Georgia Smith Champions The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith's Legacy in Wigan
- Lee Herbert
- May 1
- 5 min read
THE BRITISH BULLDOG Davey Boy Smith was Wrestling Life’s first Hall of Fame inductee. He’s in the WWE Hall of Fame, and a documentary on his incredible life and accomplishments aired on US television in 2024.
Around the world, his legacy has been celebrated – but something is still missing: a permanent memorial in his hometown of Golborne, Wigan. A place that remained close to his heart, even after he became a global megastar.
“It’s the place where my dad grew up and he took pride in it. He never forgot his northern roots,” says his daughter Georgia Smith, speaking exclusively with Wrestling Life Online about her ongoing campaign to secure the one tribute her father would have cherished most.
The son of a gas board worker and a pupil at Golborne Comprehensive, Davey Boy Smith wore his pride – quite literally – on his sleeve. He sported his trademark red, white and blue hair braids, Union Jack ring gear, and proudly walked his bulldog companion Winston to the ring. But ironically, it’s internationally where his legacy has been most visibly celebrated. Recognition here in the UK still lags behind.
Georgia has spent years pushing for a memorial, but her proposals have repeatedly been rejected. A petition on Change.org has now surpassed more than 7,000 signatures, with public endorsements received from names such as David Arquette, Marc Mero and Savio Vega.
“My dad passed away, but his story isn’t finished yet," says Georgia.
Recognising Davey Boy Smith in Wigan
“He’s laid to rest in Golborne, not far from his father’s house," shares Georgia. "But how about we create something that celebrates him? Something fans can visit, take pictures, and pay tribute. If that happened, I’d be over the moon – and we’d all go to the Queen Anne pub in Golborne to celebrate.”
“It’s something my dad would have wanted. He would have been honoured to be there in Wigan to accept it. I’m not giving up.”
A permanent tribute in Golborne would not only become a point of pride for Wigan, but also a must-visit destination for fans across the UK, as well as from the US, Canada, Japan, and Germany – countries where The British Bulldog was a household name.
Davey Boy Smith wasn’t just a brilliant British wrestler who found global success. To children of the early nineties, he was a superhero. We took his action figure everywhere, like it was our personal bodyguard in plastic form. We watched him defeat The Warlord in Los Angeles at WrestleMania VII and believed anything was possible. When 80,355 fans packed Wembley Stadium to see him lift Intercontinental championship gold – it was a life-changing experience.
The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith's legacy
Georgia now lives in Tampa, Florida, but she remains deeply connected to her father’s homeland. From 2013 to 2018, she even lived in the UK. Her most recent visit was for Clash at the Castle 2022 in Cardiff, where WWE presented a mini British Bulldog Experience featuring memorabilia and ring-worn gear.
“I was there interacting with people, some even dressed up as my dad! It was really cool. At that point it was 20 years since he passed away. It was just really nice to see how strong his legacy still is.”
During the show, a SummerSlam 1992 video package aired which receied a standing ovation from the crowd. When Davey Boy won the belt and embraced his brother-in-law Bret Hart in the centre of the ring, it was a special, unforgettable moment and one that still leaves an entire generation of fans misty-eyed.
Georgia now manages The British Bulldog’s official social media pages, with over 150,000 followers across Instagram and Facebook. Every day, fans send her memories, photos, and heartfelt messages.
“Going into 2019, I wanted to do something that made me happy every day. And that was seeing my dad’s photos and content. I didn’t expect it to get this big, but the fans are keeping his legacy alive."
“I’m still seeing new photos and stories to this day. Someone sent me a picture of my dad at a hotel in Mexico – I’d never seen it before! These surprises bring me so much happiness, and I hope they bring joy to others, too.”
Davey Boy Smith was a global wrestling superstar
Davey Boy Smith first appeared on British TV at just 15, teaming with Big Daddy in 1978. He made his name in Canada and Japan, and by 1987, he was wrestling in front of nearly 80,000 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome. But when the WWF boom truly hit the UK in ’91 and ’92, The British Bulldog was its heartbeat.
He was front-page news. He inspired a generation. In local papers, kids said they wanted to be WWF Superstars – not astronauts or footballers – because of him. Current WWE star and former World Champion Drew McIntyre has credited Davey Boy as the reason he believed his dream was possible.
His Birmingham NEC appearance in April 1991 sold out faster than any event in the venue’s history. At the Royal Albert Hall that autumn of that same year, the crowd nearly tore the roof off when he appeared. Wembley Arena that same week sold out in just 56 minutes. And his in-store appearances? Bedlam. 5,000 turned up in Milton Keynes. In Birmingham, fans queued for over three hours just for a minute with their hero. Store managers said they’d never seen anything like it.
We went to school with British Bulldog pens and calculators. His posters were on our walls. We slept in his bedsheets. We even chewed bubble gum with his face on the wrapper. A hero, a national treasure, a pop culture icon — and a proud son of Golborne.
His legacy, which lives on in his children Harry and Georgia, deserves more than memories and mentions – it deserves a home. Wrestling Life Online proudly supports the campaign to honour The British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, in his hometown.
✍️ Add your name to the petition: https://www.change.org/p/wigan-council-wwe-hall-of-famer-davey-boy-smith-to-be-on-the-wigan-s-walk-of-fame
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lee Herbert is the author of the forthcoming book Rampage — a heartfelt tribute to the glory days of the WWF’s first UK boom. Packed with moments, merch, and memories, it explores how a golden era of American wrestling turned a generation of British kids into lifelong fans. Lee’s writing is a celebration of everything that’s great about professional wrestling. Follow the book's progress at @wwframpagebook.
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Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.
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