The “Dynamite Kid” is a kid no more:The Former British Bulldog has died at age 60

He was one-half of the professional wrestling championship tag-team of Davey Boy Smith and Tommy Billington(The British Bulldogs) and today, on his birthday of all days, the “Dynamite Kid” has passed away….Today was Billington’s 60th birthday and as of today, ‘The Kid’ is gone…..

Billington spent quality training time with Stu Hart, at “Stu Hart’s Wrestling Dungeon”, which was actually the basement of Stu Hart’s house, but it was there, you either survived or you died, and in that setting Thomas Billinton lived and even though he got “stretched” by Stu Hart, the “Dynamite Kid” became of productive part of Stu Hart’s Calgary Stampede Wrestling, which was based up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada…..

Thomas Billington, not to be confused with our old friend Bruce Bullington, who passed away 6 years ago, well Mr. Billington had been in poor health for many years due to the wear and tear on his body from professional wrestling and spent many of last years in a wheelchair….Billington’s back went bad and his heart was not in too good of shape either…

At times Billington would seem bitter about his time spent as a professional wrestler, the sport that ultimately took his life away….

And who can forget his dog, Matilda, the British Bulldog that used to accompany the “Dynamite Kid” and Davey Boy Smith to ring….

Davey Boy Smith had the looks and drew a lot of attention to the team, but as a technical professional wrestler, the “Dynamite Kid” was one of the best to ever enter the ring/squared circle…..

Billington lived in England for most of his life outside of wrestling and he spent a lot of years sitting and suffering in pain……

from WrestlingInc. at www.wrestlinginc.com:

Legendary professional wrestler Thomas “Dynamite Kid” Billington passed away earlier today at the age of 60. Kid, who wrestled for WWE in the ’80s and spent the last few years of his career wrestling in Japan, won the then WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship while working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the tag team titles in WWE along with Davey Boy Smith.

from World Wrestling Entertainment at www.wwe.com:

WWE is saddened to learn that Thomas Billington, known to his fans as Dynamite Kid, has passed away at age 60.

Born in Golborne, Lancashire, England, Billington pursued sports-entertainment as a means to avoid a life as a coal miner. Although somewhat undersized, he possessed a ferocity and determination that earned him the nickname The Dynamite Kid.

As a singles competitor, he made his mark in WWE Hall of Famer Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, developing a style that was both technically brilliant and wildly aggressive. It was in Japan, however, where Dynamite Kid set a new standard for junior heavyweight competition in a legendary series of matches against Tiger Mask, which would influence an entire generation of competitors, and help set the stage for brands like WWE’s 205 Live.

Dynamite Kid joined WWE in 1984 with his cousin, Davey Boy Smith, forming one of the most popular tag teams of their era, The British Bulldogs. Alongside their mascot, an English bulldog named Matilda, the duo battled it out in classic matches against Bret “Hit Man” Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart of The Hart Foundation, and defeated Greg “The Hammer” Valentine & Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake to win the World Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 2.

WWE extends its condolences to Billington’s family, friends and fans.