British Bulldog Hall of Fame Petition Interview

Which WWE superstar today do you think most resembles Smith’s in ring abilities and charisma with fans?

Michael Finney: That’s a good question !, to me no one in the world as the magic as Davey and Owen had but to pick a superstar close by, I would say CM Punk who seems to have amazing in ring ability, if Daniel Bryon team up with Davey, it reminded me of the old British Bulldogs as a Tag Team.

Darren Hackett: If you watch Harry in the ring you can see Davey in him, he WILL be huge, the way he wrestles is similar, a type of brawler but very technical, so for resembling him I’d say Harry Smith, charisma id say punk, most would say cena, but cena is too baby face, id say punk cause he can get people eating from palm of his hand, whether he’s a face or heel.

How does it feel today to go to a WWE event knowing your favorite superstar that you watched growing up , isn’t in attendance Does it diminish the value of the event?

Darren Hackett: It shouldn’t, but when you watch at times you look back and think hmmm Davey would have done that different.

Michael Finney: Very sad and upsetting. I think it does diminish the value in the events in some way, I think it does hurt a lot of older fans, mainly Davey fans… I know the WWE tried to push others British Wrestlers after Davey but, the Magic isn’t just there, it seems like since Davey gone the magic as gone. I will always believe Harry Smith will carry on fighting in memory of his father.

Ok, The One Night Only PPV in 1997 marked the first time Smith ever lost on a WWF card in the United Kingdom. Do you think the move to do that tainted in a way one if his greatest career accomplishments?

Michael Finny: I believe in one way it was Smart of the WWE to let Shawn win The European championship, because fan’s didn’t expect it, but in another way, I thought it was totaly wrong and it was very hurtful to The British fans. I didn’t agree with how Shawn won the belt. At the end of the show you could see Diana had real tears in her eyes and that was upsetting to see. I personally feel it would of hurt Davey a lot, because he was so proud of being the hero to his fans not just in England but all over the world. I remember when Davey lost the match I got so mad at the TV when I was only 13 years old. It did upset a lot of the WWE Fans I believe.

What are thoughts and feelings on Smiths final televised match against a up and coming Eddie Guerrerio on Sunday night heat for The European title?

Dave Boddy: The thing with Eddie is he was a natural and can work with ANYONE on any night, Davey was the same, they both obtained the ability to adjust their move set to accommodate who they were working with, nonetheless they had a good match. I might even have to YouTube it and watch it again.

How did you feel when Smith retired from wrestling? Was there anything you would have liked to see him do before he retired from wrestling?

Dave Boddy: I feel it was necessary for his health and his family, I wished before he left they had a farewell tour for him. Of course, naturally I’d also loved to have seen a Heavyweight title run.

Michael Finney: I didn’t know Davey had retired until after he sadly passed on. I also wasn’t aware of his health issues until the recent years. I personal wished in his last run in the WWE they pushed him more, just like they did in 1992 and 1997. I also wished they put the world title on him. However, I believe Davey didn’t need the world title to show the world how great he was because his in ring action speaks on their own without any championship belt. He was true a god giving talent.

Dave Boddy: I would have loved to have seen Bret vs. Davey for The Heavyweight Title.

Darren Hackett: 100% agree with Michael, him winning the title before retirement would have been a little obvious, him not winning it however is something different, Davey never needed the belt to be the best, he just simply was, and proved on more than one occasion.

How do you think smith stacks up career wise with other superstars who have graduated from The Hart Dungeon?

Michael Finney: Whoever was trained by Stu Hart was superb, indeed. Stu made the wrestlers worked hard. I think if anyone who could stood up to Davey in Skills wise was Owen. In the power wise, it’s pretty hard to pick from but I’ll say either Harry Smith or Jim Neidhart.

Darren Hackett: myself Chevy I believe Davey was on par with Owen that’s one of the things that I thought helped them to become a memorable team. I would have loved to have seen the dungeon in its heyday, wrestlers dreamt of being trained by Stu. Or just to see Stu.

Ok what do you believe is the main detriment that has prevented Smith’s induction into the Hall of Fame?

Michael Finney: personal I don’t know, some fans told me because Vince and Davey never got along. However, again, it’s just what people read from the internet or the papers. No one really doesn’t know the truth. A lot of fans feel it’s because Davey was British exedra.

Does not winning the WWF or WHC champion hurt his chances of getting inducted into The HOF?

Michael Finney: Indeed not, Ko Ko Beware is in The Hall of Fame he never won the big one, Jerry Lawler and the list goes on of the wrestlers who are in the Hall of Fame but never won the big one. You don’t need to win the big one to show how great your talent truly is and to be in the Hall of Fame. I understand the wrestlers get into the business to win the big one but you don’t need the one championships to be a Hall of Famer.

With WrestleMania season just around the corner , do you have any more plans to promote this petition, and send it to people?

Michael Finney: For 24/7 I eat, sleep and drink the petition as the old saying goes. I’m working on sending paper petitions to wrestling events. Speaking of Wrestling events Ironfist wrestling as been amazing supporting the petition and so as The British Wrestling Radio. We have a group of over 400 fans in one Facebook group who comes up with amazing ideas on helping the petition, We call the group TeamDBS (Team Daveyboy Smith) and every member as been amazing!

If Smith is inducted into the 2014 HOF how will team DBS celebrate? Will you guys try to see it live in New Orleans or watch it on PPV?

Michael Finney: A lot of people as asked me this question. personal I feel it should be just the family who should be there but If I do get a invite to be at the Hall of Fame by Diana, Georgia and Harry to see Davey being inducted, I would love to go and see it with my own eyes, but I would be happy to watch the Hall of Fame on television.

Ok last question . One day you go online or are watching Monday Night Raw and you suddenly see a video package for Davey boy Smith as a inductee into the hall of fame. In 2014 . What is going through yours and the rest of team DBS. Minds? What do you think the emotion would be like?

Michael Finney: personally, I’m a man who kind of believe full grew men shouldn’t cry in anyway, even although I’m thinking wrong, I think I would just jump up with joy and have tears rolling down my face. As you know, me and TeamDBS been working on the petition along time and working hard on a daily base. It will feel like a dream come true not just for us but for England and rest of the Europeans. I also like to state I know how much this mean to the Hart Family and I just want to say me and rest of TeamDBS won’t give up fighting.

Where can people go to sign the petition, follow you on twitter and like team DBS on Facebook?

Michael Finney: You can join the TeamDBS Facebook team at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TeamDBS/ and you can follow me @MichaelFinney2 on Twitter and you can vote/sign the petition at http://www.change.org/petitions/davey-boy-smith-the-british-bulldog-to-be-inducted-in-to-the-world-wrestling-entertainment-hall-of-fame-2014