{"id":71037,"date":"2018-12-05T13:00:50","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T19:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=71037"},"modified":"2018-12-05T13:27:31","modified_gmt":"2018-12-05T19:27:31","slug":"dynamite-kid-tommy-billington-dead-at-age-60-innovator-of-junior-heavyweight-style-dazzled-u-s-fans-in-british-bulldogs-tag-team-on-nbc-specials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2018\/12\/05\/dynamite-kid-tommy-billington-dead-at-age-60-innovator-of-junior-heavyweight-style-dazzled-u-s-fans-in-british-bulldogs-tag-team-on-nbc-specials\/","title":{"rendered":"Industry reacts to &#8220;Dynamite Kid&#8221; Tommy Billington, innovator of junior heavyweight style, dazzled U.S. fans in British Bulldogs tag team on NBC specials"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1574768156\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>&#8220;Dynamite Kid&#8221; Tommy Billington died today, on his 60th birthday. Billington was partners with the late Davey Boy Smith in the British Bulldogs tag team, who wrestled on the WWF&#8217;s Saturday Night&#8217;s Main Event specials in the mid 1980s on NBC. Billington was a pioneer in the junior heavyweight movement in Japan in the 1980s, with legendary matches against Dynamite Kid. He wrestled Bret Hart in Stampede Wrestling in Canada early in his career after leaving his home country, the U.K. He ended up in wheel chair in the 1990s from the effects of his injuries, which were a result of his hard-hitting high-flying style inside the wrestling ring. Their matches in the WWF against the Dream Team (Greg Valentine &amp; Brutus Beefake) and especially The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart &amp; Jim Neidhart) exposed the United States wrestling fans to a style previously only seen by avid tape traders.<\/p>\n<p>The pro wrestling industry is reacting on Twitter.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/NatbyNature\/status\/1070352217759199233<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WWE is saddened to learn that The Dynamite Kid has passed away. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r41WiVPrOb\">https:\/\/t.co\/r41WiVPrOb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WWE\/status\/1070293151150235648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/FrankieKazarian\/status\/1070322041650180096<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Every wrestler under 200lbs likely owes a debt of gratitude to The Dynamite Kid. He inspired so many and help change the sport. In the ring he was incredible. The only wrestling T Shirt I ever purchased was a British Bulldogs shirt, which I wore to WrestleMania IV <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RIP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RIP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LanceStorm\/status\/1070336124403347458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/ToddMartinMMA\/status\/1070309378480398336<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/mauroranallo\/status\/1070339255711350784<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/DBSmithjr\/status\/1070270186224181248<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It&#39;s with great sadness I have to inform you all that THE &quot;DYNAMITE KID&quot; TOMMY BILLINGTON ON HIS BIRTHDAY HAS PASSED AWAY.. A TRUE BRITISH AMBASSADOR FOR WRESTLING WORLDWIDE RIP &quot;KID&#39; CONDOLENCES TO  MARK &amp; HIS FAMILY MARTY JONES <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TRYbBTpTgf\">pic.twitter.com\/TRYbBTpTgf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Marty Jones (@martyleglockno1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/martyleglockno1\/status\/1070259729723736064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/DBSmithjr\/status\/962818316187217920<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-49206353\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tyler_Bate\/status\/1070271933420326912<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Saddened to hear about the passing of Dynamite Kid. There was a time I watched every Dynamite match I could get my hands on including this tribute video countless times. Despite many attempts of re-creating his magic I would never come close. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OzLSl4JCW7\">https:\/\/t.co\/OzLSl4JCW7<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kyle O&#39;Reilly (@KORcombat) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KORcombat\/status\/1070302821663326213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/HistoryofWrest\/status\/1070324113175183361<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/HistoryofWrest\/status\/961790376809041931<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">#101 &#8211; Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask &#8211; New Japan &#8211; 4\/21\/83<\/p>\n<p>My take: This had little psychology and awful transitions and is vastly overrated, but it is hugely influential. ***3\/4 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IeYhJD0AIT\">pic.twitter.com\/IeYhJD0AIT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Allan (@allan_cheapshot) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/allan_cheapshot\/status\/960134644405624833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 4, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/WrestlingCardz\/status\/882681331586662400<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The last match in the career of Dynamite Kid;teaming with Dos Caras and Kuniaki Kobayashi vs The Original Tiger Mask,Great Sasuke and Mil Mascaras at Michinoku Pro&#39;s &quot;These Days&quot; show.October 10,1996 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6GDdb0YhJb\">pic.twitter.com\/6GDdb0YhJb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rasslin&#39; History 101 (@WrestlingIsKing) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WrestlingIsKing\/status\/931561820200022016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 17, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll be talking a lot about Dynamite Kid on PWTorch VIP podcasts this week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-467694409\"><div id=\"pwtor-3083433096\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>&#8220;Dynamite Kid&#8221; Tommy Billington died today, on his 60th birthday. Billington was partners with the late Davey Boy Smith in the British Bulldogs tag team, who wrestled on the WWF&#8217;s Saturday Night&#8217;s Main Event specials <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2018\/12\/05\/dynamite-kid-tommy-billington-dead-at-age-60-innovator-of-junior-heavyweight-style-dazzled-u-s-fans-in-british-bulldogs-tag-team-on-nbc-specials\/\" title=\"Industry reacts to &#8220;Dynamite Kid&#8221; Tommy Billington, innovator of junior heavyweight style, dazzled U.S. fans in British Bulldogs tag team on NBC specials\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":71038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prowrestlingnews","category-news_wwe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2018\/12\/KidDynamite_3x2_WWE.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71037"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71053,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71037\/revisions\/71053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}