The British Bulldog:Davey Boy Smith appreciation.

[Deleted]

so I said I would start this today on the 10th Anniversary of Daveys death.

my favorite phase of Daveys career was when he was a heel with Vince.95 thru 97 were some good times for him IMO.

also had great memories of getting his Hasbro figure.he had EPIC feuds with Yoko,Martel and Ludvig Borga.....LOL great times.

[jammer311]

I was a huge fan of Davey Boy Smith, and the British Bulldogs just in general.

It took me years of old school tape trading over the internet many many years ago to finally snag the British Bulldogs coliseum video. It wasn't a master copy of it, but it didn't matter to me.

I remember finally getting the British Bulldogs LJN figures at a yard sale for like $2 each. It was worth it. They won the tag belts that day I brought them home.

I remember having my mom order me the hasbro British Bulldog figure from Christmas, from a over priced store back in 1996, and I made him and Bret Hart become a tag team.

I remember going to a store in 1997 and seeing Series 3 of Jakks BCAs and spotting The British Bulldog and Bret Hart. Those figures were bought that day (along with an Ahmed Johnson).

His matches with Mr. Perfect, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, and Diesel were pretty entertaining and fun to watch.

His tag matches with the Hart Foundation, Demolition, the Dream Team as the British Bulldogs, and later on his tag matches with Owen against Smokin' Gunns, Furnas & Lafon, and LOD were pretty good too.

I remember I was such a hardcore British Bulldog fan in 1992 that my parents bought a puppy dog that year, and I named him "Winston" after Davey Boy naming his bulldog that.

It's a shame he's passed away, but he was definitely one of the great wrestlers to never win the World Title. And still to this day, I felt he should have been a WCW Champion in 1993 in his feud with Vader.

[Raine]

The heel turn in 1995 was shocking from a then uber babyface, even more shocking when he turned up with a crewcut on the next RAW, it was necessary though I feel as he had become stale.

I remember see Davey on an episode of World of Sport on The Wrestling Channel (hey remember that?) about 5 years back it was from around 1981. He was really skinny and called Young David, he got his ass handed to him by some grizzled veteran.

[Deleted]

I always liked British Bulldog.

My favorite period of his was his run as Tag Team Champion with Owen Hart. They were great together and could work awesome matches. They brought a lot of credibility to the Tag Team Championship and legit looked like they were having fun in the ring.

My favorite Bulldog match is the finals of the WWF European Championship Tournament in Germany against Owen Hart on Raw. Fantastic match.

Plus, this:

[mikey1974]

i truly miss the British Bulldog. INSANELY over as either face or heel... i sadly only got to see him wrestle twice, both house shows in 1997 ( in a 8 man tag match with Owen,Pillman, and Neidhart vs Austin, LOD,and Savio Vega , and VS Undertaker for the WWF Championship)... it's too bad his personal problems led to no World Title reigns...

[Dan88]

Loved Bulldog, was cool seeing a uker do what I loved to watch growing up. Summerslam vs Bret is my fav match of his!

Some reason 1 memory I always remember is the dog poop match, dunno why :L

[Deleted]

To me, the single greatest superstar who never got the big one, and by far the most deserving who never held it.

Bulldog was great against ANYBODY, there are so few wrestlers that this statement could be said about.

[ellisd]

I loved the Bulldog. As many have stated, he's one of the best stars to never win the World Title. I remember making him a World Champion with my BCA figures years ago.
Then a couple of years back when I was playing GM Mode on SVR 2006 for hours and hours every week, I had him win the WWE Title.

He had some great matches. Some of my favorite matches are Davey Boy Smith vs Shawn Michaels. Both men were great wrestlers and could have a good match with just about anyone, but when they wrestled each other I was always glued to my seat. They always had something that stood out with their matches. (For example: The first time I had ever seen the mexican surfboard stretch was Davey vs Shawn...I think it was from early 95, it may be the one on Shawn's My Journey dvd come to think of it).

One of the things that I really like about Davey was that he I wouldn't really classify him as just one style of wrestling. He was a powerhouse, no doubt about it. But even with all his feats of strength, he had some moves that your typical powerhouse didn't do.

[Deleted]

May 20, 2012 0:58:38 GMT -5 ellisd said:

I loved the Bulldog. As many have stated, he's one of the best stars to never win the World Title. I remember making him a World Champion with my BCA figures years ago.
Then a couple of years back when I was playing GM Mode on SVR 2006 for hours and hours every week, I had him win the WWE Title.

He had some great matches. Some of my favorite matches are Davey Boy Smith vs Shawn Michaels. Both men were great wrestlers and could have a good match with just about anyone, but when they wrestled each other I was always glued to my seat. They always had something that stood out with their matches. (For example: The first time I had ever seen the mexican surfboard stretch was Davey vs Shawn...I think it was from early 95, it may be the one on Shawn's My Journey dvd come to think of it).

One of the things that I really like about Davey was that he I wouldn't really classify him as just one style of wrestling. He was a powerhouse, no doubt about it. But even with all his feats of strength, he had some moves that your typical powerhouse didn't do.

Luger had the name the total package but really Davey Boy was the personification of it.

[Deleted]

His match against Owen in Europe on RAW was amazing, matches in Japan with Dynamite against and as part of the Hart Foundation in the WWE were brilliant.

RIP Davey.

[koreygunz]

I enjoyed Bulldog overall, but I feel hes being a bit overrated in this thread.

The British Bulldogs were a good team, and he had the fortune of working with and against GREAT workers like Dynamite and the Hart Foundation.

His singles run in the early 90s was solid. He was consistently over as a face, and had his memorable match with Bret at SummerSlam, but I think the IC title was probably his ceiling at the time, which he achieved.

I enjoyed his heel run in the late 90s as well. His turn was surprising and really freshened him up, and I thought he made a natural European champion and his work with Owen as a tag team was solid and helped legitamize the tag division that was a bit fledgling at the time.

However, I disagree that he was one of the best to never hold the World title. I think an upper midcarder was where he belonged, and did a good job in that role. He made a good foil for many faces, such as Bret and HBK, but I dont think there was ever a time he could have really made a claim to being WWF Champion.

Plus keep in mind that he shot himself in the foot many times with his alcohol and drug use problems. Bret Hart even admits that Davey had a problem- he was even high the night of their "legendary" SummerSlam match. I think Bulldog benefitted from having a good physique, his relationship with the Harts, and solid, but not great, wrestling skills. In any good match that he had, he had an above average opponent working with him. Think about it- what memorable matches did he have that WERENT against Bret Hart or Owen Hart in some capacity?

[ellisd]

Unfortunately, I was too young to really remember The British Bulldogs at the time. Luckily the WWE has released some of their matches and I've viewed some on youtube, and I've been givin the chance to see them wrestle. They were a great tag team, if only I had gotten into wrestling earlier I probably would like them even more if I had lived the memories the first time around instead of having to experience them years later on DVD.

When Davey came back in 90/91, this is when I first remember seeing Davey. I remember them making a big deal out of Davey and the Warlord, who was the strongest...or something along those lines. For some reason I keep thinking of Davey vs Perfect....although I don't know if that match actually happened.

When Davey returned in 1994 was when I really started to get behind him. It was great seeing him back in a WWF ring. Was actually surprised he didn't get another Intercontinental Title run around this time.
For some reason I really liked the Allied Powers when they teamed the Bulldog with Lex Luger...although I've never really liked Luger. The team kinda made sense since they had decided Luger wasn't going to work as the top singles face and since Davey wasn't going to get the IC title back with Razor and Jarrett fighting over it. Was again surprised that they didn't have the Allied Powers win the tag titles. Also while talking about the APowers, I remember somewhere during this time Davey lifting Mabel on his shoulders out of the corner. I'm sure Mabel helped him by pushing off the corner but this was one of the most amazing feats of strength I had seen since the Warrior catching Savage off the top rope.

The heel turn and tag run with Owen were great, and the Hart Foundation is one of my all time favorite stables. I believe honestly if not for the Screw Job, Davey could have eventually went for another singles run and possibly score the IC title again or maybe even the World Title.

I didn't follow WCW enough to comment on Davey's run there, but during his short return in 1999 I thought we may have seen a rejuvenated Davey become a major player in the World Title picture but it didn't happen.

[hbkjason]

Being from the UK, I think I am legally bound to love Davey Boy lol. But in truth he had it all and really is one of my all time favorites. I have been lucky enough to see him live many times including SummerSlam 92, well I was so far abck from the ring I saw it on the screen. But my best memory of seeing him live was at the One Night Only PPV ( the very first UK PPV) where he wrestled HBK for the IC title. I had and still have never experienced anything like this at a WWE live event.

His heelturn on DIESEL is one of my all time favorite segments ever on RAW. But my favorite match of his, is without a doubt the blood bath he had with Bret Hart at In Your House 5.

[Deleted]

May 21, 2012 1:42:09 GMT -5 ellisd said:

Unfortunately, I was too young to really remember The British Bulldogs at the time. Luckily the WWE has released some of their matches and I've viewed some on youtube, and I've been givin the chance to see them wrestle. They were a great tag team, if only I had gotten into wrestling earlier I probably would like them even more if I had lived the memories the first time around instead of having to experience them years later on DVD.

When Davey came back in 90/91, this is when I first remember seeing Davey. I remember them making a big deal out of Davey and the Warlord, who was the strongest...or something along those lines. For some reason I keep thinking of Davey vs Perfect....although I don't know if that match actually happened.

When Davey returned in 1994 was when I really started to get behind him. It was great seeing him back in a WWF ring. Was actually surprised he didn't get another Intercontinental Title run around this time.
For some reason I really liked the Allied Powers when they teamed the Bulldog with Lex Luger...although I've never really liked Luger. The team kinda made sense since they had decided Luger wasn't going to work as the top singles face and since Davey wasn't going to get the IC title back with Razor and Jarrett fighting over it. Was again surprised that they didn't have the Allied Powers win the tag titles. Also while talking about the APowers, I remember somewhere during this time Davey lifting Mabel on his shoulders out of the corner. I'm sure Mabel helped him by pushing off the corner but this was one of the most amazing feats of strength I had seen since the Warrior catching Savage off the top rope.

The heel turn and tag run with Owen were great, and the Hart Foundation is one of my all time favorite stables. I believe honestly if not for the Screw Job, Davey could have eventually went for another singles run and possibly score the IC title again or maybe even the World Title.

I didn't follow WCW enough to comment on Davey's run there, but during his short return in 1999 I thought we may have seen a rejuvenated Davey become a major player in the World Title picture but it didn't happen.

Bulldog was in a position where he could have held the title in 91, 92, 95, 96 or 99.

In 91 he was hugely popular, constantly winning battle royals and probably the most over international star. If it wasn't for Hogan, I'm betting he would have held the title.

In 92, he was still really over. The crowd actually let out a disappointed sigh when he was eliminated from the 92 rumble. Unfortinately it only led to an IC title. In theory the match Davey and Bret had at Summerslam should have been for the world title.

In 95 and 96 he was a top carder, frequently having title matches with Diesel, Shawn and Bret. He just never quite got the victory, very close in a match with Shawn Michaels though, he was actually declared the winner and had the title before Gorilla Monsoon declared the match a draw.

In 99 he was straight into the main card (6 pack challenge) but after that his drug use really held him down.

In my opinion he's the top person who never held the title who was in the spot to.

[Bullgod]

Been british myself I've always considdered Davey Boy Smith as been "our guy" my favorite part of his career was 90-92. I loved his match with Bret Hart at Summerslam 92 at Wembly stadium and this match will always be my ultimate wrestling moment just because I was there and the whole of wembly stadium popped like for Davey Boy. I also enjoyed his 95-97 run especially when he was teaming with Owen and in the Hart Foundation. Not a fan of his last WWE run when he wore the jeans and was teaming with the meanstreet posse.

I still miss Davey Boy alot. Its a shame he never got to tell his side of the story over what happened with him and Dynamite.

R.I.P Davey Boy.

[Deleted]

The closest Bulldog got to winning a world title was in 1996 during his feud with HBK. If there was ever a time for him to be champion it was during that summer. It just wasn't in the books for Davey.

[cordless2016]

I loved the British Bulldog and though he was an amazing talent, but I felt he was right were he deserved to be in the upper mid-card/low main event. The guy was great in the ring but had to be carried in many of his classic matches because he was so drugged up. The guy was great in main event filler feuds but honestly I never saw him as "The Man" or deserving of the world title. He basically shot himself in the foot w/ his drug problems. Sad but true.

Bulldog was in a position where he could have held the title in 91, 92, 95, 96 or 99.

In 91 he was hugely popular, constantly winning battle royals and probably the most over international star. If it wasn't for Hogan, I'm betting he would have held the title.

In 92, he was still really over. The crowd actually let out a disappointed sigh when he was eliminated from the 92 rumble. Unfortinately it only led to an IC title. In theory the match Davey and Bret had at Summerslam should have been for the world title.

In 95 and 96 he was a top carder, frequently having title matches with Diesel, Shawn and Bret. He just never quite got the victory, very close in a match with Shawn Michaels though, he was actually declared the winner and had the title before Gorilla Monsoon declared the match a draw.

In 99 he was straight into the main card (6 pack challenge) but after that his drug use really held him down.

In my opinion he's the top person who never held the title who was in the spot to.

Gotta disagree. 1995 and 1996 were the only years I felt he had a legit shot at winning the WWF Title. In 1991, he was getting a big push, but w/ Hogan and other top stars from the 80s still around, he wasn't going anywhere near the title. Hell Bret was already more over than Davey in 1991.

1992 he got a big push for the IC Title but was basically a place holder so that Bret and HBK didn't have to fight yet. Davey won the IC Title, but the but it benefitted Bret more in the long run because he went on to win the WWF Title while Davey had a lackluster IC Title run before dropping it to HBK after only a few months.

In 1995, the WWF was definatly lacking big name heels, and w/ Diesel, Bret, Undertaker, and HBK all being faces, he had a shot, but sadly it didn't go anywhere as Sid and Mabel all got undeserved shots over him. In 1996 Vince was in even worse shape talent wise, but Bulldog shot himself in the foot again by messing w/ Vince during contract negotiations. Had he not done that, I could see Bulldog winning the world title instead of Sid.

In 1999 he was no where near the title. The only reason he was thrown into that 6 pack challenge for the world title was because Taker was injured and Davey was a fill in for him. Besides that Davey had a quick feud w/ Rock because HHH and Austin were feuding over the title and then he was in the mid-card until he left.

[Deleted]

^ I said that if not for Hogan he would have held the title in 91.

99 he definately came in as a main eventer, he was moved to the mid card because of his drug problem.

If you watch some late 91 and 92 matches of his, he was SUPER over. He definately could have held the title in 92, especially around the Rumble to Summerslam months. The reason that Summerslam was held in England was because of how popular Davey Boy was.

[T R W]

To be honest, I was never a big fan of him as a singles wrestler. I much preferred him in the British Bulldogs. He wasn't bad, but as a singles wrestler he just didn't interest me all that much.

[sideeffect]

May 22, 2012 9:01:17 GMT -5 T R W said:

To be honest, I was never a big fan of him as a singles wrestler. I much preferred him in the British Bulldogs. He wasn't bad, but as a singles wrestler he just didn't interest me all that much.

I agree...as a singles wrestler Bulldog seemed to be the guy that had to be carried to a good match and not the one that can dictate the pace of the match.

He had excellent matches with HBK, Bret and Owen but look who were his opponents. On the other side he had crappy matches with Diesel in 95 and Undertaker around 96-97, but HBK and Bret had 4*+ classics with those two.