Mark Starr
Mark Starr | |
---|---|
Staffordshire, England[1] | |
Died | June 7, 2013 Brandon, Florida, United States | (aged 50)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Mark Ashford-Smith[1] Mark Starr[1] Doink the Clown |
Billed height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
Billed weight | 107 kg (236 lb) |
Debut | 1986[1] |
Retired | 1998 |
Mark Ashford-Smith (December 26, 1962 – June 7, 2013) was an English professional wrestler best known by his ring name Mark Starr. He competed as a member of several tag teams.
Wrestling career
Continental Wrestling Association (1986–1989)
Starr competed in the Memphis, Tennessee-based Continental Wrestling Association (CWA). His first championship came in 1987 when he teamed with veteran wrestler Steve Keirn to win the CWA International Tag Team Championship on April 27, 1987. They held the title belts for twelve days before dropping them to the team of Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka.[2] The CWA had an agreement with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) that allowed AWA titles to be defended in the CWA. This arrangement enabled Starr to compete for the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship by teaming with Billy Travis in a tournament for the vacant title. On June 8, 1987, Starr and Travis defeated Phil Hickerson and Mr. Shima to win the belts, which they held for almost a month.[3]
Starr competed alongside his real-life brother,
Professional Wrestling Federation, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling and Japan (1989–1996)
Starr later competed in the Florida-based Professional Wrestling Federation (PWF), where he held the
World Wrestling Federation and Various Promotions (1994–1995)
After Japan, Starr worked in various promotions in Puerto Rico, and the United States. On October 29, 1994 he dressed up as Doink the Clown at a NWC event in Las Vegas losing to Greg Valentine.
He worked for World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in late 1994 and early 1995 losing to Razor Ramon, Lex Luger, British Bulldog and Adam Bomb.
World Championship Wrestling (1993–1998)
Enhancement talent (1993–1995)
He remained with the company for several months before joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW).[13][14] In WCW, he competed in the battle royal main events at the company's 1995 and 1996 World War 3 pay-per-views but was not victorious in either.[15] Although these were his only televised appearances at WCW pay-per-views, he also competed in dark matches at Uncensored 1995, Slamboree 1995, and Bash at the Beach 1995, losing to Alex Wright, Sgt. Craig Pittman, and Road Warrior Hawk, respectively.[16][17][18]
Men at Work (1995–1996)
In his later career, Starr formed a tag team known as Men at Work with
Final years and retirement (1996–1998)
Starr also competed as a singles wrestler, once again playing the role of a jobber. In one match, he teamed with
He would go on to challenge
He retired in 1998, due to a back injury.
Death
Starr died from a heart attack in Brandon, Florida on June 7, 2013; he was 50 years old.[22]
Championships and accomplishments
- Continental Wrestling Association
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Billy Travis[3]
- Billy Joe Travis (1)[23]
- Chris Champion[9]
- Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
- Professional Wrestling Federation
- PWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Lou Perez (1) and Sgt. Rock (1)[10][11]
References
- ^ a b c d "Mark Starr Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b "Championship Wrestling Association International Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b "NWA (Mid-America)/AWA Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b "Wrestling Relations". Professional Wrestling Online Museum. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Wrestler: Mark Starr". CWF Archives. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (2002-07-20). "Vince, Bischoff Form Unlikely Duo". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Crockett Cup". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Mid-South Coliseum 1989 (Jarrett)". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b "Championship Wrestling Association Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b "FCW/PWF Tag Team Title". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b "Wrestler Profiles: Mark Starr". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b "AWA World Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ISBN 978-1499656343.
- ^ ISBN 978-1499656343.
- ^ "World War 3". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Uncensored 1995". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Slamboree 1995". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Bash at the Beach 1995". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "WCW Ring Results: 1996". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ISBN 0-8239-3495-0.
- ^ Powell, John. "Nash wins title, ends Goldberg's streak". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Former WCW Talent Mark Starr Passes Away". 8 June 2013.
- ^ Hoops, Brian (May 11, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 11): Von Erichs vs. Verne & Don Leo Jonathan, Shane Douglas vs 2 Cold Scorpio". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 21, 2020.