The Rise and Fall of Mark Curtis: A Technician's Tragic Tale

Mark Curtis was a wrestler who left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1962, Curtis began his journey to becoming "The Shooter" at a young age, with a passion for the sport that only grew stronger as he matured.

Weighing in at a lean 145 pounds and standing at an impressive 5'6", Curtis was a force to be reckoned with in the ring. His technician's style of wrestling, combined with his high-flying antics, made him a fan favorite wherever he went. From the National Wrestling Alliance to Lucha Libre AAA World Wide, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, United States Wrestling Association, and Deaf Wrestlefest, Curtis worked tirelessly to hone his craft and entertain the masses.

But beneath the mask of "Dr. Mark Curtis," "Kowabunga," or simply "Ninja Turtle," Curtis was a complex individual with a rich inner life. His nickname "The Shooter" notwithstanding, Curtis was not just a one-dimensional wrestler – he was a man with hopes, dreams, and fears, like us all.

Sadly, Curtis's time in the spotlight was cut short when he passed away on September 8, 1999, at the tragically young age of 37. The cause of his death was pancreatic cancer, which took him from us far too soon.

Despite the brevity of his career and life, Mark Curtis left an enduring legacy in the world of professional wrestling. His matches, though few and far between, were always memorable for their technical skill and high-flying action. As we look back on his all-too-brief time with us, it is clear that "The Shooter" will never be forgotten – his spirit lives on in our memories of him as a true original, a technician's technician, and a shining star who burned brightly but briefly in the firmament of professional wrestling.
Name: Mark Curtis
Real Name: Brian Curtis Hildebrand
Ring Names: Dr. Mark Curtis, Kowabunga, Kowabunga The Ninja Turtle, Ninja Turtle, Hymie P. Weiss
Date of Birth: 21 January 1962
Age: 62 Years
Died On: 08 September 1999
Born In: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Facts

Here are 10 interesting facts and tidbits about wrestler Mark Curtis:

• Mark Curtis, whose real name is Brian Curtis Hildebrand, made his professional wrestling debut in 1985.

• Curtis began his career working for various independent promotions on the East Coast, including the United States Wrestling Federation (USWF) and International World Class Championship Wrestling (IWC).

• One of Curtis' earliest notable feuds was with ECW stalwart Tommy Dreamer, which took place in the late 1980s.

• In 1991, Curtis signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he adopted the persona "Dr. Mark Curtis," a character who portrayed himself as a pompous, self-proclaimed expert on sports medicine and physical fitness.

• Curtis' stint in WCW was short-lived, but he did manage to notch a few notable victories, including a win over then-WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair's protégé, Arn Anderson.

• After leaving WCW, Curtis went on to work for various promotions, including Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he feuded with the likes of Raven and Terry Funk.

• In 1995, Curtis donned a mask and adopted the persona "Kowabunga," a character inspired by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

• Kowabunga's gimmick was that of a heroic, ninja-trained turtle who fought against evil forces in the ring. This character proved to be one of Curtis' most popular and enduring personas.

• In 2000, Curtis joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he competed as "Ninja Turtle" and feuded with the likes of Jerry Lynn and Chris Sabin.

• Throughout his career, Curtis has held multiple championships, including the IWC World Heavyweight Championship, the USWF United States Championship, and the NWA National Tag Team Championship.