Legendary professional wrestler Thomas "Dynamite Kid" Billington passed away at the age of 60.
Marty Jones, Billington's friend and former wrestler, taking to social media to announce that Billington had passed away on his 60th birthday.
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 RIP "KID' CONDOLENCES TO MARK & HIS FAMILY MARTY JONES pic.twitter.com/TRYbBTpTgf— Marty Jones (@martyleglockno1) December 5, 2018
Billington started wrestling at the age of 13 and joined Stampede Wrestling at 20. In 1984, he made his way to WWE (then WWF), where he formed a team called British Bulldogs with his cousin, Davey Boy Smith.
Over the past two decades, Dynamite Kid suffered from numerous health problems, and was wheelchair-bound because of the leg and back injuries he sustained in the ring.
WWE remembered Dynamite Kid with the following statement:
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 II.
WWE extends its condolences to Billington’s family, friends and fans.
