Johnny Smith (wrestler)

John Robert Hindley (born 7 August 1965) is an English retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Johnny Smith. He is best known for his appearances with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Hindley was trained by his uncle Ted Betley, initially in Winwick, Warrington, and then Port Erin, Isle of Man. He made his debut in January 1982 at the age of 16 at Gloucester Leisure Centre, under the name Junior Royal. A year later, he changed his ring name to John Savage, while wrestling in Germany. In July 1985, he would wrestle under the name The Manxman. His last match for Joint Promotions was held on 31 March 1986, losing to veteran Barry Douglas. Soon after, he moved across the Atlantic to Canada with his wife Jane. Smith would continue to return seasonally to Germany and Austria for the Catch Wrestling Association's summer season of tournaments throughout his career.

Joining Stampede Wrestling in June 1986, Hindley was billed as Davey Boy Smith's brother, Johnny Smith. Two months later, he defeated Gama Singh to win his first championship, the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship. He would hold onto the title for over a month, before losing the title to Les Thornton.

In 1987, he went on his first Japanese tour in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

Initially a babyface, he turned heel in March 1988 as he joined forces with Gama Singh's Karachi Vice stable and began disrespecting the Hart family, going so far as to berating Davey Boy's wife Diana and feuding with Owen Hart.

In the spring of 1988, he began a feud with Chris Benoit over the British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title. In June 1988, he defeated Benoit to win his second British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title, but lost it back to Benoit a week later. However, Smith rebounded another week later and defeated Benoit for his third British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title. In July 1988, he began feuding with Biff Wellington, which also included a hair vs. hair match in September, which Smith lost, but attacked Wellington after the match and cut his hair instead. In January 1989, Smith's third reign as British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight champion came to an end as he lost the title to Chris Benoit in a death match.

In February 1989, he began feuding with Dynamite Kid after interfering during a British Bulldogs-Karachi Vice rematch, attacking him from behind and cutting his hair. The feud also included a series of chain matches, dubbed the Battle of Britain. In May, Dynamite had turned on Davey Boy Smith and Johnny began teaming with Dynamite as The British Bruisers, feuding with Davey Boy and Chris Benoit. In July 1989, he defeated Benoit to win his fourth and final British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight championship, but lost it back to Benoit a day later.

From June to August 1987, Smith wrestled in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling as part of its "Summer Big Fight Series". During the tour, he primarily teamed with other foreign wrestlers, including Bad News Allen, Buzz Sawyer, and Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow. His opponents included Antonio Inoki, Keiji Muto, Masa Saito, and Seiji Sakaguchi.