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{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = Davey Boy Smith
| birth_name = David
| image = The British Bulldog.jpg
|alt = Smith seated, smiling
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| retired =
}}
'''David
Smith won titles within the WWF in three decades, from the 1980s to the 2000s. Though he was never a [[World heavyweight championship (professional wrestling)|world champion]], Smith nevertheless headlined multiple pay-per-view events in the WWF and WCW, in which he challenged for the WWF and [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|WCW World Heavyweight]] championships. He defeated [[Bret Hart]] for the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] in the main event of [[SummerSlam (1992)|SummerSlam 1992]] at [[London]]'s [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|original Wembley Stadium]]; he also has the distinction of being the inaugural and longest reigning [[WWE European Championship|WWF European Champion]] in a total of 206 days, and to have held the title on the sole occasion where a match for that championship headlined a pay-per-view event, at [[WWF One Night Only|One Night Only]] in 1997. Prior to finding singles success, Smith achieved stardom as one half of [[The British Bulldogs]] tag team, alongside the [[Dynamite Kid]]. He was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] in [[WWE Hall of Fame (2021)|2020]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Melok |first=Bobby |date=12 March 2020 |title=British Bulldog to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-hall-of-fame/wwe-hall-of-fame-2020/article/british-bulldog-wwe-hall-of-fame-inductee-2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415200253/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-hall-of-fame/wwe-hall-of-fame-2020/article/british-bulldog-wwe-hall-of-fame-inductee-2020 |archive-date=15 April 2020 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref>
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During his time in Stampede, he began a feud with the Dynamite Kid,<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Harris M. Lentz III |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict0000lent/page/322/mode/2up |title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7864-1754-4 |edition=2nd |pages=323 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="oww" /> and on 9 July 1982, Smith won his first title when he defeated the Dynamite Kid for the [[Stampede Wrestling British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship|Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship]].<ref name=":5" /> In 1983, Smith debuted in [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]], where he became involved in a three-way feud with Dynamite Kid and The Cobra ([[George Takano]]) over the NWA Junior Heavyweight title. On 7 February 1984, a three-way, one-night tournament was held, and Smith lost to the Dynamite Kid via count-out.{{sfnp|Meltzer|2004|p=33}} After the tournament, Smith and Dynamite Kid formed a tag team in both New Japan and in Stampede Wrestling known as [[The British Bulldogs]]. In 1984, the Bulldogs made a shocking move by jumping to New Japan's rival, [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] just before the start of All Japan's annual Tag Team tournament.{{sfnp|Meltzer|2004|p=34}}
Smith made occasional return visits to the UK, appearing on ''World Of Sport'' in 1982 where he lost to [[Dave Finlay]] in an eliminator match for a shot at the [[British
=== World Wrestling Federation (1984–1988) ===
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In 1992, due to Smith's newfound popularity in the United Kingdom, the WWF decided to hold its annual [[SummerSlam (1992)|SummerSlam]] pay-per-view in [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in [[London]]. The show was main-evented by Smith (led to the ring by the then British, Commonwealth & European [[Heavyweight]] Boxing champion [[Lennox Lewis]]) and [[Bret Hart]] in a match for Hart's [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]]. On 29 August at SummerSlam, in front of 80,355 of his homeland fans, Smith won the title in a match which is regarded by many wrestling experts as the finest in his career.<ref name="WWEIntercontinental2">{{cite web |year=2007 |title=British Bulldog's Intercontinental Championship reign |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322456 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524214828/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322456 |archive-date=24 May 2007 |access-date=18 May 2007 |publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> Smith lost the title to [[Shawn Michaels]] on 14 November at ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event XXXI]],''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saturday Night Main Event - Nov. 8, 1992 |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/nov081992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601165421/https://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/nov081992 |archive-date=1 June 2007 |access-date=26 May 2023 |publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> and was later released by the WWF.<ref name="oww" /> According to Bret Hart's book, the reason for Smith's release was that WWF owner [[Vince McMahon]] was made aware that Smith and [[Warrior (wrestler)|The Ultimate Warrior]] were receiving illegal shipments of [[Growth hormone|human growth hormone]] (HGH) from a crooked pharmacist in England. Due to McMahon being [[United States v. McMahon|investigated for illegally distributing steroids to WWF wrestlers]], Smith and Warrior were released.<ref name="Hitman" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Hamish |date=2023-09-27 |title=WWE Fired The British Bulldog In 1992 Due To The Steroid Trial - Atletifo |url=https://atletifo.com/news/wwe-fired-the-british-bulldog-in-1992-due-to-the-steroid-trial/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== Eastern Championship Wrestling later known as Extreme Championship Wrestling (1992–1993) ===
Shortly after leaving the World Wrestling Federation, Smith debuted in [[Eastern Championship Wrestling]] in December 1992, defeating [[Jimmy Snuka]].<ref name="oww" />
=== World Championship Wrestling and All Japan (1993) ===
In January 1993, Smith signed with [[World Championship Wrestling]], debuting at [[SuperBrawl III]] on 21 February, defeating [[Bill Irwin (wrestler)|"Wild" Bill Irwin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SuperBrawl III results |url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wcwppv/superbrawl93.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118134504/https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wcwppv/superbrawl93.html |archive-date=18 November 2007 |access-date=26 May 2023 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Over the following weeks, he scored a series of wins on ''[[WCW WorldWide]]'', ''[[WCW Main Event]]'', and ''[[WCW Saturday Night]]'', defeating a series of [[jobber (professional wrestling)|jobbers]].<ref name="oww" /> In late March, Smith returned to [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] for its [[Champion Carnival]] tournament. He scored a total of six points, defeating [[Danny Kroffat]], [[Doug Furnas]], and [[Johnny Ace (wrestler)|Johnny Ace]] but losing to [[Akira Taue]], [[Kenta Kobashi]], [[Mitsuharu Misawa]], [[The Patriot (wrestler)|The Patriot]], [[Stan Hansen]], [[Steve Williams (wrestler)|Steve Williams]], [[Terry Gordy]], and [[Toshiaki Kawada]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Champion Carnival 1990s |url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/champ90.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011103657/http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/champ90.html |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=26 May 2023 |publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
Upon returning from Japan, Smith formed an alliance with top protagonist [[Steve Borden|Sting]], and engaged in feuds with top antagonists [[Sid Eudy|Sid Vicious]] and [[Big Van Vader]]. At [[Slamboree (1993)|Slamboree]] on 23 May, Smith wrestled [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|World Heavyweight Champion]] Vader, winning their title match via disqualification, but since titles do not change hands by disqualification, Vader retained the title.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoops |first=Brian |date=26 May 2008 |title=Nostalgia Review: WCW Slamboree 1993; Vader vs. Davey Boy Smith; Hollywood Blonds vs. Dos Hombres; Nick Bockwinkel vs. Dory Funk Jr. |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_25708.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606080100/https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_25708.shtml |archive-date=6 June 2011 |access-date=30 April 2023 |website=Pro Wrestling Torch |publisher=TDH Communications Inc.}}</ref> The feud continued afterwards,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beach Blast 1993 results |url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wcwppv/beachblast93.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108032050/https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wcwppv/beachblast93.html |archive-date=8 November 2007 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Keith |first=Scott |date=6 August 2002 |title=The SmarK Retro Repost – Fall Brawl '93 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-smark-retro-repost-fall-brawl-93/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921132225/https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-smark-retro-repost-fall-brawl-93/ |archive-date=21 September 2016 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=411Mania}}</ref> and culminated when Smith seemingly won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship from Vader on a tour of England in October, though the decision was reversed. In July, Smith was reportedly involved in an altercation with a man at a bar who was making advances towards his wife.<ref name="oww" /> As a result of the ensuing legal issues that followed, WCW released Smith from his contract in December.<ref name=":7" /> His final [[pay-per-view]] appearance for WCW during this period came at [[Battlebowl]] on 20 November, the month prior, where he was teamed with [[Booker Huffman|Kole]] in the first round of the Lethal Lottery; they lost to [[Road Warrior Hawk]] and [[Rip Rogers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Furious |first=Arnold |date=5 April 2003 |title=The Furious Flashbacks – WCW Battlebowl 1993 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-wcw-battlebowl-1993/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623010432/https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-wcw-battlebowl-1993/ |archive-date=23 June 2018 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=411Mania}}</ref>
=== Return to England (1994) ===
In January 1994, Smith returned home to the United Kingdom and wrestled for Ring Wrestling Stars (formerly Joint Promotions). He was brought into the company by [[Max Crabtree]] to be his next top star after [[Shirley Crabtree|Big Daddy]] retired in December 1993 after suffering a stroke. During his time in RWS, Smith wrestled the likes of Jimmy Ocean, [[Ricky Knight]], [[Drew McDonald (wrestler)|Drew McDonald]], Karl Krammer, Kamikazi, Black Bart, Johnny Angel, Dale Preston, and Iron Duke Lynch, while primarily teaming with Tony Stewart.<ref>{{cite web |title=Davey Boy Smith's ASW Matches in 1994 |url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=55&bild=1&details=7&liga=490&jahr=1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430231656/https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=55&bild=1&details=7&liga=490&jahr=1994 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |access-date=29 October 2016 |website=Wrestlingdata.com}}</ref>
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Hart and Smith later joined forces with [[Bret Hart]], [[Jim Neidhart]], and [[Brian Pillman]] to form a [[The Hart Foundation|new form]] of the Hart Foundation, a heel faction which feuded with [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] and other American wrestlers. This created an interesting rift between American fans, where the Hart Foundation were vilified, and Canadian fans, who revered the Hart Foundation. Smith and Owen dropped the WWF Tag Team Championship to Austin and Michaels, and lost the final match in a tournament for the vacant WWF Tag Team Championship to Austin and [[Mick Foley|Dude Love]].<ref name=":8" /> Smith lost the European Championship to [[Shawn Michaels]] on 20 September at [[WWF One Night Only|One Night Only]].{{sfnp|Meltzer|2004|p=47}} Smith was [[List of professional wrestling terms#B|booked]] in the main event to defend the belt against Michaels. However, Michaels convinced [[Vince McMahon]] that he should win, as it would create build-up not only for his impending rematch with [[Bret Hart]], but also for a rematch against Smith at the next British pay-per-view.<ref name="michaels-256">{{cite book|title=Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story|last=Michaels|first=Shawn|author-link=Shawn Michaels|author2=Feigenbaum, Aaron |page=256|publisher=WWE Books|isbn=978-1-4165-2645-2|date=6 November 2006}}</ref> Smith reluctantly agreed, and fans at the event, who gave Smith an ovation, voiced their displeasure by viciously booing Michaels and littering the ring with garbage.<ref name="michaels-256"/> On 9 November at [[Survivor Series (1997)|Survivor Series]] in [[Montreal]], Smith was part of Team Canada (alongside Jim Neidhart, [[Doug Furnas]] [[The Can-Am Express|and]] [[Phil Lafon|Philip Lafon]]), defeating Team USA ([[Big Van Vader|Vader]], [[Goldust]], [[Marc Mero]] and the debuting [[Steve Blackman]]).<ref name="ssmontreal">{{cite web |last=Powell |first=John |date=November 10, 1997 |title=Survivor Series Screws The Fans |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/1997/11/10/survivor-series-screws-the-fans-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129222752/https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/1997/11/10/survivor-series-screws-the-fans-2/ |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |access-date=February 23, 2023 |work=SLAM! Wrestling |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> The event became infamous for the "[[Montreal Screwjob]]", in which Vince McMahon manipulated the finish of Bret Hart's match and had him lose the WWF Championship to Michaels, despite Hart not submitting when placed in a [[Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)|Sharpshooter]].<ref name="ssmontreal"/> Smith then paid money to leave the WWF for WCW, along with Bret Hart and Neidhart, soon afterward.<ref name=":4" />
=== Return to World Championship Wrestling (1997–1998) ===
Smith rejoined WCW in late 1997, and began a feud with [[Steve McMichael]], who was complaining about all the wrestlers coming from [[WWE|"Up North"]]. Smith and Neidhart later formed a tag team, but were only featured sparingly on ''[[WCW Thunder]]''. They challenged for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|World Tag Team Championship]] on several occasions, but failed to win the titles. He suffered a knee injury in April 1998 that sidelined him for a month. He suffered another, much more serious injury on
=== World Wrestling Federation (1999–2000) ===
Smith returned to the WWF in September 1999. In keeping with the company's new "[[The Attitude Era|Attitude Era]]", Smith began wrestling in [[jeans]] instead of his usual [[Union Flag]]-adorned tights and his theme music was to a remix of his previous theme "[[Rule, Britannia!]]" and later to rock music (with the sounds of a dog barking as the song began). On 9 September episode of [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|''SmackDown!'']] in [[Albany, New York]], Smith defeated the [[Ray Traylor|Big Boss Man]] for the [[WWE Hardcore Championship|WWF Hardcore Championship]]. Smith forfeited the title later that evening, giving the belt back to [[Al Snow]], because Boss Man had previously ([[kayfabe]]) [[Kidnapping|dog-napped]] Snow's dog Pepper to win the title from him, and driving him insane in the process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SmackDown results – September 9, 1999 |url=https://pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/990909.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020831012053/https://pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/990909.htm |archive-date=31 August 2002 |access-date=26 May 2023 |publisher=PWWEW.net}}</ref> Smith then began pursuing the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]], eventually [[List of professional wrestling terms#H|turning heel]] and beginning a [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]]. Smith headlined [[Unforgiven (1999)|Unforgiven]] on 26 September as part of a six-man WWF Championship match that was won by [[Triple H]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rock vs. the British Bulldog vs. Big Show vs. Mankind vs. Kane vs.Triple H in a Six Pack Challenge for the vacant WWE Championship |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/1999/mainevent/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025122917/http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/1999/mainevent/ |archive-date=25 October 2006 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> On 2 October, Smith returned to England as a heel at [[Rebellion (1999)|Rebellion]], defeating [[Sean Waltman|X-Pac]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=J.D. |date=17 April 2008 |title=Dark Pegasus Video Review: Rebellion 1999 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/dark-pegasus-video-review-rebellion-1999/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029230757/https://411mania.com/wrestling/dark-pegasus-video-review-rebellion-1999/ |archive-date=29 October 2022 |access-date=30 April 2023 |publisher=411Mania}}</ref>
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|2009
|''[[WWE Legends of WrestleMania
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|2010
|''[[WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011
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|''[[WWE 2K Battlegrounds
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