The wrestling world has lost a legendary superstar, as Dynamite Kid has passed away today, at the age of 60-years-old. The entire wrestling world is in mourning.
Marty Jones, the trainer from the United Kingdom was the first to break the sad news. He took to Twitter to announce Kid’s passing.
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
Kid had wrestled a decade before joining WWF in 1984, where he would become a part of The British Bulldogs tag team and would win the WWE tag titles. After the team split up in 1988, Dynamite Kid went to Stampede Wrestling and also in Japan. He won the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship while working for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Over the last couple of decades of his life, Kid would suffer health problems and was bound to a wheelchair due to the leg and back injuries he sustained in his career.
WWE would make the following statement, following Kid’s passing:
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 alongside 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.
We offer our deepest condolences to Dynamite Kid’s family, friends, and fans during this sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
