The Dynamite Kid Tom Billington: Wrestling Life Hall of Fame Induction

TOM BILLINGTON is considered one of the greatest, most influential wrestlers of all time, and now he’s officially been inducted into the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame Class of 2025!

Best known to Western audiences as one half of former WWF World Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs, The Dynamite Kid was a wrestling idol in Japan and recognised across the globe as a pioneer of the modern wrestling style.

Billington burst onto the British wrestling scene as a teenager in the ’70s. Despite his small stature, he immediately grabbed everyone’s attention with his ultra-realistic and fluid style. His full-throttle offence was crisp, snug, and looked devastating. He bumped as if his life depended on it and made his opponents look like a million bucks; he was a natural.

By 1978, he had arrived in Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling and made an even bigger impact. New Japan Pro Wrestling was next, and he joined their junior heavyweight division in 1980. It came as no surprise to anyone following his journey that he rapidly became a superstar. His unique style – a blend of speed, agility and innovation – was years ahead of its time and captivated the Japanese audiences.

The Dynamite Kid had critically acclaimed bouts with legends like Tatsumi Fujinami, but it was when he met his greatest ever foe, Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama), that he made wrestling history. Their matches sparked a tape-trader frenzy as word of their acclaimed battles from 1981 to 1983 spread across the globe.

Billington was joined by cousin Davey Boy Smith in Stampede; together, they were known as The British Bulldogs. They teamed in Canada and Japan and “became arguably the top tag team in the world,” according to Dave Meltzer.

When Vince McMahon came knocking on Stu Hart’s door to buy his Calgary-based promotion, Stampede Wrestling, in 1984, Hart insisted that as part of the sale, McMahon guaranteed the future employment of Billington and Smith. However, The Bulldogs were enjoying the fruits of their Japanese exploits and headed back there before the end of the year.

McMahon was so desperate to have The Bulldogs on his roster he gave them a unique deal that signed them to the WWF but allowed them to continue working for AJPW. Their blend of power, speed and mastery of double-team moves – along with the fact they were British – made them instant fan favourites. In 1986, McMahon decided he wanted Billington and Smith all to himself and struck a deal with Giant Baba to keep them in the States full-time.

On April 7, 1986, at WrestleMania 2, Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne accompanied The Bulldogs to the ring as Rule Britannia played in the arena. They captured the WWF World Tag Team Championship from The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) in arguably the best match of the night. The speed, impressive power moves, and dynamism were miles ahead of most of the roster.

They held the belts for 294 days before eventually losing them to their most famous rivals, Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart, at a TV taping in Tampa, Florida. Their matches with The Hart Foundation were ahead of their time, helping to elevate American tag team wrestling to new heights. One standout bout, recorded on 1 November 1986 at the Boston Garden, aired on ITV in the UK in January 1987.

The British Bulldogs left the WWF following Survivor Series ’88, where they were eliminated by Demolition in their final match: a 10-team elimination bout. The pair returned to the resurrected Stampede – where Billington became the booker – and worked against each other in a blood feud. At the same time, they continued to team in Japan, that is until Smith returned to the WWF as The British Bulldog in October 1990.

The Dynamite Kid continued to work singles and tag team matches in Japan, but he retired from wrestling for the first time on an AJPW card in Tokyo on December 6, 1991, aged just 33. He had been told to retire years earlier by doctors due to his deteriorating physical condition.

Just over a year later, he returned to the British wrestling scene, which had been decimated since being taken off the air in 1988. He made a brief comeback with AJPW in the summer of 1993, but the severe back injuries caused by his explosive wrestling style meant this was not the same Dynamite Kid who had changed the business a decade earlier.

Billington wrestled a handful of shows in the UK and Germany in early 1994 before once again stepping away from the ring. He returned to Japan for his final match – a six-man tag for Michinoku Pro Wrestling – on 10 October 1996. The following year, he lost the use of his left leg and was confined to a wheelchair. He tragically passed away in 2018, on his 60th birthday.

“The Dynamite Kid” Tom Billington was a force of nature and changed the face of professional wrestling forever. In this special Wrestling Life Hall of Fame induction episode, Michelle Billington and Bronwyne Billington join Ben Veal to reflect on his life and legacy, including:

• How Michelle first met Tom

• Her early impressions of Dynamite as a wrestler

• What Tom was really like outside the ring

• The British Bulldogs’ time in the WWF

• WrestleMania 2 and being accompanied by Ozzy Osbourne

• Tom’s difficult relationship with Davey Boy Smith

• The back injury that changed everything

• His connection with Bret “The Hitman” Hart

• The Dynamite Kid’s influence on future generations

• How Michelle and Bronwyne keep his legacy alive today.

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Michelle Billington on The British Bulldogs’ WWF Rise

Michelle Billington, wife of The Dynamite Kid, shares untold stories of The British Bulldogs’ rise in the WWF during the 1980s and their complicated relationship with Vince McMahon.

“He [Vince] always remembered him. So when he was the owner of WWF, he knew who Tom was. He wanted him bad.

“When he first went, he was the only one [from Stampede] Vince wanted. We had two giant capes made because Vince said he wanted a Dynamite Kid cape. It was to the floor. We had a purple lamé and then a red lamé with a vest built into it. But he didn’t mind it, because it was pretty light.

“You had to pay for your own transportation, own hotel, your food. So he’s like, ‘F*** this, I’m going to Japan!’ That’s when Vince flew there to convince them to come to him.”

The British Bulldogs’ WrestleMania 2 Moment with Ozzy Osbourne

Tom Billington’s family reflect on rock legend Ozzy Osbourne playing a major role in The British Bulldogs’ tag team title win at WrestleMania 2.

Bronwyne Billington: “I think it’s definitely one of the largest moments of his career. Having someone like Ozzy Osbourne by your side must have felt really cool for him.

“The story was, Ozzy reached out to Vince McMahon saying, ‘Hey, I wanna manage these guys.’ So Ozzy Osbourne saw something in them.

“I've seen him retweet a picture with my dad almost every WrestleMania season.”

The Dynamite Kid’s Influence on Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero

The Dynamite Kid revolutionised pro wrestling with his explosive style and unmatched technical ability. His legacy shaped a new generation of stars from Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero to Bryan Danielson.

Bronwyne Billington: “I hope he did [realise]. That time in the ’90s in England, when he had seen Eddie Guerrero, Mick Foley, Chris Jericho – all these up-and-coming names that absolutely idolised him and were taking pictures with him. They were all so excited.

“I hope it made him realise that he was still talked about, and they all respected him, and that he made such a difference in the business.

“But later on, he didn’t really have internet or anything like that. So I don’t know how much he really, really knew what a difference he made. But I hope he had an inkling.”

Bronwyne Billington on Bret Hart’s Last Visit to The Dynamite Kid

Bronwyne Billington, daughter of The Dynamite Kid, recalls Bret Hart’s final visit to her father in England. A moving moment between two icons whose bond began in Stampede Wrestling.

“It was when I was there visiting. The service was terrible because my dad didn’t have internet. I had to go and buy a little wi-fi thing at the mall. It was what I did every time I went. I figured it out, because I couldn’t survive at my dad’s house without it!

“I got Bret to Skype my dad. It was super cute, and I took that photo of them.

“Sometime after that, Bret was in England and he visited my dad one last time.”

The Dynamite Kid’s Legacy: Michelle & Bronwyne Billington Speak Out

Michelle and Bronwyne Billington reflect on Tom’s legacy – both in the ring and as a father.

Michelle Billington: “He would love to be known as the one who put his all into everything and never gave up.”

Bronwyne Billington: “I’ll never forget the love he had for me. I just really, really love my dad. I’ll always carry him with me and feel him near me.”

The Dynamite Kid may not have been the biggest wrestler, but to many, he was the best. He inspired an entire generation of junior heavyweights across the world. Former WWE Champion Chris Jericho said, “He [The Dynamite Kid] was one of the greatest who ever laced up the boots. He was an huge influence on me since 1986…he is true legend and pioneer in our business.” Tom Billington left an unforgettable mark on professional wrestling – and now he’s been inducted into the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Herbert is the author of 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. Order your copy NOW! 

WRESTLING LIFE ONLINE: REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT

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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