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Dynamite Kid Real Name: Tom Billington Stats: 5' 8" 228 lbs. Born: |
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He began his career wrestling as a teenager in the gritty, underground world of the British independent scene, and quickly gained a reputation throughout Europe for being a future star. His explosive timing and high-impact repertoire earned him his nickname, and more importantly, championship after championship. He won the British Lightweight championship in 1977 and the British Welterweight title in 1978.
Smith and The Kid -- cousins in the "real world" -- were intense rivals prior to their inspired union, and the two equally matched Junior Heavyweights (the heavily-muscled Smith was much smaller during this period of time, as was The Kid) wrestled in cities all across the Stampede territory in a feud that lasted for years. However, when they put their differences aside and agreed to form a tag team, the careers of both men skyrocketed to new heights.
The British Bulldogs are generally thought of as one of the greatest teams of the late 20th century, and their precise teamwork, agility, stealth and power was a model for all other tag teams. Although their one WWF World Tag title reign lasted just 9 months (a relatively short reign for that period of time) the team made a profound impact during their 3-year stay in the WWF. Although their pure wrestling ability was often overshadowed by the cartoonish aspect of the wrestlers who made up the WWF during the mid-1980's, the Bulldogs consistently made fans notice them, until the WWF had no choice but to give them a title run. The British Bulldogs were an exemplary tag team, and true crowd-pleasers that the WWF 's bookers could always count on to deliver a high-quality match. Unfortunately for most of the WWF's roster of one-dimensional giants in the 1980's, going on after The Bulldogs could (and did) expose their lack of ring technique to the fans, who, after being blown away by the intensity and skill of a Bulldogs vs. Hart Foundation battle, would often sit on their hands during Hulk vs. Whoever. But even the professional demeaner and no-nonsense style of the Bulldogs was not immune to the frequently childish storylines and gimmicks of the WWF during the mid-1980's...and soon, the Bulldogs started bringing their own bulldog to the ring. The pooch, named Matilda, would often scare off the Bulldogs' frightened opponents, and one man in particular, "The Weasel" Bobby Heenan. However, it was later announced that Matilda was missing, and that the canine had actually been "dog-knapped". The Bulldogs appeared distraught, unable to cope with life minus Matilda, and pleaded for her return. Meanwhile, Heenan offered false sympathy, and dropped hints that he might know the whereabouts of "that flee-ridden mut." The WWF, humanitarian entity that it is, tried to "help" by starting a "Get Well Matilda" crusade, in which WWF fans were encouraged, week after week, several times per show, to send in their messages of support for Matilda and The Bulldogs. It was never actually explained just how sending a post card to a dog could help the scruffy little guy -- or how the WWF would be able to forward the bags of mail to the supposedly missing canine, for that matter. The whole affair was very childish and rather embarrassing to the Bulldogs, their fans, and even the WWF. Not long afterward, the British Bulldogs left the WWF, returning "home" to Stampede Wrestling.
Although Smith would go on to a long career that would see him gain solo success in the WWF and WCW, Tom "The Dynamite Kid" Billington's storied career was about to end. After 15 years in the ring, he was no longer "The Kid" he once was, and the years of injuries, surgery, and then more abuse to his body finally took their toll. Billington's back was simply too battered to continue wrestling, and the career of one of the greatest Junior Heavyweights and Tag Team wrestlers in the history of the sport was forced to come to an end. Sadly, Billington is now essentially bed-ridden, paralyzed due to complications from a series of back injuries. The former worldwide superstar now lives modestly in his native England, and has written a book about his trials and tribulations in and out of pro wrestling.
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After
conquering Europe, The Kid traveled to The Great White North, and more
specifically, Stu Hart's Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling promotion.
The regional Canadian promotion had one of the best reputations for
giving Junior Heavyweights a fair shot, and was known as a great training
ground for up-and-coming wrestlers. The Dynamite Kid brought his European
style and with some help from Hart's instruction, integrated it with
the catch-as-catch-can style of the Stampede wrestlers. The result was
a wrestling style that was exciting, believable, and very popular with
the fans. While in the Stampede promotion, The Kid captured the British
Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight title (twice) in 1978 and the World Mid-Heavyweight
title in 1979. It was as World Mid-Heavyweight champion that he began
a bitter feud with a young Bret Hart, a feud that traversed the entire
Calgary territory. In 1980, he continued his feud with the Harts by
teaming with Luke McMasters, and later, Kasavudu to defeat Keith and
Bret Hart for the Stampede International Tag Team title. He also won
the Stampede Int. Tag title with Duke Myers in 1982, this time defeating
Bret Hart & Leo Burke, as well as two reigns with Davey Boy Smith.
By 1984, The Dynamite Kid had put on enough bulk to compete as a heavyweight,
and he snared a Stampede North American Heavyweight title in 1984 when
he defeated the hated Killer Khan.
His
success was just as great in Japan, where The Kid was a major superstar.
While in the Orient, Billington captured the WWF World Junior Heavyweight
title in 1984, and in 1985, the NWA International Junior Heavyweight
title. When The Kid (along with Johnny Smith) jumped from New Japan
to All Japan, his winning ways continued. In 1991, The Kid & Johnny
Smith won the All Asia Tag Team title, defeating Kenta Kobashi &
Johnny Ace. It was also in Japan that the heavily-favored Kid was upset
by the debuting (and soon to be legendary) Tiger Mask on January 1,
1982. The Dynamite Kid was a major competitor within the brand-new,
and highly popular, IWGP Junior Heavyweight division during its formative
years in the early 1980's. However, at the same time back in Calgary,
The Kid was squaring off in a heated feud with the young man who would
eventually accompany him to unimagined fame, Davey Boy Smith...
At
the time, the move from the WWF to Stampede was a shock to wrestling
fans. After all, the WWF was at the height of its fame and power, and
Stampede Wrestling, while respected, drew crowds that often would not
exceed even 1,000 fans. What fans didn't realize back then was
that behind the scenes at the WWF, Billington had burned many bridges
with both wrestlers and front office personel, which probably had more
to do with the Bulldogs returning to Stampede than any other factor.
Nevertheless, the now world famous Bulldogs returned to the Calgary
mat wars, as well as travelling to the AWA's Central States promotion
(after the territory had withdrawn from the NWA) to take on The Rock
`N Roll Express in what was built up as a Tag Team "dream match". The
former respective NWA and WWF World Tag Team champions never really
settled the question of who was the better team, but their mini-feud
was still a independent wrestling highlight of the late 1980's.
