"The Dynamite Kid" Tommy Billington Passes Away On 60th Birthday
One half of The British Bulldogs alongside Davey Boy Smith...
Wrestling legend The Dynamite Kid has sadly passed away on his 60th birthday.
At the time of writing the circumstances surrounding Tommy Billington's death are unknown, as the news was broken by British wrestling legend and World of Sport great Marty Jones on Twitter. Jones tweeted: "It's with great sadness I have to inform you all that THE "DYNAMITE KID" TOMMY BILLINGTON ON HIS BIRTHDAY HAS PASSED AWAY.. A TRUE BRITISH AMBASSADOR FOR WRESTLING WORLDWIDE RIP "KID' CONDOLENCES TO MARK & HIS FAMILY MARTY JONES"
The Lancashire-born grappler had been battling a number of health issues for some time.
A number of wrestlers have shared their condolences, with former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay tweeting: "I heard news that Tommy Billington also known as the Dynamite Kid has passed away. Thank you for all the work you’ve done for our country and inspiring so many wrestlers to take a chance on themselves. RIP Dynamite Kid."
WWE NXT UK Superstar Dave Mastiff tweeted: "Pioneer, trailblazer, pure dynamite. Your work will always stand the test of time."
Billington, a controversial figure, is widely recognised as one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever to lace up a pair of boots, with a style that was a couple of generations ahead of the one he was actually a part of.
Tommy achieved superstardom as a tag team wrestler alongside WWE legend "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. The duo would win the WWF Tag Team Championships before going their separate ways in 1988. During a career that was cut short by injury, he also turned out for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling, and World of Sport with distinction, and was inducted into the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001.
At the time of writing the circumstances surrounding Tommy Billington's death are unknown, as the news was broken by British wrestling legend and World of Sport great Marty Jones on Twitter. Jones tweeted: "It's with great sadness I have to inform you all that THE "DYNAMITE KID" TOMMY BILLINGTON ON HIS BIRTHDAY HAS PASSED AWAY.. A TRUE BRITISH AMBASSADOR FOR WRESTLING WORLDWIDE RIP "KID' CONDOLENCES TO MARK & HIS FAMILY MARTY JONES"
The Lancashire-born grappler had been battling a number of health issues for some time.
A number of wrestlers have shared their condolences, with former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay tweeting: "I heard news that Tommy Billington also known as the Dynamite Kid has passed away. Thank you for all the work you’ve done for our country and inspiring so many wrestlers to take a chance on themselves. RIP Dynamite Kid."
WWE NXT UK Superstar Dave Mastiff tweeted: "Pioneer, trailblazer, pure dynamite. Your work will always stand the test of time."
Billington, a controversial figure, is widely recognised as one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever to lace up a pair of boots, with a style that was a couple of generations ahead of the one he was actually a part of.
Tommy achieved superstardom as a tag team wrestler alongside WWE legend "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. The duo would win the WWF Tag Team Championships before going their separate ways in 1988. During a career that was cut short by injury, he also turned out for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling, and World of Sport with distinction, and was inducted into the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001.
Written by Ross Tweddell
Written and video journalist for Cultaholic Wrestling | twitter: @rossonrasslin | instagram: @rossonrasslin