View source for Dynamite Kid

{{Short description|British professional wrestler (1958–2018)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Dynamite Kid
| birthname   = Thomas Billington
| image       = Dynamite Kid British Bulldogs.jpg
| caption     = Billington as part of [[The British Bulldogs]]
| names       = Dynamite Kid<br/>The Dynamite Kid
| spouse      = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Michelle Smadu<br/>|25 March 1982|1991|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Dot Billington<br/>|1997-2024 }}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/calgary-herald/20161025/281522225629145|title=Desperate plea from former pro wrestler|first=Michael|last=Lumsden|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]|location=[[Calgary]]|agency=[[PressReader]]|date=25 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>
}}
| family      = Billington<br/>[[Hart wrestling family|Hart]] (by marriage)
| children    = 3
| height      = 5 ft 9 in<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/86 86]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/86}}</ref>
| weight      = 225 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|df=y|1958|12|5}}
| birth_place = [[Golborne]], Lancashire, England
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2018|12|5|1958|12|5|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Ince-in-Makerfield|Ince]], Wigan, Greater Manchester, England
| billed      = [[Liverpool]], England<br/>[[Manchester]], England
| trainer     = Ted Betley<br />Jack Fallon<br />[[Riley's Gym]]<br />John Foley<br />[[Stu Hart]]
| debut       = 24 December 1975
| retired     = 10 October 1996
|relatives=[[Davey Boy Smith]] (Cousin)}}

'''Thomas Billington''' (5 December 1958 – 5 December 2018),<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web |title=Dynamite Kid |date=13 May 2023 |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/dynamite-kid/ |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> best known by the [[ring name]] the '''Dynamite Kid''', was a British [[professional wrestler]].

Trained by former wrestler "Dr Death" Ted Betley, he competed in the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), [[Stampede Wrestling]], [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] (AJPW), and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW). With his cousin [[Davey Boy Smith]], he was also known for being one half of the tag team [[The British Bulldogs]].

He had notable feuds with [[Satoru Sayama|Tiger Mask]] in [[Japan]] and [[Bret Hart]] in [[Canada]].

Billington is considered by many, including [[Bret Hart]], to have been one of wrestling's most influential in-ring performers, having increased the level of athleticism involved in the art, bringing together styles from [[United Kingdom|Britain]], [[Mexico]], [[Canada]] and [[Japan]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s|last=Shields|first=Brian|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2006|isbn=1-4165-3257-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/mainevent00bria/page/85 85]|url=https://archive.org/details/mainevent00bria/page/85}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1 = Meltzer, Dave |author2= Molinaro, John F. |author3= Marek, Jeff | title =Top 100 pro wrestlers of all time | publisher = Winding Stair Press | year = 2002 | isbn = 978-1553663058| page = 155 pp}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = Pope, Kristian | title =Tuff Stuff Professional Wrestling Field Guide: Legend and Lore | publisher =Krause Publ| year = 2005 | isbn =978-0896892675 | page = 125 pp}}</ref>

==Early life==
{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}Billington was born on 5 December 1958 in [[Golborne]], [[Lancashire]], near [[Manchester]].<ref name="OWOW" /><ref name="People">{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/sports/dynamite-kid-wwe-wrestler-dies-birthday/|title=Former WWE Wrestler Dynamite Kid Dies on His 60th Birthday|first=Greg|last=Hanlon|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|date=5 December 2018|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> He had two sisters<ref>{{cite book | author = McCoy, Heath | title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECWPress | year = 2007 | url =https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco| url-access = limited | isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco/page/n151 136] pp}}</ref> and a younger brother named Mark.<ref>{{cite book | author = McCoy, Heath| title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECWPress | year = 2007 | url =https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco| url-access = limited| isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco/page/n253 238] pp}}</ref> His father Bill and uncle Eric Billington were boxers in their youth and his grandfather Thomas Billington was a [[bare-knuckle boxer]].<ref name="Heath McCoy 2007 134 pp">{{cite book | author = McCoy, Heath| title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECWPress | year = 2007 | url =https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco| url-access = limited| isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco/page/n149 134] pp}}</ref> He was a member of the Billington family.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit & the Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry|last=Randazzo V|first=Matthew|publisher=Phoenix Books|page=[https://archive.org/details/ringofhellstoryo0000rand/page/28 28]|year=2008|isbn=978-1-59777-622-6|url=https://archive.org/details/ringofhellstoryo0000rand/page/28}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = McCoy, Heath| title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECWPress | year = 2007 | url =https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco| url-access = limited| isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco/page/n149 134]}}</ref> One of his ancestors [[James Billington (executioner)|James Billington]] was a wrestler who in 1891 became chief executioner of Great Britain and Ireland..<ref>{{cite book |title=Pierrepoint: A Family of Executioners |last=Fielding |first=Steve |year=2008 |publisher=John Blake Publishing Ltd |location=London|page= ?|isbn=978-1-84454-611-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Lord high executioner: an unashamed look at hangmen, headsmen, and their kind | author=Howard Engel | publisher=Robson Books | year=1997 | isbn=1-86105-096-8 | pages=? }}</ref>

Academic work was not a priority to him, but he was drawn to sports at his [[comprehensive school]]; his adherence to it, particularly wrestling and gymnastics, helped him develop a relatively small but powerful and agile shape. In addition, he had also received training in [[boxing]] during his formative years, which helped instill toughness in him before his career.<ref name="Heath McCoy 2007 134 pp"/>

==Professional wrestling career==

=== Early career (1975–1984) ===
Billington was trained by former wrestler "Dr. Death" Ted Betley after a meeting at his father’s workplace introduced the two. He trained with Betley for three years starting at 13, and attended [[Riley's Gym]], known as The Snake Pit, where he learned freestyle wrestling.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McCoy |first=Heath |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_dGLlfvGJkC&pg=PT239 |title=Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling, Revised Edition |publisher=ECW Press |date=Dec 14, 2010 |isbn=978-1554902996 |edition=Revised |language=English |chapter=Chapter 10, The Age of Dynamite}}</ref> Dynamite Kid made his debut working in 1975 for [[Max Crabtree]]. Billington’s first match filmed for TV was taped 30 June 1976 in Lincoln (and transmitted 30 October by which time another match against Pete Meredith had been filmed and screened) saw him lose by technical knockout to veteran [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] "Strongman" Alan Dennison<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnlisterwriting.com/itvwrestling/76.html|title=itvwrestling.co.uk - 1976|website=www.johnlisterwriting.com|access-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023111022/http://www.johnlisterwriting.com/itvwrestling/76.html|archive-date=23 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> after injuring his throat on the top ring rope.<ref name="wos" /> However, Dennison was so impressed by the technical skill of his young opponent that he refused the win and consequently changed his ways and became a [[Face (professional wrestling)|blue-eye]] and a friend of Billington.<ref name="wos">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzOhVoPUaW4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/BzOhVoPUaW4| archive-date=17 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=Alan Dennison vs. Dynamite Kid - World of Sport| date=26 August 2011|access-date=7 January 2020|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

During his early days, he won the [[British Lightweight Championship|British Lightweight title]] on 23 April 1977, and the [[British Welterweight Championship|Welterweight title]] on 25 January 1978. He was also instrumental in starting the career of then-Judo star [[Chris Adams (wrestler)|Chris Adams]] while still competing in the UK, was scouted and moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1978. He would make occasional home visits over the next few years, including challenging World Heavyweight Middleweight Champion [[Mark Rocco|Rollerball Rocco]] in a televised title match ending in a double knockout.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://itvwrestling.co.uk/82.html | title=Itvwrestling.co.uk - 1982 }}</ref>

Billington made a big impact in his matches for [[Stampede Wrestling]] with the increasingly popular [[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce Hart]] and rookie [[Bret Hart]]. Despite differences between them due to comments made about Stu Hart in his autobiography, Bret still regards him as "pound-for-pound, the greatest wrestler who ever lived." Billington began taking steroids in 1979, when Big Daddy Ritter, aka the [[Junkyard Dog]], introduced Billington to the anabolic steroid [[Methandrostenolone|Dianabol]].<ref name="Passion151">{{cite book|title=Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling|url=https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco|url-access=limited|last=McCoy|first=Heath|page=[https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco/page/n166 151]|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|year=2007|isbn=978-1-55022-787-1}}</ref> Billington was also introduced to [[amphetamine|speed]] during his stay in Canada by [[Jake Roberts]].<ref name="Passion151"/>

After doing big business in Canada, Billington was booked on his first tour of Japan, working for [[International Wrestling Enterprise]] from 19 to 25 July 1979. Stu Hart and Stampede Wrestling switched their business relationship from IWE to [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] shortly after Billington's first tour, and he wrestled for New Japan from 4 January 1980 to 2 August 1984. Perhaps the most memorable matches that came out of Billington’s run in New Japan were from his now legendary feud against [[Satoru Sayama|Tiger Mask]]; Tiger Mask's debut was against Dynamite, in which Tiger Mask shocked the wrestling world by gaining the victory over Billington. The two would compete against one another several more times in a feud that is often credited as putting Junior Heavyweight wrestling on the map, as well as setting the standard for future generations. Both the NWA and WWF Junior Heavyweight titles were vacated after Tiger Mask was injured by Billington in a tag match on 1 April 1983. Dynamite and [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]] competed for the vacant titles, but no winner was decided. On 21 April 1983, Billington and Tiger Mask met for the vacant [[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]], but no winner was decided after the match ended up as a draw three consecutive times.

In 1983, Billington made his debut to the United States working for [[Pacific Northwest Wrestling]] where he feuded with [[Curt Hennig]]. Eventually he won the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title from Hennig on 7 September. A month later he dropped the title from [[Billy Jack Haynes]]. Then in November he teamed up with [[Fidel Sierra|The Assassin]] and won the Pacific Northwest Tag titles from Curt Hennig and [[Buddy Rose]]. A month later they dropped the belts to Hennig and [[Scott McGhee]].

On 7 February 1984, Billington captured the [[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] by winning a tournament in New Japan Pro-Wrestling; although it was a WWF Title, it was primarily defended in Japan. He defeated Davey Boy Smith earlier in the tournament and would go on to defeat [[George Takano|The Cobra]] in the finals.

=== World Wrestling Federation (1984–1988) ===
{{see also|The British Bulldogs}}
[[File:Dynamite Kid, circa 1987.png|thumb|292x292px|Billington, {{Circa|1987}}]]
Billington made his WWF television debut on 29 August 1984, where he and [[Bret Hart]] defeated [[Mike Sharpe|Iron Mike Sharpe]] and Troy Alexander in a match eventually shown on 15 September 1984, on the Maple Leaf Garden broadcast. In 1985, Billington would end up teaming with [[Davey Boy Smith]] as [[the British Bulldogs]], while Bret would turn heel and team with [[Jim Neidhart]] as [[The Hart Foundation]], and it led to matches between the two teams that usually ended in No-Contests. On 7 April 1986, accompanied by [[Captain Lou Albano]] and [[Ozzy Osbourne]], the British Bulldogs won the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF World tag team title]] from [[Greg Valentine]] and [[Brutus Beefcake]] at [[WrestleMania II]].

Billington would suffer a serious injury in a tag-team match that took place in December 1986 in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], Canada, against [[Don Muraco]] and [[Bob Orton, Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestlinggonewrong.com/video/dynamite_kid_back.html|title=Dynamite Kid severely injures his back.}}</ref> and several wrestlers including [[Roddy Piper]], [[Junkyard Dog]] and [[Billy Jack Haynes]] would substitute for him when tag title defences were made. While recovering in the hospital from back surgery, Billington would later recount that Bret Hart showed up and stated that [[Vince McMahon]] had sent him to get his tag belt; Billington refused.<ref name="Pure">Tom Billington, ''Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom'' Winding Stair Press, 1999</ref> Shortly after checking himself out of the hospital (against doctors' orders), Billington met with McMahon, who requested that the Bulldogs drop the tag titles to the team of [[The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff]]; Billington refused, saying that he would only drop the belts to The Hart Foundation.<ref name="Pure"/>

McMahon acquiesced and at a TV taping on 26 January 1987, The British Bulldogs wrestled a match to drop the titles to The Hart Foundation; the match would air on 7 February edition of ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Hamish |date=2024-06-25 |title=A Horrific Back Injury Ended Dynamite Kid's Career |url=https://britwrestling.co.uk/a-horrific-back-injury-ended-dynamite-kids-career/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Brit Wrestling |language=en-US}}</ref> The match itself was an odd sight, as Billington could barely walk due to back surgery. Billington was knocked out by Jimmy Hart's megaphone early in the match, avoiding him having to wrestle much in the match for story purposes. From that point forward, the Bulldogs would not be a top-tier team anymore, and while they would not become straight [[Job (professional wrestling)#Jobbers|jobbers]], they would mostly wrestle to double disqualifications, double countouts or time-limit draws against the top teams in the WWF.

Billington was known for being a tough guy and for his stiffness as a worker. [[Mick Foley]] reported that, when he and [[Les Thornton]] (another British wrestler) wrestled the Bulldogs in a tag-team match early in Foley's career, Billington manhandled him so badly in the ring that he tore a ligament in Foley's jaw with his signature Hook Clothesline, preventing Foley from eating solid food until his recovery.<ref name="Foley">Mick Foley. ''Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks'', p.&nbsp;82–85.</ref> Outside of the ring, WWF-champion [[Randy Savage]] once specifically asked for him to watch his back when he went drinking in a hotel bar frequented by NWA wrestlers, including [[Ric Flair]].<ref name="Pure"/> He was also involved in heated backstage fights with [[Jacques Rougeau]], one of which led to Rougeau hitting him with a fistful of [[Quarter (United States coin)|quarters]] as he opened a door holding a cup of coffee, knocking several of his teeth out. Billington claimed the Rougeau incident was not the final straw that drove him to leave the WWF, but rather a dispute with WWF management over the issuance of complimentary plane tickets, over which he resigned from the company on principle and which to his surprise in retrospect, Smith followed suit.<ref name = "Pure"/>

The Bulldogs wrestled their last WWF match at the [[Survivor Series (1988)|1988 Survivor Series]].<ref name = "Bully">{{Cite book|last1=Hart|first1=Bret| title=Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=9w_ufNyxo3YC&q=Bret%20%22Hitman%22%20Hart%3A&pg=PP1| publisher=[[Random House Canada]] (Canada), [[Grand Central Publishing]] (US)| year=2007 |page=229|isbn= 978-0-307-35567-6 }} {{ISBN|978-0-446-53972-2}} (US)
</ref> Although their team would win the match after team captains [[The Powers of Pain]] ([[The Barbarian (wrestler)|The Barbarian]] and [[The Warlord (wrestler)|The Warlord]]) eliminated the last remaining opponents [[Los Conquistadores|The Conquistadores]], the Bulldogs had earlier been eliminated when Billington had been pinned by [[Smash (wrestler)|Smash]] of the tag team champions [[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]].

===Return to Stampede Wrestling, England and Japan (1988–1996)===
After leaving the WWF, the Bulldogs returned to Stampede Wrestling to win the International Tag Team Titles. The Bulldogs also competed frequently in All-Japan Pro Wrestling where they were paid $20,000 each by [[Shohei Baba|Giant Baba]], along with the liberty of choosing which tours they wanted to participate in. Upon returning to Stampede, the Bulldogs were involved in a feud with Karachi Vice over the [[Stampede International Tag Team Championship]]. However, by February 1989, Dynamite became involved in a brutal feud with [[Johnny Smith (wrestler)|Johnny Smith]] after Johnny interfered and attacked the Dynamite Kid, before cutting his hair. In May 1989, the Bulldogs split up in Stampede, but remained a team in AJPW. Over in Stampede, the Bulldogs feuded with each other, with Dynamite forming The [[British Bruisers]] with Johnny Smith and Davey Boy Smith teaming with a young [[Chris Benoit]].

In 1990, Davey Boy Smith abruptly withdrew the Bulldogs from AJPW's annual [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League]] by returning to the WWF, and fabricating a story to the All-Japan office that Billington was in a serious car accident and was unable to compete.<ref>Billington op cit, p183</ref> Back home in the UK, from 1991 onward, he would regularly appear for local promotions [[All Star Wrestling]] and [[Orig Williams]]' BWF where, due to his WWF success, he was a headline attraction this time around. Since Davey Boy Smith had trademarked the term "The British Bulldog" during the Bulldogs' previous run in WWF, he decided to return to the WWF as The British Bulldog and would send people to the [[United Kingdom]] to warn the promoter every time a flyer was distributed promoting Dynamite Kid as a "British Bulldog".<ref name="Pure"/>

Johnny Smith would end up taking Davey Boy Smith's spot in the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, and the duo (known as the [[British Bruisers]]) continued to compete in All Japan Pro Wrestling. The duo managed to capture the [[All Asia Tag Team Championship]], but the partnership was short-lived; the years of steroid abuse (including an incident in which he used horse steroids), working a high impact style, and cocaine usage caught up with Billington as he suddenly announced his retirement on 6 December 1991, immediately after the Bruisers defeated Johnny Ace and [[Sunny Beach (wrestler)|Sunny Beach]] at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. He returned to Japan as a special guest with Lord James Blears on 28 February 1993 and claimed that he was going to send his 17-year-old brother to All Japan's Dojo, but it was not realised. He returned again for a tag team match with Johnny Smith on 28 July 1993 and was planning to promote an All-Japan show in his country in 1994, but it was not realised either.

In January 1994, he returned to England and worked again for [[All Star Wrestling]].

Before embarking on another All-Japan tour, he visited [[Dan Spivey]] and stayed in his home in Florida for a week, while Spivey went on holiday. When Spivey came back, he and Billington allegedly took hits of [[LSD]], which reportedly resulted in Billington coming close to death twice in one day, but he was revived with adrenaline shots by paramedics both times.{{dubious|reason=No reliable source found confirming this story; likely misattributed or anecdotal.|date=November 2025}}<ref name="Pure"/>

His final wrestling match took place on 10 October 1996, at a [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|Michinoku Pro]] event called ''These Days''. The match was promoted as a "Legends of High-Flying" six-man tag featuring Dynamite paired with [[Dos Caras]] and [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]] against the [[Great Sasuke]], [[Mil Máscaras]], and Tiger Mask. Dynamite's body had degenerated to the point where he was "practically skin and bones", as the bottom portion of his tights were very loose. In the end, Dynamite delivered his trademark tombstone piledriver on Great Sasuke, leading Dos Caras to powerbomb Sasuke for the pin. While at the airport to return home on the next day, Dynamite had a second [[seizure]] (the first one was in 1987) and was sent to the hospital immediately.<ref name="Pure"/>

==Personal life==
In 1991, he was divorced from his first wife Michelle Smadu (the sister of [[Bret Hart]]'s then-wife [[Hart wrestling family|Julie]]),<ref>{{cite book | last = Hart | first = Martha | author-link1 = Martha Hart |author2=Francis, Eric | title = Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart |publisher = [[Rowman & Littlefield]] | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-1-59077-036-8| page = 67 pp}}</ref> with whom Billington had one son and two daughters (Marek, Bronwyne and Amaris). Following the end of his marriage to Michelle, he moved from Canada back home to Golborne with his parents. There he married for a second time to a woman named Dot; with her he had three stepsons; John, Steven and Mark. Dot died on 9 July 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2018/12/05/the-life-and-death-of-tom-dynamite-kid-billington-dead-at-age-60/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206235401/https://www.postwrestling.com/2018/12/05/the-life-and-death-of-tom-dynamite-kid-billington-dead-at-age-60/|archive-date=6 December 2018|title=The Life and Death of Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington, dead at age 60|publisher=[[Post Wrestling]]|author=Pollock, John|date=5 December 2018|access-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live|author-link = John Pollock (journalist)}}</ref> Before his death Billington had two granddaughters, Miami and Taya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://calgarysun.com/sports/other-sports/natalya-neidhart-a-tribute-to-dynamite-kid-through-his-daughters-eyes|title=Natalya Neidhart: A tribute to Dynamite Kid, through his daughter's eyes {{!}} National Post|last=Sports|first=Other|work=calgarysun |date=12 December 2018|language=en-CA|access-date=31 December 2018}}</ref> He is now survived by three more grandchildren: Madix, Harlow and Miko.

Billington was a close friend of [[Wayne Hart (wrestling)|Wayne Hart]]. When Billington was living in Calgary, they co-owned an apartment together where they lived with their respective girlfriends.<ref>{{cite book | author = Heath McCoy | title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECW Press | year = 2007 | url =https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco| url-access = limited | isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco/page/n154 139]}}</ref>

===Altercations with other wrestlers===
Billington had several violent interactions with fellow wrestlers. One such event was with [[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce Hart]], in which Billington broke Hart's jaw.<ref>{{cite book | author1 = Martha Hart |author2= Eric Francis | title = Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart |publisher = [[Rowman & Littlefield]] | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-1-59077-036-8| page = 70 pp|author1-link= Martha Hart }}</ref> 
Another was while in WWF, where wrestler Jacques Rougeau Jr. felt that Billington had bullied him and sucker punched Billington in the face with a fist holding rolled up quarters, knocking out Billington's front teeth, which required 45 stitches and resulted in a severe concussion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1056065-10-more-of-the-most-famous-and-infamous-backstage-fights-in-wrestling-history|title=9 More of the Most Famous and Infamous Backstage Fights in Wrestling History|last=Shannon|first=Mike|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/misc/ralphaeichenlaub01.html|title=Columns - Online World of Wrestling|website=www.onlineworldofwrestling.com|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = Heath McCoy | title = Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling | publisher = ECWPress | year = 2007 | url =https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco| url-access = limited | isbn = 978-1-55022-787-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/painpassionhisto00mcco/page/n23 8] pp}}</ref>

===Health problems===
In 1997, after having a great deal of complications he was experiencing with walking due to the large number of back and leg injuries he sustained during his career, Billington lost the use of his left leg.<ref name="Pure"/> Using a [[wheelchair]] for mobility, he was cared for by his second wife, Dot.<ref name=ioqpa /> Billington was told he would never be able to walk again.<ref name=ioqpa /> [[Harley Race]], the inventor of the diving headbutt (a move [[Chris Benoit]] also used frequently), stated that he regretted ever inventing the move due to its ostensible causation of spinal problems, concussions, and that it may have contributed to Billington's disability. In addition to his paralysis, Billington also had heart problems.<ref name=ioqpa>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115115510/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/05/20/pf-4195265.html Curse of Stampede Wrestling?]}}, 20 May 2007, Retrieved 31 July 2012.</ref> In November 2013, Billington reportedly had a stroke.<ref name=PWI>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Mike|title=Dynamite Kid Suffers Stroke|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=81792|access-date=7 June 2014|work=PWInsider.com|date=24 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910163257/http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/wrestlingframe.html|url-status=dead|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated|date=10 September 2012|archive-date=10 September 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, he was named in a lawsuit filed by WWE after the organisation received a letter from him indicating that he intended to sue them for concussion-based injuries sustained during his affiliation with WWE. He was represented by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who is involved in several other lawsuits involving former WWE wrestlers.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE seeking to block concussion-related lawsuits|url=http://www.foxsports.com/other/story/wwe-concussion-lawsuits-blackjack-mulligan-koko-b-ware-dynamite-kid-070115|work=[[FoxSports.com]]|date=1 July 2015|access-date=27 November 2015|publisher=[[Fox Entertainment Group]] ([[21st Century Fox]])}}</ref> Billington's lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge [[Vanessa Lynne Bryant]] in September 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Knocks Out Consolidated Concussion Case|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/wwe-knocks-out-consolidated-concussion-case/|work=[[Courthouse News Service]]|last=Gorman|first=Jeff D.|date=18 September 2018|access-date=2 September 2019}}</ref>

===Death===
Billington died on 5 December 2018, [[birthday effect|his 60th birthday]].<ref name="People"/><ref name=cs>{{cite web |url=https://calgarysun.com/news/local-news/stampede-wrestling-superstar-tom-the-dynamite-kid-billington-dead-at-60 |title=Stampede Wrestling superstar Tom "The Dynamite Kid" Billington dead at 60 |work=calgarysun |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=5 December 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref> The exact cause of death remains unconfirmed, but the [[BBC]] report of his death placed it in the context of the above-mentioned health issues. At the time of his death Billington’s siblings stated that his health issues resulted in him being depressed, was in a long term care facility and that he took numerous medications for his health conditions.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-46457116|title='Dynamite Kid' wrestler Thomas Billington dies on 60th birthday|work=BBC News|date=5 December 2018|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Billington's British training, combined with an aerial arsenal honed during numerous tours in Japan, influenced a generation of later wrestling stars, especially those normally associated with [[Stu Hart]]'s "Dungeon".<ref name=cs /> A follower was [[Chris Benoit]], who idolised Billington while growing up and adopted a similar moveset that included the [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving headbutt|swandive headbutt]] and the [[Suplex#Snap suplex|Snap suplex]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/info/faq/dynamitekid.shtml |title=Dynamite Kid FAQ |access-date=12 May 2007 |publisher=WrestleView.com }}</ref>

In February 2013, Highspots.com released a documentary named ''[[Dynamite Kid: A Matter of Pride]]'' on the Dynamite Kid.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2013/03/27/dynamite-kid-documentary-a-cautionary-tale/|title=CANOE -- SLAM! Sports: ng - Dynamite Kid documentary a cautionary tale|website=slam.canoe.com|date=27 March 2013 }}</ref>

In October 2014, Billington was presented with a lifetime achievement award at [[Gloucester]] Leisure Centre by Superstars of Wrestling UK.

Billington is featured in the 2016 documentary ''[[Nine Legends]]''.

The playable character "Dynamite Tommy" in the ''[[Mat Mania – The Prowrestling Network|Mat Mania/Mania Challenge/Exciting Hour]]'' arcade games of the mid-1980s is often presumed to be modeled after Billington. The artwork for the game features the character wearing a championship belt which is quite similar to the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship which Billington held. {{cn|date=November 2024}}

Billington's nephews [[Tommy Billington|Thomas]] and Mark have become professional wrestlers, having been trained by [[Marty Jones]] and have formed a tag team, [[The Billington Bulldogs]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Docking |first1=Neil |title=Nephews of WWE legend The Dynamite Kid set for This Is Wrestling show |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/nephews-wwe-legend-dynamite-kid-15804671 |access-date=1 April 2021 |work=Liverpool Echo |date=9 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

On 16 September 2021, [[Vice TV]] aired (as part of their series ''[[Dark Side of the Ring]]'') a retrospective of Billington's life, both in and out of the ring. Included in that program are interviews with Dynamite's former wife, daughters, and wrestlers [[Dan Spivey]] and [[WWE Hall of Fame]]r [[Mick Foley]].

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]'''
**[[All Asia Tag Team Championship]] ([[All Asia Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Johnny Smith (wrestler)|Johnny Smith]]
**[[NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship#Titles|1 time]])
**World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fighting Spirit Award (1984, 1985) – with [[Davey Boy Smith]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=1531|title=Real World Tag League 1984 " Tournaments Database " CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=1530|title=Real World Tag League 1985 " Tournaments Database " CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>
**World's Strongest Tag Determination League Skills Award (1989) – with Davey Boy Smith<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=1526|title=Real World Tag League 1989 " Tournaments Database " CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>
**World's Strongest Tag Determination League Fair Play Award (1990, 1991) – with Johnny Smith<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=254|title=Real World Tag League 1990 " Tournaments Database " CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=253|title=Real World Tag League 1991 " Tournaments Database " CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>
*'''[[Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling]]'''
**AGPW International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/maritimes/agpw/agpw-int-h.html|title=AGPW International Heavyweight Title|access-date=24 June 2013|work=Wrestling-Titles}}</ref>
*'''[[SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame|Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/hallofame.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180116101918/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/hallofame.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 January 2018 |title=Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame |date =3 April 2016|work=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>
*'''[[Joint Promotions]]'''
**[[British Welterweight Championship]] ([[British Welterweight Championship#Title histories|1 time]])
**[[British Lightweight Championship]] ([[British Welterweight Championship#Title histories|1 time]])
**European Welterweight Championship (1 time)
*'''[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'''
**[[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
**Greatest Gaijin Junior Section (2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results/notes/050202.html|title=Strong Style Spirit|website=www.puroresufan.com}}</ref>
*'''[[Pacific Northwest Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
**[[NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[David Sierra|The Assassin]]
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
**Ranked # '''5''' of the 100 best tag teams of the "[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI Years Top 500|PWI Years]]" with [[Davey Boy Smith]] in 2003.
**Ranked #'''41''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#All-Time Top Fives|PWI Years]]" in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years |access-date=15 September 2010 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515112842/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm |archive-date=15 May 2011 }}</ref>
*'''[[Stampede Wrestling]]'''
**[[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship#Title history|4 times]], inaugural)
**[[Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship|Stampede International Tag Team Championship]] ([[Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship#Title history|6 times]]) – with [[Mr. Pogo|Sekigawa]] (1), [[Martin Ruane|Loch Ness Monster]] (1), Kasavudo (1), Duke Myers (1), [[Davey Boy Smith]] (2)
**[[Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
**[[Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship#Title history|4 times]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-pac-h.html |title=Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Title |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo }}</ref>
**[[Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame]] (Class of 1995)<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990 |series=Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart |series-link=Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show |first=Ed (host) |last=Whalen |network=[[Shaw Communications|Shaw Cable]] |station=[[CICT-DT|Calgary 7]] |date=15 December 1995 |time=27:55}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html|title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948–1990)|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
*'''''[[Tokyo Sports]]'''''
**[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]] (1991)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past3/|script-title=ja:東京スポーツ プロレス大賞|access-date=20 January 2014|work=[[Tokyo Sports]]|language=ja}}</ref>
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]'''
**[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|1 time]]) – with Davey Boy Smith<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212131|title=World Tag Team – British Bulldogs|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=9 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129090723/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212131|archive-date=29 November 2005}}</ref>
*'''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Flying Wrestler|Best Flying Wrestler]] (1984)
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Technical Wrestler|Best Technical Wrestler]] (1984) - tied with [[Masa Saito]]
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Wrestling Maneuver|Best Wrestling Maneuver]] (1984) <small>[[Dropkick#Missile dropkick|Power clean dropkick]]</small>
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Hardest Worker|Hardest Worker]] (1983)
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (1982) <small>vs. Tiger Mask on 5 August, [[Tokyo]], Japan</small>
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Underrated|Most Underrated]] (1983)
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Impressive Wrestler|Most Impressive Wrestler]] (1983-1985)
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Tag Team of the Year|Tag Team of The Year]] (1985) - with Davey Boy Smith
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#Inductees|Class of 1996]])

===''Luchas de Apuestas'' record===
{{See also|Lucha libre#Luchas de Apuestas|l1=Luchas de Apuestas}}
{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100%  style="text-align: center"
!width=20% scope="col"|Winner (wager)
!width=20% scope="col"|Loser (wager)
!width=20% scope="col"|Location
!width=20% scope="col"|Event
!width=15% scope="col"|Date
!class="unsortable" width=5% scope="col"|Notes
|-
|[[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce Hart]] (hair) || Dynamite Kid (hair) || Calgary, Alberta || Stampede || 1980s{{Efn|No later than 1984}} || {{Efn|The loss resulted in Dynamite Kid's manager [[JR Foley]] having his head shaved since Dynamite's hair was already cut so short.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://insidepulse.com/2002/03/09/4583/|title=The SmarK Retro Rant For Stampede Classics Vol. 4: Bizarre & Unusual! |author= Keith, Scott|date= 9 March 2002|publisher=Insidepulse.com}}</ref>}}
|}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[http://www.kayfabememories.com/BookReviews/billington.htm Kayfabe Memories - Pure Dynamite Tom Billington]
*{{Cite book | author = Mick Foley | title = Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2000 | isbn = 0-06-103101-1 | page = 511}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070809124954/http://wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/bios/dynamitekid.html Professional Wrestling Museum - Spotlight on the Dynamite Kid]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/19991004130435/http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Bench/5904/jp101298.htm View from the Rising Sun] by Masanori Horie

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030319162409/http://www.dynamitekid.com/ Dynamitekid.com], archived
*{{IMDb name|id=0082553|name=Thomas Billington}}

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