One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every Year Of WWE History
41. 1984 - Davey Boy Smith Wasn’t The First ‘Bulldog’
In wrestling circles, the word ‘Bulldog’ will be forever associated with Davey Boy Smith, who took on the moniker he once shared with tag team partner the Dynamite Kid for himself when launching a deeply uneven singles career that nonetheless peaked as high as anyone’s.
He wasn’t the first WWE wrestler to be promoted under that nickname.
Even if you only hold a slight interest in pro wrestling history, it’s likely that you’ve seen an MP4 of ‘Mad Dog’ Buzz Sawyer’s unreal power slam doing the rounds. It was awesome; he’d pick dudes up in midair and spike them to the mat in one gorgeous, fluid motion. Best known for losing the Last Battle of Atlanta - the precursor to WWE’s Hell In A Cell gimmick - Sawyer’s stints in Georgia and Texas were far more effective and memorable than his two-month WWF shot. He was a fantastic heel who while incredibly dynamic was too short for Vince McMahon to promote seriously.
During that ultra-brief stint, out of reverence towards Mad Dog Vachon, Sawyer was nicknamed ‘Bulldog’. When he was inducted into the short-lived ‘Legacy Wing’ of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, some older fans were furious when he was referred to as ‘Bulldog’ at the ceremony - but technically, even if it was for all of seven matches, that’s how he was billed when working for the promotion.