Black History Month in Wrestling Spotlight: Norman Smiley

Norman Smiley has had an impact on many of the names that the WWE Universe and wrestling in general enjoys to watch night in and night out.

Black History Month is an important time of the year to look at men and women of color that have contributed to their industries. Professional wrestling is the same as there are many people of color that are often overlooked and underappreciated.

Norman Smiley is such an individual as he’s not only contributed to professional wrestling in the ring but is playing a major role in developing the future of the industry from the other side of the ropes.

If one was to look at the totality of Smiley’s in-ring career, there may be some debate about whether he should be labeled as a mid-carder. That question shouldn’t even come up as it’s a marginalization of how he was booked during his time in WCW and Impact Wrestling.

To find the height of Smiley’s career, look at his work in CMLL during the early 90s. The CMLL World Heavyweight Championship is the most prominent title that was ever placed around Smiley’s waist, which he would hold for 219 days.

Nearly a decade would pass before he’d hold onto another singles title as a part of WCW, but even then, it’s worth recognizing what made Smiley a special talent in the ring. Smiley could work with anyone.

More from Daily DDT

• It’s time for Adam Cole and MJF to drop the ROH tag team titles
• Tom Lawlor talks MLW return, AEW opportunity, CM Punk’s WWE return and more
• Eddie Kingston stands to gain the most from the AEW Continental Classic
• Trish Stratus on WWE NXT would help elevate that women’s division
• Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline

His catalog includes matches against the likes of Brian Knobbs, Lance Storm, Fit Finlay, Bill Goldberg and many others. Even though his gimmick was based in comedic dancing, his technical wrestling abilities could match anyone on the roster. Smiley could equally deliver laughs and be a violent wrestler that looked the part; that’s one of the marks of a good worker between the ropes.

But let’s talk about Smiley’s contributions while standing outside of the ring.

In 2007, Smiley joined the WWE as a trainer to work for its original developmental territory, FCW. That eventually helped transition him over to NXT, where Smiley continued to have an impact with the newest faces on the WWE roster. Many of those individuals have spoken out on the influence he’s had on their careers. Take Sasha Banks for instance.

“I wouldn’t be the wrestler I am today if it wasn’t for Norman Smiley,” she tweeted back in 2018. “He’s the GOAT.”

According to Smiley’s own words in 2015, he’s worked with “at least 80 percent of the main roster to some degree.”

Names such as Roman Reigns, Big E, Alicia Fox and Sheamus have been under the tutelage of Smiley in one form or another. Many of the stars that entertain the WWE Universe week in and week out would have something positive to say about the trainer from Northamptonshire, England.

Being influential in professional wrestling is about more than what occurs within the ring. Many men and women contribute just as much, if not more when the performing portion of their career is over. Many would say that about Norman Smiley, who Daily DDT is recognizing during Black History Month.