British Bulldog Hall of Fame Petition Interview

Do you think Davey boy Smith will be inducted first as a singles competitor ir as a tag team?

Michael Finney: That’s a very good question, I’m not sure, but I know a lot of fans would love to see the Team of the British Bulldogs going into the Hall of Fame as a tag team.

Dave Boddy: I personally believe as tag or faction. His singles career isn’t mentioned as much as his career in Hart Foundation and Bulldogs. He had great matches as single, however, he is more recognized as a tag partner. As whenever you speak of Davey, dynamite kid soon follows. And I only see Dynamite getting in with Bulldogs.

Darren Hackett: I think his legacy lives on as both a singles and tag competitor, It wouldn’t surprise me if he went in first in the Hart foundation above singles and even the Bulldogs.

If you were granted five minutes with the WWE HOF board to state your case for why Davey Boy Smith should Be inducted into the HOF. What would you say?

Dave Boddy: The WWE Hall of Fame was stated to chronicle the legends of the WWE ring, to chronicle all the legendary champions, tag teams, managers, and celebrities, if this is the case not having Davey Boy or the Bulldogs in it is a slap to the face of the fans and superstars. The WWE Hall of Fame is meant to pay homage to the superstars of yesterday to help inspire and motivate the stars of today, tag team wrestling in WWE lifted in part due to the Bulldogs, the European championship was prestigious due to Davey Boy having great matches and holding the title with pride and passion. Davey belongs in the Hall of Fame more than Abdullah, please explain to me how Abdullah is in, but not the Bulldogs or Davey Boy?

Michael Finney: I would say Davey brought the British and rest of the European wrestling fans in to watch the WWE. In the UK Davey was their Hulk Hogan. Davey meant so much to the British and rest of the European fans all over. Summerslam 1992 speaks for itself. Davey main event many UK Pay per views even when he wasn’t a champion and that speaks on its own. Davey as a singles wrestler carried all of the UK on his own and no disrespect to any British Wrestler, but Davey in my eyes was the only true British Wrestlers so far who has made a huge impact in the world of Pro Wrestling.

Darren Hackett: Davey helped to establish European wrestlers in the US, I feel that without his contributions today’s stars such as Sheamus, Barrett, Regal and macintyre might not have been looked at, Davey was our ambassador, OUR British champion.

When smith died in 2002 at the age of 39. What exactly was the impact of this to you personally and the wrestling community?

Dave boddy: I was with my father as we were celebrating his birthday, I decided to go online to read some wrestling news. I was scrolling through the headlines and missed the one, which was the story on Davey passing. Immediately I was bombarded with memories of him and I growing up, naturally I cried and it ruined the night for me. Knowing all the struggles he had with his back injury, and all the pain he was going through it made it harder to accept he was gone. He was so tough and strong and to know he was in so much pain was hard to accept. A part of me after awhile felt this way he didn’t have to live with so much pain, however, selfishly j wanted him back. I could not stop thinking about Harry and Georgia. He loved those two so much, and I saw him with Harry a lot, and he was so genuine and honest with them both. I miss him dearly now, and know that he will forever be remembered.

Michael Finney: I was only 18 years old and I was at college and I remember I was on my dinner/lunch break and I went into the computer room to check up news on WWE website, and I remember Davey picture came up on the screen saying Davey passed away and I’m not just saying this to get people to read or acting but I was really upset and I was shocked and I remember saying to my father, if there any event just for Davey over here in the UK then I want to go to pay my respect to him. I think Wrestling haven’t been the same without Davey, it feels like there is a huge hole in the middle where Davey use to fill it, and from my heart no one won’t able to take Davey place. When I watch Hart and Soul DVD and they talk about Davey, my heart bleeds for Diana and Georgia and Harry all the time.

Darren Hackett: He still is a huge loss to this day, he died a master of the mat, listening to other superstars and legends speak of Davey as they do you notice that not one wrestler has anything bad to say about him. As for myself I miss seeing the superstar that i adored as a child growing up, watching the red white and blue heading towards the ring.

When the WWE their schedules tour dates in Europe. Do you feel the new generation of British fans are being cheated out of seeing a true superstar, since smiths passing?

Michael Finney: Yes ! even although it wasn’t WWE fault over Davey’s death. I been to a lot of WWE Events since Davey passed away… The shows there something big missing even although the WWE is doing amazing job but as a person who grew up watching Davey I can feel there is something missing. It’s pretty upsetting and it’s shame that the new fans couldn’t get to see Davey wrestler because when he did Wrestler it was more than a treat to the Fans. Davey was OUR King of the Ring.

Darren Hackett: In a sense yes, the current crop of stars are good yes, I’m a huge fan of Punk and his dynamic but aside from the Undertaker theirs know one really who has the ‘WOW’ factor, Davey was the 1st to slam the Undertaker, that will never be taken from him but it’s just little things like that that people remember, nowadays ‘wow’ moments are so few in-between.