The Destroyer / Dick Beyer

Known as: The Destroyer, The Shadow, Doctor X, Dick Beyer
Details
Pro Wrestlers Database
The Destroyer / Dick Beyer - Pro Wrestlers Database
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF): New York State AwardProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF): Television Era

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.

The Destroyer / Dick Beyer has won a total of 7 championships in major promotions during his career.

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.

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 Profile Index

Profile Info

  • GenderMale
  • Real NameRichard 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)
  • NationalityNationality: United StatesUnited States
  • Birth PlaceBuffalo, New York
  • Billed From
    • Buffalo, New York
  • Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
  • Weight
    • 265 lbs (120 kg)
  • NicknamesBruce Marshall (during 1970-1972 AWA unmaskings); Schoolboy; The Destroyer; The Intelligent Sensational; White Masked Demon
  • NotesIn 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.

Career 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 History

    Promotionfromto
    PromotionAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight May 23, 1980July 29, 1993
    PromotionNational Wrestling AllianceNWAOctober 15, 1979May 13, 1984
    PromotionMid-South WrestlingMSWMay 8, 1984May 11, 1984
    PromotionJim Crockett PromotionsJCPDecember 4, 1983April 15, 1984
    PromotionWorld Wrestling FederationWWFJuly 28, 1982June 30, 1983
    PromotionJim Crockett PromotionsJCPJanuary 13, 1980May 17, 1982
    PromotionAll Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight December 2, 1972June 13, 1979
    PromotionNational Wrestling AllianceNWAOctober 15, 1954June 19, 1974
    PromotionNational Wrestling Alliance Hollywood WrestlingNWA HOLLYWOODJanuary 12, 1973March 9, 1973
    PromotionAmerican Wrestling AssociationAWAJuly 28, 1967December 30, 1972
    PromotionJapanese Wrestling AssociationJWAApril 2, 1971May 19, 1971
    Promotion50th State Big Time WrestlingBTW HAWAIISeptember 23, 1970December 16, 1970
    PromotionGulf Athletic ClubGACFebruary 10, 1967February 16, 1968
    PromotionWorldwide Wrestling AssociatesWWA HOLLYWOODJuly 2, 1966May 24, 1967
    PromotionWorld Wrestling AssociationWWA INJune 11, 1966March 18, 1967
    PromotionNWA Big Time WrestlingBTW DALLASJuly 17, 1965June 29, 1966
    PromotionGulf Athletic ClubGACAugust 27, 1965December 17, 1965
    PromotionWorldwide Wrestling AssociatesWWA HOLLYWOODApril 27, 1962August 13, 1965
    PromotionAmerican Wrestling AllianceAWA SFSeptember 19, 1964April 17, 1965
    PromotionJapanese Wrestling AssociationJWAMay 19, 1963February 26, 1965
    PromotionPacific Northwest WrestlingPNWSeptember 6, 1963May 30, 1964
    Promotion50th State Big Time WrestlingBTW HAWAIIJanuary 3, 1962April 25, 1962
    PromotionCapitol Wrestling CorporationCWCApril 14, 1959August 4, 1959
    PromotionNWA Mid-AmericaMID AMERICADecember 2, 1957July 10, 1958
    PromotionMid-Pacific PromotionsMPPJanuary 20, 1956April 22, 1956

  • Images History

    Nov 1972
    Nov 1972
    Jul 1967
    Jul 1967
    Apr 1962
    Apr 1962
    Oct 1954
    Oct 1954

  • Face / Heel Turns

    AlignmentDetailsfromto
    HeelApril 27, 1962July 29, 1993
    FaceOctober 15, 1954April 26, 1962

  • 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

  • Career Awards

  • 50th State Big Time Wrestling & All Japan Pro Wrestling

    Japanese Wrestling Association

    Lutte Internationale (International Wrestling)

  • 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)

Teams & 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)

Games Appearances (1)

Destroyer
Wrestle Kingdom 2

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