John T. Smith

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John T. Smith
Statistics
Ring name(s) J.T. Smith
The Italian Stallion
Billed height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight 235 lb (107 kg/16.8 st)
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , U.S.
Billed from Rockland County, New York
Debut June 9, 1990

John T. "J.T." Smith is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance and Extreme Championship Wrestling in the 1990s.

Contents

[edit] Career

J.T. Smith began his career in the Philadelphia-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance. His debut match occurred at Temple University in 1990 at McGonigle Hall where 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 he upset veteran Buddy Landell for the TWA Heavyweight Title.

[edit] Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling

On October 16, 1993 in North East, Maryland Smith won a battle royal to become the first ever ECW Maryland Heavyweight Champion. The title was abandoned later that year without Smith losing it. On March 6, 1994 Smith defeated The Tazmaniac for the ECW World Television Championship, and held the title until April 16 when he was beaten by Pit Bull #1. Later, Smith began a lengthy feud with Axl Rotten.

Smith began training students at the ECW Wrestling Academy. The first graduate was Francine in 1994.

Smith's greatest success came as a result of a legitimate mistake. In 1995, in his first match back after recovering from an injury, (the injury happened by Mike Awesome attempting a suicide dive on J.T, bending his back backward on a guardrail.) Smith attempted a suicida maneuver 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 to "botch" other maneuvers on a regular basis. He befriended Italian wrestler "Big" Sal Graziano, and started behaving like a cheerful but arrogant heel. 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 stable 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, winning the ECW World Tag Team Championships twice.

[edit] After ECW

Smith appeared at both of the June 2005 ECW reunion shows. On June 10 at Hardcore Homecoming 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. On June 12 at ECW One Night Stand 2005 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.

He currently is working as an instructional aide for special needs children & helps train young amateur wrestlers.

[edit] In wrestling

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling
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