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For those devoted World Wrestling Entertainment fans who relish the more nostalgic days of the likes of Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior and the many other colourful legends who graced the wrestling ring in decades gone by, they cannot have failed to be aware of a certain Davey Boy Smith - better known as WWE Hall of Famer British Bulldog.
The Wigan, England, born star was ultimately elevated and inducted to the Hall of Fame back in 2020 after having enjoyed a very successful career in sports entertainment and building himself a loyal and global following amongst fans. Whilst MMA results take a share of the market these days, wrestling is still a huge draw given its rich history. The Bulldog shares in that history having come through the ranks and in beginning to showcase his clear wrestling talent, the British legend made his debut way back in 1984 and as well as helping himself to international acclaim, he also had the honour of being named as WWF's first European champion back in 1997.
Davey Boy Smith sadly passed away back in 2002 in his hometown of Wigan, an area with a well known sporting background as attested by football livescore pages, and his daughter Georgia recently revealed earlier this month that she had now made contact with Wigan Council to request that a local tribute be built in recognition of her father and his achievements.
Georgia lives in Florida so the WWE Hall of Fame in Tampa is ideally situated for her personally, but she feels that the capacity for a hometown tribute to her dad, and the part he played in the growth of combat sports news, would be the perfect way to give a nod to the many thousands of supporters he had in his country of birth, particularly as the British Bulldog took such pride in his own roots, where he grew up and lived.
"He dressed up from head to tow in red, white and blue and represented the United Kingdom."
The Bulldog had a wide and varied career in wrestling, also competing in the WCW and he was initially part of a fighting pair in a WWF tag team with cousin and fellow professional wrestler, Thomas Billington, who was known as 'The Dynamite Kid'. The pair ultimately split in 1990 as Smith returned to the WWE, where he then became a major singles star, winning the Intercontinental Championship at the 1992 SummerSlam tournament.
In the days before MMA fixtures, Georgia recalled the more hectic childhood herself, and her brother had, given her father's notoriety and the fact that he was understandably often away as they were growing up because of his tour commitments, she vividly recalled the clamour at her local school amongst the other kids when her dad came to pick them up, even joking that on a family holiday to Disney World Mickey Mouse asked for 'his autograph', and it seems that discussions are now ongoing with the local Council on agreement for a suitable tribute.
Wigan Council has a 'Walk of Fame' which features stars dedicated to living past, and present, residents of the local borough and this already includes the likes of actor and X-Men star Sir Ian McKellen, and Rugby League legend Billy Boston MBE, but a Council spokesperson has already confirmed that sadly Davey Boy Smith 'does not meet the criteria' for inclusion on that particular tribute, however, they were happy to have conversations with the family about alternative ways to commemorate his memory.
Whilst this will likely not be a speedy process, for those wrestling fans in the UK they may well have a new destination for a day trip in the next year or two, where those of a certain vintage can go and pay tribute to the Bulldog in recognition of the undoubted part he played in their own childhoods.
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