The following year, Smith entered a tournament for the vacant ECW Television Championship, losing to Eddie Gilbert in the quarter-final round on the April 13, 1993 episode of "Eastern Championship Wrestling". On the June 8 episode of "Eastern Championship Wrestling", Smith entered a battle royal for the new Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship, won by Tommy Cairo. Smith unsuccessfully challenged Jimmy Snuka for the Television Championship at Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular. On the August 3 episode of "Eastern Championship Wrestling", Smith lost to The Dark Patriot, which was notable for the 20 foot fall Smith took from an upstairs announcing area onto the floor, followed by the Dark Patriot leaping from the upstairs area onto the back of Smith. This was regarded by many fans as the match that gave birth to ECW. This incident led to a scaffold match between Smith and Patriot at UltraClash, which Smith lost. Smith received a title shot against Shane Douglas for the Heavyweight Championship at . During the match, Terry Funk threw in the towel for Smith but Smith threw it back on Funk's face. Smith lost the match and Funk attacked him after the match. On October 16, Smith won a battle royal in North East, Maryland to become the first Maryland Champion, thus winning his first title in the company. However, Smith would become the only person to hold the title due to it being abandoned later that year. At Holiday Hell, Smith and Tommy Cairo unsuccessfully challenged Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac for the Tag Team Championship.