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 (where he was known as Mark Curtis.) 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.
"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.
- Big Eater: According to his friend Mick Foley, Brian "could keep pace at a buffet table with the best of them. Unfortunately, his metabolism was practically superhuman, and as such, nature never let him get above a hundred and fifty pounds."
- Captain Ersatz/Writing Around Trademarks: As Kowabunga the Ninja Turtle in SMW.note
- 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.
- Ignored Expert: He was a big advocate of Satoru Sayama a.k.a. Tiger Mask, and one of the first American wrestlers to begin studying and trying to replicate his aerial techniques, though there were few Americans in the 80s who had the required smaller stature to pull them off.
- 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."
