The British Bulldog - What would have happened?

[James]

In the 90's I was a big fan of HBK and British Bulldog. Every time they had a match I was excited as I knew they would put on a show we would never forget. Hell they sacrificed their bodies to show they were serious(Bulldog dropping 12 stone(correct me if I am wrong) for one match).


But this isn't aboot their awesome feud, it is aboot Davey.

Davey was still in the tag team division but WWF saw talent/future in him. BUT! Before that could happen the whole steroid scandal happened meaning all of the beefy champions were no where to be seen. We saw HBK, Yoko, Undertaker, Bret, Sid, Nash, and many others become champion but. Where was Davey?


He had the talent, the looks, the crowd, the perfect life but he could never get the WWF title.

Do you think if the steroid scandal never happened, would BB eventually had won the WWF title?

 

[The "Blueprint"]

No, the British Bulldogs career was ruined by his own use of crack cocaine and the other drugs he was taking. His life wasn't so perfect. He had drug problems, knew he needed help, but never got any. Not to mention following the Montreal Screwjob he left for the WCW.

 

[The Brain]

I’m a little confused about the timeframe to which you are referring. It sounds like you’re talking about Davey getting fired in 1992. If that’s the case he was already out of the tag division for a while. If Davey hadn’t been fired at the end of 1992 I’m sure he would have spent 1993 just as he did the rest of his career, as an upper mid carder with the ability to occasionally main event.

The SummerSlam 92 match with Bret seemed like a huge push for Davey but that match was all about Bret. Bret looked better in the loss than Davey did in the win and that catapulted Bret to the main event and the world title. Davey was just a transitional champion to get the belt from Bret to Shawn and it would have been that way with or without the steroid scandal. My guess is Davey would have spent 1993 feuding with Shawn Michaels and Lex Luger. He probably would have gotten a title shot against Yokozuna but wouldn’t have stood a chance in actually winning the belt. I just don’t see Davey as world champion and there’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t have to win the world title to be a success. I would say Davey had a successful career despite never being world champion.

 

[daddyJ_t]

actually i tend to disagree with the last poster. i believe he might have been pushed to bodyslam yoko instead of luger putting him into the mainevent instead of luger. not saying it wouldve happened, but the 2 are similair in stature and the bulldog was loved so much more then lex anyway. it wouldve been alot better way to turn him face instead of the crap run he had tagging with owen and being managed by jim cornette. even a nice fued with lex over the title couldve torn down the house

 

[Pedigree1]

I knew Davey boy did steroids but had no idea he did rock cocaine!!! Wow what could have been with him to me the SS 92 match was good for both guys!! I have never seen Davey boy have that kind of match he showed up that night but it does take two to tango!! Lets say 1993 rolls around he does have a feud with Luger and wins somehow!! Would he be less of a champion than say Jack Swagger!! I think he would have been better IMO!! if davey could have admitted he needed help he would have been fine!!! Would Yokozuna have gotten the belt if Davey Boy was healthy at the time maybe maybe not

 

[TM Punk]

Da

I knew Davey boy did steroids but had no idea he did rock cocaine!!! Wow what could have been with him to me the SS 92 match was good for both guys!! I have never seen Davey boy have that kind of match he showed up that night but it does take two to tango!! Lets say 1993 rolls around he does have a feud with Luger and wins somehow!! Would he be less of a champion than say Jack Swagger!! I think he would have been better IMO!! if davey could have admitted he needed help he would have been fine!!! Would Yokozuna have gotten the belt if Davey Boy was healthy at the time maybe maybe not

Yeah man, davey was a heavy drug user. In bret harts book, talks about how he put the match together in his head two to three months before ss. He says that he and davey every nigh in the locker room would sit together. Bret would go through every single move and make davey repeat them to him. They would talk out the whole match to each other every night they were with each other. Little did bret know, every night davey would go out and get trashed. Well summerslam comes around and bret tells davey to go through the match with him, and davey can't remember anything. And on top of that he had done absolutly no conditioning, so he was gassed after about 10 minutes. Bret had to call the match in the ring, during their extended rest holds. THAT is why davey was never trusted to carry thw WWE championship.

Now other than the fact that one of the greatest matches ever was almost a complete disaster if not for bret hart, do me one thing. Name me a GOOD davey boy smith match that didn't involve bret, owen, or shawn michaels. Do this, and ill pay pal you 100 U.S. dollars.

 

[jtolliver23]

You serious about that paypal? Cause the match between the British Bulldog and Curt Hennig (Mr Perfect) wasn't too bad. Vs the Undertaker...old Undertaker, like early 90s when he first came out, wasn't bad either. But I think those can be attributed to the other two people in the ring in those matches. Mr Perfect was arguably the best wrestler that never had the World Title. And well, the Undertaker...enough said there.

 

[drobs85]

In the 90's I was a big fan of HBK and British Bulldog. Every time they had a match I was excited as I knew they would put on a show we would never forget. Hell they sacrificed their bodies to show they were serious(Bulldog dropping 12 stone(correct me if I am wrong) for one match).


But this isn't aboot their awesome feud, it is aboot Davey.

Davey was still in the tag team division but WWF saw talent/future in him. BUT! Before that could happen the whole steroid scandal happened meaning all of the beefy champions were no where to be seen. We saw HBK, Yoko, Undertaker, Bret, Sid, Nash, and many others become champion but. Where was Davey?



He had the talent, the looks, the crowd, the perfect life but he could never get the WWF title.

Do you think if the steroid scandal never happened, would BB eventually had won the WWF title?

"Aboot" Priceless. But Bulldog threads have been done a-lot, I'm in several of them. But i guess you could argue the steroid deal if your above list was flawless. Probably can't prove it, but i'm sure Sid and Diesel was on the juice too. Bulldog as just a product of bad timing., as you said their was Bret who always bitched when he didn't have a title or lost one, Sid, Diesel, Taker, Yoko, Razor, all these others who were more fan friendly, able to work a crowd consistently or more marketable. He just was in the wrong era.

 

[dansaun77]

Davey Boy Smith only went single because of Dynamite Kids career ending back injury. Bulldog had no choice if he wnated to go back to WWE like he did in 1990. He had a major drug problem, and was sacked numerous times for this. Thus why he was never pushed as a credible main eventer. Bulldog was at his best in a tag team, thus why his career lifted again when he was paire with Owen Hart. Bulldog failed in his singles runs in WWE and WCW because quite frankly, he was not a very smart guy, business wise. But he was very strong and had a great look,. thus why Vicne always took him back. Not every guy deserves to have the Championship, and he wasonly brought in as IC cahmpion because they took the Summerlsam ppv from the States to the UK. If you remember, HBK was scheduled to win the IC belt form Hart, but those plans changed when Vince took the ppv to England, thus why his reign was only for 8 weeks. Bulldog was a great tag team wrestlerm but simply was not a main event guy

 

[TM Punk]

You serious about that paypal? Cause the match between the British Bulldog and Curt Hennig (Mr Perfect) wasn't too bad. Vs the Undertaker...old Undertaker, like early 90s when he first came out, wasn't bad either. But I think those can be attributed to the other two people in the ring in those matches. Mr Perfect was arguably the best wrestler that never had the World Title. And well, the Undertaker...enough said there.

You proved the point I was trying to make. Davey was only as good as the person who he was in the ring with. Which absolutly means there were times when he was great. For instance if he was in the ring with mr. Perfect like u said. I've never seen that match, but it sounds epic. Do me a favor, after you watch that match watch davey boy vs warlord. HORRIBLE. Great wrestlers are always able to make shit smell like roses. And as much potential as he had, davey was usually the shit.

 

[PompeyDJ]

(Bulldog dropping 12 stone(correct me if I am wrong) for one match).

sorry, but that is definitely wrong. 12 stone is the average weight of the english male. i actually weigh 10 stone so there's no way that's the correct figure. the easiest way to remember it is that there are 14 pounds in 1 stone

anyway, i think he would have. he was too popular and too good not to win the title. the steroid scandal was what prevented him from being wwf champion

 

[Fanatic4Life]

Hmmmm, that's odd. I thought this was about Davey Boy Smith's chances of winning the WWE Title and not about his past drug use. Yes, his past drug usage ultimate led to his death. (Enlarged heart.)

Has everyone forgotten that The British Bulldog returned to the WWF after his career (if messing your knee up on The Ultimate Warrior's trap door and almost forcing him to retire is what you'd call a career) in WCW? He came back and was in the main event scene for a bit. He was in the 6 pack challenge alongside Mankind, The Rock, Triple H, Kane, and The Big Show. I know it was at Unforgiven... I think in 1999? He of course didn't win but he was in the main event scene for a few months. Afterwards they dropped him down and he started competing for the European Championship. If I recall, shortly before he passed away he was in the process of training his son Harry Smith to become a professional wrestler and the WWE were considering signing the two of them. I actually think I read that on Wrestlezone.

The British Bulldog def. could have held the championship. I mean, he was established in the tag team division and was a part of two legendary tag teams (The British Bulldogs and with Owen Hart) and he was a member of The Hart Foundation faction. He held pretty much every championship except the World title. I think he would have won it? But not like a multi time or long title reign. I'd say for a few months. He was good, but Owen Hart was DEF fated to win the world title. Now that I think about it? I'm surprised Davey Boy Smith hasn't been inducted into the HOF yet. It isn't a matter of "if", we all know that. It's a matter of "when".

 

[TM Punk]

Hmmmm, that's odd. I thought this was about Davey Boy Smith's chances of winning the WWE Title and not about his past drug use. Yes, his past drug usage ultimate led to his death. (Enlarged heart.)

Has everyone forgotten that The British Bulldog returned to the WWF after his career (if messing your knee up on The Ultimate Warrior's trap door and almost forcing him to retire is what you'd call a career) in WCW? He came back and was in the main event scene for a bit. He was in the 6 pack challenge alongside Mankind, The Rock, Triple H, Kane, and The Big Show. I know it was at Unforgiven... I think in 1999? He of course didn't win but he was in the main event scene for a few months. Afterwards they dropped him down and he started competing for the European Championship. If I recall, shortly before he passed away he was in the process of training his son Harry Smith to become a professional wrestler and the WWE were considering signing the two of them. I actually think I read that on Wrestlezone.

The British Bulldog def. could have held the championship. I mean, he was established in the tag team division and was a part of two legendary tag teams (The British Bulldogs and with Owen Hart) and he was a member of The Hart Foundation faction. He held pretty much every championship except the World title. I think he would have won it? But not like a multi time or long title reign. I'd say for a few months. He was good, but Owen Hart was DEF fated to win the world title. Now that I think about it? I'm surprised Davey Boy Smith hasn't been inducted into the HOF yet. It isn't a matter of "if", we all know that. It's a matter of "when".

None of the things that you just typed out, made any sense at all. So you think he would have won the WWE title at some point. Yet you described his entire comeback that took place in 1999 as if he were destined for that. You even said yourself that he was dropped down to being a european title contender, a title that has never meant anythin to anyone. But yeah, somewhere in the midst of his european title hunt, he should have won the world title. Hell, british bulldog should have pinned austin or the rock clean to win it. That would have made sense at the time. Or wait, you mentioned his comeback with dhs that was supposed to happen, it read like you think it would have happened then, which would be completly stupid btw. You missed the point by a mile. The thread is about the years 1992 through about 1995. I don't think he ever would have won it, and I don't think he ever should have won it. He was given chance afteerr chance to be great, and all he was is a lazy steroid freak.

 

[DeathClutch]

First of all I'm a Bulldog fan, but read Bret's book and you'll know that Bulldog was drugged up for maybe a month before the match and BRET was the guy who planned the entire match, so Bret looking better in the loss than Bulldog did in the win was Bulldogs fault.

 

[joshmosh127]

this question has actually been a big debate between me and my buddy for years...we always wondered why it seemed like they were giving Davey Boy the push, for example he lasted to the final two in like 3 or 4 royal rumbles, yet never won one. it always kinda bewildered me as to why he wasn't a 2-3 time wwe champion. I have seen his epic match with Mr. Perfect a bunch of time and fondly look back at that match as one of his best. i however do not agree that he only looked good if he faced another good wrestle. the match between him and Warlord was a garbage match because The Warlord was a garbage wrestler. Davey just had to work with what he had in the ring. Davey Boy loved wrestling and for the most part wreslting fans loved him. I really do wish he would have been a contender for the belt in a more serious fashion. I miss you Davey Boy

 

[starkmoto]

I really like Bulldog, but I always thought of him like a Jake the Snake or a Mr. Perfect, back then everybody was worth watching, it's so different now, I mean I'm not hating on wwe too much but who really cares about Cody Rhodes?

 

[closet_fan]

I think the WWE would have tried their best to push him. But his addictions would have kept him down. He simply wasn't trusted in big situations.

It's a shame because I absolutely loved the British Bulldogs. I remember seeing them many times live. I cried when they lost the tag belts to the Hard Foundation with Danny Davis' help.

Little did we know, as kids, that the Bulldogs were everything that was wrong about wrestling. Steroids, drugs, marital abuse, etc. They were both a mess outside the ring.

 

[Барбоса]

I think the biggest point about Bulldog's in ring ability has already been made. His look, persona and accent always did him good and when used properly he could be useful - one of the strongmen of the Hart Foundation, a brawler in the Harcore division. He was capable enough to be made to look good when in the ring with talent the calibre of HBK, Dynamite, Bret and Owen Hart, with two of those able to make him appear to be a legitimate world title contender. However, he could not be relied upon to take the lead in a contest as he was not a ring general in any way and his personal problems made him unreliable and therefore never suited to holding or even consistenly challenging for the world title.

The potential feuds with Luger and even Diesel that seemed to be in his future in WWF before his departure had all the hallmarks of major suckfests.

 

[Big Sexy]

Bulldog and Hart had a great match at Summerslam 92 but if it wasn't for the fact that it was in England then Bulldog would not have won the title. He was just the transition guy from Hart to HBK. Before he got fired in 92 he was nothing more then a mid carder and that's more then likely where he would have stayed for the time being.

When he returned in 1994 he started off strong and eventually ended up with a solid main event push but he just wasn't world championship material. He was in the final two at the Rumble in 1995 and then later in the year he had a nice heel turn propelling him to the main event. He had WWE Championship matches at IYH 4 against Diesel, IYH 5 against Bret Hart, IYH 8 against HBK, and KOTR 96 against HBK. That's four world title matches in a matter of just 8 months.

The guy was a great mid carder and occasional main event addition be he was never seen as a guy who could be at the top of the company. All of the drug and steroid issues aside he still had some nice pushes. Even without the drug incidents I don't believe he ever would have won the WWE Championship.

 

[rob_lethal]

Regardlessof time frame, Davey Boy was never a main eventer. Both times he main evented a PPV were against Bret. They were fantastic matches, but like the previous poster stated, Bret carries him and its obvious. The drugs might have been a factor but not the deciding one.

 

[steinerscrewdriver]

I’m a little confused about the timeframe to which you are referring. It sounds like you’re talking about Davey getting fired in 1992. If that’s the case he was already out of the tag division for a while. If Davey hadn’t been fired at the end of 1992 I’m sure he would have spent 1993 just as he did the rest of his career, as an upper mid carder with the ability to occasionally main event.

The SummerSlam 92 match with Bret seemed like a huge push for Davey but that match was all about Bret. Bret looked better in the loss than Davey did in the win and that catapulted Bret to the main event and the world title. Davey was just a transitional champion to get the belt from Bret to Shawn and it would have been that way with or without the steroid scandal. My guess is Davey would have spent 1993 feuding with Shawn Michaels and Lex Luger. He probably would have gotten a title shot against Yokozuna but wouldn’t have stood a chance in actually winning the belt. I just don’t see Davey as world champion and there’s nothing wrong with that. You don’t have to win the world title to be a success. I would say Davey had a successful career despite never being world champion.

Quotes like that are why you are one of the best of the site. The British Bulldog is one of my all time favorites but he wouldnt have ever carried the big strap. Nothing wrong at all with that, he was over well without it, no easy feat. I would have prefered seeing him get one more IC run though when HBK graduated to the world title scene. Spot on with saying Davey had a successful career, to this point I believe he has had the best career of any Englishmen in the WWF/E