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A tribute to The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith...
Real Name: David Smith
Biography Born in the United Kingdom where he participated in rugby and amateur style wrestling, David Smith was trained by Ted Betley in the UK and first gained notoriety in pro wrestling in Japan where he wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He was part of a team known as Ishingun, a "rebel" group similar to the nWo in WCW. Also in this group was the 'Dynamite Kid' Tom Billington, Smith's cousin and a future world tag team champion partner. After developing the reputation as an excellent wrestler overseas, Smith headed to Calgary, Alberta, where he competed in Stu Hart's Calgary Stampede Promotion. Here, he worked alongside longtime WWF stars Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, and fellow Ishingun member, the Dynamite Kid. It was also here in Calgary that Smith met his ex-wife Diana Hart, the sister of Bret and Owen. Smith and the Kid (who is also British) had their share of matches in Calgary, but it was when they began teaming up and took on the name "The British Bulldogs" that they would rise to new heights. The Bulldogs made their way to the World Wrestling Federation in late 1985. They were a smaller team than others in the WWF, but had aerial moves that wowed audiences the world over, and teamwork that was unmatched. It was also around this time that the Bulldogs took on legendary manager Captain Lou Albano. Despite the size disadvantage, they were beating bigger teams like King Kong Bundy/Big John Studd and others, and soon got a shot at the tag team championship, held by the "Dream Team" of Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake. The first encounter between these teams came on Saturday Night's Main Event in early 1986. Although the Dream Team was victorious, the Bulldogs had earned a tremendous amount of respect for the tough time they gave the champs. Then came Wrestlemania II, which held matches in three different cities. As part of the Chicago card, the Bulldogs once again challenged the Dream Team for the gold. And right there, on April 2, 1986, the British Bulldogs defeated the Dream Team for the WWF tag team championship. Davey Boy and Dynamite held the titles for several months, beating all comers. They were also given a gimmick mascot, a bulldog named Matilda. Then on January 26, 1987, the Bulldogs defended the gold against two men they were very familiar with from their days in Calgary, Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart (The Hart Foundation). The Dynamite Kid went into the match with a severely bad back, and Davey Boy had to wrestle the entire bout himself. Smith put up a galiant effort, as he had to deal not only with the Hart Foundation, but with their manager Jimmy Hart as well as controversial referee Danny Davis. However, the odds were too great, as Smith was beaten, and the Bulldogs relinquished the gold to the Harts. For over a year following the loss, the Bulldogs remained top contenders. They battled The Hart Foundation several times (and scored non-title victories over the champs) as well as new-champs Demolition in 1988. But they were unable to take the titles. The Dynamite Kid's back problems continued, and before 1988 was out, the Bulldogs left the WWF. They wrestled some independent promotion cards, and also took a few trips to Japan. But it wasn't long before Dynamite's ongoing back injuries forced him to the sidelines. In December of 1990, Smith returned to the WWF. This time as a singles competitor along with his new gimmick mutt, a bulldog named Winston. The main change was his appearance, sporting long dreadlocked hair and a hugely muscled physique. The Bulldog carried 275 pounds on his 5'11" frame. He was one of the biggest and strongest men in the WWF, and immediately entered a battle of the muscle heads with The Warlord. Their feud came to a singles end at Wrestlemania VII in 1991, with the Bulldog being the winner. However, the two continued to battle in tag matches at the SummerSlam and Survivor Series PPV's later in that year. Next up for Davey Boy was the Intercontinental championship, then held by 'Mr Perfect' Curt Henning. The Bulldog wasn't yet ready for a run with the gold and at Summerslam '91 Bret Hart was put over for the IC gold from Henning instead. Several months down the line it came into storylines that Bret and the Bulldog were brothers-in-law as a way of building their upcoming feud for the IC Title at SummerSlam '92. SummerSlam was held in Bulldog's home country of England, inside the famous Wembley Stadium, London. Over 80,000 people watched as the British Bulldog defeated Bret Hart for the Intercontinental title. By October 1992, the Bulldog dropped the title to Shawn Michaels on the last ever 'Saturday Night's Main Event'. Vince McMahon wanted rid of Bulldog due to a failed steroid test. The Bulldog had a brief stint in World Championship Wrestling in 1993, with his biggest match being a tag match during the summer of that year, alongside WCW's top man Sting against Vader and Sid Vicious. The Bulldog didn't fit in at WCW, and it wasn't long before he left. In the summer of 1994, Davey Boy appeared at Summerslam, as a spectator during the Bret Hart/Owen Hart cage match for the WWF title. Smith was interviewed beforehand, during which he said he was solidly behind Bret. At the end of this match, the Bulldog would come to Bret's assistance after the Hitman was attacked by Owen and Jim Neidhart. The British Bulldog was back. He wrestled alongside his brother-in-law Bret, and rapidly climbed the ranks. He teamed up with Lex Lugar as "The Allied Powers", and came within a hair of taking the tag titles from Owen Hart and Yokozuna. Then one night on Raw, Davey Boy asked then WWF champion Diesel (Kevin Nash) to team with him in a match against the abysmal Men on a Mission. Smith turned on Diesel, setting up a world title match and for the first time in his career, Davey Boy became a heel. Smith took on Jim Cornette as his manager and teamed with brother-in-law Owen Hart, as well as Yokozuna as part of Camp Cornette. The Bulldog cut his hair short and entered feuds with Nash, Hart and Michaels over the WWF title, becoming unsuccesfull in each attempt. In the fall of 1996, Smith and Owen Hart formed a tag team and on September 22, 1996 at 'In Your House', the Bulldog and Owen defeated the Smoking Gunns for their first run as tag team champions. During their title reign, the WWF announced the introduction of the pointless European championship. Owen and Bulldog took part in the tournament and on March 3, 1997, the two met in the finals in Berlin, Germany, with Davey Boy defeating Owen for the title. Davey Boy and Owen had their share of problems, and in the late spring of 1997, while they were still tag champions, the two met on Raw in a grudge match. Bret Hart ran in to straighten things out between them, which led to the formation of the Anti-American Hart Foundation, adding new members Brian Pillman and Jim Neidhart. On May 6, 1997, Bulldog and Owen lost the tag titles to Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin in a 5 star match on Raw Is War. In the weeks that followed, Michaels walked out of the WWF after a real life fight with Bret Hart and in story lines he forfeited his half of the title. It was then announced that a tag title tournament would be held, with the winners to meet Steve Austin and a partner of his choice. The Bulldog and Owen dominated the tournament and got to meet Austin and partner on the July 14 Raw. Austin and surprise partner (Mick Foley as 'Dude Love') defeated the former champs, leaving Owen as IC champ and Bulldog as Euro champ. On September 20, 1997, at the UK only PPV 'One Night Only', the Bulldog dropped the European title to Shawn Michaels in the main event. Smith did not get pinned nor submit, the match was stopped by the ref because the Bulldog was in too much pain. Following the infamous 1997 Survivor Series in Montreal, Davey Boy Smith got his release from the WWF so he could join Bret and Neidhart in WCW. Bulldog spent most of his time on the sidelines with ongoing knee injuries, then suffered a serious back injury when he was bodyslammed onto the area of the WCW ring that contained a hidden "trap door" used for appearances by the Warrior. The injury sidelined Davey for several months and he nearly became paralyzed. WCW released him while he was in the hospital, only for him to be re-signed by the WWF. On the September 9, 1999 episode of Smackdown!, Bulldog returned winning the Hardcore title from the Big Bossman, only to forfeit the title to Al Snow in a goodwill-type gesture. Davey Boy then made his intentions clear; to win the WWF Championship. He then set his sights on the main eventers, including The Rock and Triple H. The Bulldog subsequently turned heel, and accidentally injured Stephanie McMahon during a UK PPV when he threw a trash can in frustration and it struck Stephanie. Despite his many accolades, the Bulldog failed to live up to expectations in his last WWF stint. Perhaps he wasn't the wrestler he once was, or maybe he was too old school. But the Bulldog went from a main eventer vying for the WWF Title to a low midcard wrestler that for a period of time was partnered with the Mean Street Posse. The Bulldog had one last run as Hardcore Champion when he defeated Crash Holly on May 6, 2000 at the UK pay-per-view Insurrextion in London. In the Spring of 2000 the Bulldog was admitted into a rehab center in Atlanta, seeking treatment for his addiction to pain killers. He checked himself out of rehab and subsequently returned to the WWF, but he reportedly failed in his attempt to overcome his addiction, and eventually the WWF was forced to release him. The Bulldog had planned to launch his own wrestling school in Calgary prior to his death. |
