ^ BigLee1901 Wrestling Channel (2018-08-27), Big Lee's Corner: RIP Chris Champion 02/17/1961-08/22/2018, archived from the original on 2021-12-13, retrieved 2019-04-02{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links

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