Mark Kyle
Encyclopedia
Mark Kyle is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Killer Kyle, who has competed in Southeastern independent wrestling promotions including Music City Wrestling, Southern States Wrestling
, Smoky Mountain Wrestling
as well as brief stints in Total Nonstop Action, World Championship Wrestling
and the World Wrestling Federation
. In 1993, he also appeared for the Japanese promotion W*ING.
, Mark Kyle made his professional debut for Continental Championship Wrestling
as Pvt. Mark Kyle. His earliest match was against Danny Davis
on May 28, 1988. He began wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions
within two years. On January 16, 1990, he made his first WCW appearance at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta where he and Rick Fargo lost to The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton
& Robert Gibson). He also received matches against NWA World Tag Team Champions
The Steiner Brothers
(Rick
& Scott Steiner
) with Brad Batten on January 31 and Ned Brady on February 17. He also teamed with Jerry Rose and Bob Cook in a 6-man tag team match against Mike Rotunda
, Norman the Lunatic and Abdullah the Butcher
at the Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville, Georgia
on April 2.
In July 1990, he appeared on NWA Worldwide
against Star Blazer
and, with Fred Avery, against The Southern Boys (Steve Armstrong
& Tracy Smothers
). He also faced Hector Guerrero
that same year.
. In one of the first episodes of SMW's weekly television show, Kyle pinned Keith Hart in Knoxville on March 28. On May 16, Kyle pinned Rex Hargrove in Hazard, Kentucky
and defeated Tommy Angel at a SMW television taping in Spartanburg, South Carolina
later that month. During the first weeks of June, he would suffer losses to Dixie Dynamite, Robert Gibson and Hector Guerrero.
At a June 15 taping at Cumberland High School in Cumberland, Kentucky
, Kyle defeated Danny Davis. Davis had fought to a no-contest with Dixie Dynamite against The Batten Twins (Bart & Brad Batten) earlier that night. Along with Joe Cazana, Kyle would face Brad & Bart Batten the following week at a house show held at the Raleigh County Armory in Beckley, West Virginia
.
On July 6, Kyle lost another match to Dixie Dynamite at Polk High School television taping in Benton, Tennessee
. He and Joe Cazana lost to The Fantastics (Bobby & Jackie Fulton) at Durango Park in Knoxville, Tennessee
a week later. At Summer Blast '92, he fought to a draw with Danny Davis at the Knoxville City Coliseum in front of 1,000 fans.
Feuding with Dixie Dynamite, Kyle pinned him in a "taped fist" match in Richwood, West Virginia
on August 5. Although losing to him in Castlewood, Virginia
two days later, he defeated him at Fire on the Mountain '92 at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tennessee
on August 8. Defeating Dixie Dynamite in another "taped fist" match at the Raleigh County Armory the next night, Kyle also beat Tommy Angel by submission at Polk High School on August 10.
By the end of the month however, Kyle suffered a disqualification loss to Dixie Dynamite during a match at James A. Cawood High School
in Harlan, Kentucky
and again in the third round of a boxing match at the Raleigh County Armory. He lost another match to Dixie Dynamite on September 4 when he was unable to pin his opponent within the 15 minute time limit. He also lost to Dixie Dynamite by disqualification in a second boxing match at Dobbins Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee
. He and The Heavenly Bodies
(Stan Lane
& Tom Prichard
) teamed to defeat Brian Lee
, Tim Horner
and Dixie Dynamite in a 6-man tag team match when Kyle pinned Brian Lee at the Raleigh County Armory on September 6. However, he lost to Dixie Dynamite the next night at Lincoln High School
in Shinnston, West Virginia
with 1,100 in attendance.
On September 12, Kyle pinned Mike Sampson at Cumberland High School. Although disqualified in a match in Johnson City against Brian Lee a week later, he beat Newton Stephie at East High School in Morristown, Tennessee
on September 27. In late-October, he also faced Robbie Eagle and Ronnie Garvin.
In early-1993, Kyle faced both Tim Horner and Brian Lee in failed attempts to win the SMW "Beat the Champ" Television Championship. He would also face Brian Armstrong and Jerry Lynn
in both their SMW debuts. He and Tracy Smothers
toured Japan as part of a talent exchange agreement between SMW and W!ING. He first tour took place between March 18 to April 6 and, during his second tour in May, he challenged Yukihiro Kanemura for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship
at the JR Gym in Kanazawa, Japan
but lost via disqualification.
At Volunteer Slam II, he beat Robert Fuller
at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium by disqualification on May 9. He later participated in the main event, the 10-man "Rage in the Cage" match, teaming with Kevin Sullivan
, The Tazmaniac
and The Heavenly Bodies against Jimmy Golden
, Brian Lee, Robert Fuller and The Rock 'n' Roll Express. He also pinned Bobby Blaze at Last Tango in Tennessee in Johnson City less than a week later. On August 15, he faced Brian Anderson in his SMW debut match. In October, he faced Gator McCallister, Tim Horner and The Bullet who agreed to unmask if he lost to Kyle. On November 13, he faced Bobby Blaze with Chris Candido
in his corner.
On February 7, 1994, Kyle defeated The Hornet for the SMW "Beat the Champ" Television Championship in Jellico, Tennessee
. Losing the title to Mike Furnas in Dungannon, Virginia
a month later, he also faced SMW Heavyweight Champion
"Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony
in early-1994 but failed to win the title. On April 1, Kyle defeated Anthony Michaels at Blue Grass Brawl II at the Pikeville County Gym. He and Dark Secret faced the Rock 'n' Roll Express three weeks later.
He also lost to Doug Furnas
at the Night of Legends supercard on August 5 Later that month, he faced Tony Anthony for the SMW Heavyweight title. Kyle also faced him in a tag team match with Bruiser Bedlam against Anthony and Tracy Smothers. He was briefly aligned with The Gangstas
(New Jack
& Mustafa Saed) during the brief feud with The Undertaker. In one memorable interview, he accompanied New Jack and D-Lo Brown to a local cemetery where they were momentarily frightened by a black cat which had appeared on camera during New Jack's promo. In December, Kyle made a brief return to WCW losing to Jim Duggan
at a house show in Dalton, Georgia
on December 6 and, two days later, lost to Sting at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta. Both matches were later aired on WCW Saturday Night
and WCW Main Event
.
Kyle defeated Boo Bradley
to win the vacant SMW "Beat the Champ" Television title in Lenoir, North Carolina
on February 6, 1995. He defended the title for two months before losing to Bobby Blaze in Pikeville, Kentucky on April 7. On that same day, he also lost to Boo Bradley at Blue Grass Brawl III. At Volunteer Slam IV, he lost to Boo Bradley in a dog collar match at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium on May 19. He again returned to WCW appearing on WCW Pro
to team with Johnny Swinger against The American Males
(Scotty Riggs & Marcus Alexander Bagwell) on September 16 and Road Warrior Hawk
on Monday Night Nitro the following month.
where he faced Wahoo McDaniel
. This match was later released on dvd as Superstars and Legends, Vol. 1 years later. He also had brief appearances in Music City Wrestling and later for Ron's Championship Wrestling, Ultimate Championship Wrestling and North American Championship Wrestling. In 1999, he would briefly team with Luther Biggs
as Hard Knox with manager Coach Buzz Stern
.
On February 2, 2008, Kyle appeared for Knoxville Area Professional Organized Wrestling at its World War Lenoir card at the National Guard Armory in Lenoir City, Tennessee
. The show also featured Samoa Joe
, Mr. Wrestling III
and a number of East Tennessee
independent wrestlers.
Southern States Wrestling
Southern States Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in eastern Tennessee. Founded by wrestler Beau James in early 1991, SSW succeeded Smoky Mountain Wrestling as the top promotion in eastern Tennessee following its close...
, Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Appalachian area of the United States from October 1991 to December 1995, when it was run by Jim Cornette...
as well as brief stints in Total Nonstop Action, World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and the World Wrestling Federation
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...
. In 1993, he also appeared for the Japanese promotion W*ING.
Early career
Born in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Mark Kyle made his professional debut for Continental Championship Wrestling
Continental Championship Wrestling
Continental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
as Pvt. Mark Kyle. His earliest match was against Danny Davis
Dan Marsh
Dan Marsh is a former professional wrestling referee and wrestler most famous as Danny Davis of the World Wrestling Federation. He also competed in the WWF for several years as Mr. X, a masked wrestler....
on May 28, 1988. He began wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
within two years. On January 16, 1990, he made his first WCW appearance at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta where he and Rick Fargo lost to The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell "Ricky" Morton is an American professional wrestler who has worked for such wrestling organizations as Jim Crockett Promotions, the American Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and Total Nonstop Action...
& Robert Gibson). He also received matches against NWA World Tag Team Champions
WCW World Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
The Steiner Brothers
The Steiner Brothers
The Steiner Brothers are the professional wrestling tag team of American brothers Robert "Rick Steiner" Rechsteiner and Scott "Scott Steiner" Rechsteiner...
(Rick
Rick Steiner
Robert Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler, better known under his ring name Rick Steiner.Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling, where he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion...
& Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner
Scott Carl Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Scott Steiner. Steiner is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling alongside his older brother Rick as the Steiner Brothers and as a member of the New World Order...
) with Brad Batten on January 31 and Ned Brady on February 17. He also teamed with Jerry Rose and Bob Cook in a 6-man tag team match against Mike Rotunda
Mike Rotunda
Lawrence Michael "Mike" Rotunda is a former American professional wrestler, perhaps best known under the name Irwin R. Schyster or I.R.S. for short. He is currently signed with WWE working as a road agent and making occasional appearances on WWE shows as Irwin R...
, Norman the Lunatic and Abdullah the Butcher
Abdullah the Butcher
Lawrence Robert "Larry" Shreve best known as Abdullah the Butcher, and also at times The Madman from the Sudan, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler known as one of the most brutal or "hardcore" professional wrestlers of all-time...
at the Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
on April 2.
In July 1990, he appeared on NWA Worldwide
WCW WorldWide
WCW WorldWide was a syndicated TV show produced by World Championship Wrestling.-Wide World Wrestling:The show began in 1975 , a syndicated one-hour program produced by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Jim Crockett Promotions...
against Star Blazer
Tim Horner
Tim Horner is a professional wrestler best known for his "Lightning Express" tag team with Brad Armstrong.-Career:Tim Horner started wrestling in 1982 in the Alabama territory. He formed a tag team called the "Lightning Express" with Brad Armstrong and they had a lot of success. They won the...
and, with Fred Avery, against The Southern Boys (Steve Armstrong
Steve Armstrong
Steve Armstrong is a professional wrestler and is the son of the legendary "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. He has three brothers that also wrestle: Scott, Brad and Brian.-Professional wrestling career:...
& 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...
). He also faced Hector Guerrero
Hector Guerrero
Héctor Manuel Guerrero Llanes is a Mexican-American professional wrestler, better known simply by his paternal name, Héctor Guerrero...
that same year.
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Kyle made his debut in Smoky Mountain Wrestling during early-1992 and was eventually introduced as the bodyguard of Jim CornetteJim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
. In one of the first episodes of SMW's weekly television show, Kyle pinned Keith Hart in Knoxville on March 28. On May 16, Kyle pinned Rex Hargrove in Hazard, Kentucky
Hazard, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
and defeated Tommy Angel at a SMW television taping in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
later that month. During the first weeks of June, he would suffer losses to Dixie Dynamite, Robert Gibson and Hector Guerrero.
At a June 15 taping at Cumberland High School in Cumberland, Kentucky
Cumberland, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,611 people, 1,076 households, and 723 families residing in the city. The population density was 570.5 people per square mile . There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 281.4 per square mile...
, Kyle defeated Danny Davis. Davis had fought to a no-contest with Dixie Dynamite against The Batten Twins (Bart & Brad Batten) earlier that night. Along with Joe Cazana, Kyle would face Brad & Bart Batten the following week at a house show held at the Raleigh County Armory in Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
.
On July 6, Kyle lost another match to Dixie Dynamite at Polk High School television taping in Benton, Tennessee
Benton, Tennessee
Benton is a town in Polk County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,138 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Polk County.Benton is included in the Cleveland, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He and Joe Cazana lost to The Fantastics (Bobby & Jackie Fulton) at Durango Park in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
a week later. At Summer Blast '92, he fought to a draw with Danny Davis at the Knoxville City Coliseum in front of 1,000 fans.
Feuding with Dixie Dynamite, Kyle pinned him in a "taped fist" match in Richwood, West Virginia
Richwood, West Virginia
Richwood is a city in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,477 at the 2000 census. A former coal and lumber boom town, the city's population once flirted with 10,000 but the closure of many underground coal mines caused many of Richwood's residents to leave the state...
on August 5. Although losing to him in Castlewood, Virginia
Castlewood, Virginia
Castlewood is a census-designated place in Russell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,036 at the 2000 census. Castlewood was an incorporated town from 1991 to 1997, when it reverted to unincorporated status.-Geography:...
two days later, he defeated him at Fire on the Mountain '92 at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
on August 8. Defeating Dixie Dynamite in another "taped fist" match at the Raleigh County Armory the next night, Kyle also beat Tommy Angel by submission at Polk High School on August 10.
By the end of the month however, Kyle suffered a disqualification loss to Dixie Dynamite during a match at James A. Cawood High School
James A. Cawood High School
Harlan County High School is a public high school located in the unincorporated community of Baxter, Kentucky that opened in late 2008 to replace the county's previously separate public high schools: Evarts High School, James A. Cawood, and Cumberland High School...
in Harlan, Kentucky
Harlan, Kentucky
Harlan is a city in Harlan County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,081 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 1,880 in 2007. It is the county seat of Harlan County.-History:...
and again in the third round of a boxing match at the Raleigh County Armory. He lost another match to Dixie Dynamite on September 4 when he was unable to pin his opponent within the 15 minute time limit. He also lost to Dixie Dynamite by disqualification in a second boxing match at Dobbins Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...
. He and The Heavenly Bodies
The Heavenly Bodies
The Heavenly Bodies was a professional wrestling tag team famous for having worked in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation, and various independent promotions...
(Stan Lane
Stan Lane
Wallace Stanfield "Stan" Lane is an American professional wrestler, trained by Ric Flair, who started wrestling in 1974 in Championship Wrestling from Florida. For a brief time in Florida, he was nicknamed Nature Boy...
& Tom Prichard
Tom Prichard
Thomas Prichard is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, working in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling as a trainer using his ring name Tom Prichard...
) teamed to defeat Brian Lee
Brian Lee
Brian Lee Harris is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Prime Time" Brian Lee...
, Tim Horner
Tim Horner
Tim Horner is a professional wrestler best known for his "Lightning Express" tag team with Brad Armstrong.-Career:Tim Horner started wrestling in 1982 in the Alabama territory. He formed a tag team called the "Lightning Express" with Brad Armstrong and they had a lot of success. They won the...
and Dixie Dynamite in a 6-man tag team match when Kyle pinned Brian Lee at the Raleigh County Armory on September 6. However, he lost to Dixie Dynamite the next night at Lincoln High School
Lincoln High School (West Virginia)
Lincoln High School is comprehensive four-year public high school located in Shinnston, West Virginia, in Harrison County that operates as part of the Harrison County School District....
in Shinnston, West Virginia
Shinnston, West Virginia
Shinnston is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, along the West Fork River. The population was 2,295 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Shinnston is located at ....
with 1,100 in attendance.
On September 12, Kyle pinned Mike Sampson at Cumberland High School. Although disqualified in a match in Johnson City against Brian Lee a week later, he beat Newton Stephie at East High School in Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat of, Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties...
on September 27. In late-October, he also faced Robbie Eagle and Ronnie Garvin.
In early-1993, Kyle faced both Tim Horner and Brian Lee in failed attempts to win the SMW "Beat the Champ" Television Championship. He would also face Brian Armstrong and Jerry Lynn
Jerry Lynn
Jeremy "Jerry" Lynn is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
in both their SMW debuts. He and 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...
toured Japan as part of a talent exchange agreement between SMW and W!ING. He first tour took place between March 18 to April 6 and, during his second tour in May, he challenged Yukihiro Kanemura for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship
WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship
The WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship is a secondary title contested for in the Puerto Rican professional wrestling promotion, the World Wrestling Council ....
at the JR Gym in Kanazawa, Japan
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
but lost via disqualification.
At Volunteer Slam II, he beat Robert Fuller
Robert Fuller
Robert Welch is a professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring names Robert Fuller and Col. Robert Parker. Robert and his brother Ron co-owned Continental Championship Wrestling for a time.-Career:...
at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium by disqualification on May 9. He later participated in the main event, the 10-man "Rage in the Cage" match, teaming with Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)
Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in WCW as "The Taskmaster" and his leading of the "Dungeon of Doom".-Early career:...
, 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...
and The Heavenly Bodies against Jimmy Golden
Jimmy Golden
James "Jimmy" Golden is an American professional wrestler, who is better known as Bunkhouse Buck.Golden has many relatives in wrestling: his cousins are Robert & Ron Fuller, his father is Billy Golden and his uncle is Buddy Fuller and his nephew is Eddie Golden. His grandfather is Roy Welch...
, Brian Lee, Robert Fuller and The Rock 'n' Roll Express. He also pinned Bobby Blaze at Last Tango in Tennessee in Johnson City less than a week later. On August 15, he faced Brian Anderson in his SMW debut match. In October, he faced Gator McCallister, Tim Horner and The Bullet who agreed to unmask if he lost to Kyle. On November 13, he faced Bobby Blaze with Chris Candido
Chris Candido
Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
in his corner.
On February 7, 1994, Kyle defeated The Hornet for the SMW "Beat the Champ" Television Championship in Jellico, Tennessee
Jellico, Tennessee
Jellico is a city in Campbell County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jellico is located at . The city is situated amidst the Cumberland Mountains in the Elk Creek Valley, which runs perpendicular to the Tennessee-Kentucky state line...
. Losing the title to Mike Furnas in Dungannon, Virginia
Dungannon, Virginia
Dungannon is a town in Scott County, Virginia, United States. The population was 332 at the 2010 census. It derives its name from the medium-sized town, Dungannon, situated in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland....
a month later, he also faced SMW Heavyweight Champion
SMW Heavyweight Championship
The SMW Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. It existed from 1992 until 1996 when SMW folded. "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony held the title the most times with three reigns. The United States Wrestling Association briefly recognized the SMW Heavyweight...
"Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony
Tony Anthony
Darrell W. "Tony" Anthony is a semi-retired American professional wrestler best known as Dirty White Boy, who wrestled primarily for independent promotions in the Southeastern United States...
in early-1994 but failed to win the title. On April 1, Kyle defeated Anthony Michaels at Blue Grass Brawl II at the Pikeville County Gym. He and Dark Secret faced the Rock 'n' Roll Express three weeks later.
He also lost to Doug Furnas
Doug Furnas
Doug Furnas is a former American professional wrestler and powerlifter. Furnas briefly worked for World Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s...
at the Night of Legends supercard on August 5 Later that month, he faced Tony Anthony for the SMW Heavyweight title. Kyle also faced him in a tag team match with Bruiser Bedlam against Anthony and Tracy Smothers. He was briefly aligned with The Gangstas
The Gangstas
The Gangstas was a professional wrestling tag team and stable, most notably consisting of New Jack and Mustafa Saed in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
(New Jack
New Jack
Jerome Young is an American professional wrestler, better known by his stage name New Jack in ECW.He is known for his willingness to take dangerous bumps and his stiff hardcore wrestling style, often taking high risks and "shooting" on opponents, though he is only known to shoot on opponents who...
& Mustafa Saed) during the brief feud with The Undertaker. In one memorable interview, he accompanied New Jack and D-Lo Brown to a local cemetery where they were momentarily frightened by a black cat which had appeared on camera during New Jack's promo. In December, Kyle made a brief return to WCW losing to Jim Duggan
Jim Duggan
James Edward Duggan , better known by his ring name "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1980s, when it was known as World Wrestling Federation , and World Championship Wrestling...
at a house show in Dalton, Georgia
Dalton, Georgia
Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128...
on December 6 and, two days later, lost to Sting at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta. Both matches were later aired on WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night TV show on TBS produced by World Championship Wrestling. The program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992...
and WCW Main Event
WCW Main Event
WCW Main Event is a televised wrestling program of World Championship Wrestling that aired from 1988 to 1998. For most of its run, it was the promotion's secondary show and aired on Sunday evenings on TBS. The show originally aired in 1988 as NWA Main Event...
.
Kyle defeated Boo Bradley
Balls Mahoney
Jonathan Rechner better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney , is an American professional wrestler...
to win the vacant SMW "Beat the Champ" Television title in Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
on February 6, 1995. He defended the title for two months before losing to Bobby Blaze in Pikeville, Kentucky on April 7. On that same day, he also lost to Boo Bradley at Blue Grass Brawl III. At Volunteer Slam IV, he lost to Boo Bradley in a dog collar match at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium on May 19. He again returned to WCW appearing on WCW Pro
WCW Pro
WCW Pro was a televised wrestling show presented by World Championship Wrestling. Along with WCW WorldWide, it was part of the WCW Disney tapings...
to team with Johnny Swinger against The American Males
The American Males
The American Males were a professional wrestling tag team in World Championship Wrestling composed of Marcus Bagwell and Scotty Riggs. Their gimmick was of two "pretty boys" who were fond of their own bodies and popular with women. Riggs was Bagwell's third partner with whom he won the WCW World...
(Scotty Riggs & Marcus Alexander Bagwell) on September 16 and Road Warrior Hawk
Road Warrior Hawk
Michael James Hegstrand was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or The Legion of Doom , with Road Warrior Animal.-Early life:While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later...
on Monday Night Nitro the following month.
Independent circuit and semi-retirement
Following the close of Smoky Mountain Wrestling in November 1995, Kyle spent the next few years in various independent promotions including Southern States WrestlingSouthern States Wrestling
Southern States Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in eastern Tennessee. Founded by wrestler Beau James in early 1991, SSW succeeded Smoky Mountain Wrestling as the top promotion in eastern Tennessee following its close...
where he faced Wahoo McDaniel
Wahoo McDaniel
Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel was a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American who achieved fame as a professional American football player and later as a professional wrestler.-Early life:...
. This match was later released on dvd as Superstars and Legends, Vol. 1 years later. He also had brief appearances in Music City Wrestling and later for Ron's Championship Wrestling, Ultimate Championship Wrestling and North American Championship Wrestling. In 1999, he would briefly team with Luther Biggs
Luther Biggs
Luther Biggs is an American professional wrestler, also known by his ring name Disgraceland, who has competed in North American independent promotions including the United States Wrestling Association, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and had a short stint in World Championship Wrestling during the...
as Hard Knox with manager Coach Buzz Stern
Ray Lloyd
Raymond M. Lloyd is an American martial artist, professional wrestler, and actor. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s under the ring name Glacier.-Early life:...
.
On February 2, 2008, Kyle appeared for Knoxville Area Professional Organized Wrestling at its World War Lenoir card at the National Guard Armory in Lenoir City, Tennessee
Lenoir City, Tennessee
Lenoir City is a city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 8,642 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area....
. The show also featured Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
, Mr. Wrestling III
Ray Fernandez
Raymond Fernandez was a professional wrestler who primarily wrestled in Florida and Texas before joining the World Wrestling Federation. He was best known by the ring name Hercules Hernandez or simply Hercules...
and a number of East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
independent wrestlers.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ron's Championship Wrestling
- RCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jeff Anderson
- Smoky Mountain WrestlingSmoky Mountain WrestlingSmoky Mountain Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Appalachian area of the United States from October 1991 to December 1995, when it was run by Jim Cornette...
- SMW Beat the Champ Television ChampionshipSMW Beat the Champ Television ChampionshipThe SMW "Beat the Champ" Television Championship was the secondary singles championship for the Smoky Mountain Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. The title was created in 1992 and was active until SMW closed its doors on November 26, 1995. The storyline concept of the title was that the...
(2 times)
- Ultimate Championship Wrestling
- UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #193 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1994.
Further reading
- Lister, John. Slamthology: Collected Wrestling Writings, 1991-2004. Adlibbed Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-4116-5329-0