Engine will not run if any of these are absent or not in the correct balance: compression, spark, fuel, and air.
Of course spark and compression can be observed easily, but one must really get into the places not readily accessible to check timing of spark, air and fuel, and their ratio. Unless you have a three figure salary, I'd do your own work from now on. Mechanics are just so dang expensive, especially for simple 2 stroke engines that can be easily learned/studied unlike complicated automotive systems with unnecessary gizmos.
I'd guess bad compression since the thing ran fine, but couldn't stay running after something happened around the head. The air/fuel ratio didn't change from a spark plug popping out and neither did the fuel, so I'd rule those out.
I don't think you did enough troubleshooting. Can't wait to see if the mechanic figures this out.