NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Dynamite Kid

Thomas Billington (born December 5, 1958 in Golborne, Lancashire) is a retired English professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid- to late-1980s. Billington was perhaps best known for being one-half (along with his cousin Davey Boy Smith) of the tag team British Bulldogs, as well as for his innovative feud with Tiger Mask. Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta that for decades produced a weekly television series that is considered the forerunner of todays WWE. // Stampede Wrestling was operated by Stu Hart between 1948 and 1984. ... All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) (å…¨æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹, zen nihon puroresu) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. ... New Japan Pro Wrestling (æ–°æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... David Boy (Davey Boy) Smith (November 28, 1962 â€“ May 18, 2002) was an English professional wrestler. ... Satoru Sayama (born November 24, 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. ...

Career

Academics were not a priority to Tom, but he was drawn to the sport program at his comprehensive school; his adherence to it, particularly wrestling and gymnastics, helped him develop a relatively small but powerful and agile shape. In addition, he had also received training in boxing during his formative years, which helped instill toughness in him before his career. His father, the brother of Davey Boy Smith's mother, was a miner and itinerant labourer who often took young Thomas to see wrestling matches in Wigan, then as now well-known for its wrestling tradition. It was during a home visit that the younger Billington met and caught the attention of Ted Betley, who had been running a pro-wrestling school in his home; it was here that Billington began his training, as a way of avoiding the back breaking work of the coal mines. His first shot in the pro ranks was working for Max Crabtree, as he debuted in 1975. During his early days, he won the British Lightweight title on April 23, 1977 and the Welterweight title on January 25, 1978. He was also instrumental in starting the career of then-Judo star Chris Adams while still competing in Britain. He was scouted by Stu Hart, and moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1978. Christopher Adams (February 10, 1955 â€“ October 7, 2001) was a professional wrestler, wrestling promoter, trainer and judoka. ... Stewart Edward Stu Hart, CM (May 3, 1915 â€“ October 16, 2003) was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. ...

Dynamite made a big impact in his matches for Stampede Wrestling with the increasingly popular Bret Hart, and has claimed to have helped train Hart. Despite differences between them due to comments Dynamite Kid made about Stu Hart in his autobiography, Bret still regards him as "pound-for-pound, the greatest wrestler who ever lived". Dynamite Kid began taking steroids during a tour through Germany when Big Daddy Ritter introduced Billington to (the muscle producing drug) Dianabol. Billington was also introduced to speed during his stay in Canada by Jake Roberts. Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta that for decades produced a weekly television series that is considered the forerunner of todays WWE. // Stampede Wrestling was operated by Stu Hart between 1948 and 1984. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

After doing big business in Canada, Dynamite was booked on his first tour of Japan, working for International Pro Wrestling from July 19-25, 1979. Stu Hart and Stampede Wrestling switched their business relationship from IPW to New Japan Pro Wrestling shortly after Dynamite's first tour, and he wrestled for New Japan from January 4, 1980 to August 2, 1984. Perhaps the most memorable matches that came out of Dynamite's run in New Japan were from his now legendary feud against Tiger Mask; Tiger Mask's debut was against Dynamite, in which Tiger Mask shocked the wrestling world by gaining the victory over Dynamite. The two would compete against one another several more times in a feud that is often credited as putting Junior Heavyweight wrestling on the map, as well as setting the standard for future generations. Both the NWA and WWF Junior Heavyweight titles were vacated after Tiger Mask was injured by Dynamite Kid in a tag match on April 1, 1983. Dynamite and Kuniaki Kobayashi competed for the vacant titles, but no winner was decided. On April 21, 1983, Dynamite and Tiger Mask met for the vacant WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship, but no winner was decided after the match ended up as a draw three consecutive times; this match ended up being considered as the 2nd greatest match of the 80s. International Pro-Wrestling (å›½éš›ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹èˆˆè¡Œ;, Kokusai Puroresu Kogyo, International Wrestling Enterprise) was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1967 to 1981. ... New Japan Pro Wrestling (æ–°æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... Satoru Sayama (born November 24, 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. ... Kuniaki Kobayashi(å°æž—é‚¦æ˜) was a Japanese Junior Heavyweight professional wrestler. ...

On February 7, 1984, Billington captured the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship by winning a tournament in New Japan Pro Wrestling; although it was a WWF Title, it was primarily defended in Japan. He defeated Davey Boy Smith earlier in the tournament, and would go on to defeat The Cobra in the finals.

World Wrestling Federation

Dynamite Kid made his WWF television debut on August 29, 1984, where he and Bret Hart defeated Iron Mike Sharpe and Troy Alexander in a match eventually shown on September 15, 1984 on the Maple Leaf Garden broadcast. Billington would end up teaming with Davey Boy Smith as the British Bulldogs, while Bret would team with Jim Neidhart as the Hart Foundation, and it led to matches between the two teams that usually ended in No-Contests. On April 7, 1986, accompanied by Lou Albano and Ozzy Osbourne, they won the WWF Tag Team Titles from Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake at WrestleMania II. Dynamite Kid was injured in late 1986 in a tag match in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada against Don Muraco and Bob Orton, Jr. and several wrestlers including Roddy Piper would substitute for him when tag title defences were made. On a TV taping on January 26, 1987, Dynamite wrestled a match to drop the titles to The Hart Foundation. After getting into a real life backstage fight with Jacques Rougeau, the Bulldogs wrestled their last WWF match at the 1988 Survivor Series. British Bulldogs from http://www. ... British Bulldogs from http://www. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Mike Sharpe is a professional wrestler better known as Iron Mike Sharpe. ... Louis Albano (born July 29, 1933 in Carmel, New York), better known as Captain Lou, is an American professional wrestler and manager. ... Ozzy redirects here. ... This article is about the tag team championship that is currently defended on the RAW brand of WWE. For SmackDown!s tag team championship, see WWE Tag Team Championship. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Don Muraco (Born Don Morrow on September 10, 1949), also known as The Magnificent Muraco was a Hawaiian professional wrestler in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Jacques Rougeau (born June 13, 1960) is a French-Canadian professional wrestler from Saint-Sulpice, Quebec, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s with the World Wrestling Federation under his own name, and as The Mountie. ... Survivor Series 1988 was the second annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event for the World Wrestling Federation. ...

Throughout his time in the WWF, Dynamite Kid made several enemies, including Brutus Beefcake and Jacques Rougeau, but was highly respected by many for his legitimate shooting ability in and out of the ring. An example of his stiffness in the ring is when he and Smith wrestled a jobber tag team with one half consisting of a young Mick Foley.^[1] By Foley's account, Billington manhandled him so badly in the ring that he couldn't eat solid food for a time.^[2] Outside of the ring, WWF-champion Randy Savage once specifically asked for him to watch his back when he went drinking in a hotel bar frequented by NWA wrestlers, including Ric Flair ^[3]. Michael Francis Mick Foley, Sr. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Ric Flair (born February 25, 1949 [1] and named Richard Morgan Fliehr upon his adoption several weeks later), is an iconic American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment on its RAW brand. ...

After WWF

After leaving the WWF, the Bulldogs returned to Stampede Wrestling to win the International Tag Team Titles. The Bulldogs also competed frequently in All-Japan Pro Wrestling where they were paid $20,000 each by Shohei Baba, along with the liberty of choosing which tours they wanted to participate in. In 1990, Davey Boy Smith abruptly withdrew the Bulldogs from AJPW's annual Real World Tag League Tournament by returning to the WWF, and fabricating a story to the All-Japan office that Dynamite was in a serious car accident and was unable to compete. Since Davey Boy Smith had trademarked the term "British Bulldog" during the Bulldogs' previous run in WWF, he decided to return to the WWF as British Bulldog, and would send people to the United Kingdom to warn the promoter every time a flyer was distributed promoting Dynamite Kid as a "British Bulldog"^[4]. Johnny Smith would end up replacing Davey Boy Smith's spot in the Real World Tag League tournament, and the duo (known as the British Bruisers) continued to compete in All-Japan Pro Wrestling. The duo managed to capture the AJPW All-Asia Tag Team Championships, but the partnership was short lived; the years of steroid abuse (including an incident in which he used horse steroids), working a high impact style, and cocaine usage caught up with Billington as he suddenly announced his retirement on December 6, 1991, immediately after the Bruisers defeated Johnny Ace and Sunny Beach at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. He returned to Japan as a special guest with Lord James Blears on February 28, 1993 and claimed that he was going to send his 17 year old little brother to All Japan's Dojo, but it wasn't realized. He returned again for a tag team match with Johnny Smith on July 28, 1993 and was planning to promote an All-Japan show in his country in 1994, but it wasn't realized either. Shohei Baba (Baba ShÅhei, 1938â€“1999) was a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. ...

Also around his later period with All-Japan, he was divorced from his first wife Michelle (the sister of Bret Hart's ex-wife Julie), with whom Billington had one son and two daughters with. As a result, he moved from Canada back home to Wigan, England with his parents. Before embarking on another All-Japan tour, he visited Dan Spivey and stayed in his home in Florida for a week, while Spivey went on vacation. When Spivey came back, he and Billington took hits of LSD, which resulted in Billington dying twice in one day, but he was revived with adrenaline shots by paramedics both times.^[5] This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

His final match took place on October 10, 1996 at a Michinoku Pro event called "these Days". The match was promoted as a "Legends of High-Flying" 6-Man Tag featuring Dynamite paired with Dos Caras and Kuniaki Kobayashi against Great Sasuke, Mil Máscaras, and his greatest rival, Tiger Mask. Dynamite's body was clearly degenerated to the point where he was practically skin and bones, as the bottom portion of his tights were very loose. In the end, Dynamite delivered his trademark tombstone piledriver on Great Sasuke, leading Dos Caras powerbombing Sasuke for the pin fall. While at the airport to return home on the next day, he had a second seizure (as the first one was in 1987, while traveling with the Ultimate Warrior) ^[6] and was sent to the hospital immediately. ^[7] Michinoku Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded by Masanori Murakawa (The Great Sasuke) in 1993. ... Jose Luis Rodriguez is a Mexican professional wrestler who wrestles under the name Dos Caras (Spanish for Two faces). ... Masanori Murakawa ), (born July 18, 1969), is a Japanese professional wrestler who is better known by his stage name The Great Sasuke. ... Aaron RodrÃguez Arellano (born July 15, 1942), best known as Mil MÃ¡scaras (meaning One Thousand Masks in Spanish), is a Mexican professional wrestler. ...

In 1997, after marrying his second wife (Dot) and ignoring the great deal of complications he was experiencing with walking, he was told by a specialist in a local hospital that he could no longer walk; the doctors couldn't do anything for him, as a result of complications from his back surgery from 1986 in Calgary. ^[8] This left him wheelchair-bound and with a paralyzed left leg. Billington is cared for by his second wife, Dot, and his autobiography (Pure Dynamite) was first published on October 1, 1999 (and later reissued as a paperback on August 15, 2001). The book remains a testament to his style: a no-nonsense approach in which he pulls few punches about drug use, cruel ribs, and even his opinions towards other people in the wrestling business. Billington has gone on record as saying that he regrets nothing from his career, and has stated in his autobiography that he would do everything the same way all over again.

Legacy

Billington's English training, combined with an aerial arsenal honed during numerous tours in Japan, influenced a generation of current wrestling stars, especially those normally associated with Stu Hart's "Dungeon." His style influenced many wrestlers that followed, most notably former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler, Chris Benoit, who idolized Billington growing up and adopted a similar moveset that included^[9] the swandive headbutt and the Snap suplex. TNA wrestler Jay Lethal often uses Dynamite's swandive headbutt, which Mike Tenay refers to as the "Diving Dynamite Headbutt", in tribute to him. Stewart Edward Stu Hart, CM (May 3, 1915 â€“ October 16, 2003) was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Christopher Michael Benoit (IPA: ) (May 21, 1967 â€“ June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. ... Aerial techniques are used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett in May 2002. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Aerial techniques are used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In wrestling

Aerial techniques are used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his/her opponent, turns him/her upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponents head into the mat. ... A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his/her opponent, turns him/her upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponents head into the mat. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Attacking maneuvers in the kayfabe of professional wrestling are mainly used to wear down an opponent for a submission hold or as a set up for a throw. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Attacking maneuvers in the kayfabe of professional wrestling are mainly used to wear down an opponent for a submission hold or as a set up for a throw. ... Aerial techniques are used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. ... The top combatant can attack with headbutts while being held in the bottom combatants guard. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Louis Albano (born July 29, 1933 in Carmel, New York), better known as Captain Lou, is an American professional wrestler and manager. ...

Championships and accomplishments

All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) (å…¨æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹, zen nihon puroresu) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. ... The AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship is a tag team championship contested for in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). ... The AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship is a tag team championship contested for in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). ... John Hindley a. ... The RBW British Welterweight Championship The British Welterweight Championship is the welterweight title competed for throughout the British wrestling circuit. ... The RBW British Welterweight Championship The British Welterweight Championship is the welterweight title competed for throughout the British wrestling circuit. ... Pacific Northwest Wresting (PNW) was a Portland, Oregon based professional wrestling company. ... The NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. ... The NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. ... The NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. ... The NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. ... ... Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is a professional wrestling magazine. ... Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is a professional wrestling magazine. ... Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is a professional wrestling magazine. ... David Boy (Davey Boy) Smith (November 28, 1962 â€“ May 18, 2002) was an English professional wrestler. ... Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta that for decades produced a weekly television series that is considered the forerunner of todays WWE. // Stampede Wrestling was operated by Stu Hart between 1948 and 1984. ... The Stampede International Tag Team Championship is the main tag-team title Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. ... The Stampede International Tag Team Championship is the main tag-team title Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. ... Martin Ruane, better known as Giant Haystacks (October 10, 1947 - November 29, 1998) was an British wrestler. ... The Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title for lighter wrestlers in the Canadian promotion, Stampede Wrestling. ... The Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title for lighter wrestlers in the Canadian promotion, Stampede Wrestling. ... The Stampede International Tag Team Championship is the main tag-team title Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. ... The Stampede International Tag Team Championship is the main tag-team title Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. ... David Boy (Davey Boy) Smith (November 28, 1962 â€“ May 18, 2002) was an English professional wrestler. ... The Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship is the major title in the Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. ... The Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship is the major title in the Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... This article is about the tag team championship that is currently defended on the RAW brand of WWE. For SmackDown!s tag team championship, see WWE Tag Team Championship. ... The World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title. ... David Boy (Davey Boy) Smith (November 28, 1962 â€“ May 18, 2002) was an English professional wrestler. ... David Allen Meltzer (born October 24, 1961) is the editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), a newsletter for the world of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. ... Satoru Sayama (born November 24, 1957) is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. ... Categories: American professional wrestlers | Professional wrestling stubs ... David Boy (Davey Boy) Smith (November 28, 1962 â€“ May 18, 2002) was an English professional wrestler. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ... The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (WON HOF for short) is a professional wrestling hall of fame that exists only on paper. ...

Notes

^ Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.82-85)
^ Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.83)
^ Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington, Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom
^ Tom "British Bulldog" Billington, Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom
^ Tom "British Bulldog" Billington, Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom
^ Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington, Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom
^ Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington, Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom
^ Tom "British Bulldog" Billington, Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom
^ Dynamite Kid FAQ. WrestleView.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
^ Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.84)
^ Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.83)

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Contents

Career

World Wrestling Federation

After WWF

Legacy

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Notes

References

External links

Contents

Career GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

World Wrestling Federation

After WWF

Legacy

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Notes

References

External links

Career