“The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith to be Inducted into the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame
In pro wrestling today, we have superstars like Pete Dunne, Walter, Moustahce Mountain, and an entire show in NXT UK. Prior to the present day, you had Robbie Brookeside and Johnny Saint . The man who helped bridge the generational gap was Davey Boy Smith. Davey’s career began in 1978 and spanned over twenty years. In his early years, Davey Boy spent time in Stampede Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. During this time he teamed “The Dynamite Kid” Tom Billington and they were known as “The British Bulldogs.” In 1984, WWE bought out Stampede Wrestling and with that WWE got the Bulldogs and The Hart Foundation(Bret Hart and Jim Neidhardt). Over the next four years, the Bulldogs feuded with The Hart Foundation, The Rougeau Brothers, The Dream Team, The Islanders, and many more.
The British Bulldogs left WWE in 1988, but Davey Boy Smith returned in late 1990 where his singles career began to take off. He feuded with so many great talents, but it was in the summer of 1992 where his legacy was cemented forever. In 1992, Summerslam took place at Wembley Stadium and Davy challenged Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship in the main event. It’s regarded as one of the greatest Intercontinental Championship matches of all time. Davey won the match but more importantly won over the UK fans. Three months after his historical title win, he was shockingly released from WWE and spent a year in WCW. In that year, he was closely associated with Sting and feuded with Sid Vicious and Vader. Some of the feats of strength he showed against Vader are among some of the most remarkable that wrestling during that time time-frame.
After a brief stint in WCW he returned home for a brief stint at All Star Wrestling in London. The ASW run only last eight months until he came back to the WWE. He resurfaced at Summerslam 1994 at the height of Bret and Owen Hart feuding. He sided with Bret while Jim sided with Owen. The Hart Family feud was one of the hottest feuds in wrestling and they worked many matches together. In 1995, the Bulldog who had always worked as a face joined Jim Cornette’s stable that already Yokozuna and Owen Hart. He worked against Diesel and Bret Hart in late 1995, which were all incredible matches. Davey Boy and Owen Hart began to tag as part of Camp Cornette and they went to have a lot of success by holding the WWE Tag Team Championships for 246 Days. During that reign, Bulldog won the European Championship while Owen won the Intercontinental Championship. Bulldog was at the height of his career in 1997, when the Hart Foundation reformed and expanded. Unfortunately, once Survivor Survivor 1997 happened Bulldog and the Hart Family would never be the same.
Davey Boy would ultimate return to WWE in 1999 after a tumultuous year in WCW where he severely injured his back. He retired in 2000 but had come of retirement to wrestle several tag team matches his son Harry Smith(Davey Boy Jr.). Davey Boy Smith passed away in May 2002. It was a lost felt all across the wrestling world. His legacy of being an ultimate prankster, entertainer and world-renowned professional wrestler is still continuing today. Harry has adapted a lot of his fathers traits, characteristics and mannerisms while carving out his own name and path. Davey Boy Smith has been deserving of this honor for a very long time. As someone who grew up watching him, I am excited for his family and fans who loved this legendary superstar. Congratulations to the family of “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith on being inducted into the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame.
