10 Most Influential British Wrestlers Ever (According To An American)
9. Dynamite Kid
The first hour of WCW Nitro. The Cruiserweight Classic. The Best of the Super Juniors. These are the events where cruiserweights and smaller guys shine. But Stampede Wrestling in the late 1970s? Not so much.
That didn't stop Dynamite Kid, an innovator of cruiserweight high-flying at a time when big men were still the benchmark as both draws and champions. Dynamite Kid made his presence felt in Stampede Wrestling, New Japan, and beyond, kicking open the door in North America for dozens of smaller, more dynamic talents to come.
Although his backstage reputation, along with injuries, drug use, and several violent altercations, has overshadowed his legacy in the ring somewhat, you can't deny where Dynamite went, many others were suddenly able to follow.
Even Bret Hart, who has had more than a few bad words to say about Billington, has gone on record calling him "pound-for-pound, the greatest wrestler who ever lived."