Former Stampede Wrestling superstar ushered franchise into ‘golden age’
The professional wrestling community is mourning the death of a revolutionary star credited with helping to revive Stampede Wrestling.
Tom (The Dynamite Kid) Billington died Wednesday on his 60th birthday.
Born in 1958 in Golborne, Lancashire, England, Billington made his wrestling debut across the pond in 1975. Two years later he met Bruce Hart, who suggested he come to Canada and join Stampede Wrestling.
“My brother Bruce first spotted him when he was wrestling in England in the fall of 1977. He was probably only 160 pounds,” recalled Ross Hart, Bruce’s younger brother.
“Bruce saw something so unique in Dynamite, someone so gifted, very acrobatic, very agile. He had incredible gymnastic abilities. He was also a great technical wrestler,” Ross said.
He called Billington an “undiscovered star” when he first came to North America.
“My dad (Stu Hart) really didn’t know what to expect,” said Ross. “He had something that nobody else there on the shows had. He was incredibly fast, acrobatic. Just an abundance of energy. We’d never, ever seen that.”
In Stampede Wrestling, Billington was a quick learner, developing a style often described as technically brilliant and wildly aggressive.
Heath McCoy, author of Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, said Billington helped usher in a new era for the local circuit.
“Stampede Wrestling was dying and Stu Hart was about to shut it down,” McCoy said.
“Bruce Hart saw (a) skinny, young Dynamite Kid wrestle in England and was so blown away by his performance that he begged his father to bring the kid to Calgary. Stu took one look at Dynamite’s tiny frame and wanted nothing to do with him, at first, until he saw Billington wrestle.
“He was explosive, agile, dynamic, high-flying, and like nothing the Harts or, for that matter, western Canadian wrestling fans, had seen before.”
Part of which was his mat game, McCoy said.
“He revolutionized the territory and ushered Stampede Wrestling into what many believe to be its golden age, in the 80s,” McCoy said.
“All the smaller, high-flying wrestlers of today owe a debt to the Dynamite Kid.”
Ross said The Dynamite Kid’s speed “just blew all the other wrestlers away.”
Following his time with Stampede Wrestling, Billington took his trade to Japan, where he wrestled for International Pro Wrestling in 1979. There, he developed an infamous rivalry with Tiger Mask.
After his days in Japan, The Dynamite Kid was recruited by Vince McMahon to join the World Wrestling Federation — a move that would see him partner with Davey Boy Smith, forming the infamous British Bulldogs tag team.
In a statement, the WWE said the organization was saddened to learn of Billington’s death and that his wrestling in Japan “would influence an entire generation of competitors, and help set the stage for brands like WWE’s 205 Live.”
“Dynamite Kid joined WWE in 1984 with his cousin, Davey Boy Smith, forming one of the most popular tag teams of their era, The British Bulldogs. Alongside their mascot, an English bulldog named Matilda ... the duo defeated Greg (The Hammer) Valentine & Brutus (The Barber) Beefcake to win the World Tag Team Titles at Wrestle Mania II.
“WWE extends its condolences to Billington’s family, friends and fans.”
Billington battled health issues in his later years. In the late 1990s, a back injury left him paralyzed and, in 2015, he suffered a stroke. Part of his left leg was amputated in 2004 after a fall.