17 Facts About Chris Champion

Christopher Dennis Ashford-Smith, better known by his ring name Chris Champion, was an English professional wrestler.

Chris Champion primarily worked for various National Wrestling Alliance member territories, including Championship Wrestling from Florida and Jim Crockett Promotions.

Chris Champion is known as Yoshi Kwan, initially from World Championship Wrestling.

Chris Champion's younger brother Mark was a professional wrestler under the name Mark Starr, and the two often teamed together.

Chris Champion teamed up with Sean Royal to form a tag team called The New Breed.

In late 1989 CWA became United States Wrestling Association, with the new name came a new attitude from Chris Champion, who broke up Wild Side and began working as a face.

Chris Champion worked feuds with USWA's top talent such as Jerry Lawler and The Dirty White Boy.

Chris Champion, using the Kowabunga gimmick, but using the name "Turtle Kamen," wrestled a tour of Japan for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in August 1991.

Chris Champion grew a Fu Manchu and drew a dragon tattoo on his right arm.

Chris Champion worked as "Yoshi Kwan" on the American independent circuit, as well as returning to FMW for a tour in March 1996.

Chris Champion returned to the USWA in April 1996, but would leave the company three months later.

Chris Champion would resurrect the Turtle Kamen character for BattlARTS in 1999.

Chris Champion later adopted a character called "Sinn" that he used both in the United States and, later, in the United Kingdom.

In July 2002, Chris Champion had a major stroke and was in the critical care unit for a while after that.

Chris Champion was able to make a full recovery from the stroke and returned to wrestling.

Chris Champion returned to the ring for a one night appearance as Yoshi Kwan in October 2017 for Southern Wrestling Federation in Tullahoma, Tennessee, losing to Petey St Croix.

On 22 August 2018, at the age of 57, Chris Champion died in Nashville, Tennessee.