.jpg) Smiley in 2003 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Norman Anthony Smiley (1965-02-28)28 February 1965 (age 60) Northampton, England[2] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring names | |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1] |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (109 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | London, England[1] |
| Trained by | |
| Debut | 1985[1] |
| Retired | 2008 |
Norman Anthony Smiley (born 28 February 1965) is an English-American retiredprofessional wrestler who is signed toWWE in a Legends deal and as a trainer forNXT.[2][4] He is best known for his appearances with the MexicanpromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre from 1991 to 1995 and with the American promotionWorld Championship Wrestling from 1997 to 2001.Championships held by Smiley over the course of his career include theCMLL World Heavyweight Championship and theWCW Hardcore Championship.
Smiley was born inNorthampton, England. In the early 1970s, his parents divorced and Smiley and his motheremigrated toMiami, Florida.[2] Smiley attendedMiami Beach Senior High School, where he took part inamateur wrestling andpowerlifting. He graduated in 1984.[2][5][3]
Norman Smiley trained underBoris Malenko andDean Malenko before making his debut in 1985 on theFloridianindependent circuit.[3] He was originally known as "Black Magic", then as the hated "Lord Henry Norman". Smiley wrestled in Japanese shoot-style group theUniversal Wrestling Federation in 1988 and 1989. In 1990 Smiley competed at theWorld Championship WrestlingStarrcade '90: Collision Course pay-per-view,teaming withChris Adams againstKonnan andRey Misterio.
In 1991, he began wrestling forConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre inMexico as "Black Magic", winning theCMLL World Heavyweight Championship and holding it until losing toBrazo de Plata in 1993.
In 1995 and 1996, he briefly competed in thePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania-basedExtreme Championship Wrestlingpromotion.
Smiley signed withWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1997, making his debut on a television taping ofPro by defeatingManny Fernandez on 9 October 1997. Smiley made his televised debut and first pay-per-view appearance at theWorld War 3event on 23 November, competing in thetitular battle royal; however the match was won byScott Hall.[6] After being removed fromtelevision, he returned on the 9 February 1998, episode ofNitro, with a newgimmick, which saw him perform his signature dance move, the "Big Wiggle". However, in his return match, he would be defeated byKonnan.[7] Smiley received his first title shot in WCW on the 8 June episode ofNitro as he unsuccessfully challengedFit Finlay for theWorld Television Championship.[8] AtFall Brawl, Smiley facedErnest Miller in a losing effort.[9]
Smiley turnedheel in a backstageinterview on the 19 December episode ofSaturday Night, where he mocked the fans for saying his name incorrectly.[10][11] AtStarrcade, he defeatedPrince Iaukea.[12] He thenfeuded withChavo Guerrero Jr., on one occasion destroying Guerrero'shobby horse mascot, Pepè, by feeding it into awood chipper on the 11 January 1999, episode ofNitro.[13] This culminated in a match between the two atSouled Out on 17 January, which Smiley won.[14]
In late 1999, Smiley entered thehardcore division. He participated in a tournament for the vacantWCW World Heavyweight Championship, in which he defeatedBam Bam Bigelow in the opening round in a hardcore match on the 25 October episode ofNitro before losing toBilly Kidman in a hardcore match in the second round on 1 November. Smiley would go on to become the inaugural title holder of theWCW Hardcore Championship by defeatingBrian Knobbs in a tournament final atMayhem on 21 November.[15] During his run with the championship, he would adopt the nickname 'Screamin', due to constantly screeching in a high-pitched tone during his matches, because of his fear of weapons. He would also often wear protective sports equipment as he entered the ring, usually also in the uniform of a local pro or collegiate sports team to gain acheap pop.[16] He successfully defended the title againstThe Wall,Rhonda Sing and Fit Finlay while also retaining the title againstMeng atStarrcade. Smiley unsuccessfully challengedJeff Jarrett for theUnited States Heavyweight Championship in aBunkhouse Brawl on 6 January 2000, episode ofThunder. The following week, onThunder, Smiley lost the Hardcore Championship to Knobbs,[17] which he failed to regain atSouled Out in afatal four-way match also involving Fit Finlay and Meng.[18]
Smiley would then begin feuding with3 Count, competing against the trio in ahandicap match atSuperBrawl 2000, which Smiley lost. AtUncensored, Smiley teamed withThe Demon to defeatXS (Lane andRave) in a tag team match. On the 10 April episode ofNitro, all the WCW titles were declared vacant and the promotion was re-booted instoryline. AtSpring Stampede, Smiley facedTerry Funk in ahardcore match for the vacant Hardcore Championship, which Funk won. Smiley would continue to feud with Funk over the title and recruitedChris Jericho's former associate Ralphus to be hismanager. With the assistance of Ralphus, he stole abackyard wrestlingchampionship from a group of children during avignette. Smiley and Ralphus unsuccessfully challenged Funk for the title in handicap matches atSlamboree and the following night's edition ofNitro. On the 23 May episode ofNitro, Smiley teamed with Funk to challengeShane Douglas for the title in a handicap match, which Funk won. Smiley would then continue to pursue the Hardcore Championship as he unsuccessfully challengedBig Vito andLance Storm for the title on various occasions.
On the 14 August episode ofNitro, Smiley defeated newly crowned championCarl Ouellet to win his second Hardcore Championship. He successfully defended the title againstKroniK in a handicap match on the 21 August episode ofNitro andMI Smooth in an"I Quit" match on the 23 August episode ofThunder. Smiley was stripped off the title by the WCW CommissionerMike Sanders on the 27 September episode ofNitro. Smiley made his final pay-per-view appearance in WCW atMillennium Final, where he participated in an 18-manbattle royal which he failed to win. Later that night, he defeated Fit Finlay in anOctoberfest Hardcore match.
Smiley's finalangle in WCW took place in early 2001, where he was placed with the returningGlacier in comedic skits where he was supposed to aid Smiley in his matches but took his time coming to the ring in order to interact with fans. He then entered the ring after the fact to pose for the fans before pushing Smiley out of the way to perform his old kata routine. This would lead to Smiley lose his matches. Smiley remained in WCW until the company was sold to theWorld Wrestling Federation in March 2001. He was not hired by the WWF following the sale.
After WCW, Smiley wrestled for the short-livedX Wrestling Federation and theWorld Wrestling All-Stars before returning to the independent circuit.
He wrestled briefly forNWA Total Nonstop Action in 2002 and then had several tryout matches withWWE in 2003 and 2004. In February 2006, he was backstage during the TNApay-per-viewAgainst All Odds 2006, and he wrestled in an eight-man opening match on an episode ofTNA Impact! shortly thereafter, doing the Big Wiggle onJeff Jarrett. AtTNA Destination X 2006, Smiley andShark Boy lost toDavid Young andElix Skipper. on the 18 March episode of Impact, Smiley and Shark Boy defeatedThe Latin American Xchange (Homicide andMachete). on the 8 April episode of Impact, Smiley and Shark Boy competed against Elix Skipper and David Young with the match ending in a no contest whenJeff Jarrett's Army (Jeff Jarrett,Scott Steiner, and America's Most Wanted) attacked all four men and Smiley was inactive for several weeks following an attack at the hands ofScott Steiner, but returned on the 29 June episode ofImpact!, losing toMonty Brown. on the 13 July episode of Impact, Smiley lost toAbyss. on the 7 September episode of Impact, Smiley, Shark Boy andThe James Gang lost toAmerica's Most Wanted,Matt Bentley andKazarian. on the 5 October episode of Impact, Smiley competed in a fatal five-way match which was won by Shark Boy. on the 19 October episode of Impact, Smiley lost toChristian Cage in a street fight. AtBound for Glory, Smiley competed in Open InvitationalX DivisionGauntlet battle royal which was won byAustin Starr. On the 16 February 2007, episode ofImpact! Smiley made his return, teaming with Shark Boy in a loss toThe Latin American Xchange (Homicide andMachete) this tag team match would turn out to be Smiley's final match with TNA.[citation needed]
In 2007, Smiley relocated to Orlando to work as a trainer forWWE's then development territory,Florida Championship Wrestling. He also wrestled his last WWE match on November 19, 2007 againstVladimir Kozlov in a dark match at a Heat taping. In early 2010, he started making on-camera appearances as the lieutenant general manager of FCW and later in August of that year he was known on FCW TV as the liaison for the FCW president,Steve Keirn.[citation needed]
Since its inception as a developmental territory, Smiley has continued to work as a trainer for WWE inNXT.[19]
The coaches here include Billy Gunn, Matt Bloom, Norman Smiley and Terry Taylor...So there's just a wealth of experience to learn from.
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