Mark Ashford-Smith (1962-2013)
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Alias:
Mark Starr
Birthplace:
Stafford, Staffordshire, England
Born:
December 26, 1962
Died:
June 7, 2013
was an English professional wrestler best known by his ring name Mark Starr. He competed as a member of several tag teams. He remained with the company for several months before joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In WCW, he competed in the battle royal main events at the company's 1995 and 1996 World War 3 pay-per-views but was not victorious in either. Although these were his only televised appearances at WCW pay-per-views, he also competed in dark matches at Uncensored 1995, Slamboree 1995, and Bash at the Beach 1995, losing to Alex Wright, Sgt. Craig Pittman, and Road Warrior Hawk, respectively. Men at Work (1995–1996) In his later career, Starr formed a tag team known as Men at Work with Chris Kanyon in WCW. The team faced many of WCW's top tag teams but lost the majority of their matches. One notable victory came on the January 10, 1996 episode of WCW Saturday Night, when they defeated former WCW World Tag Team Champions Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater. Final years and retirement (1996–1998) Starr also competed as a singles wrestler, once again playing the role of a jobber. In one match, he teamed with Cobra, Prince Iaukea, and Rex King to face The Giant in a handicap match, which The Giant won in 38 seconds. He was also one of the many opponents defeated by Bill Goldberg during Goldberg's 173-match winning streak. He would go on to challenge Dean Malenko and Ultimo Dragon for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship in 1997. One of Mark's most important final matches on WCW Monday Nitro was the infamous loss in the Superdome in New Orleans, to Diamond Dallas Page in 54 seconds. Starr's final match of his career took place against Sick Boy at Nitro on February 16, 1998. He retired in 1998, due to a back injury. Starr died from a heart attack in Brandon, Florida on June 7, 2013; he was 50 years old