The British Bulldog: Davey Boy Smith
WWE.com asked the superstars for their comments on Davey Boy Smith, who passed away a few days ago.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
I only knew Davey when I was there in WCW. I heard a million stories about him
because he liked to have a good time. I used to travel with him for a little
while. He was just fun 24/7. He was kind of like listening to Ozzy Osbourne
sometimes. He had that thick English accent, and he was hilarious. He was a
young guy. He started in the business at an early age, so it seems like he was
around forever. The last couple of years I haven’t talked to Davey. I feel
bad – 39 or whatever it was is too young to go. I wish he was still here
with us, but that’s just not the way it turns out.
Dean Malenko
I had the opportunity of meeting Davey Boy Smith in 1985, I think. I met him
while I was working for All Japan. I got to watch both Davey and Dynamite Kid
work for WWE, and I was always a big fan of both of them. I was really looking
forward to the first time they came into All Japan so I could work with them.
I spent some great times in Japan with Davey and Dynamite. I got to pick their
brains about the business. I think it was in 1988, the first time we ever met
in the ring. It was a tag match, and I think it was voted tag match of the year
back in 1988. I’ve always kept in touch with Davey through the years. I
got a chance to be with him in WCW, and when I came over here to WWE. It’s
a shame that we have another tragedy in our industry. Everybody’s got personal
problems and personal issues outside the ring. Some people can overcome them;
some people can’t. I try not to harp on what happened. I try to remember
the guys who passed away with the times I spent with them and the good things
that they brought to our industry. Davey was a great performer. He was way ahead
of his time when it came to moves that him and Dynamite did as a tag team. Both
those guys are great inspirations to guys like Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero
and myself. Davey will be missed, not just by me but by a lot of guys who had
a chance to get in the ring and share the road with him.
Goldust
We had some fun together on the road. It’s a shame. He had a genuine good
soul and he was a hell of a talent. It’s a shame to see him go.
William Regal
Davey Boy Smith was wrestling in England by the time he was 15. He was a star;
someone who you would admire. He had got on with his life and gotten out of
England, made a name for himself and went around the world.
He was in WWE in his early 20s. I got to know him later on when I first came to America for WCW; he was working there. I always got on well with him. It’s just a dreadful shame. It’s a terrible thing whenever anybody has to die at a young age.
Jerry “The King” Lawler
The typical quote from Davey Boy was, “I don’t know anything about
it. I wasn’t even there. I didn’t see him. I didn’t know him.
I wasn’t even there.” That was the thing about him. He was a lot like
Owen in that he liked to rib. The only dealings I had with him were the fun
kind – about ribs or something like that. I never, ever had to sit down
and have a serious kind of talk with him. He just wasn’t that kind of guy.
He was always fun loving. I liked him. He was just a good guy.
Faarooq
I’ve known him a long time. I know he was a good guy. I enjoyed working
with him. It’s just a very painful loss for his family, for this business.
Overall, he was just a totally good person. I’m very sorry to hear that
– very sorry. Pee Wee Anderson down in WCW; I was a good friend of his
too. I was sorry to hear about that too. My condolences go out to the families.
Billy Gunn
I’ve known Davey since I’ve been here. He was always in a good mood,
laughing. He was always playing jokes on somebody. He was probably one of the
best ribbers in the business – nothing bad, just funny stuff. It’s
sad. I just remember all the good things he did. We had some good times.
Justin Credible
He was the biggest practical joker ever. He put me through some hell when I
started here. But deep down inside he was a very kindhearted guy. He would rib
me to death and then come back later when it was just him and me and apologize
and be real civil. Davey was cool.
Dave Hebner
Many years I’ve been here and refereed top matches with Davey Boy and Dynamite.
We had an awful lot of fun with them in the ring; they were two great athletes.
They really got over big here in the U.S., and in England. I’m really going
to miss the guy. He was a great guy. Best of luck to his family and God bless
him.
Howard Finkel
He certainly, along with Dynamite Kid, personified tag team wrestling when he
came in to WWE in the mid-1980s. There was no other team like the British Bulldogs
at that time. He was also a fairly accomplished singles wrestler, and outside
the ring, he was a lot of fun. He was kind of like Owen Hart in that sense –
a happy-go-lucky, fun-loving guy. Someone who we’re all going to miss.
To me, one of the real genuine pleasures I had was to ring announce the match between he and Bret Hart at SummerSlam at Wembley Stadium in London, England, in 1992. When he won the Intercontinental Championship at that time, it was a genuine pleasure for me to announce the results in his home turf.
Referee Jim Korderas
He was a good guy. Really easy to get along with. Of course he was also a big
ribber in the locker room. He always did something to make you laugh. His ribs
weren’t harmful to people, but when he got you, you knew you’d been
gotten. Pound for pound he was probably one of the strongest guys ever in this
business. It’s sad to see somebody go that young. He will be missed.
Harvey Wippleman
Davey was a good friend of mine. He was one of the funniest guys I ever met.
I really enjoyed being around him. I’ve known him for years and years,
and he’s one of the good guys as far as I’m concerned.
Brooklyn Brawler
I’ve known Davey for probably 20 years, and wrestled him probably 50 times.
I always enjoyed wrestling him – he was easy and safe in the ring. He had
one of the strongest people in WWE in my opinion. He was an overall great guy.
I think we’re all going to miss him.
Bradshaw
“I don’t rib. I don’t like to be ribbed.” That’s what
he was like. Davey Boy was the biggest ribber in the history of the business.
He and Owen were rivals. They both tried to out-rib each other, and they both
stooged each other out. They’d both rib, and Davey would always say, “Owen
did it. It must’ve been Owen.” Everything was Owen. Owen could be
working in Japan, and he would blame Owen. That was his deal – “I
don’t rib. I don’t like to be ribbed.” That’s what he said
every single time something happened. He ribbed so much that when the lights
went out during our Pay-Per-View in North Carolina, people actually thought
Davey Boy had something to do with it. First thing a bunch of guys said was
“Where’s Davey?” I really liked him and I’m sorry that he’s
gone. Davey was a pleasure to be around. He was always fun.
Davey Boy Smith Vs Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat