The greatest technical wrestlers ever

Tyson Kidd on The Dynamite Kid

WWE CLASSICS: You’ve been compared favorably to The Dynamite Kid. He seems to be one of the few wrestlers who peaked in the ’80s but is still a major part of the conversation today.

TYSON KIDD: Dynamite is so special, because he would mix everything. He would do a bit of brawling, but he would mix technical wrestling and high flying. Growing up watching Stampede Wrestling – every night he was jumping off the top rope at least twice a match. He’d do a big dropkick, he’d do the flying headbutt. A lot of times he’d actually get caught up there and get thrown. I remember in Stampede you’d see him get thrown off the top rope and he’d go across the ring.

WWE CLASSICS: A lot of competitors attempt to emulate his style, but few pull it off. Why is that?

KIDD: He had that snap, that explosion. His snap suplex is so fast — he’s the master of it. I think that’s where the Dynamite in his name comes from. I don’t know if that snap can be taught. Either you have it or you don’t.

WWE CLASSICS: What’s a match that exemplifies The Dynamite Kid at his best?

KIDD: I think the ones with Tiger Mask in Japan stand the test of time more than any matches out there. Those are from the early ’80s and if you watch them you’ll be blown away. This is almost 30 years ago and these guys were going out there and doing stuff that guys today can’t even really emulate.

WWE CLASSICS: Any other bouts that stand out in your mind?

KIDD: Obviously, the match between The Bulldogs and The Dream Team [at WrestleMania 2]. If you go back and watch Dave Boy [Smith] against Dynamite in Japan, they had insane matches. There’s Dynamite and Bret [Hart] in Stampede Wrestling. Dynamite and Macho Man had a match at The Wrestling Classic [in 1985] that was crazy. (WATCH) I can sit here and list a million more matches. He’s just a genius, an absolute genius.