Brady Boone Dean R . Peters ( August 22 , 1958 - December 15 , 1998 ) was an American professional wrestler . He was perhaps best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation under the ring names Brady Boone and Battle Kat . History . Early career ( 1984 - 1986 ) . Peters started his career in 1984 , working for Don Owen ' s NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling promotion . He wrestled under the ring name Brady Boone , and was billed as the cousin of Billy Jack Haynes . After teaming with Haynes , Boone won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship twice in 1986 ; first with Coco Samoa on March 29 , then with Ricky Santana on October 4 . World Wrestling Federation ( 1986 – 1988 ) . While wrestling for PNW , Peters ( as Brady Boone ) and Haynes also worked as a jobber tag team for the World Wrestling Federation from late 1986 to early 1988 . Boone would begin wrestling full - time for the WWF on July 2 , 1987 , used primarily as an upper - level opening match wrestler . Despite his role on television as a jobber , Boone won many matches on the house show circuit including defeats of Barry Horowitz , The Gladiator , José Estrada Sr . and ultimately compiled an overall singles record that included 19 wins that year . Meanwhile on television Boone would lose almost all of his encounters , but challenged The Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental Championship on the December 8 , 1987 and May 10 , 1988 episodes of " Superstars " . Boone was involved in one major angle on October 31 , 1987 , when he tagged with Scott Casey in a losing effort against Demolition . Following the match Demolition continued to attack Boone , leading Billy Jack Haynes to make the save . Boone was stretchered out as a part of angle that led to the teaming of Haynes and Ken Patera . The following year Boone won an additional 24 matches , and finished his run with a victory over Steve Lombardi on Sep 12 , 1988 in South Bend , Indiana . World Wrestling Federation - Battle Kat ( 1990 ) . Brady Boone returned to the WWF on May 4 , 1990 on a house show in a loss to Paul Diamond . He would wrestle numerous house show and television matches between May and August . At a house show on September 13 , 1990 , Peters debuted as Battle Kat , a character who donned a cat mask and utilized his gymnastics background to emphasize his " cat - like " agility . He pinned The Brooklyn Brawler . Six days later , Battle Kat won his televised debut match over Bob Bradley , on the September 19 episode of " Wrestling Challenge " . Battle Kat remained undefeated on house shows and defeated Paul Diamond on the October 30 episode of " Wrestling Challenge " before he was released from the WWF . Ironically , Bob Bradley would replace Brady Boone in the Battle Kat character . Independent circuit ( 1991 , 1992 ) . After leaving the WWF , Peters took a brief hiatus from wrestling . He reappeared at the Universal Wrestling Federation ' s only pay - per - view , UWF Beach Blast on June 9 , 1991 , where he and Jim Cooper lost to The Blackhearts ( Apocalypse and Destruction ) . As Fire Cat , he wrestled in the Florida - based Suncoast Pro Wrestling and won its Tag Team Championship with Jerry Lynn . After losing the title , Peters took another hiatus before debuting in All Japan Pro Wrestling under his Fire Cat name on March 4 , 1992 . He and Richard Slinger lost a tag team match to Lt . James Earl Wright and Sgt . Buddy Lee Parker . World Championship Wrestling ( 1993 – 1994 ) . Peters signed with World Championship Wrestling in 1993 , and debuted ( as Brady Boone ) on the December 7 episode of " WCW Saturday Night " , losing a tag team match ( with partner Scott Studd ) to Pretty Wonderful ( Paul Orndorff and Paul Roma ) . On the January 10 , 1994 episode of " Saturday Night " , Boone lost to Steve Austin . After not appearing on television for several months , Boone wrestled his final match on the July 23 episode of " Saturday Night " , defeating Rip Rogers . After retiring as a wrestler , Boone remained with the company as a referee . Death and legacy . On December 15 , 1998 , while driving home to Tampa , Florida from a WCW television taping in Orlando , Peters died in an automobile accident . Despite being smaller than most wrestlers , Peters inspired several up - and - coming wrestlers with his athleticism , including Rob Van Dam . The two met while Peters was wrestling in Florida for Suncoast Pro Wrestling . Peters helped Van Dam during his early years in wrestling , and persuaded Giant Baba to allow Van Dam to tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling . The last time Van Dam saw Peters was also the only time he wrestled him . In tribute , Van Dam uses moves that Peters himself used .