It is with deep sadness to report that Pro Wrestling NOAH star and former Ring of Honor superstar, Mark “Bison” Smith, has passed away following cardiac issues, aged just 38.

The passing of Smith has come as a huge shock to me, as he had recently competed at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Global League Tournament, which we covered here on the website and wrestled his last match on November 20th, 2011 teaming with Shuhei Taniguchi to take on the team of Jun Akiyama ad Yoshihiro Takayama and was scheduled to appear at this weekend’s World Wrestling Council event in Puerto Rico. World Wrestling Council announced late on Tuesday night that “Buffalo Bison Smith has just died in the Carolina Regional Hospital due to heart complications.”

There will be a 10-bell rememberance at today’s Pro Wrestling NOAH event at the Iwate Colisseum and on the November 27th event at Differ Ariake in Tokyo, along with a flower stand memorial tribute. On behalf of the website, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mark “Bison” Smith.