“Pure Dynamite,” A Must Read for Pro Wrestling Fans

In his book, Bret Hart stated that “pound for pound,” The Dynamite Kid (Tom Billington) “was the greatest wrestler to ever live.”

“Pure Dynamite” chronicles the life and career of The Dynamite Kid, best remembered as one half of the tag team the British Bulldogs. Billington was born December 5, 1958 in Golborne. His father and uncle were both boxers, so naturally young Tom followed in their footsteps.

Billington initially balked at the idea of becoming a professional wrestler, recalling “I didn’t think it was real.” Billington trained for the squared circle with Ted Betley for three years, six days a week. Upon completion of his training, Betley dubbed Billington “The Dynamite Kid.”

By age sixteen, The Dynamite Kid was a professional wrestler. Bruce Hart took note of young Billington’s ability in England, and offered him an opportunity the young grappler couldn’t refuse. In April 1978, The Dynamite Kid entered Stu Hart’s Stampede promotion in Calgary. Billington recalls training five or six days a week in Stu’s legendary dungeon.

In the book, Billington discusses the dark and hidden side of profession wrestling. The late Junkyard Dog introduced Billington to steroids. Jake “The Snake” Roberts gave Billington a yellow jacket, better known as speed. The Dynamite Kid also confesses to abusing alcohol, painkillers, and cocaine.

Billington also outlines problems wrestlers often have with promoters. He was promised money he never received, and was often times under paid for his work. For example, The Dynamite Kid received a mere $25 for five nights of work for Peter Maivia’s (The Rock’s grandfather) Hawaiian promotion.

The Dynamite Kid was notified that his younger cousin, Davey Smith, had been trained in England. Billington was instrumental in bringing Smith, who became Davey Boy Smith and his eventual tag team partner, to Calgary. Smith eventually married Stu’s daughter Diana, and Billington married Bret Hart’s wives sister Michelle, making Bret and the Kid brothers-in-law.

Billington toured Japan extensively, wrestling for both All and New Japan. The Japanese style meant The Kid would take more risks and attempt dangerous moves. At age 25, Billington’s body, in particular his back, starting aching. Despite the pain, the Kid refused to change his newly adopted risk taking style.

Following an unsuccessful 1984 WWF debut, Vince McMahon met with Billington and Smith at a Toronto hotel. McMahon looked at the pair and commented, “you look like a pair of Bulldogs.” The British Bulldogs became WWF World tag team champions at Wrestlemania II in 1986.

Following a match in December 1986, Billington learned he had suffered nerve damage and ruptured two discs. He underwent a six-hour surgery. The only time Davey Boy bothered to visit his cousin was when a photographer was present for a picture that ended up in a Calgary newspaper.

Another time when Billington was in the hospital, Smith called the family in England and told them that he was “messed up with drugs, and probably going to die soon.” The Kid wrestled his last match in Japan in 1996 for Michinoku Pro Wrestling. A short time later a doctor told Billington that his injures were extensive, and could not be surgically repaired. It was then and there he learned he would never walk again.

Parental warning: The text contains strong language.

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