Harry Smith : Makes Debut, opens mouth, inserts foot

K Jay

HARRY SMITH has just made his WWE debut, beating Rob Conway with a roll-up on a non-televised show.

That wouldn't be big news if Harry wasn't the son of the British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith - arguably the most successful grappler ever to hail from these shores.

Chris Benoit and William Regal both raved about the youngster to us in recent interviews and he's heavily influenced by his relations in the Hart family.

So it's no surprise that the WWE have been chasing Harry for years.

In a previous chat the star told us he was taking his time, getting experience in Japan and Europe before signing for Vince McMahon.

So what changed his mind?

"I stopped getting work in New Japan in September," Harry revealed. "They're in a really bad money situation and are cutting back on foreign workers.

"So I'd made up my mind that this was the year I was going to sign for the WWE.

"I met with Johnny Ace on the same day as the Hall Of Fame and he offered me a deal.

"He said: 'It's great that you're going all over the world and getting as much experience as you can. If you want to do that for another year then you should.

"'But we have a great opportunity for someone like you right now on the Raw roster. You won't have to go to OVW or do any developmental. You'll be on a full WWE contract and we'll put you right on the main show.'

"How could I say no?"

He added: "The WWE are really low on the Raw roster right now, as a lot of the guys are injured and Shawn Michaels wants to go part time.

"I'm about 6'5 and I weigh 250lbs and they want a big guy who can wrestle.

"All the workers - like Benoit, Angle and Finlay - are on Smackdown, so there's a good spot for me on Raw."

Harry could start on TV as early as next week and told us that he's as "ready as I'm going to be at this point" and credits working in his father's homeland as the catalyst he needed.

He revaeled: "I feel fairly confident. I've been training really hard - on the weights and with my teacher Tokyo Joe - to make sure I'm in the best shape possible.

"There's no question I have the wrestling ability, but I have to learn to adapt to shorter matches and more of an entertainment style.

"Working in England for IPW:UK and All Star Wrestling has taught me how to get over in an entertainment style.


"England is the best place in the world to wrestle as far as independents go. You can come over and get lots of work, it's not just a big show once a month. Brian Dixon is running all the time and there is a lot of great talent.

"I teamed a lot with Steve Lewington, who wrestles in the UK as Steve Sonic and has also just got a contract with the WWE.

"I think they've had their eye on Steve for quite a while now and he's very excited about the move. I'm really happy for him and it's a great opportunity.

"I'd love to work with Steve again in the WWE."

The major worry for Harry - more than wrestling, promos or prospective tag team partners - has to be how the WWE will use him.

The tragic death of his dad at a young age is ripe for an exploitative storyline - of the likes we've seen countless times with Eddie Guerrero - and Vince McMahon loves replaying the screwing of Harry's uncle Bret at the 1997 Survivor Series.

"I am ready for all of that," the youngster admitted to us.

"If there's a storyline along those lines that they really want to do then I'd have to see exactly what it was and decide.

"But I will have to draw the line at some point.

"So far I have no idea what they want me to do, we still have to sit down and discuss that.

"But I'm sure they're going to still call me Harry Smith, with my name and family lineage putting me in any other gimmick would be pretty dumb."

And what of the rest of Harry's family? Bret is keen to see his nephew in the WWE but could we see a new generation of Harts joining him there shortly?

He revealed: "My cousin Teddy (Hart) has some sort of deal with MTV so won't be joining the WWE, but my other cousin Natalie (Neidhart) has been told that when her injured knee heals she's pretty much guaranteed a job.

"The WWE are interested in using Teddy, because he's a great wrestler, but they're concerned he's not mentally ready to come in.

"He has a bad reputation but I think if he gave them his word that he'd do whatever they said and not screw up, then they'd give him a deal."

Speaking to Harry, who is mature beyond his years, it's clear he is ready for the big time.

He even seriously considered a job with rival group TNA, before realising that the WWE offer was too good for him to turn down.

Now Harry can't wait to get there and picks out Benoit, Regal, Fit Finlay, Triple H and John Cena as the guys he'd like to wrestle.

And what does he hope to achieve in the WWE?

"I want it all and everything in it," he laughs. "And you can quote me on that!"

K Jay Note : Get the feeling the line about the workers being on Smackdown may mean Harry has a few stiff matches in front of him in the first few months.

I had a sig, once.