Brian Hildebrand, "Mark Curtis"

[Psy]

So, today is the anniversary of this stellar ref's passing. I don't know if many of you remember his selling in WCW matches (frequently pretending to throw punches when wrestlers are) or the times when he stopped fan run-ins (one noteably on TV when he grabbed a bigger man in a front-facelock and held him down for security after booting him in the head).

Anyone else have some fond memories? To my friends and I he was always "the cool ref". He didn't steal the show, but supported it effectively.

[jason1980s]

At an autograph signing I met Haku/Meng and had him sign a card that had Mark Curtis refing the match. Haku took a minute to look at the card and mention some kind words about him. It's neat to see the respect you could tell from the meeting.

[probable]

It seems a lot of wrestlers LOVED this guy. Jericho frequently states what a top bloke he was.

[Mr Captain Falcon]

Jericho, Foley, Benoit, Guerrero, Malenko, Al Snow, Dlo Brown were all very close with Brian. In fact in Foley's first book he dedicates it to "Owen and Brian." For years I thought it was for Pillman, but it's actually for Hildebrand.

[chazraps]

I remember when he was being hospitalized initially, WCW Worldwide aired a 'best of' episode that featured all of his signature trademarks. Really sad that both he and Randy "Pee-wee" Anderson are gone.

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

I think he may be the only wrestling personality I have NEVER, EVER heard a single person say anything bad about.

Quite the opposite. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone that knew him that didn't have ONLY good things to say about him.

Every story I've ever heard about him, from him pwning fans who jumped the rail and other such tales of awesomeness, I have nothing but insane respect for the guy. Such a shame that he passed. He was one of the best referees any of the major companies ever had, to boot, if you ask me. Reminded me a lot of Tommy Young. No bullshit, took things seriously, seemed authoritative in spite of his stature. A great referee, seriously.

[baronmordo]

I remember how he'd occasionally make these shocked facial expressions at big moves. I've always liked referees who sold what was going on that way; it makes suspension of disbelief easier, doesn't it? He was also a referee that would occasionally get in the heel's face, even though he was a really little guy. He took no crap! A lot of referees could learn a thing or two by watching him.

[agent817]

To the person who mentioned that Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho were close with him, it immediately reminded me of this picture:

[Psy]

Times like this are when it kills me that I can't link to stuff I've found on Youtube.

[angryfan]

Sept 8, 2011 17:23:09 GMT -5 Threadkiller [Classic] said:

I think he may be the only wrestling personality I have NEVER, EVER heard a single person say anything bad about.

Quite the opposite. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone that knew him that didn't have ONLY good things to say about him.

Every story I've ever heard about him, from him pwning fans who jumped the rail and other such tales of awesomeness, I have nothing but insane respect for the guy. Such a shame that he passed. He was one of the best referees any of the major companies ever had, to boot, if you ask me. Reminded me a lot of Tommy Young. No bulls***, took things seriously, seemed authoritative in spite of his stature. A great referee, seriously.

He was at Pillman 99, which I was lucky enough to work/cover for the paper. I was in the press room while some guys were setting up a radio broadcast, and Brian walked in. We talked briefly, and he was the most unassuming, and happy, person that I have ever met. That is no exaggeration.

He was reffing that night, even though his health was very poor. He was very thin, the cancer obviously weakening him (he looked so tired, which makes sense) but there was nothing that could take that smile off his face. He kept grinning and tapping his ref shirt, and told me how excited he was to make another three count.

What I take away from it, besides his love of the business and that infectious smile, is the fact that EVERYONE, literally, went out of their way to come up, give him a hug, say they missed him, and to keep fighting. The man was not just loved, the man was revered.

I remember sitting with Les a week or so after the show, for a follow up, and he pops in some old SMW tapes and telling stories. Brian would ref the show, then come in for a match on the card under the Ninja Turtle gimmick and, Les's words, "put everybody else to shame with his ability in the ring". Fact is, he was too small to get a shot in the "big leagues", but it's a shame, because he could sell and he could flat out go when the bell rang.

As long as I live, though, I'll never forget that meeting with him that night. I was a wide-eyed kid trying to stay detached and professional. I did it when I talked to Flair, Mysterio, Konan, D'Lo, and the Benoits (it's still surreal, remembering sitting with them for an hour just talking) but with Brian...his smile and just how he talked about getting in the ring made ME feel the goosebumps that I did when I saw my first match.

We often talk about having "it" as far as wrestlers go, but Brian had it in spades. He loved what he did, you saw it every time he was on screen, and watching him under the mask getting squashed you saw someone doing everything within their power to make their opponent look like the baddest man on the planet and yet hold his own inside the ropes.

Somewhere I have the picture of us together, and I need to find it.

[skulldouggory]

R.I.P Shooter

[Porky's Butthole]

My all time favorite referee. I remember watching him in SMW. Also, like others have said, he *sold* the action and he was the *ref*. Who the hell does that now?

Never heard/read anyone ever say anything bad about the man. God bless him and his family.

[lildude8218]

Caught a weird moment a few months ago. I wanna say it was from a Clash of the Champions but Tony Schiavone makes a mention about how it was big WCW wrestling fan Brian Hildebrand's birthday. I wanna say Mark Curtis was in the ring about to or currently reffing a match. I thought it was odd that they used his real name instead of just saying "it's referee Mark Curtis' birthday, happy birthday Mark!"

[Porky's Butthole]

Sept 11, 2011 22:37:26 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

Caught a weird moment a few months ago. I wanna say it was from a Clash of the Champions but Tony Schiavone makes a mention about how it was big WCW wrestling fan Brian Hildebrand's birthday. I wanna say Mark Curtis was in the ring about to or currently reffing a match. I thought it was odd that they used his real name instead of just saying "it's referee Mark Curtis' birthday, happy birthday Mark!"

See, I think that's just a huge sign of respect for the man. That and a little something for the insiders.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

He was pretty cool and had a great "old time ref" look even though he wasn't that old or had that much face time on a national stage.