He's Not Kidding

Tyson Kidd

By Kevin Hunsperger 
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

 Tyson Kidd may very well be the most underrated wrestler in the WWE. Colt Cabana used that phrase to describe him on his Art of Wrestling podcast a few months ago. We discussed this on our most recently edition of From the Rafters Radio as well.

 Now that Kidd has earned a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match, he has a chance to shine. I don't think he'll reach the top and secure the briefcase with the guaranteed title shot in it. But I do think he'll put on one heck of a show and hopefully in turn will show the WWE Universe and maybe more importantly, the powers that be, that he deserves a chance.

The Hart Dynasty

 When Kidd arrived in the WWE a few years ago with Natalya Neidhart and David Hart Smith as the Hart Dynasty, I had high expectations. The tandem won the tag team gold and I really thought the dying tag team division was given new life. But alas, not only was their reign a short lived one, the team split up, had a brief feud on WWE Superstars (of all places) and DH Smith was future endeavoured. Since then, Kidd has wrestled primarily on NXT and Superstars (both shows are online). The WWE paired him up with Justin Gabriel and put the two in a dark match for the tag team titles at Wrestlemania. I liked the idea of these two teaming together. They are both risk takers who like to fly. Gabriel got hurt though and Kidd was used as enhancement talent for the likes of Antonio Cesaro and Damien Sandow.

Kidd pins Tensai
Photo from WWE.com

Now, with a pinfall victory over the monster Tensai, Kidd has qualified for the ladder match. I really hope Kidd shines in this match and works his way back on TV and not as someone putting over others. He's got the in ring skills and while this is "sports entertainment" guys like Daniel Bryan and CM Punk have proven that fans do still crave wrestling too. I don't expect Kidd to walk out with the case, but I do think he's capable of stealing the show and taking his rightful spot on Raw and SmackDown!

Remembering the Bulldog

The British Bull"hog"

By Kevin Hunsperger

It's hard to believe it's already been 9 years since the passing of "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith.  He was only 39 years old when his heart gave out on May 18, 2002.

Davey Boy was one of my favorites, but he was also a part of my all time favorite tag team, the British Bulldogs.  He and Dynamite Kid brought something new to the WWF back in the mid 80's when they arrived in the company.  Davey Boy was without a doubt the power house of the duo, but he could certainly work a great match too.

After reading "Hitman" by Bret Hart, I've learned some things about DBS that I had heard read online in the past.  I know life on the road is tough.  The training, the traveling, the injuries.  All that pressure takes a toll on a person.  Sometimes these superstars aren't strong enough to beat the demons they face.  According to Bret's book, Davey used steroids and other drugs.  That coupled with his intense training and work in the ring likely cost him his life.  He's another wrestler gone way too soon.

But I'd rather focus on the good memories I have of DBS.  As you can tell from the picture posted, he obviously had a sense of humor.  That was at a house show in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  He and Owen Hart were defending the tag team titles in a fatal four way.  The Smoking Gunns, the New Rockers, and the Godwins were their opponents.  It was a few days before Halloween in 1996, and since HOG & PIG were there, I'm guessing Davey Boy decided to don the pig mask.  Even though he and Owen were the heels, I cheered loudly for the two of them.

Davey was one of those wrestlers I always cheered, whether he was a heel or a face.  I liked his work in the mid 90's, after he turned on Diesel and feuded with Bret Hart and started teaming with Owen.  Jim Cornette was their manager.  I really felt like at one point DBS would go on to win the world title, but that day never came.

I was stoked when he won the Intercontinental title from Bret at SummerSlam 92.  I think that match will hold up as one of the all time great IC title matches in the history of the company.  It's also one of the best SummerSlam matches ever.  Maybe the best.

Davey Boy jumped from WCW and WWE several times in his career.  His last run with the WWE was a brief one and saw him in more of a role of putting guys over.  He was on the losing end of his program with the Rock, and then was partnered with the Mean Street Posse briefly.  I'm not exactly sure why that came about.

Photo from: WWE

Another one of my favorite memories was watching he and Dynamite win the tag team titles from Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine at Wrestlemania 2.  Ozzy Osbourne was in their corner and proclaimed after the victory "The British Bulldogs forever!"  Sadly that wasn't the case and the two eventually split up when they returned to Stampede in 1989.

I'll always have those memories of Davey Boy's days in the WWE and WCW.  Now I look forward to watching his son, David Hart Smith carry on the family name.  I just wish the WWE would come up with something better for this young man.  I still believe he has a lot of potential.

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