WWE legend backs marketing campaign for British wrestling icon to be honoured in hometown
Davey, who wrestled with red, white and blue bursting from every inch of his hulking 19st frame, was hailed a “true legend and pioneer in this business” as calls grow for him to be honoured in Wigan
Chris Jericho has backed a campaign for the late British wrestling legend Davey Boy Smith to be honoured in his hometown.
The Wigan-born star — known to millions around the world by his ring name the British Bulldog — was one of the WWE’s biggest global megastars until his death in 2002 aged just 39. He was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021 after a Daily Star campaign, but his legacy is not honoured in the town where he was born and grew up.
More than 7,500 people have signed a petition calling for Wigan Council to honour Davey on its ‘Walk of Fame’, officially known as Believe Stars, which are given to notable local heroes, such as Lioness Ella Toone and Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson.
And it now has the backing of WWE legend Chris Jericho, who told organiser Michael Finney in a video message: “Davey Boy Smith was a true legend and pioneer in this business. He deserves that star and he should get that star.”
Jericho said in a video posted to the teamdaveyboysmith Instagram page: “Hey it’s Chris Jericho here, urging you all to sign the petition to get Davey Boy Smith, the British Bulldog, his own star on the walk of fame.
“There’s already 7,500 signatures on the petition. I plan to be number 7,501 and I want you to do the same. Sign your name now and let’s get the British Bulldog on the walk of fame.”
Canadian-born Jericho, a former WWE and AEW world champion, told how he idolised Davey and tag team partner the Dynamite Kid as a young wrestling fan. The duo, real life cousins, teamed together as the British Bulldogs for much of the 1980s.
Jericho said: “I’d love to see him on the walk of fame, the Dynamite Kid as well. The British Bulldogs were my favourite tag team as a kid.
“I used to have this dream that I would walk past the Winnipeg arena when the WWE was there and they’d see me and bring me in as their protege and the third Bulldog. God Bless Davey Boy Smith, may he never be forgotten.”
Wigan Council previously said its walk of fame ‘celebrates the contributions of living residents’, meaning Davey is not eligible. We previously told how Davey’s daughter Georgia, 37, had called for him to be honoured in another way, such as a blue plaque.
She told us: “When you think of famous people from Wigan, my dad is number one in my eyes for what he did on a global stage.
“I think it’s only right he is recognised in his hometown. He’s been recognised by the WWE in their hall of fame, but his family in the UK couldn’t be there because it was during Covid.”
Davey took up wrestling as a youngster in the north west of England when his dad Sid did some building work for legendary trainer Ted Betley.
He then moved to Canada where he worked for Stu Hart’s famous Stampede Wrestling and grappled in Japan, where he was one of the top stars before signing for the WWE, then known as the WWF.
Regarded as one of the best British wrestlers of all-time, he became a national hero in his 90s heyday and marched to the ring draped in the Union Jack.
The muscle-bound star was also the winner of the Battle Royal at the Albert Hall special showcase in 1991.
His crowning achievement came at Wembley Stadium in 1992 when he beat brother-in-law Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship in front of 82,000 fans.
He also won the European Championship twice, the Tag Team Championship twice, and the Hardcore Championship twice.
He tragically died of a heart attack at just 39 in 2002 after more than two decades in the ring took its toll on his body. Visit here to back the campaign.
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