THE DYNAMITE KID

The Dynamite Kid made his debut in 1975 at the ripe young age of 16. Right from the start of his career it was obvious that he was destined for the big time. In 1977 he took the British Lightweight title from Jim Breaks and just twelve months later he relieved Jim Breaks again of the British Welterweight title. The following year he went to Canada to work for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling where he stayed for 5 years. During his time with 'Stampede' he also made several trips to Japan to work for All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He made a huge impression in Japan where he is still highly regarded. He made his WWE (then known as the WWF) debut in 1984 in a tag match with Bret Hart but it was as one half of the British Bulldogs tag team with his cousin Daveyboy Smith that he is best known. In 1986 The British Bulldogs won the WWF tag team championship from Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake. But Dynamite's death-defying style of wrestling was beginning to cause him back problems and very often Smith had to wrestle single handed while Dynamite stayed on the ring apron. 

The Bulldogs lost their titles to The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) in 1987 and the following year their contract was terminated following a locker room brawl with The Rougeaus. They returned to Canada and Japan where they could now demand higher pay cheques. But in 1996 Tommy was forced to retire due to injury. He defied the doctors by making several comebacks and he had his final match in Japan, but by now he was just a shadow of his former self. The following day while at the airport awaiting a flight home, he had a seizure. He was in and out of hospital several times over the next twelve months - the wear and tear on his body and the accumulated ring injuries over the previous 18 years finally caught up with him. He could no longer walk and he is now confined to a wheelchair. Tommy's style of wrestling made him a lot of money over the years but was it worth it? Billington has gone on record as saying that he regrets nothing from his career, and has stated in his autobiography Pure Dynamite that he would do everything the same way all over again. Bret 'The Hitman' Hart is quoted as saying that "pound for pound, The Dynamite Kid was the greatest wrestler who ever lived" - a fitting tribute to a young kid from Golborne in Lancashire who took the wrestling world by storm. A kid who has paid dearly for giving wrestling fans more thrills and spills than any other wrestler who has ever laced up a pair of wrestling boots.

Credit: Peter McNolte

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