Dark Side of The Ring - The Dynamite Kid | Season 3 | Vice TV | Review

LaDark Side of The Ring - The Dynamite Kid | Season 3 | Vice TV | Reviewst week’s edition of Dark Side of the Ring took a deep, unsettling dive into the life of Grizzly Smith and his children. This week, the show shifted gears toward British professional wrestler Dynamite Kid. Many fans will best know him as one-half of The British Bulldogs alongside Davey Boy Smith. From Stampede Wrestling to All Japan Pro Wrestling to the World Wrestling Federation, the real-life Thomas Billington has been regarded as an innovator in wrestling. However, his personal life proved to be anything but inspiring. Here is what viewers learned from the episode aptly titled The Dynamite Kid.


Dynamite Kid was a trailblazer in wrestling.

Real name Thomas Billington, Dynamite Kid helped to usher in an era of faster-paced, harder-hitting wrestling. This would go on to be emulated by the likes of Lance Storm, who spoke on this episode of Dark Side of the Ring.

Dynamite Kid trained at The Snake Pit under Ted Betley.

It was here where he learned, undertaking serious punishment. Mick Foley believed this contributed to Dynamite’s approach. A young Mick Foley, who regarded Dynamite Kid as one of his heroes, faced the established British Bulldogs in a tag team contest. Foley recalled taking a serious hit from Dynamite. As a result, Foley’s jaw was dislocated and he couldn’t eat solid foods for 3 weeks.

Michelle Billington was married to Thomas Billington.

Michelle is the sister of Julie Hart, the ex-wife of Bret Hart. Julie was protective of Michelle, almost in a motherly way. Michelle first saw Thomas Billington in the ring with Hart. Thomas and Michelle would get to know one another, sparking a relationship. She was 18 when they were married. Thomas was scared to hold their eldest daughter, Bronwyne, seeing her as delicate. Their youngest child is their daughter, Amaris. Both daughters spoke on this episode.

By the 1980s, Dynamite Kid was a top performer.

In addition to Stampede Wrestling, he was a star in Japan, including All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In the latter, his work with the original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, was highly regarded, due to the quickness and execution of the matches. Mick Foley recalled discovering this work, as a young fan, on VHS. At his short stature and size, Dynamite Kid had to overperform, even at the risk of his own body.

In 1984, Dynamite Kid signed with the World Wrestling Federation.

He joined his extended family members, including Davey Boy Smith, in the company. During his time in the WWF, Dynamite became more muscular. He was a “pure muscle,” according to former professional wrestler Dan Spivey. Nonetheless, Dynamite Kid’s explosive offense made him a star. The episode covered steroid use as well. Scott McGhee recalled wrestlers giving each other steroid shots, with the needles being thrown at the wall like darts afterward.

Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith became The British Bulldogs.

Together, they brought a faster, harder style compared to other teams in the WWF. They earned a WWF Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania II, where they won the titles.

His behavior outside of the ring became increasingly erratic, leading to personal conflicts.

Billington put sleeping pills in the drink of one wrestler, Mitch Snow. Billington believed Snow to be disrespectful. As the wrestler slept, Billington and Smith sneaked into the room. Billington defecated in his bag and shaved his eyebrows. Billington’s jokes were less playful and more aggressive.

During a non-televised match in 1986, a simple dropdown resulted in a back injury.

Billington was rushed to the hospital, where surgery was performed. Two discs were removed from his back. Roughly two weeks later, he was back in the ring, albeit in no condition to perform. The British Bulldogs would soon drop the titles. Billington was barely involved in the match, being struck from behind by Jimmy Hart‘s megaphone.

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