Tom Billington, better known to wrestling fans as The Dynamite Kid, has passed away on his birthday today at the age of 60. The news was broken by English professional wrestler and Squared Circle Academy trainer Marty Jones.
“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,” he wrote in a tweet.
The former WWE Tag Team champion and one half of the British Bulldogs had health issues for the past two decades, issues that came due to his in-ring style. He had a paralyzed left leg, tons of back and neck problems, was confined to a wheelchair and needed care by relatives. Billington also had heart issues and five years ago he suffered a stroke.
The Brit made his wrestling debut in 1975, first wrestling in England and then moving to Canada to wrestle for Stampede Wrestling. In 1984, WWE came calling and he teamed up with Davey Boy Smith as the British Bulldogs. The two had big feuds with several tag teams in the company but none bigger than with The Hart Foundation. Both eventually wrestled their last WWE match together at the 1988 Survivor Series.
After leaving the WWE, Billington returned to Stampede Wrestling and traveled to Japan as well for a tour. His last match was in October 1996, teaming up with Dos Caras and Kuniaki Kobayashi to take on The Great Sasuke, Mil Mascaras, and Tiger Mask.
Billington leaves behind three children, Marek, Bronwyne and Amaris, all of who came from his first marriage to Michelle, who was the sister of Bret Hart’s first wife Julie. He then married his second wife Dot, who was the primary carer for him.
