Two British wrestling legends were referenced during AEW Collision this week.
Marc “Rollerball” Rocco and Marty Jones were name-dropped by Nigel McGuinness prior to the first match of the show on Saturday. The British commentator mentioned the pair of legends before “Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington faced Konosuke Takeshita.
Billington is the nephew of THE Dynamite Kid, a Wigan-born wrestling legend in Britain, Canada, Japan and the US. He revolutionised professional wrestling, with his matches with Tiger Mask inspiring the modern style used today.
His nephew, who is also named Tom Billington, made his second appearance for AEW this week. After a loss to Dax Harwood back in May, he returned to wrestle in Calgary – where his uncle cut his teeth in Stampede wrestling – to face Konosuke Takeshita.
The youngster wrestler impressed against the Japanese star. He showed speed and resilience reminiscent of his father, although he struggled under the power of Takeshita. Despite impressing, he lost the match when Takeshita binned Billington for the victory.
However, it was early on in the out that Nigel McGuinness mentioned two legends of British wrestling. As Billington made his entrance to the ring, he complemented the original Dynamite Kid’s wrestling style and innovative nature.
He mentioned that three men from the UK helped forge the modern style, naming them as “legendary British mid-heavyweight” wrestlers.
“Named after the legendary British mid-heavyweight, who patented the style alongside Marty Jones and Rollerball Rocco, who would come to change the world.” Nigel McGuinness said about “Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington. “Big shoes to fill. A young Tommy Billington is plucky, seemingly, and resolute.”.
He also mentioned how Tommy Billington impressed in his previous match against Dax Harwood. He clearly did in this match too. He drew comparisons to his uncle, with Don Callis calling him a “prospect”.
Callis even offered Billington a spot in the “Don Callis Family”. The Englishman rejected the chance, being beaten down before being saved by FTR.
This will likely lead to a six-man tag team match, with Dynamite Kid & FTR taking on the Don Callis future in AEW.
