Dynamite Kid, real name Thomas Billington, has passed away at age 60.
He is considered one of the most influential wrestlers of all time, innovating an aggressive physical and high flying style that paved the way for several future wrestlers. He wrestled all over the world, namely Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in Canada, NJPW and All Japan. He wrestled in the WWF from 1984-1988, winning the WWF Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 2 in 1986 with his cousin Davey Boy Smith as the tag team The British Bulldogs.
The cause of death was not immediately released, but he has had several health problems stemming from the number of injuries to his legs and back from wrestling. In 1997, he lost use of his left leg and was confined to a wheel chair. In 2013, he suffered a stroke and had also been dealing with heart issues.
Today was his 60th birthday. Davey Boy Smith Jr. posted this:
It deeply saddens me to announce the passing of Tom Billington the โDynamite Kid.โ ๐ญ๐ข๐I was really happy and glad I got to see Dynamite one last time last June in the UK. ๐ฌ๐ง โค๏ธ๐. Dynamite was certainly an inspiration to myself and many others and really revolutionized pic.twitter.com/req7CWTdxm
— Davey Boy Smith Jr. (@DBSmithjr) December 5, 2018
WWE uploaded highlights of a few of his matches.