Brian Hildebrand Brian Curtis Hildebrand ( January 21 , 1962 - September 8 , 1999 ) was a professional wrestling manager , wrestler and referee who sometimes went by the name of Mark Curtis . Although trained in brawling , technical , and high flying wrestling techniques , he spent most of his career as a manager and referee . Career . Hildebrand started out as a manager in 1984 in the independent territories in the northeastern United States . He was a heel manager , and he managed Cactus Jack at one time . In 1986 , he began training at Dominic DeNucci ' s wrestling school in Freedom , Pennsylvania . He went on to Smoky Mountain Wrestling ( SMW ) in 1992 , where he was a referee and also wrestled occasionally as Kowabunga , fully costumed like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle . When SMW closed in 1995 , he went on to work as referee Mark Curtis in World Championship Wrestling . During his time in WCW , he earned the nickname The Shooter after a fan attempted to interfere in a live WCW television match . As the invading fan slid under the bottom rope to enter the ring , Hildebrand , who happened to have glanced over just as the man jumped the guard rail , dropped to the mat , placed the man in a front facelock , and held him there until WCW security could take him into custody . Play - by - play announcer Tony Schiavone and then - color commentator Bobby " The Brain " Heenan found this amusing , with Heenan observing " That guy just got taken down by the smallest referee in the business . " Death and memorials . Hildebrand was diagnosed with stomach and bowel cancer in October 1997 . After having surgery in attempt to remove it , he continued refereeing for WCW throughout the following months . During the final stage of his disease in 1999 , a " Curtis Goes Home " benefit was held in his hometown of Rostraver Township , Pennsylvania . Cody Michaels developed and promoted the event , which is viewed by wrestling insiders and experts as one of the truly memorable events in history that actually brought together the major companies at the time , World Wrestling Federation , WCW , and Extreme Championship Wrestling , in support for one of the most genuinely loved workers in the industry . The major stars that worked and provided support that night included Mick Foley , Dean Malenko , Eddie Guerrero , Chris Benoit , Chris Jericho , Shane Douglas , Bruno Sammartino , Dominic DeNucci , Terry Taylor , D ' Lo Brown , Al Snow , Hugh Morris , Les Thatcher , Billy Kidman , Chris Candido , and many others . Hildebrand died from the disease on September 8 , 1999 . He refereed one last match at a local independent show mere days before his death . Hildebrand ' s death was briefly acknowledged on the following edition of " WCW Thunder " , but the first WCW event to have taken place after his death was a house show on September 11 at the Baltimore Arena , which was held in his honor with a ten bell salute . Late in the show , friends Shane Douglas , Chris Benoit , and Dean Malenko ( known as Revolution ) shared heartfelt words about Hildebrand and dedicated the show to him . Hildebrand inspired the " Mark Curtis Fantasy Camp 2001 " a training event with Bill Demott ( a . k . a . Hugh Morris ) on hand . A " Mark Curtis Memorial Show " would also be held on May 7 , 2005 at Freedom Hall in Louisville , Kentucky . The main event pitted Al Snow and D ' Lo Brown against Shane Douglas and Mick Foley .