Tom Billington a.k.a. The Dynamite Kid has passed away on his 60th Birthday

[Hitman]

Davey Boy Smith's son Harry Smith broke the news over social media. I can't even recall the number of wrestlers who have repeatedly said that the Dynamite Kid is, pound for pound, the greatest wrestler to have ever lived. Bret Hart, Bad News Brown, Owen Hart, Chris Benoit are some of the names that comes to mind.

I saw a documentary on Chris Benoit after the horrible tragedy back in 2007, and saw his ex wife Michelle Billington in that documentary. I searched for her on Myspace, and ever since we have been friends. She revealed me a lot of things over the years about him. Really difficult to like him as a person after hearing everything from her, and after reading all the things about him in Bret Hart's book.

Regardless, there has probably never been a better pure wrestler than him. Watching his matches with Tiger Mask in Japan back in the early 80's is like watching magic. He was bloody 20-25 years ahead of his time.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

R.I.P. Without him there would not have been Benoit or Bryan.

 

[Hitman]

R.I.P. Without him there would not have been Benoit or Bryan.

Benoit was almost a clone of Dynamite's wrestling style.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Benoit was almost a clone of Dynamite's wrestling style.

At his peak i think Benoit probably had a higher work rate but their styles were similar. Angle is on record mentioning that Benoit was the most intense wrestler ahead of even Brock from those he wrestled.

 

[TQ89]

No doubt about his in ring ability. But the dude was big bully in dressing room & one of the most stiffest wrestlers ever. I admire Bret hart but he has such double standards when talking about wrestlers from his era.

On one hand, he disses goldberg because of one unintentional mistake( although that was very costly & forced bret to retire) & claims he never injured any wrestler in his 21 years of wrestling career. But then on the other hand, he will praise dynamite kid while conveniently ignoring the fact that this dude went in the ring to intentionally hurt people.

 

[Markhor]

A bully, drug abuser and a wife beater. On the other hand a very good and some in ways innovative performer who paved the way for "smaller guys".

 

[Hitman]

3:03:59 - Dynamite admits to breaking J.R. Foley's daughter's legs.

 

[Hitman]

He was possibly the only guy in the business who could give even the Shawn Michaels of the 90's a run for his money when it came to being a complete and utter *****. Such a shame, as a wrestler there was no one better than him.

 

[Hitman]

News coming in just now that Larry Henning has passed away at the age of 82.

RIP!