The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith: Wrestling Life Hall of Fame 2025 Induction

DAVEY BOY SMITH was a legendary British wrestling icon and, in the UK, a true pop culture phenomenon. No star made a bigger impact on British wrestling fans than The British Bulldog did in the early 1990s. His presence was everywhere, from pencil cases and trading cards to tabloid front pages. He even had a top-five hit single with Slam Jam. For a generation of kids, he was bigger than any movie character or pop star, and his Hasbro action figure was the must-have item.

An athletic marvel, Davey Boy combined incredible strength, speed, and agility. His unmistakable look – braided hair in Union Jack colours, matching tights, and his faithful bulldog Winston – made him instantly recognisable. He was a comic book superhero come to life.

At Wembley Stadium in 1992, Davey made history in front of more than 80,000 fans, defeating his real-life brother-in-law Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart in one of the greatest matches in WWF history. Set beneath a purple-blue summer sky, their Intercontinental Championship clash became the defining moment of wrestling’s UK boom, our version of Hogan slamming Andre.

Smith became the first person from outside North America to hold that title, and his victory sparked an entire generation of British talent who dreamed of following in his footsteps. A national treasure with a legendary look, unforgettable moments, and an era-defining legacy, The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith remains the greatest star in British wrestling history and one of the most beloved to ever lace up a pair of boots.

On Wrestling Life Episode 46, Diana Hart Smith joins Ben Veal to honour the incredible legacy of The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith, as he becomes the first inductee into the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame, Class of 2025. In this heartfelt conversation, Diana reflects on Davey’s unforgettable career, his impact on British wrestling, and the moments that made him a true national icon.

• His humble beginnings growing up in the North West of England

• His experiences wrestling in South Africa during the 1980s

• His incredible athleticism and which sports he could have succeeded in outside of wrestling

• What triggered his return to the WWF in 1990

• His special relationship with Helen Hart

• How Davey Boy’s health issues affected his preparation for SummerSlam ’92

• What it was like being part of SummerSlam ’92 at Wembley and how it changed their lives

• What Vince McMahon thought of the main event between Davey Boy and Bret

• How his late sister Tracey was an inspiration

• When Hulk Hogan wanted a main event run with Davey Boy in WCW

• What it means to her that Davey Boy is still recognised and remembered today and his enduring legacy.

Diana Hart on How Davey Boy Smith Became a WWF Singles Star

WWF fans were introduced to Davey Boy Smith in the mid-’80s as one half of The British Bulldogs, a beloved tag team that left the company after Survivor Series ’88. But in late 1990, an injury to Brutus Beefcake led to a fateful phone call and Davey’s return, this time as a singles star.

“Pat Patterson called and said, ‘Can you wrestle Texas Tornado?’ And Davey is like, ‘Yeah, I’m there.’ He was more than happy to do it, and that was gonna be his way back in.

As it turned out, Pat said – it was really nice of Pat to say this – he said, ‘Davey, you’re not just a replacement guy, you’re not a substitution guy. You’ve been away for a long time. We wanna do this right for you. We got a plan.’

Lo and behold, that all had to do with Sky TV, which was all happening around that time of Brutus’ accident. Sky TV was getting WWF wrestling over there, and it’s like, ‘Check in the drawer, do we have a handy European wrestler ready to go? Wait a minute, we’ve got this guy. What about Davey?’”

Diana Hart Smith on the Build-Up to SummerSlam 1992

At SummerSlam ‘92, Diana Hart was placed at the heart of the ‘family at war’ storyline between Davey Boy Smith and Bret Hart. While the UK crowd was buzzing with excitement, Diana remembers a growing tension as the reality of the moment set in.

“I’d been with Davey and his mom and dad, we were up in England. And pretty happy times, doing interviews and stuff.

We took the train down, there was a big bunch of us on the train. We were kind of like wide-eyed and bushy-tailed and nervous, the tension was building. We got to the hotel and it just keeps building and building.

Then the next day we were all going, and everyone’s kind of quiet. I just remember us getting close to the stadium and it was so big and that kinda put things into perspective.

It was unforgettable. Life-changing. Kind of felt like after I’d been through that… well, I was definitely a changed person.”

Diana Hart Smith on Hulk Hogan Wanting Davey Boy Smith In WCW

During Davey Boy Smith’s time away from the WWF, Hulk Hogan personally reached out with an offer to bring The British Bulldog into WCW for a European main event run. But a homesick moment while watching WrestleMania changed everything.

“He got a call from Hulk Hogan, and Hulk said, ‘I want you to come and work with me in WCW, we’ll go all over Europe. I will pay you out of my own pocket. Your contract will be with me.’

I think if Davey had said, ‘I want a million dollars for a year,’ that it would have been, ‘Consider it done.’ And I believe Hulk would have done it. But we were watching WrestleMania, Davey’s mom and dad had the satellite dish and stuff, it’s [WWF] on Sky TV. It was kind of like watching your old hometown, and you’re homesick. Davey is like, ‘Oh man, I miss that. I miss them. I miss it.’”

The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith’s Special Connection with UK Fans

As the first inductee into the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame, Davey Boy Smith’s legacy continues to resonate with fans across the UK. Diana Hart reflects on what it means to see The British Bulldog still celebrated today and why the connection between Davey and British audiences will never be matched.

“Thank you for letting me be a part of this and honouring Davey with being the very first inductee in Wrestling Life Hall of Fame. That’s a big deal, when people go to the trouble to put a Hall of Fame together… It just means so much to me. The fact you’ve made Davey your very first inductee, of all the wrestlers that you could have picked… I know it’s England and stuff, I just feel like Davey did some things that never can be outdone.”

Diana Hart Smith on the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame

Decades after Wembley, the spirit of The British Bulldog continues through his family. Diana reflects on what Davey left behind – and what mattered most.

“I think his best legacy is what he’s left through his kids, through Harry and Georgia. Davey would be really, really proud of his kids, and I’m so proud of them too.

If nothing else – I mean, without Wembley Stadium and the Hart legacy – I’ve got Harry and Georgia, because I was Davey’s wife, and that was the best gift. He left me with so many good memories and with Harry and Georgia, and they love their dad so much too.”

Davey Boy Smith wasn’t just a wrestling superstar; he was a hero and an inspiration to an entire generation of British kids. The son of a gas board worker from Golborne, he took the USA by storm and became a global icon, headlining Wembley Stadium along the way.

We were the kids who spent our Saturday mornings watching him blast through opponents on TV. The kids who played with his action figure on the carpet. The kids who queued for hours outside Woolworths just to meet him, even if only for a minute. His legacy lives on in the hearts of every fan who ever waved a Union Jack and believed Davey Boy Smith could do it all.

The first inductee to the Wrestling Life Hall of Fame could only be Davey Boy Smith. He wasn’t just part of British wrestling heritage – he was the reason so many of us fell in love with it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Herbert is the author of the forthcoming book Rampage — a heartfelt tribute to the glory days of the WWF’s first UK boom. Packed with moments, merch, and memories, it explores how a golden era of American wrestling turned a generation of British kids into lifelong fans. Lee’s writing is a celebration of everything that’s great about professional wrestling.

REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT

Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.

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