On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of The Destroyer / Dick Beyer, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Richard John Beyer was born in Buffalo, New York on July 11, 1930.
He died on March 7, 2019 at the age of 88.
In May 1963, he traveled to Japan for the first time in his career, to wrestle Rikidōzan in a match watched by over 70 million TV viewers, being one of Japan's highest viewed shows at the time. Beyer was also the last person to hold a victory over Rikidōzan before his death.
The Destroyer / Dick Beyer was inducted in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2003 as part of the New York State Award wing and in 2005 as part of the Television Era wing.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Richard John Beyer
- Ring Names
- The Destroyer ( August 19, 1977 - July 29, 1993)
- The Shadow ( May 8, 1984 - May 11, 1984)
- The Destroyer ( November 29, 1972 - August 18, 1977)
- Doctor X ( August 26, 1967 - December 30, 1972)
- The Destroyer ( April 27, 1962 - August 25, 1967)
- Dick Beyer ( October 15, 1954 - April 26, 1962)
- Born July 11, 1930
- Died March 7, 2019 (aged 88)
- Nationality
United States - Birth Place Buffalo, New York
- Billed From
- Buffalo, New York
- Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Weight
- 265 lbs (120 kg)
- Nicknames Bruce Marshall (during 1970-1972 AWA unmaskings); Schoolboy; The Destroyer; The Intelligent Sensational; White Masked Demon
- Notes In May 1963, he traveled to Japan for the first time in his career, to wrestle Rikidōzan in a match watched by over 70 million TV viewers, being one of Japan's highest viewed shows at the time. Beyer was also the last person to hold a victory over Rikidōzan before his death.
United StatesCareer History
- Roles
- Part Time Wrestler ( June 15, 1984 - July 29, 1993)
- Wrestler ( October 15, 1954 - June 14, 1984)
- Coach ( January 1, 1962 - December 31, 1983)
- Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion 
AJPWMay 23, 1980 July 29, 1993 Promotion NWAOctober 15, 1979 May 13, 1984 Promotion INDY May 13, 1980 May 11, 1984 Promotion WWFJuly 28, 1982 June 30, 1983 Promotion AJPWDecember 2, 1972 June 13, 1979 Promotion NWAJanuary 12, 1973 March 9, 1973 Promotion AWAJuly 28, 1967 December 30, 1972 Promotion JWAApril 2, 1971 May 19, 1971 Promotion JWAMay 19, 1963 February 26, 1965 Promotion NWAOctober 15, 1954 April 25, 1962 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Heel April 27, 1962 July 29, 1993 Face October 15, 1954 April 26, 1962 - Images History
Nov 1972Jul 1967Apr 1962Oct 1954
AJPW
NWA
WWF
AWA
JWA
- Finishers
- Figure-four Leglock ( October 15, 1954 - July 29, 1993)
- Airplane Spin ( October 15, 1954 - July 29, 1993)
- Argentine Backbreaker ( October 15, 1954 - July 29, 1993)
- Flying Body Scissors ( October 15, 1954 - June 14, 1984)
- Theme Songs
- Theme Song "Artoo Detoo" - Single ( July 28, 1982 - June 30, 1983)
Titles & Accomplishments
- Halls of Fame
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2003, New York State Award
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2005, Television Era
- Titles Won
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 All Asia Tag Team Championship (with Billy Red Lyons)
- 4 PWF United States Heavyweight Championship
50th State Big Time Wrestling
- 1 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version)
American Wrestling Alliance
- 1 AWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (with Billy Red Lyons)
American Wrestling Association
- 1 AWA World Heavyweight Championship
Central States Wrestling
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Central States version)
Lutte Internationale
- 1 Canadian International Heavyweight Championship
NWA Big Time Wrestling
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (with Golden Terror)
NWA Los Angeles
- 1 NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version) (with Don Manoukian)
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
- 2 NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship
- 3 NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (with Art Michalik)
World Wrestling Alliance (San Francisco)
- 1 WWA World Tag Team Championship (with Billy Red Lyons)
Worldwide Wrestling Associates
- 3 WWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 2 WWA World Tag Team Championship (with Hard Boiled Haggerty)
- 1 WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (with Don Manoukian)
- Other Accomplishments
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2002)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- AJPW January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal Winner (1979)
- AJPW January 3 Korakuen Hall Battle Royal Winner (1975)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Technical Award (1977)
- AJPW Champion Carnival Fighting Spirit Award (1979)
- Cauliflower Alley Club Iron Mike Mazurki Award (1996)
- Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (November 4, 2017)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated Stanley Weston Award (2017)
- Ring Around The Northwest Newsletter Tag Team of the Year (1963, 1964 with Art Michalik)
- Ring Around The Northwest Newsletter Wrestler of the Year (1964)
- Tokyo Sports Popularity Award (1975)
Relations
- Tag Teams & Stables
- The Destroyer & Giant Baba - Giant Baba ( March 17, 1973 - May 10, 1979)
- Doctor X & Double X - Double X ( April 23, 1970 - July 31, 1970)
- The Destroyer & Billy Red Lyons - Billy Red Lyons ( January 18, 1965 - August 5, 1965)
- The Destroyer & Hard Boiled Haggerty - Hard Boiled Haggerty ( July 10, 1964 - January 6, 1965)
- The Destroyer & Rip Hawk - Rip Hawk/The Ripper ( June 10, 1964 - July 10, 1964)
- The Destroyer & Art Michalik - Art Michalik ( October 21, 1963 - June 14, 1964)
- The Destroyer & Don Manoukian - Don Manoukian ( October 31, 1962 - July 29, 1963)
