The greatest British WWE wrestlers of all time
Despite contributing relatively few wrestlers to the WWE across its history, several British individuals have made a big impact on the franchise.
Image: Drew McIntyre is the only British man to have held the WWE Championship | ComposedPix / Shutterstock.com
Although the sport of wrestling may have its origins in the Olympic games of Ancient Greece, these days it has become a worldwide entertainment sensation… and no company has dominated the industry more in the last 40 years than the WWE.
Unsurprisingly, the WWE’s roster been populated by mostly American wrestlers, while there have been plenty of Canadians and Mexicans, as well as a few from Japan and Ireland. But what about the Brits? Across the decades, only a handful of wrestlers from the UK have made a meaningful impact on the WWE, the most important of which are listed here below.
Join us at Sky HISTORY as we take a look at some of the best to ever do it from these shores.
5. The Dynamite Kid
At a time when professional wrestling was being dominated by towering behemoths such as Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, Thomas Billington (better known as the Dynamite Kid) was certainly on the smaller side at just 5 foot 9 inches (175cm) tall.
But what he lacked in stature, he more than made up for in athleticism. The Dynamite Kid had travelled extensively with Stampede Wrestling and brought his unique mix of styles to the WWE upon signing for them in 1984. He promptly partnered with his cousin, Davey Boy Smith, and the pair would go on to win the tag team championship at Wrestlemania II in 1986.
Although this was the only title of his career, Dynamite Kid is still credited as one of the best athletes to have ever stepped into the squared circle and had a lasting impact on how British wrestlers were viewed across the pond.
4. Paige
Image: Arthur Cauty / Shutterstock.com
Women’s sport has, rather unfairly, rarely overshadowed that of their male counterparts and the world of wrestling is no different. Indeed, the Divas division of the WWE was something of a mere sideshow for many years… but the emergence of Saraya Bevis (AKA Paige) did much to change all that.
She won the inaugural NXT Women’s Championship in 2013 and was promoted to the main roster with surprising speed, making her debut the following year. Indeed, her very first act was to congratulate Divas Champion AJ Lee the night after Wrestlemania XXX, but AJ Lee’s arrogance led to an impromptu match between the pair, which Paige won to become the youngest Divas Champion at just 21 years old.
Unfortunately, her career was blighted by neck injuries and she would be forced to retire permanently in 2017 at just 25.
3. William Regal
Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and versatile professionals in the industry, William Regal carved out a successful career in the WCW, before signing for the WWE in 1998 and then again in 2000.
While he never quite made it to the top of the tree regarding the Heavyweight Championship, his list of titles is impressive enough. In total, he has five Hardcore Championships, four European Championships, two Intercontinental Championship and four Tag Team Championship belts to his name, as well as having won King of the Ring in 2008.
He continues to show the same flexibility outside of the ring, having worked as a talent scout, trainer, colour commentator and manager in the last 10 years.
2. The British Bulldog
Winston Churchill isn’t the only man to be known as the British Bulldog. After the Dynamite Kid’s deteriorating physical condition meant he had to withdraw from the WWE in 1988, Davey Boy Smith reinvented himself as a solo competitor under that moniker.
Immediately recognisable for his braided hair and Union Jack-branded get-up, the British Bulldog enjoyed huge success with the franchise. Among his many, many titles, he has the prestige of becoming the first European Champion in 1997, while his match against Bret Hart on home soil at Wembley Stadium in 1992 saw him claim the Intercontinetal Title.
This iconic victory did much to boost popularity of the sport among British audiences and it’s impossible to estimate just how many youngsters in the country were inspired to take up a career in wrestling as a result of the Bulldog’s heroics.
1. Drew McIntyre
To date, Drew McIntyre is not just the only Scottish man to have held the WWE Championship – he’s the only British man to have done so! For that reason alone, he deserves to be at the very top of this particular list.
To make his achievement even more impressive, McIntyre’s journey has been one marked by adversity and perseverance. He initially made his WWE main roster debut as Vince McMahon’s 'Chosen One' in 2009, but the character failed to garner support among the fans and was released from his contract in 2014.
Undeterred, however, McIntyre returned to the independent circuit, built up a huge following and made a glorious WWE comeback in 2017 as an NXT Champion. After his return to the main roster the following year, he would go on to lift the WWE Championship belt three times. He remains a huge draw for the franchise even today, especially in his native Scotland.
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