A top wrestling star has backed a campaign for the late British grappling legend Davey Boy Smith to be honoured in his hometown.
Ex-TNA world champion Frankie Kazarian – who was a huge fan of the Wigan-born star as a kid – said Davey should be a “national treasure in the UK” for what he achieved in the squared circle.
Frankie told the Daily Star during an exclusive chat he “100% supports” calls for Wigan Council to honour Davey on its “Walk of Fame”. He said Davey, who wrestled under the ring name the British Bulldog, was “one of the best ever”.
The veteran added: “I was a huge British Bulldogs fan growing up, they were so different and so unique. And then Davey Boy as a singles, I don’t think people give him enough credit as a singles wrestler.
“He had obviously the match with Bret at Wembley as the standard bearer, it was an incredible match, and the back story is even crazier. When you know the back story and you see how good the match is, it’s even more spectacular.
“But the stuff he did with Shawn [Michaels] and the stuff he did with Owen [Hart], he is one of the best ever and he has a great son. His son Harry is a very talented guy. I would think in terms of pro wrestling, he should be a national treasure for the UK pro wrestling fans.”
More than 7,500 people have signed a petition calling for the authority 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 former WWE champion Chris Jericho – who also idolised Davey and real-life cousin and tag partner the Dynamite Kid growing up – has also backed the campaign, as we previously reported.
Davey 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.
Wigan Council previously said its walk of fame ‘celebrates the contributions of living residents’, meaning Davey is not eligible. Davey’s daughter Georgia has 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.”
The muscle-bound star is widely regarded as one of the best British wrestlers of all-time and became a national hero in his 90s heyday and marched to the ring draped in the Union Jack.
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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