Bull Dempsey

Smith made his debut on October 28, 2005, at East Coast Professional Wrestling event under the ring name Donnie "The Body" Johnson, where he lost to Ace Wylde. Over the next five months, Smith wrestled in National Wrestling Alliance as Baby Hughie. On September 26, 2009, at NWA New Jersey The Dennis Coralluzzo Invitational 2009, The Powers of Pain (The Barbarian and The Warlord) defeated The Varsity Club (Baby Hughie and Rob Eckos).{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=40726|title=NWA New Jersey The Dennis Coralluzzo Invitational 2009|author=Philip Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch.net|accessdate=19 November 2014}} In 2010, Smith changed his ring name to Smith James. On July 21, 2011, James defeated Memphis Mofo in a TNA dark match.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/60053/tna-impact-wrestling-spoilers-for-tonight.html?p=1|title=TNA IMPACT WRESTLING SPOILERS FOR TONIGHT - PWInsider.com|publisher=Pwinsider.com|accessdate=19 November 2014}}

In 2012, James joined The New Age Wrecking Crew with Bill Carr, Stockade and Vince Steele.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=29&nr=1357&name=The+New+Age+Wrecking+Crew|title=New Age Wrecking Crew|author=Philip Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch.net|accessdate=19 November 2014}} On March 10, 2012, Steele and James entered in a tournament to crown a new ACE Tag team Champions, but were defeated in the finals by The Movement. On March 9, 2013, James and Vince Steele won the American Championship Entertainment (ACE) Tag Team Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=92898|title=ACE Destined For Greatness|author=Philip Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch.net|accessdate=19 November 2014}} They lost the titles on May 11, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=95826|title=ACE Aftermath|author=Philip Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch.net|accessdate=19 November 2014}} On February 23, 2013, James and Bill Carr won the NYWC Tag Team Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=90458|title=NYWC Psycho Circus XI|author=Philip Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch.net|accessdate=19 November 2014}} However, they lost the title against Mikey Whipwreck and Stockade on June 23, 2013, his last match in the company.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=96977|title=NYWC Going The Distance|author=Philip Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch.net|accessdate=19 November 2014}}

In June 2013, James signed a contract with WWE.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/77402/wwe-signing-taz-protege-and-more.html?p=1|title=WWE SIGNING TAZ PROTEGE AND MORE|publisher=Pwinsider.com|accessdate=19 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/78331/pwinsidertv-new-wwe-talents-smith-james-dan-eckos-receive-farewell-sendoff-from-nywc.html?p=1|title=PWINSIDERTV: NEW WWE TALENTS SMITH JAMES & DAN ECKOS RECEIVE FAREWELL SENDOFF FROM NYWC - PWInsider.com|publisher=Pwinsider.com|accessdate=19 November 2014}} He was assigned to the WWE Performance Center. On August 28, 2013, his name was changed to Bull Dempsey.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/79893/lots-of-new-wwe-nxt-names-revealed.html?p=1|title=LOTS OF NEW WWE NXT NAMES REVEALED|publisher=Pwinsider.com|accessdate=19 November 2014}} Dempsey made his debut in NXT on September 12, 2013, where he was defeated by Aiden English. Throughout late 2013, he made sporadic appearances as an enhancement talent. In the late spring to summer, Dempsey returned to NXT as a tweener, squashing various low carders and local talents. In August, Dempsey and Mojo Rawley formed an uneasy tag team and participated in the NXT Tag Team Championship tournament, where they were defeated by The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) in the first round, prompting Dempsey to attack Rawley in the aftermath and establishing himself a heel.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/50342-wwe-nxt-results-8-21-14-rose-zayn-vs-cara-kalisto|title=WWE NXT Results - 8/21/14 (Rose/Zayn vs. Cara/Kalisto)|author=Jason Namako|date=21 August 2014|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=19 November 2014}} On September 11 at the NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way event, Dempsey defeated Rawley in a squash with his new finisher The Diving Headbutt. On the September 25 episode of NXT, Bull was victorious in the rematch. Following that, he embarked on a rivalry with Baron Corbin, another dominant wrestler who mostly squashed jobbers. The two competed to see how quickly they could defeat the "local talent", sometimes back-to-back. This eventually led to a match between the two on January 14, 2015, in which Dempsey's undefeated streak was broken by Corbin.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2015-01-14/wwe-nxt-results-2015-01-14-27000494|title=WWE NXT results - Jan. 14, 2015: Sami Zayn & Adrian Neville battle in NXT Title rematch|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2015-01-14}}

Dempsey competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Qualification Tournament at WrestleMania Axxess 31, but lost to Tyler Breeze in the first round. Soon after this, Dempsey's gimmick was tweaked to that of an overweight, out of shape wrestler who eats too much, which also saw him turn face in the process.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/54797-wwe-nxt-results-6-10-15-samoa-joe-in-ring-debut|title=WWE NXT Results - 6/10/15 (Samoa Joe in-ring debut)|date=11 June 2015|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2015-07-14}} After several vignettes aired to promote "Bull-Fit", Dempsey debuted his new gimmick on the August 26 episode of NXT, where he defeated Elias Samson.{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Lovell|title=WWE NXT Results (8/26)- Fit Bull Dempsey Debuts, NXT Womens Fatal Four Way!|date=26 August 2015|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/613643-wwe-nxt-results-082615|accessdate=August 28, 2015|publisher=Wrestlezone}} On the February 24 episode of NXT, he was defeated by Tommaso Ciampa. On the March 23 episode of NXT, he and his supposed opponent Danny Burch both got beaten down by Samoa Joe, before they even started the match, this led to a match between Dempsey and Joe on the following weeks episode. Dempsey lost in a quick squash match by disqualification because Joe kept his finisher, the Coquina Clutch, on Dempsey prompting NXT General Manager William Regal to try to stop him. Samoa Joe's insubordination would bring NXT Champion Finn Bálor to the ring to "rescue" Dempsey. The following week Dempsey lost to Joe in a squash match, this was Dempsey's final appearance for NXT.

On February 5, 2016, Dempsey announced on the social network Twitter that he had been released from WWE.

James began wrestling on the independent circuit following his release from NXT, using the name Bull James, a combination of his NXT name and his birth name. James announced that he was set to debut in Combat Zone Wrestling, stating that he was coming after Sami Callihan, also known as Solomon Crowe, facing him on March 1.{{cite AV media |url-status = live |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/txOjA3O_R7U |archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txOjA3O_R7U |title = CZW: Bull James is coming for Sami Callihan on 4/1 in Dallas! #MoreThanMania |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} On February 25, 2017, James won the NYWC Heavyweight Championship at Psycho Circus XV. On February 24, 2018, James lost the title to Alex Reynolds at Psycho Circus XVI only to regain it on March 31, 2018, at Aftermath. James lost the title to King Mega on June 30, 2018, at Going The Distance. On March 11, 2017, James won the SWF Cruiserweight Title at SWF Legacies Never Die.

On January 05, 2024, James made his debut at a Florida based Independent wrestling promotion, Boca Raton Championship Wrestling (BRCW) defeating Ozzy Kilmeister and Skitz in a Three-way. On March 17, He defeated Jaden Jakens in BRCW march madhouse.{{Cite web |title=Bull James at BRCW |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7631&page=4&year=2024&promotion=3930 |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Cagematch.net}}{{Cite web |title=BRCW Promoter Matthew Maschler discusses the promotion's unique presentation in Florida, BULL JAMES, THIS WEEK'S MIAMI EVENT AND TONS MORE {{!}} PWInsider.com |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/179563/brcw-promoter-matthew-maschler-discusses-the-promotions-unique-presentation-in-florida-trying-to-create-an-east-coast-pwg-party-flavor-wwf-memories-growing-up-in-backlund-era-bull-james-this-weeks-miami-event-trying-to-create-a-family-friendly-presentation-future-plans-ccw-relationship-and-tons-more.html?p=1 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.pwinsider.com}}

On September 18, 2016, James made a surprise debut in Ring of Honor's Honor Rumble, making it to the final four.{{Cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/former-nxt-star-bull-dempsey-makes-roh-debut/|title=411MANIA {{!}} Former NXT Star Bull Dempsey Makes ROH Debut|website=Former NXT Star Bull Dempsey Makes ROH Debut|access-date=2016-10-23}} On October 21, 2016, James faced ROH World Champion Adam Cole, in a losing effort.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/bull-james-gets-proving-ground-against-cole|title=Bull James Gets 'Proving Ground' Against Cole! {{!}} ROH Wrestling|website=www.rohwrestling.com|access-date=2016-10-23}} The following day James teamed up with Mr. Wrestling III losing to B. J. Whitmer and Punisher Martinez.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pwponderings.com/2016/10/23/roh-102216-road-to-final-battle-lakeland-results/|title=ROH 10/22/16 Road to Final Battle Lakeland Results|date=2016-10-23|website=PWPonderings|access-date=2016-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024023221/http://www.pwponderings.com/2016/10/23/roh-102216-road-to-final-battle-lakeland-results/|archive-date=2016-10-24|url-status=dead}} James was defeated by Silas Young.

• American Championship Entertainment
• ACE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Vince Steele
• Atomic Wrestling Revolution
• AWR Next Level Championship (1 time)
• Independent Wrestling Federation
• IWF American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• New York Wrestling Connection
• NYWC Heavyweight Championship (2 time)
• NYWC Fusion Championship (1 time)
• NYWC Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bill Carr{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=665|title=NYWC Tag Team Championship|author=Philip Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch.net|accessdate=19 November 2014}}
• East Coast Professional Wrestling
• ECPW Showcase Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
• Ranked No. 187 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/2014.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2014|accessdate=2 December 2014|work=Pro Wrestling Illustrated|publisher=Internet Wrestling Database}}
• Superstars of Wrestling Federation
• SWF Cruiserweight Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=3309|title=SWF Cruiserweight Championship

|publisher=Cage Match}}

{{Reflist}}

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Category:1988 births

Category:American male professional wrestlers

Category:Living people

Category:People from Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers

Category:21st-century American professional wrestlers

Category:Professional wrestlers from New York City