Moondog Spike
Moondog Spike | |
---|---|
Birth name | William Smithson |
Born | May 31, 1950 |
Died | March 21, 2013 | (aged 62)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Moondog Spike[1] Dizzy Golden[1] Inferno #1[1] |
Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[2] |
Billed weight | 345 lb (156 kg)[2] |
Trained by | Tojo Yamamoto[2] |
Debut | 1978[2] |
Retired | 2011 |
William Smithson (May 31, 1950 – March 21, 2013
Professional wrestling career
Trained by
In 1991, Smithson began teaming with Moondog Spot in the Memphis-based United States Wrestling Association.[7] Together they violently feuded with Jeff Jarrett and Jerry "The King" Lawler throughout the year; the feud being featured in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's "Feud of the Year" in 1992.
With Moondog Spot's retirement the following year, Lanny Keane, Jr. was brought in as Moondog Cujo to replace Moondog Spot. Smithson and Keane, Jr. would feud with The Dogcatchers and win the USWA Southern Tag Team Championships several times before Lanny Keane left to pursue a singles career as Bloody Ox Brody.[7] In 1993 he returned to Japan teaming with Moondog Splat for W*ING. Smithson disappeared soon after the split however, possibly due to health problems resulting from his weight gain. He would work occasionally in the independent circuit until his last match in 2011. He died in March 2013.[3][8]
Championships and accomplishments
- International Championship Wrestling (New England)
- ICW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[5]
- ICW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Moondog Spot (1) and The Dungeon Master (1)[6]
- Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2022 - with The Moondogs
- Texas All-Star Wrestling
- Texas All-Star USA Tag Team Championship (2 times) with Mike Golden[4]
- United States Wrestling Association
- USWA World Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with Moondog Spot (3), Moondog Cujo (2) and Mike Lozansky (1)[7][9]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 150 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992.[2]
- PWI ranked him # 150 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Bill Smithon's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
- ^ a b c d e "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 1992: 150 Moondog Spike". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. September 24, 1992. p. 40. October 1992.
- ^ a b Wrestlingdata.com
- ^ a b c "SWCW Southwest Tag Team title history". Wrestling-Titles.com.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Cole & Garrett Funeral Homes and Cremation Services | Tennessee". Coleandgarrett.tributes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
- ^ "Larry Booker's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.