The British Bruisers
Encyclopedia
The British Bruisers were a professional wrestling
tag team that competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling
. The team consisted of The Dynamite Kid
and Johnny Smith
. The Bruisers were created by All Japan to replace Dynamite's previous team The British Bulldogs after Davey Boy Smith
left All Japan to return to the World Wrestling Federation and trademarked the "British Bulldog" name.
pulled out of the yearly World's Strongest Tag League to return to the World Wrestling Federation. For the upcoming tag league, All Japan would pair Dynamite Kid
with another British wrestler: Johnny Smith
and the two would become the British Bruisers as Smith trademarked "The British Bulldog" name for his WWF return. For the 1990 WSTL, The Bruisers would ultimately finish in 9th place with 6 points.
For the rest of 1990 and all of 1991, The Bruisers continued to team in All Japan. For the most part, the Bruisers were used in the midcard and never made challenges for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
. On April 6, 1991, the team won their only title when they defeated Kenta Kobashi
and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
to win the vacated AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
. The Bruisers would hold the titles for 2 weeks before they lost the titles to Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat
on April 20, 1991. During their title reign both Dynamite and Smith took part in the 1991 Champion's Carnival
with Dynamite finishing 3rd in his block while Smith finished 6th in his block.
After losing the titles, the Bruisers would continue to remain in the midcard as they would never win another title and were left off several Budokan shows. In late 1991, Dynamite's body began to fall apart to years of injuries and steroid use. The Bruisers wrestled their last tour for All Japan by competing in the 1991 World's Strongest Tag League. The team would finish in 10th place with 6 points. On December 6, 1991, Dynamite Kid wrestled his retirement match teaming with Smith to defeat Johnny Ace
and Sonny Beach.
. Dynamite would continue to wrestle in his native England
between January to April 1994. He would wrestle one more time in Japan
on October 10, 1996 for Michinoku Pro Wrestling
in a six man tag team match teaming with Kuniaki Kobayashi
and Dos Caras
to defeat Tiger Mask
, The Great Sasuke, and Mil Mascaras
before needing to use a wheelchair.
Smith continued to wrestle in All Japan for another decade winning the All Asia Tag Team Championship a second time in 1998 with Wolf Hawkfield
and winning the Unified World Tag Team Championship in 2001 with Taiyo Kea
before eventually retiring after a much-publicized April 2003 hospitalization..
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team that competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
. The team consisted of The Dynamite Kid
Dynamite Kid
Thomas Wilton Billington , best known by the ring name Dynamite Kid, is a retired British professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid- to late-1980s...
and Johnny Smith
John Hindley
John Hindley is a retired British professional wrestler best known by his ring name Johnny Smith.-Early years in the U.K. :...
. The Bruisers were created by All Japan to replace Dynamite's previous team The British Bulldogs after Davey Boy Smith
Davey Boy Smith
Davey Boy Smith was a British professional wrestler, better known as "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, who was born in Golborne in North West England, United Kingdom. Smith is known for his appearances with Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling...
left All Japan to return to the World Wrestling Federation and trademarked the "British Bulldog" name.
History
In September 1990, Davey Boy SmithDavey Boy Smith
Davey Boy Smith was a British professional wrestler, better known as "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, who was born in Golborne in North West England, United Kingdom. Smith is known for his appearances with Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling...
pulled out of the yearly World's Strongest Tag League to return to the World Wrestling Federation. For the upcoming tag league, All Japan would pair Dynamite Kid
Dynamite Kid
Thomas Wilton Billington , best known by the ring name Dynamite Kid, is a retired British professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, Stampede Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid- to late-1980s...
with another British wrestler: Johnny Smith
John Hindley
John Hindley is a retired British professional wrestler best known by his ring name Johnny Smith.-Early years in the U.K. :...
and the two would become the British Bruisers as Smith trademarked "The British Bulldog" name for his WWF return. For the 1990 WSTL, The Bruisers would ultimately finish in 9th place with 6 points.
For the rest of 1990 and all of 1991, The Bruisers continued to team in All Japan. For the most part, the Bruisers were used in the midcard and never made challenges for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
. On April 6, 1991, the team won their only title when they defeated Kenta Kobashi
Kenta Kobashi
Not to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
is a professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer. He has previously worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Kikuchi idolized and patterned his style after the Dynamite Kid....
to win the vacated AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
. The Bruisers would hold the titles for 2 weeks before they lost the titles to Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat
Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon
Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon were a professional wrestling tag team that wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling , Extreme Championship Wrestling , Universal Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Federation . They teamed up together for nine years from 1989 to 1999 and held success as tag team...
on April 20, 1991. During their title reign both Dynamite and Smith took part in the 1991 Champion's Carnival
Champion's Carnival
The Champion's Carnival is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by All Japan Pro Wrestling, established in 1973. Originally a single-elimination tournament, the Champion's Carnival is currently held as a round-robin, with a victory worth 2 points, a time limit draw worth 1 and a loss,...
with Dynamite finishing 3rd in his block while Smith finished 6th in his block.
After losing the titles, the Bruisers would continue to remain in the midcard as they would never win another title and were left off several Budokan shows. In late 1991, Dynamite's body began to fall apart to years of injuries and steroid use. The Bruisers wrestled their last tour for All Japan by competing in the 1991 World's Strongest Tag League. The team would finish in 10th place with 6 points. On December 6, 1991, Dynamite Kid wrestled his retirement match teaming with Smith to defeat Johnny Ace
John Laurinaitis
John Joseph Laurinaitis is the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations for WWE and appears on WWE's Raw Brand as interim General Manager. He was previously a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Ace, and wrestled for such promotions as the National Wrestling Alliance and All...
and Sonny Beach.
Aftermath
Dynamite's retirement wouldn't last. A year and a half later on July 29, 1993, the Bruisers teamed one last time as they lost to Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Jun AkiyamaJun Akiyama
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah and All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. Akiyama is known for his serious style and outstanding, time-tested work as a tag team wrestler...
. Dynamite would continue to wrestle in his native England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
between January to April 1994. He would wrestle one more time in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on October 10, 1996 for Michinoku Pro Wrestling
Michinoku Pro Wrestling
Michinoku Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded by The Great Sasuke in 1993. Michinoku Pro was the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan to not base its operations in Tokyo, but rather in Morioka, Iwate...
in a six man tag team match teaming with Kuniaki Kobayashi
Kuniaki Kobayashi
Kuniaki Kobayashi is a retired Japanese Junior Heavyweight professional wrestler. He wrestled numerous acclaimed matches against the first two Tiger Masks: Satoru Sayama and Mitsuharu Misawa.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
and Dos Caras
Dos Caras
José Luis Rodríguez is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado who wrestles under the ring name Dos Caras . Dos Caras' most active years were in the 1970s and 80s, and achieved his greatest success in Mexico's Universal Wrestling Alliance winning the UWA World Heavyweight Championship three times...
to defeat Tiger Mask
Satoru Sayama
is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known as the original Tiger Mask. He's wrestled under his real name as well as the names Sammy Lee, and masked Super Tiger, Tiger King, Tiger Mask and The Mask of Tiger...
, The Great Sasuke, and Mil Mascaras
Mil Máscaras
Aaron Rodríguez , best known as Mil Máscaras , is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores...
before needing to use a wheelchair.
Smith continued to wrestle in All Japan for another decade winning the All Asia Tag Team Championship a second time in 1998 with Wolf Hawkfield
Jim Steele (wrestler)
James Rocha is an American Professional Wrestler who competed in World Championship Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling. He's perhaps best known for using the gimmick: Wolf Hawkfield, based on the video game character from the Virtua Fighter video game series.-World Championship Wrestling :Rocha...
and winning the Unified World Tag Team Championship in 2001 with Taiyo Kea
Taiyo Kea
Maunakea Mossman is an American professional wrestler, better known under his stage name Taiyō Kea . Although he was born in Hawaii, he has spent nearly his entire career as a member of the Japan-based All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion...
before eventually retiring after a much-publicized April 2003 hospitalization..
In wrestling
- Dynamite Kid
- Diving Dynamite Swan dive headbutt
- Kneeling belly to belly piledriver, sometimes while hooking the opponent's leg
- Superplex – innovated
- Johnny Smith
- British Bomb (Sitout crucifix powerbomb)
- British Fall (Scoop lift dropped into an inverted DDT)
- Death Valley driver
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro WrestlingAll Japan Pro Wrestlingis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
- AJPW All Asia Tag Team ChampionshipAJPW All Asia Tag Team ChampionshipThe All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
(1 TimeAJPW All Asia Tag Team ChampionshipThe All Japan Pro Wrestling All Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling . It was created on November 16, 1955 in the Japan Wrestling Association when King Kong Czaya & Tiger Jokinder defeated JWA founder Rikidōzan &...
)
- AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship
- Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
- Special Achievement (1991)- Dynamite Kid
External links
- http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/d/dynamite-kid.html
- http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/johnny-smith.html