John T. Smith
Encyclopedia
John T. "J.T." Smith is an American
professional wrestler
, best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling
in the 1990s.
in 1990 at McGonigle Hall as he wrestled to a draw with The Sandman
. Fans and promoters were quick to note his wrestling skills and natural athletic ability and he continued to rise through the ranks. In early 1991, scored an upset win over veteran Buddy Landell to win the Heavyweight Championship.
, Smith won a battle royal
to become the first Maryland Champion
. However, Smith would become the only person to hold the title due to it being abandoned later that year. On March 6, 1994, Smith defeated The Tazmaniac
for the World Television Championship
. On March 26 at the first ever Ultimate Jeopardy event, Smith successfully retained his title against Rockin' Rebel
. Smith later lost the title on April 16 when he was defeated by Pitbull #1. Later, Smith began a lengthy feud
with Hack Meyers
, defeating him at November to Remember and Wrestlepalooza before losing to him at Holiday Hell. At Big Ass Extreme Bash, Smith ended their feud by defeating Meyers for the final time.
. In 1995, in his first match back after recovering from a previous injury, Smith attempted a suicide dive to the outside, but failed to get enough elevation; his toes caught on the ropes and he landed head-first on the arena floor. This resulted in a large, softball-sized swelling on his head, but Smith was able to improvise a finish to the match. Paul Heyman
turned this into a comedic storyline where Smith's injury and resulting concussion gave him mild brain damage, and he began believing he was Italian
, even talking with an Italian accent. Smith also began pretending to botch other maneuvers on a regular basis. He befriended Italian wrestler "Big" Val Puccio
, and started behaving like a cheerful but arrogant villain
. The ECW fans jeered Smith when he attempted a maneuver and failed, but this time with a degree of affection.
This successful gimmick continued, and resulted in the formation a faction known as the Full Blooded Italians along with Little Guido
, Tracy Smothers
and Tommy Rich
. While the F.B.I. claimed to be purebred Italians
, the fact that Smothers and Rich were Southern
and Smith was African American
made this claim obviously dubious. Nonetheless, the F.B.I. achieved a degree of success as they won the World Tag Team Championship twice.
, he accompanied fellow former F.B.I. member Tracy Smothers to ringside for his match with The Blue Meanie
and enabled Smothers to win when he struck Meanie with a pair of brass knuckles
. Two days later at ECW One Night Stand
, an ECW reunion show created by World Wrestling Entertainment
, Smith and several other F.B.I. members accompanied Little Guido to ringside as he faced Super Crazy and Yoshihiro Tajiri
in a three way dance, but were unable to prevent him from being pinned and eliminated by Tajiri.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
in the 1990s.
Tri-State Wrestling Alliance
Smith began his career in the Philadelphia-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance, where his debut match occurred at Temple UniversityTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in 1990 at McGonigle Hall as he wrestled to a draw with The Sandman
Jim Fullington
James "Jim" Fullington better known by his ring name Sandman, is an American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling , where he developed into a "Hardcore Icon"...
. Fans and promoters were quick to note his wrestling skills and natural athletic ability and he continued to rise through the ranks. In early 1991, scored an upset win over veteran Buddy Landell to win the Heavyweight Championship.
Maryland Champion and World Television Champion
On October 16, 1993 in North East, MarylandNorth East, Maryland
North East is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,733 at the 2000 census.-History:The Turkey Point Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002...
, Smith won a battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
to become the first Maryland Champion
ECW Maryland Championship
The ECW Maryland Championship was a short-lived title in Eastern Championship Wrestling, later known as Extreme Championship Wrestling. It was also known as NWA Maryland Heavyweight Championship, and only existed in 1993.-Title history:-References:...
. However, Smith would become the only person to hold the title due to it being abandoned later that year. On March 6, 1994, Smith defeated The Tazmaniac
Tazz
Peter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz...
for the World Television Championship
ECW World Television Championship
The ECW World Television Championship was a professional wrestling television championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 but was established under ECW in 1994...
. On March 26 at the first ever Ultimate Jeopardy event, Smith successfully retained his title against Rockin' Rebel
Rockin' Rebel
Chuck Williams is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rockin' Rebel. He is best known for his appearances on the U.S...
. Smith later lost the title on April 16 when he was defeated by Pitbull #1. Later, Smith began a lengthy feud
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with Hack Meyers
Hack Meyers
Donald Haviland is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Hack Meyers. A mainstay in Florida independent promotions during the 1990s, he is best known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1993 to 1996.-Career:Haviland made his wrestling debut as Bronco...
, defeating him at November to Remember and Wrestlepalooza before losing to him at Holiday Hell. At Big Ass Extreme Bash, Smith ended their feud by defeating Meyers for the final time.
Full Blooded Italians
Smith's greatest success came as a result of a legitimate mistakeBotch (professional wrestling)
To botch in professional wrestling means to attempt a scripted move that does not come out as it was originally planned due to a mistake, miscalculation, or a slip-up. Most botches are harmless but embarrassing, such as a wrestler simply flubbing a line or missing a cue, or falling before his...
. In 1995, in his first match back after recovering from a previous injury, Smith attempted a suicide dive to the outside, but failed to get enough elevation; his toes caught on the ropes and he landed head-first on the arena floor. This resulted in a large, softball-sized swelling on his head, but Smith was able to improvise a finish to the match. Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman is an American entertainment producer, best known for his career in professional wrestling as a promoter, manager, commentator and journalist. He is also an occasional actor in film....
turned this into a comedic storyline where Smith's injury and resulting concussion gave him mild brain damage, and he began believing he was Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, even talking with an Italian accent. Smith also began pretending to botch other maneuvers on a regular basis. He befriended Italian wrestler "Big" Val Puccio
Val Puccio
Valentino "Val" Puccio was a professional wrestler.-Wrestling career:Trained by Johnny Rodz, Puccio began his wrestling career in 1989 and worked for various northeast U.S. independent promotions for virtually his entire career. He frequently teamed with his brother, Tony...
, and started behaving like a cheerful but arrogant villain
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
. The ECW fans jeered Smith when he attempted a maneuver and failed, but this time with a degree of affection.
This successful gimmick continued, and resulted in the formation a faction known as the Full Blooded Italians along with Little Guido
James Maritato
James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...
, Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers is an American professional wrestler.-Early career:Tracy started his career in the Memphis promotion on Saturday morning TV. Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers started teaming as The Southern Boys in Florida Championship Wrestling in 1987 where they feuded with The New Breed...
and Tommy Rich
Tommy Rich
Thomas Richardson , better known by his ring name, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a professional wrestler. He is best known for his wrestling career in Georgia and Memphis throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:...
. While the F.B.I. claimed to be purebred Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the fact that Smothers and Rich were Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and Smith was African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
made this claim obviously dubious. Nonetheless, the F.B.I. achieved a degree of success as they won the World Tag Team Championship twice.
Post-ECW
Smith appeared at both of the ECW reunion shows in June 2005. On June 10 at Hardcore HomecomingHardcore Homecoming
Hardcore Homecoming was a series of professional wrestling events which were advertised as a reunion of talent from the defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion....
, he accompanied fellow former F.B.I. member Tracy Smothers to ringside for his match with The Blue Meanie
Brian Heffron
Brian Heffron is a professional wrestler and actor better known as The Blue Meanie or Da Blue Guy.-Early career:...
and enabled Smothers to win when he struck Meanie with a pair of brass knuckles
Brass knuckles
Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, or knuckledusters, are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckles are pieces of metal, usually steel despite their name, shaped to fit around the knuckles...
. Two days later at ECW One Night Stand
ECW One Night Stand (2005)
ECW One Night Stand was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It was held on June 12, 2005 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York. The main event was a tag team match between The Dudley Boyz and the team of Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman...
, an ECW reunion show created by World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, Smith and several other F.B.I. members accompanied Little Guido to ringside as he faced Super Crazy and Yoshihiro Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
in a three way dance, but were unable to prevent him from being pinned and eliminated by Tajiri.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
, sometimes while holding a steel chair underneath himself
- Moonsault
- Signature moves
- Northern Lights suplex
- PowerbombPowerbombA powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "The Italian Stallion"
Championships and accomplishments
- Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
- ECW Maryland ChampionshipECW Maryland ChampionshipThe ECW Maryland Championship was a short-lived title in Eastern Championship Wrestling, later known as Extreme Championship Wrestling. It was also known as NWA Maryland Heavyweight Championship, and only existed in 1993.-Title history:-References:...
(1 time) - ECW World Television ChampionshipECW World Television ChampionshipThe ECW World Television Championship was a professional wrestling television championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 but was established under ECW in 1994...
(1 time)
- ECW Maryland Championship
- Tri-State Wrestling Alliance
- TWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)