10 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: Dynamite Kid
4. His Sad “Wrestling Parties”
Julie Hart's lasting memory of Dynamite is rather sad.
She told VICE that a knackered and broken down Tom would invite a bunch of people over to watch some wrestling at his house. When they arrived, they'd find Billington already hours deep into endless runs of his matches against Tiger Mask. That was all he wanted to do.
They'd drink and watch - the cycle repeated. Dynamite was slipping more and more into a vicious cocktail of pills and booze, and he wouldn't listen to anybody who was trying to help him snap out of it. These "parties" cannot have been fun for anyone, including Billington.
The back injury he suffered in 1986 changed his life forever. It's upsetting to think of this once-proud man slumped in a chair downing beer after beer and watching his glory days with people who definitely didn't want to be there. Julie will never forget how excruciating that time was.