Jay Clayton

Jay Clayton Smith (July 23, 1941 – December 25, 2005) was an American professional wrestler, and US Marine who wrestled in NWA Tri-State in the mid-1970s.

Early life Smith worked for the United States Marine who fought in the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1964.

Professional wrestling career Trained by Danny Hodge, Smith would make his professional wrestling debut in 1974 in Florida. In 1975 he left Florida and worked in Georgia and NWA Tri-State.

He won the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship in 1975 both his trainer Danny Hodge and Ken Mantell.

He retired from wrestling in 1976 due to battling alcoholism and drug addiction.

Personal life In 1998, Smith graduated from Southern Nazarene University with a Masters of Science degree in Counseling Psychology. For the past 7 years, Jay worked as a Senior Therapist at The Life Healing Center of Santa Fe as a Trauma and Addictions Therapist.

Death Smith died on Christmas Day 2005 at 64 from blood clots in the brain at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Championships and accomplishments NWA Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (2 times) – with Danny Hodge (1) and Ken Mantell (1)