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By virtue of its violent nature, pro wrestling has attracted to its ranks some of the most vicious, sadistic, and toughest men in the world. However, of the dozens of bloodthirsty, psychotic personalities that the sport has been home to, few can rival the shear violence, insanity and chaos created by the “Madman from the Sudan,” Abdullah the Butcher. Abdullah spent five decades inside of the squared circle, bloodying and battering his opponents like few others in the history of the business. Never mistaken as a scientific wrestler, Abdullah wrestled those many decades without ever changing his primitive, simplistic, barbaric style. But, what he lacked in finesse and technical knowledge, he more than made up for in sheer brutality. During his decades-long reign of terror, the nomadic Butcher drew blood from nearly every opponent he faced, on every continent on Earth. Influencing generations of wrestling brawlers through his never-ending worldwide bookings, The Butcher wrote his name in pro wrestling’s history book, using the flowing blood of his opponents as ink.

His crimson-soaked feuds with the equally deranged Sheik, as well as The Destroyer, Shohei Baba, Dusty Rhodes, Bruiser Brody, Harley Race, Terry & Dory Funk, Bobo Brazil, Carlos Colon, Sting, Cactus Jack, and countless others created a well-deserved reputation of sadism for Abdullah. Fans, fame, championships or glory never meant much to “The Madman from the Sudan” during his career. However, being known as the most violent, unpredictable and feared pro wrestler in the world did. Upon those aspects of the business, Abdullah thrived. Indeed, along with the almighty dollar, they were the driving forces of The Butcher’s career. Despite utilizing a mere handful of unchanging moves during his matches and incorporating a total disregard for the safety of both himself and his opponents, Abdullah used his fork (and hidden blade) to carve out a unique spot for himself in the annals of pro wrestling history.

Obviously, the man known as the bloodthirsty Abdullah the Butcher was not always the crazed lunatic he portrayed inside (and, often, outside) of the ring. In actuality, Abdullah was born Lawrence Shreeve on January 11, 1941, not in the sandy barrens of the Sudan, but rather in the Great White North, Windsor, Ontario, Canada to be exact. He began his career humbly in 1958, wrestling on the Canadian independent circuit. After gaining experience in Canada and then reinventing himself as Abdullah the Butcher, he went on to travel the world like few other wrestlers. From the beginning, he seemed intent on never staying in one territory for too long, a wise practice that showed Larry Shreeve was much smarter than the savage madman that he portrayed in the ring. It didn’t take long for Abdullah’s bloodthirsty Arabian gimmick, and his extremely violent style, to make him one of the premier villains in pro wrestling.

Throughout much of his nomadic career, Abdullah was often used as a hired hitman, called in by a desperate heel to destroy a particular territory’s top babyface. However, he also feuded with many “bad guys” as well, something that was somewhat rare for many years. His battles with the crazed, frothing-at-the-mouth “Maniac” Mark Lewin and the equally deranged Sheik were bloodbaths from bell to bell. The bitter rivalry between wrestling’s top two madmen, Abdullah and The Sheik, lasted for years, as did their semi-frequent tag team. To Abdullah, blood was blood…and it all ran red before turning to green. He moved constantly within the various territories of the NWA and AWA throughout the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and through the ’90s, always maintaining his status as a prime star (and box-office draw) for promoters in the States, Japan, Puerto Rico, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and his homeland of Canada.

Along with Andre the Giant, Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen and a few others, Abdullah was a true international wrestling superstar during a time when the sport was very regionalized. By positioning himself as the most insane and violent wrestler in promotions all across the globe, Abdullah influenced future brawlers in countries literally all over the world, something most wrestling legends cannot claim. Even more impressive is that he did so without ever doing a “traditional” (ie: Abdullah speaks in English, Japanese, or Spanish) interview in the various countries he wrestled in. His consistent blood-letting, and many “handlers” (Eddie Creatchman, The Great Mephisto, J.J. Dillon, Gary Hart, Cactus Jack, etc.) said everything Abdullah wanted to convey to the fans. Unpredictable, straight-forward, ultra-violence was The Butcher’s language, and it translated to any dialect. It’s safe to say that no one has ever made more from a karate-thrust to the throat (his primary weapon, which was usually delivered dozens of times throughout one of his matches) than The Butcher. However, he also possessed a surprisingly quick and accurate dropkick, a truly impressive move when delivered by a man of his size, as well as his traditional finisher, the Flying Elbow Drop. Additionally, his pointed-toe boots were also a prime weapon, one that other “Arabs” would later adopt as their own. But, clearly, wrestling skill or a large repertoire of moves was never the focus for Abdullah. Utter mayhem, terror and shocking the fans was…

Abdullah the Butcher vs. Bruiser Brody

Despite the fact that he never stayed in one territory for too long, Abdullah the Butcher’s championship list is nevertheless impressive; he won the NWA Canadian Tag Team title October 23, 1967 with the legendary Dr. Jerry Graham, the IWA International Heavyweight championship three times between 1969-71, and the NWA North American Heavyweight (Calgary) title on four separate occasions between 1970-73. Abdullah also wore the once-prestigious NWF Heavyweight title, twice, by defeating Ernie Ladd and Victor Rivera for his two National Wrestling Federation championships. An even more impressive addition to his title resume is his PWF Heavyweight title reign in Shohei “Giant” Baba’s All Japan Pro Wrestling, as Abdullah defeated Billy Robinson for the Pacific Wrestling Federation title in 1978 and was subsequently defeated for the title by Baba himself on February 10, 1979 in the unlikely host city of Chicago, Illinois. Abdullah made many (bloody) tours of Puerto Rico, and collected several important championships there during the early 1980s, such as the Puerto Rican Heavyweight title, the Caribbean Heavyweight title (three times) and the Island’s top prize, the WWC Universal Heavyweight championship in 1982.

Back in the States, Abdullah defeated The Great Kabuki in 1986 for the Texas Brass Knuckles championship while competing in the Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling. “The Madman from the Sudan” also wore the Canadian International Heavyweight title in 1987, nearly 30 years after his debut. In 1996, nearly forty years after the world was first introduced to the blood-crazed lunatic known as Abdullah the Butcher, he teamed with Benkei Daikokuboh to win the T.W.A. Tag Team championship.

Abdullah the Butcher is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (1996), the WWE Hall of Fame (2011), and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2019).

Following a career that spanned five decades, Larry “Abdullah the Butcher” Shreeve officially retired from professional wrestling in 2019.

Throughout the long and, at times, confusing history of professional wrestling, deserving names often slip through the cracks of the sport’s collective memory. Although he was unquestionably one of the biggest stars of his era, Orville Brown, the eleven-time Midwest Wrestling Association World champion and first-ever NWA World Heavyweight champion, is sometimes overlooked when historians recount the great title lineage of the National Wrestling Alliance. That said, the rugged Kansas farmer turned wrestling champion is absolutely deserving of history’s acknowledgement, for a number of reasons, and he made an indelible mark on the early years of professional wrestling.

Orville Brown was born in the small Midwestern town of Sharon, Kansas on March 10, 1908. Life was not easy for the young Brown, who grew up fatherless and, when his mother passed away, was orphaned at the tender age of 11. Education became secondary to earning a living and he soon dropped out of school to work full-time on the farm. During this time, the teenage Brown developed into a talented cowboy, competing in — and winning — rodeo events throughout Kansas and the neighboring areas. Although the sport of bronco riding and steer bulldogging was nowhere as lucrative as it would become in later years, the extra income he earned as a rodeo cowboy helped greatly and by the time he had reached his eighteenth birthday, Orville Brown had amassed quite a reputation in the sport. His ever-increasing size, though, became a hindrance to his continued success in the rodeos and eventually led to Brown withdrawing from the game and returning to life as a farmer and blacksmith.

Frontier, freestyle wrestling was a way of life for early twentieth century men in rugged, rural states like Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri. Unsophisticated, violent, and free of restrictive rules, “catch wrestling” was reflective of the Midwestern men who were its primary practitioners and every town, big or small, had dozens of skilled, dangerous local grapplers who, after a hard day of work, would gather to face off against each other for prize money. Orville Brown certainly fit into this mold and early in 1931, while still in his early-twenties, he came into contact with a local promoter/trainer named Ernest Brown (no relation) who saw potential in the brawny 6’1″ 230 lb. blacksmith. He soon convinced Orville that he had the physical tools needed to earn a good living as a professional wrestler and began preparing him for a career in the profession. Following an extended period of training, Brown had his first professional match in October of 1931, which he won, and began wrestling regularly throughout the region. Before long, he amassed an impressive win/loss record and eventually went undefeated in his first 72 matches, many of which were legitimate contests. It was while competing in Kansas that Abe Coleman, who was a well-known wrestling celebrity at the time, saw Brown and befriended the impressive young grappler. Just as Ernest Brown had seen potential in Orville, Coleman did as well and he informed the powerful St. Louis promoter Tom Packs that he’d found a new star in the making. By 1933, Brown was being booked in Packs’ prestigious territory and doing quite well against the promotion’s more experienced competition. Convinced that Brown had the size, skill and attitude that it took to become a major star, Packs sent his new protégé to the east coast in order to further his training and gain more experience. Under the capable guidance of veteran matman George Zaharias, the talented young Brown learned and improved, starting at the bottom of the cards and working his way up.

Orville Brown & Son Richard

While competing in the Baltimore area, Brown began facing more advanced competition, including well-known opponents such as Zaharias, Everett Marshall, Karl Sarpolis and Jim Browning, among others. It was also during this time period that he finally suffered his first defeat, on November 3, 1933, against former World champion Dick Shikat. Undeterred by the loss, Brown continued wrestling and improving while defeating a string of mid-level regional stars. By the Spring of 1934 he had returned to the Midwest and had his first series of bouts in the city he would eventually become synonymous with, Kansas City, Kansas. It was there that he achieved the biggest victory of his young career when, on May 14, 1934, he defeated the future World champion Everett Marshall, which in turn set up a bout with top contender Ray Steele. Held on May 28, 1934, he would go on to lose his match with the more experienced Steele, however, by putting on a good showing for himself, Brown lost none of his momentum in the eyes of the matchmakers or fans. A popular babyface, Brown was promoted as a rugged ex-cowboy and a solid family man, both of which were true, and he received a great deal of positive coverage in the national press.

Soon, Orville Brown had wrestled in enough territories to garner the box-office clout required to receive a shot at the World championship and he faced reigning titleholder Jim Londos on several occasions during 1935. Their encounter on April 12 in Detroit drew over 13,000 spectators and grossed $21,217, very impressive figures for the time. Wrestling to a ninety-minute draw, a rematch was scheduled for June 5, again in Detroit, at Navin Field. That bout drew another large crowd of 11,572 with a gate of $16,213, however, this time around Brown was defeated by the champion after 73 minutes of hard-fought action. From this point on, however, Orville Brown was seen as a legitimate national wrestling star who faced only the best competition. Even though his undefeated streak was no longer a factor and he occasionally lost a match here and there, Brown won (or, went to a draw with) just as many, competing against top names including Dick Shikat, John Pesek, Frank Sexton, Ray Steele, and Ed “Strangler” Lewis, which firmly cemented his position as a major name within the business.

As the 1930s became the 1940s, Brown forged a friendship on the east coast with Bobby Bruns, a wrestler that would go on to be one of the major players in his career. While they appeared to be bitter rivals who feuded all across the country, away from the spotlight Bruns and Brown were close friends and, over time, longtime business partners. Between 1940-1948, Bruns and Brown traded the prestigious Midwest Wrestling Association World championship no less than four times. All total, Orville Brown held the M.W.A. World title on eleven different occasions, taking on, and defeating, challengers such as Bruns, Sky Hi Lee, Fred Blassie, the Swedish Angel, Ed Lewis, Joe Cox, Ray Eckert, Ronnie Etchison, Lord Albert Mills and many others. During this time period, he also formed a working relationship with the notorious promoter Jack Pfefer, which would play a role in Brown’s career once he joined George Simpson and took control of the Kansas City territory. The territory, which also included Topeka, Wichita and St. Joseph, Missouri, was one of the more lucrative regions in the country at the time and, when faced with a promotional war, Brown called on Pfefer and his east coast talent connections to overcome his opposition. Meanwhile, in 1947 a group of investors that included Canadian promoters Frank Tunney, Eddie Quinn, Lou Thesz, Bobby Managolf and Bill Longson bought the St. Louis promotion from Tom Packs, who was retiring. A territorial war then took place in St. Louis between this group and the less established promotion of Sam Muchnick, who was (at least temporarily) helped by Jack Pfefer. For many months, the battle was fairly even, although the Thesz-led group held an advantage. So, when Des Moines promoter Pinkie George presented Muchnick with the idea of forming a coalition of several Midwestern promoters, it made a great deal of sense. George (Iowa), Muchnick (St. Louis), Tony Stecher (Minneapolis), Max Clayton (Omaha) and Orville Brown (Kansas City) met in Waterloo, Iowa in 1948 to discuss a partnership and the National Wrestling Alliance was born. On July 14, 1948 the promoters all agreed to name Orville Brown as the first NWA World Heavyweight champion and he immediately set about establishing the new championship, travelling to each member’s regions and defending the title against the top challengers, which included men like Bill Longson, Bronko Nagurski, Don Eagle, Ali Baba and many others.

Brown’s greatest rival during the first year of his NWA title run was the flamboyant “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers. After Muchnick brought him in to St. Louis, Rogers proved himself to be a major draw in the Gateway City and, ultimately, the deciding factor in Muchnick’s St. Louis wrestling war with Thesz. Rogers went on to receive several title matches against Brown, in cities like Wichita, Cleveland, Hollywood and Kansas City, with the two headliners drawing large crowds wherever they wrestled. Although Brown always walked out of the ring with his championship intact, it was usually not a result of pinfall victories and many of their encounters resulted in time-limit draws, count-out decisions or disqualifications that kept both men strong in the eyes of the fans.

Once Muchnick’s promotional war with Thesz had ended and the two sides began working together, plans were put into place that would have Brown and Thesz engage in a lengthy series of matches, with both men gaining title victories over one another. The two Midwestern matmen had faced off in previous years, wrestling to three time-limit draws against each other. However, when they were programmed to battle over the NWA championship, a clear cut winner would be necessary. A plan was laid out wherein Brown would win their first championship encounter, scheduled for Thanksgiving Day on November 25, 1949, and win subsequent rematches throughout the various NWA territories. Then, at some point during 1950, Thesz would defeat Brown for the title and the two would again engage in a new series of rematches, with Thesz defending the championship successfully. After that, it was agreed that the NWA members would decide who would continue to carry the belt, based on what was best for the Alliance as a whole.

But, on October 31, 1949, those plans all came to an abrupt, unexpected end. Following a title defense in Des Moines against his on-screen enemy and off-screen partner Bobby Bruns, the two were heading home in Brown’s Cadillac when tragedy struck. Unbeknownst to Brown, a semi trailer had stalled on the road ahead them and as they came over a hill driving at a high rate of speed, the inevitable took place and Brown’s vehicle slammed head-on into the truck, with disastrous results. Bruns was the luckier of the two, escaping the accident with a broken shoulder and serious damage to his arms. Brown, however, barely escaped decapitation. The frame of the trailer tore the roof off of his vehicle and Brown received a near-fatal blow to the head that resulted in brain damage for the NWA champion. Thankfully, both men survived and, with rehabilitation and time, recovered to a certain degree. That said, neither were ever the same again and business in the area suffered greatly when the press got wind of the fact that the two “enemies” were traveling in the same car together at the time of the accident.

Following a year of rehab, Brown actually attempted to make a comeback in the ring. Although he worked extremely hard to regain the use of his semi-paralyzed limbs and had made tremendous progress in that sense, the damage done to his brain resulted in a loss of motor skills that he simply could not overcome. While, thankfully, he was able to continue his duties as a promoter, as well as master everyday tasks such as walking, driving, hunting, etc., the complex skills needed to perform inside of a ring were beyond his capabilities and Brown was quickly forced to abandon his dream of making a comeback to wrestling. As for his NWA World championship, Brown was obviously forced to relinquish the title.On November 27, 1949, the Alliance awarded the belt to Brown’s #1 contender, Lou Thesz, who, over time, would go on to transform the newly-created World title into the most prestigious championship in the sport.

Orville Brown is a member of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2005)

On January 24, 1981, Orville Brown passed away at the age 72.

Without question, “Chief” Jay Strongbow was a consistent box office draw and, arguably, the most famous and beloved Native American wrestler of all time. Ironic, because Strongbow didn’t have a drop of Native American DNA in his blood. Nevertheless, as both a main-event and mid-card attraction, in the ring and at the box-office, Strongbow was one of the most popular and reliable workers in Vincent J. McMahon’s World Wide Wrestling Federation. Although his Native American persona was fictional, as a role model for people of all races, there were none better and “The Chief” proudly wrestled his entire career as a beloved fan favorite. And, like all great wrestlers, past and present, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. Strongbow understood how the wrestling business works and was never above “doing the job” in order to help his opponent or the promotions that employed him.

Although he was billed for the majority of his career as being a native of Pawhuska, Oklahoma., “Chief” Jay Strongbow was actually born Luke Joseph Scarpa on October 4, 1928 in Nutley, New Jersey, The Italian-American made his professional debut in 1947, wrestling as Joe Scarpa, a variation of his real name. After several years of traveling to various promotions and gaining experience, he first made his mark in the business while competing in the southern portion of the country, namely, Alabama and Tennessee. He wore the Gulf Coast Heavyweight title in 1960, the NWA World Tag Team championship (Mid-America version) with Lester Welch twice in 1961 and the Southern Tag title (with Lee Fields) in 1963. Later, Scarpa excelled in two of the NWA’s top promotions, the Georgia and Florida territories, winning the NWA World Tag Team championship (Florida version) with Don Curtis in 1962, the Florida Heavyweight title in 1967, plus the Florida Brass Knuckles championship and the Southern Tag Team championship (w/Jose Lothario), both in 1968. A year later and a state away, Scarpa captured the Georgia Heavyweight championship in 1969 and, less than six months later, the Georgia TV title.

In 1970, Scarpa began working for Vincent J. McMahon’s World Wide Wrestling Federation, where his popularity with fans exploded. Taking on the persona of “Chief” Jay Strongbow, he quickly became one of the WWWF’s top attractions and was in high demand all across the multi-state territory. Standing 6`0″ and weighing 245 lbs., Strongbow was a formidable challenge for anyone who faced him in the ring and he often served as a “roadblock” for future opponents of WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino. If a wrestler could get past Strongbow, a title opportunity often followed. His Tomahawk Chop was a weapon to be feared and led to many victories, as did his Sleeper hold and several variations of the suplex. Strongbow could also brawl with the best of them, especially once his fiery “Native American” temper was ignited. If the “Chief” started his War Dance, the fans in attendance knew the end was near because no one could (or, perhaps more appropriately, was allowed to) stop him once a fired-up Strongbow began circling his opponent.

After Scarpa had taken on the persona of a Native American, the “Chief” did venture outside the parameters of the WWWF on occasion, and was, for a time, a high-profile figure in The Sheik’s Detroit promotion and on TBS’s Georgia Championship Wrestling. Although winning titles was never the primary goal for Strongbow, especially during his latter years in the ring, a wrestler as popular as Jay Strongbow couldn’t help but pick up a fair share of championship gold. The most notable championship of his career was the WWWF Tag Team title, which he won on four separate occasions. His first WWWF Tag Team title came on May 22, 1972 when he teamed with Sonny King to defeat Baron Mikel Scicluna & Curtis Iaukea at New York’s Madison Square Garden. But, Strongbow & King would only hold the belts for a short time, as they were defeated by the devious tandem of Prof. Tanaka & Mr. Fuji on June 27, 1972. Then, on December 7, 1976 Strongbow regained the tag team championship, this time with partner Billy White Wolf, defeating Nicolai Volkoff & Tor Kamata in the finals of a tournament for the vacant WWWF Tag Team title. The “Native American” duo of Strongbow & White Wolf then held the title for over eight months before being forced to vacate the championship when White Wolf’s neck was “broken” by Ken Patera’s devastating finisher, the Swinging Neckbreaker.

Chief Jay Strongbow & Jules Strongbow

After seeking revenge on Patera over the intentional injury of his partner, Strongbow then went on to face the reigning WWWF Heavyweight champion “Superstar” Billy Graham in a top-drawing feud. Strongbow also engaged in a noteworthy series with “The Big Cat” Ernie Ladd in the WWWF, a feud that carried over to the NWA’s Georgia Championship Wrestling a few years later. On June 28, 1982, Strongbow again brought home the WWF tag team gold, teaming with his “nephew” Jules Strongbow to defeat the Japanese tandem of Mr. Saito & Mr. Fuji. Lou Albano’s rule breaking team quickly regained the title, though, on July 13, 1982. But, the popular Strongbows were not to be denied and they regrouped, again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 26, 1982. This time, the “Native American” duo held on to the title belts and defended them against the WWF’s best teams until, after nearly a half-year as champions, The Strongbows were defeated by another Albano-led team, this time the impressive and dangerous Wild Samoans. After losing their belts, the Strongbows remained a top WWF tag team, until Jules left the promotion. From that point forward, it was back to singles wrestling for “Chief” Jay.

Still one of the more popular wrestlers in the World Wrestling Federation, in the eyes of the fans, Strongbow was now an “elder statesman” for WWF wrestlers, having been with the promotion for so long. Despite his advancing age (and subsequent reduction in ring prowess) Strongbow was still one of the promotion’s bigger draws as the 1980s rolled on and the WWF evolved into a national entity. Eventually, though, nearly forty years after his pro debut, Scarpa retired from active competition in 1986. However, he remained very much involved with professional wrestling and, over the course of the following decade, Strongbow worked in the WWF’s front office and served as road agent, helping to lay out matches, coaching the performers and supervising live events.

“Chief” Jay Strongbow is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame (1994), the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (2009) and the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame (2011).

On April 3, 2012, Joe “Chief Jay Strongbow” Scarpa passed away at the age of 83.

Pro wrestling has featured many masked men during its lengthy history, with North America contributing more than its fair share of masked performers to the primarily international genre of wrestlers. All-American masked marvels (both babyface and heel) such as Mr. Wrestling I & II, The Assassins, The Masked Superstar, The Grappler, various incarnations of the Super Destroyer character, The Patriot, and dozens of other masked men enjoyed immense popularity and success throughout the various territories of the past. However, one North American masked man in particular not only excelled in the U.S. mat wars, but truly broke through to the international wrestling audience, and in the process earned his lofty spot in history. Dick Beyer a.k.a. The Sensational Intelligent Destroyer was that man, and although his attention-grabbing moniker might not be familiar to many modern fans, his impact on wrestling, especially in Japan, is no less enduring. Known worldwide as a genuine mat technician, the man under the mask was well-schooled in the art of both the amateur and professional aspects of wrestling, and his reputation as a champion preceded him wherever he performed.

Born Richard John Beyer on July 11, 1930, in Buffalo, New York, Dick Beyer was a high school wrestling stand out and he became an amateur champion and football player in college at Syracuse University. After graduating from Syracuse with a Masters degree in education, he became a professional wrestler, intending to make a few bucks before entering the world of academia. After being recruited by Ed Don George and then trained by former NWA World champion Dick Hutton, Beyer first climbed into the squared circle in 1954. The maskless Beyer gained some modest success wrestling in various territories, including Buffalo and Hawaii. However, when a series of circumstances led to him Los Angeles, donning a mask (supposedly for only a few weeks) and calling himself The Sensational Intelligent Destroyer, Dick Beyer’s career truly took off. Beyer later explained in an interview: “So, when I went into L.A., I went in there on a Thursday. I talked to the office and said, ‘You guys must not want me to come in here. I’m down here at the commission office and my name isn’t even in here to get a license.’ Jules Strongbow says, ‘Well, you’re not in here as Dick Beyer.’ I said ‘What the hell have you got me wrestling under?’ He says, ‘We’re going to put a mask on you and call you The Destroyer.’ I said, ‘I don’t even have a mask!'”

The Sensational, Intelligent Destroyer was an instant hit with the fans, and when his paychecks began to increase dramatically, Beyer resigned himself to the fact that he would be a masked man for the rest of his career, instead of the few weeks he originally planned. Although The Destroyer made his presence felt as a villain originally, he wrestled “on both sides of the fence,” so to speak, and was often the fan favorite. His wrestling skill was undeniable, and separated him from his competition. In addition, he was admired for taking the long-held traditions of being a masked man very seriously, as all masked greats have done. Beyer has stated in interviews that, after leaving an arena, he would sometimes have to drive his car while wearing his famous hood for as long as an hour, just to make sure no fans would catch a glimpse of his face.

The Destroyer established himself as a popular attraction on the various regional circuits he competed in and his legendary feuds with the likes of Fred Blassie, Dick the Bruiser, Pedro Morales, “Cowboy” Bob Ellis, Nick Bockwinkel, “Mad Dog” Vachon, The Sheik, and many others drew sold-out crowds across the country. Later, he would go on to achieve even greater fame and notoriety in The Land of the Rising Sun, where he was (and still is) considered a true wrestling legend. A brief look at his title history speaks for itself…

He won the prestigious WWA World Heavyweight title in 1962 and held the championship for nearly a full year before being defeated by archrival “Classy” Fred Blassie. All total, The Destroyer held the WWA World title on three different occasions. In 1963 and again in 1964, he teamed with Art Michalik to win the Pacific Northwest Tag Team title. Also in 1964, The Destroyer twice teamed with Hard Boiled Haggerty to win the WWA World Tag Team title. He also defeated “Mad Dog” Vachon to win the prestigious NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title in the mid 1960s. However, when he entered Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association during the late 1960s, Gagne decided he wanted Beyer to remain a masked man, but use a different persona. Thus, the evil masked Dr. X was created. After transforming himself into Dr. X, Beyer continued to enjoy great success and he became one of the AWA’s top attractions. On August 17, 1968, Dr. X defeated Gagne in Bloomington, Minnesota to become the AWA World Heavyweight champion. Elsewhere, The Destroyer defeated Pedro Morales to win the Hawaiian version of the North American title in 1970 and, years later, The Destroyer won the Canadian International Heavyweight title in 1983.

Yet, as successful as he was in America, The Destroyer truly made his most lasting impact in the nation of Japan. On May 19, 1963, The Destroyer cleanly defeated Japan’s greatest wrestler, Rikidozan, making the masked man a genuine superstar there. Five days later, on May 24, 1963, a rematch between the two garnered an unbelievable 67 rating on television for their one-hour draw. To this day, the Destroyer vs. Rikidozan encounter remains the second most-watched wrestling match in the history of the sport. From that point forward, The Destroyer was a frequent and highly visible figure on Japanese television, eventually becoming a revered, beloved star in the Orient at a time when foreigners were universally booked to be hated by the Japanese wrestling public. The Destroyer faced the very best competition on the Island nation in dozens of tournaments and was a three-time PWF United States champion, holding the title for over six years all total. In 1973, Beyer signed a six-year deal with Shohei Baba’s All Japan Pro Wrestling and Tokyo’s NTV television network. During this tenure in Japan, The Destroyer engaged in monumental feuds with Abdullah the Butcher as well as Mil Máscaras. His program with the colorful Mascaras eventually culminated in a legendary best-of-seven series between the two masked men. From 1973-1977, Beyer, as the masked Destroyer, also established himself as a popular mainstream television personality in Japan by hosting Uwasa No Channel, which was a popular late-night comedy/variety show.

The Destroyer vs. Rikidozan

Beginning in 1984, after thirty years in the business, Dick Beyer went into a state of semi-retirement. For the next eleven years, while wrestling on a limited part-time basis, Beyer also taught physical education in Akron, New York, as well as coaching football, swimming, and, of course, amateur wrestling. Realizing the correlation between the success of amateur wrestling in relation to future generations entering the pro ranks, Beyer often participated and helped promote amateur wrestling tournaments throughout the United States. As a result of his lifelong love and dedication to the sport, both genres of wrestling were much better off. Finally, on July 29, 1993, thirty-nine years after his pro debut, The Destroyer wrestled his final match, a six-man tag team bout in Japan with Baba and Beyer’s son Kurt against Masao Inoue, Haruka Eigan and Masa Fuchi.

The Destroyer was awarded All Japan’s Champion Carnival Technical Award (1977), the Champion Carnival Fighting Spirit Award (1979) and, in 1996, the Cauliflower Alley Club’s “Iron” Mike Mazurki Award. Additionally, he is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (1996), the International Wrestling Institute & Museum’s George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2002) and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (2005).

Dick “The Sensational Intelligent Destroyer” Beyer passed away on March 7, 2019 at the age of 88.