Sneaky Red Smith

Sneaky Red Smith was an out-of-shape cab driver who somehow felt he could make it as a pro wrestler and with the Bernsten promotion in Phoenix offering to train practically anyone if the price was right, he found an in. He was red in more ways than one, for aside from his blazing hair, he was usually bloodied, even in opening matches.

He was, as his name implied, "sneaky" as well, usually depending on a number of foreign objects to help him gain an edge. He snuck pencils, sandpaper, cords of rope, brass knuckles, chains, can openers, hunks of wood, bottle caps and even a bar of soap into the ring to try to win a victory, but even these extremes failed him. More often than not, he had his own illegal obejcts confiscated by his opponent and used against him.

From his debut in 1981 to his retirement in 1987, I do not recall him winning a single match, though he might have gotten one or two pins in there someplace that I missed.

Super Argo, Pedro El Grande, Eddie Sullivan, Eddie Lopez, Benny Mendeblis, Ron Newstrome, Skeleton Man, Mr. Murder, Two Ton Henkle, Mike Gordon, David Rose, The Cherokee Borthers, Flama Azul and Mike Contreras were just some of the regional people who beat him. Much larger foes such as Tony Hernandez and Jody Arnold, demolished him in a matter of minutes.

Like the coyote in the old Roadrunner cartoons, he was constantly going back to the drawing board. Every week, when the best of plans backfired on him, he was up to something new. The fans loved it, for they realized no matter what he tried, he would screw things up somehow.

One of the ultimate humiliations came when Jody Arnold knocked Red's dentures out of his mouth, then after much drama back and forth, stomped on them.

Well, at least he never had the indignation of losing a mixed match to a woman...

Oh, wait,,,

That happened too!

Red may never have been much of a winner. He may have gained more comic relief than genuine heat. He may have had the build of a sweet potato. Still, one has to admire his persistance. If everyone today had an attitude like his, some of the contmeporary Indy outfits would get somewhere.