Robert Smedley

Robert Smedley (born June 25, 1963) is an American retired professional wrestler and author, better known by his ring name Bobby Blaze. He gained the majority of his in-ring success performing for Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW) from 1993 to 1995, where he held the SMW Heavyweight Championship once, the SMW United States Junior Heavyweight Championship a record four times and the SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship twice. He also performed on the undercard in World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1988–1993) Robert "Bob" Smedley made his professional wrestling debut on September 11, 1988, after training under Boris and Dean Malenko. In 1991 and 1992, he would wrestle as enhancement talent for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1993–1995) In 1993, Smedley began working for the newly formed Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW) under the ring name Bobby Blaze. On June 7, 1993, he won the SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship by defeating The Dirty White Boy in a tournament final. On February 26, 1995, in the main event of SMW's Sunday, Bloody Sunday II, show Blaze defeated Jerry Lawler to win the SMW Heavyweight Championship. He lost the title to Buddy Landel on April 8. Blaze remained with the company, largely performing as a jobber in undercard matches, until September 1999. He appears in WCW Mayhem video game.

Later career (1999–2004) After WCW, Blaze worked in the independents mainly for Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling. He would return to Michinoku Pro Wrestling in Japan. Retired from wrestling in 2004.

Books Pin Me, Pay Me!: Have Boots, Will Travel I Kicked Out on Two: The Education of a Wrestler

Championships and accomplishments Cleveland All Pro Wrestling CAPW North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) Heartland Wrestling Association HWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him #109 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1995. Smoky Mountain Wrestling SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship (3 times, final) SMW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) SMW United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (4 times, final), Southern States Wrestling SSW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Unleashed Wrestling Alliance UWA Hall of Fame (2013)