Dick Beyer

Richard John Beyer (July 11, 1930 – March 7, 2019) was an American professional wrestler is best known by his ring names, The Destroyer and Doctor X. Among other places, he worked extensively in Japan and in 2017 he was awarded one of the country's highest honors, the Order of the Rising Sun.

Early life As an athlete at Syracuse University, Beyer was a member of the varsity football and wrestling teams. He played in the 1953 Orange Bowl for Syracuse. He graduated with a master's degree in education and was a member of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta's Syracuse Chapter, as well as an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Beyer was a member of the wrestling team and also served as an assistant to Ben Schwartzwalder. He also helped promote All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) for Baba and established himself as a gaijin tarento in a late-night TV show called Uwasa No Channel. His appearance on the musical-comedy show only furthered the Destroyer's popularity in Japan, which led to him recording a Christmas album for his fans. He served on the board of directors of the Cauliflower Alley Club, which holds annual reunions in Las Vegas. He was a member of Toastmasters International, a public speaking club, and carried the club designation of Certified Toastmaster. He inducted Gorgeous George into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 27, 2010. In 2013, he opened Destroyer Park Golf in Akron, the first park golf course in the United States.

Beyer died in his bed at his home in Akron on March 7, 2019, at the age of 88, surrounded by his wife and all of his children.

Championships and accomplishments 50th State Big Time Wrestling NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version) (1 time) All Japan Pro Wrestling PWF United States Heavyweight Championship (4 times) All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Billy Red Lyons January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (1979) January 3 Korakuen Hall Battle Royal (1975) Champion Carnival Technical Award (1977) Champion Carnival Fighting Spirit Award (1979) American Wrestling Alliance AWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) - with Billy Red Lyons American Wrestling Association AWA British Empire Championship (1 time) AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Cauliflower Alley Club Iron Mike Mazurki Award Cauliflower Alley Club 1996 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2002 Lutte Internationale Canadian International Heavyweight Championship (1 time) NWA Big Time Wrestling NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Golden Terror NWA Los Angeles NWA International Television Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles version) (1 time) - with Don Manoukian Pacific Northwest Wrestling NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (2 times) NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Art Michalik (3) Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Class of 2005 New York State Award (2003) Pro Wrestling Illustrated Stanley Wetson Award (2017) Ring Around The Northwest Newsletter Tag Team of the Year (1963–1964) with Art Mahilik Wrestler of the Year (1964) Tokyo Sports Popularity Award (1975) World Wrestling Alliance (San Francisco) WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Billy Red Lyons Worldwide Wrestling Associates WWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times) WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Don Manoukian WWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Hard Boiled Haggerty Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)