Wrestling / Brian Hildebrand

With then-WCW commentator Mike Tenay

Brian Curtis Hildebrand (January 21, 1962 – September 8, 1999) was an American Professional Wrestler, referee and manager best known for his work for SMW and WCW. He started in the 1980s working various independents, before catching on as a referee. Sadly, he died from stomach and bowel cancer at the age of 37.

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"The Smallest Tropes in the World":

• Beware the Nice Ones: Applied a chokehold to a fan who had run in during the Dean Malenko-Psicosis match on the September 8, 1997 WCW Monday Nitro, until security could get the fan out of the ring.
• Captain Ersatz/Writing Around Trademarks: As Kowabunga the Ninja Turtle in SMW.^note Ever hear anyone mention Jim Cornette wrestling against a "ninja turtle" as a comeback to Cornette's rants about the rampant idiocy and silliness of modern wrestling? That match did indeed happen, and Hildebrand was the man in the shell. Cornette will often cite this as an example of good comedy (in this case hamulating at hated heel manager to the delight of the crowd), as opposed to bad comedy, i.e. guys doing stupid shit just for the sake of doing stupid shit to amuse their friends in the locker room
• Everyone Went to School Together: He, Mick Foley and Shane Douglas all trained at Dominic DeNucci's wrestling school in Pittsburgh at the same time.
• Noodle Incident: However it was he found himself with the nickname "Gerbil."
• Reasonable Authority Figure: As a referee.
• Red Baron: (as Dr. Mark Curtis) "Shooter."
• Sesquipedalian Smith: Inverted with his real name.
• Stage Names: Usually, "Dr. Mark Curtis."