This shocked me .......I saw him wrestle last week.......all the best to his family.
Davey Boy Smith, dead at 39
Thought I'd let the wrestling fans in here know. Below is an article from the Globe and mail.
From Monday's Globe and Mail
Preparing to mount a comeback to the professional wrestling circuit, Davey Boy Smith appeared to be in peak physical form when died suddenly over the weekend in at the age of 39.
Family members said Sunday he succumbed to an apparent heart attack in his sleep Saturday while visiting the resort community of Invermere, B.C., not far from the Alberta boundary.
"The sad thing is he was getting back into heavy-duty shape," said Smith Hart, the eldest child in Stu and Helen Hart's wrestling family dynasty.
"That leads me to speculate or wonder about the steroid use. My thoughts are that he was over-doing it a bit lately because he wanted to look good for the [May] 28 show when Vince McMahon will be here."
Next week, Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome plays host to Mr. McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (formerly the World Wrestling Federation) Smackdown event.
Mr. Smith was apparently planning to meet with the WWE boss about a possible return to the squared circle, including a shtick with his 15-year-old son Harry, now sparring on the Stampede Wrestling circuit (which was founded by Stu Hart) and his ex-wife, Diana Hart, who recently penned a no-holds barred book about her family.
"We had all been under the impression that there was a lot of interest," Ms. Hart said Sunday about Mr. Smith's comeback. "But we were very, almost giddy about it."
Instead, fans and family were shocked by the news that Mr. Smith, also known as the British Bulldog, became the latest in a string of tragedies and soap opera style twists to have visited upon Calgary's Hart family.
Owen Hart, the youngest of the 12 children in the Hart clan who wrestled under the moniker the Blue Blazer, died on the Victoria Day long weekend three years ago after a wrestling stunt went wrong in Missouri.
Almost seven months ago, Mrs. Hart, 76, the Calgary family's matriarch, died after complications from diabetes.
Born David Smith in Manchester, England, Davey Boy, also known as the British Bulldog, gained a reputation ? and not always a good one ? both inside and outside of the ring.
The WWE Web site sent condolences to Mr. Smith's friends and family highlighted the loss of its former 'superstar.'
"As the British Bulldog, Smith had a stellar career, becoming an Intercontinental, Tag Team, European and Hardcore Champion," it notes.
Mr. Smith at various times had been charged with threatening his now ex-wife, one of her sisters and his brother-in-law. Excruciating back problem had him once hooked on painkillers. In Ms. Hart's book, Under The Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family, she wrote about sexual abuse and being drugged at the hands of her husband. He was also recently dating Andrea Hart, the estranged wife of Bruce Hart, another member of the wrestling family.
Mr. Smith was traveling with Andrea when he died.
But the British Bulldog appeared to be getting his life back in order and was moving toward reconciling with his family.
Mr. Smith wrestled in a tag-team match with his 6-foot-4, 209 pound son, last week in Winnipeg.
On the Stampede Wrestling Web site Sunday, Harry thanked friends and fans for all the support that his family has received in the last few days and spoke of the last bout with his father.
"My father had his last match with me and that meant the world to the both of us."
Georgia, Mr. Smith's 14-year-old daughter got to show off her cool new hairstyle, just before he left for Invermere.
"It was a weird day on Friday," Diana recalled, "He couldn't wait to get back. He also said he felt sick. Georgia said Davey he felt like he had the flu. She said 'Davey's been sick. He doesn't feel well.'"
Shawn Jestley, corner with the B.C.'s coroner's service in Fairmont Hot Springs, wouldn't comment on the cause of Mr. Smith's death.
"Everything's under investigation right now. Anything that happens the family will be notified," Dr. Jestley said.
Arrangements for a memorial service haven't been made.
"I just think Davey would like to have a celebration," Diana said. "He'd be flattered if wrestling fans and people from any walk of life came to say goodbye to him and remember him."
Davey Boy Smith, dead at 39
Thought I'd let the wrestling fans in here know. Below is an article from the Globe and mail.
From Monday's Globe and Mail
Preparing to mount a comeback to the professional wrestling circuit, Davey Boy Smith appeared to be in peak physical form when died suddenly over the weekend in at the age of 39.
Family members said Sunday he succumbed to an apparent heart attack in his sleep Saturday while visiting the resort community of Invermere, B.C., not far from the Alberta boundary.
"The sad thing is he was getting back into heavy-duty shape," said Smith Hart, the eldest child in Stu and Helen Hart's wrestling family dynasty.
"That leads me to speculate or wonder about the steroid use. My thoughts are that he was over-doing it a bit lately because he wanted to look good for the [May] 28 show when Vince McMahon will be here."
Next week, Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome plays host to Mr. McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (formerly the World Wrestling Federation) Smackdown event.
Mr. Smith was apparently planning to meet with the WWE boss about a possible return to the squared circle, including a shtick with his 15-year-old son Harry, now sparring on the Stampede Wrestling circuit (which was founded by Stu Hart) and his ex-wife, Diana Hart, who recently penned a no-holds barred book about her family.
"We had all been under the impression that there was a lot of interest," Ms. Hart said Sunday about Mr. Smith's comeback. "But we were very, almost giddy about it."
Instead, fans and family were shocked by the news that Mr. Smith, also known as the British Bulldog, became the latest in a string of tragedies and soap opera style twists to have visited upon Calgary's Hart family.
Owen Hart, the youngest of the 12 children in the Hart clan who wrestled under the moniker the Blue Blazer, died on the Victoria Day long weekend three years ago after a wrestling stunt went wrong in Missouri.
Almost seven months ago, Mrs. Hart, 76, the Calgary family's matriarch, died after complications from diabetes.
Born David Smith in Manchester, England, Davey Boy, also known as the British Bulldog, gained a reputation ? and not always a good one ? both inside and outside of the ring.
The WWE Web site sent condolences to Mr. Smith's friends and family highlighted the loss of its former 'superstar.'
"As the British Bulldog, Smith had a stellar career, becoming an Intercontinental, Tag Team, European and Hardcore Champion," it notes.
Mr. Smith at various times had been charged with threatening his now ex-wife, one of her sisters and his brother-in-law. Excruciating back problem had him once hooked on painkillers. In Ms. Hart's book, Under The Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family, she wrote about sexual abuse and being drugged at the hands of her husband. He was also recently dating Andrea Hart, the estranged wife of Bruce Hart, another member of the wrestling family.
Mr. Smith was traveling with Andrea when he died.
But the British Bulldog appeared to be getting his life back in order and was moving toward reconciling with his family.
Mr. Smith wrestled in a tag-team match with his 6-foot-4, 209 pound son, last week in Winnipeg.
On the Stampede Wrestling Web site Sunday, Harry thanked friends and fans for all the support that his family has received in the last few days and spoke of the last bout with his father.
"My father had his last match with me and that meant the world to the both of us."
Georgia, Mr. Smith's 14-year-old daughter got to show off her cool new hairstyle, just before he left for Invermere.
"It was a weird day on Friday," Diana recalled, "He couldn't wait to get back. He also said he felt sick. Georgia said Davey he felt like he had the flu. She said 'Davey's been sick. He doesn't feel well.'"
Shawn Jestley, corner with the B.C.'s coroner's service in Fairmont Hot Springs, wouldn't comment on the cause of Mr. Smith's death.
"Everything's under investigation right now. Anything that happens the family will be notified," Dr. Jestley said.
Arrangements for a memorial service haven't been made.
"I just think Davey would like to have a celebration," Diana said. "He'd be flattered if wrestling fans and people from any walk of life came to say goodbye to him and remember him."
