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Willie James “Moondog  Bill” Smithson Jr.

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Willie James “Moondog Bill” Smithson Jr.

Birth
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA
Death
21 Mar 2013 (aged 62)
White House, Sumner County, Tennessee, USA
Burial
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Willie James "Bill" "MOON DOG" Smithson jr.

May 31, 1950-March 21, 2013

SMITHSON, Bill "Moondog". March 21, 2013, age 62 of White House. Preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Naomi Smithson; sister, Patricia Alred. Surived by children, Tracy Johnson (Tommy), Salina Sullivan (Stephen), Ronnie Smithson; Grandchildren, Blake Hoover, Joshua Cunningham, Breanna Gregory, Brendan Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Derek Smithson, Hayley Smithson, David Smithson; sisters, Kathy Smithson, Sherry Midgett (Tim); brother, Ricky Smithson (Corrine)

Cole and Garrett Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Cole & Garrett Funeral Home- Goodlettsville
127 N. Main St.
Goodlettsville, TN
(615) 859-5231

William Smithson (May 31, 1950 – March 21, 2013[3]) was a professional wrestler who wrestled as Moondog Spike during the early 1990s with Moondog Spot from 1991 to 1992 and Moondog Cujo from 1992 to 1993 as part of The Moondogs.[1]

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 6'2"[2]
Billed weight 345 lb (156 kg).[2]
Trained by Tojo Yamamoto[2]
Debut 1978[2]
Retired c. 1994

Professional wrestling career
Trained by Tojo Yamamoto in Tennessee, Smithson made his debut in 1978 as a tag team partner of Jerry Ralph in one of the many incarnations of the "Inferno" tag teams managed by Mike Duprée.[1] During the mid-1980s, under the name Dizzy Golden, he formed a tag team with his storyline brother Mike Golden[1] in the Mid-South area winning the Texas All-Star U.S.A. Tag Team Championship twice during a feud with the "Dream Team" of King Parsons and Tiger Conway, Jr.[4] in 1986 and reigned as its last tag team champions until the title was retired in November 1986 following the federation's purchase by World Class Championship Wrestling.[4] He briefly went to Memphis after the demise of Texas All Star Wrestling as the Australian "Bluey". He was bought in by George Barnes to help feud with Bill Dundee who Barnes had turned on and said Dundee had gotten too "American". After that he went to ICW in the New England area where he wrestled there in late 87 and 1988 as Moondog Spike.He won the Hwy Title as well as twice the Tag straps.[5][6]

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] Smithson disappeared soon after the split however, possibly due to health problems resulting from his weight gain, and had been inactive as of 2007. 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]
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]
References[edit]
"Bill Smithson's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
"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.
Wrestlingdata.com
"SWCW Southwest Tag Team title history". Wrestling-Titles.com.
Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Boston: International Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Boston: International Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 200–202. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
"Cole & Garrett Funeral Homes and Cremation Services | Tennessee". Cole and Garrett.tributes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
"Larry Booker's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
External link
Icon Professional wrestling portal
Online World of Wrestling: Bill Smithson
Moondog Spike
Legends: The Moondogs
"REST IN PEACE MOONDOG"
Willie James "Bill" "MOON DOG" Smithson jr.

May 31, 1950-March 21, 2013

SMITHSON, Bill "Moondog". March 21, 2013, age 62 of White House. Preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Naomi Smithson; sister, Patricia Alred. Surived by children, Tracy Johnson (Tommy), Salina Sullivan (Stephen), Ronnie Smithson; Grandchildren, Blake Hoover, Joshua Cunningham, Breanna Gregory, Brendan Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Derek Smithson, Hayley Smithson, David Smithson; sisters, Kathy Smithson, Sherry Midgett (Tim); brother, Ricky Smithson (Corrine)

Cole and Garrett Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Cole & Garrett Funeral Home- Goodlettsville
127 N. Main St.
Goodlettsville, TN
(615) 859-5231

William Smithson (May 31, 1950 – March 21, 2013[3]) was a professional wrestler who wrestled as Moondog Spike during the early 1990s with Moondog Spot from 1991 to 1992 and Moondog Cujo from 1992 to 1993 as part of The Moondogs.[1]

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 6'2"[2]
Billed weight 345 lb (156 kg).[2]
Trained by Tojo Yamamoto[2]
Debut 1978[2]
Retired c. 1994

Professional wrestling career
Trained by Tojo Yamamoto in Tennessee, Smithson made his debut in 1978 as a tag team partner of Jerry Ralph in one of the many incarnations of the "Inferno" tag teams managed by Mike Duprée.[1] During the mid-1980s, under the name Dizzy Golden, he formed a tag team with his storyline brother Mike Golden[1] in the Mid-South area winning the Texas All-Star U.S.A. Tag Team Championship twice during a feud with the "Dream Team" of King Parsons and Tiger Conway, Jr.[4] in 1986 and reigned as its last tag team champions until the title was retired in November 1986 following the federation's purchase by World Class Championship Wrestling.[4] He briefly went to Memphis after the demise of Texas All Star Wrestling as the Australian "Bluey". He was bought in by George Barnes to help feud with Bill Dundee who Barnes had turned on and said Dundee had gotten too "American". After that he went to ICW in the New England area where he wrestled there in late 87 and 1988 as Moondog Spike.He won the Hwy Title as well as twice the Tag straps.[5][6]

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] Smithson disappeared soon after the split however, possibly due to health problems resulting from his weight gain, and had been inactive as of 2007. 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]
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]
References[edit]
"Bill Smithson's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
"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.
Wrestlingdata.com
"SWCW Southwest Tag Team title history". Wrestling-Titles.com.
Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Boston: International Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Boston: International Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 200–202. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
"Cole & Garrett Funeral Homes and Cremation Services | Tennessee". Cole and Garrett.tributes.com. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
"Larry Booker's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
External link
Icon Professional wrestling portal
Online World of Wrestling: Bill Smithson
Moondog Spike
Legends: The Moondogs
"REST IN PEACE MOONDOG"


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