Dick Beyer Dick Beyer ( July 11 , 1930 ) is a retired professional wrestler who is best known by his ring names , The Destroyer or Doctor X . 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 . Beyer graduated with a master ' s degree in education and is a member of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta ' s Syracuse Chapter . Beyer is also an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America . Beyer was a teacher in New York until he began his wrestling career , and he also coached swimming . Professional wrestling career . Worldwide Wrestling Associates . Beyer began as a " babyface " wrestler in the mid - 1950s . His career as a " masked " wrestler , The Destroyer , began in 1962 in Los Angeles . He used the “ figure - four - leg - lock ” on his way to the Worldwide Wrestling Associates ( WWA ) championship on July 27 , 1962 in a win over Freddie Blassie , who convinced him that the mask gimmick would give him a large " push " . Beyer went on to defend the WWA title for 10 months . In early 1963 , Beyer wrestled three sold - out matches against Shohei “ Giant ” Baba at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles . In May 1963 , Beyer traveled to Japan for the first time , to wrestle with Rikidōzan , in a match watched by 70 million TV viewers . In June 1964 , Beyer returned to Los Angeles and beat Dick “ The Bruiser ” for another WWA title . Beyer lost the title to Bob Ellis in September , won it back in November , and then lost it for the last time in March 1965 to Pedro Morales . American Wrestling Association . Between 1966 and 1972 , Beyer wrestled as Doctor X while in Minneapolis , although he was known as " The Destroyer " elsewhere . During his time as Doctor X , Beyer had matches with many of the top names in the business including his real life brother - in - law Billy Red Lyons . In fact , it was Lyons who handed " X " his first American Wrestling Association ( AWA ) defeat on Minneapolis television when he defeated the good Doctor with a figure four leg lock . In August 1970 , " X " removed his own mask to get a chance at revenge against his former partner Black Jack Lanza . He stood in center ring with announcer Marty O ' Neill , who told the fans that " X " was a former coach from Syracuse University . " X " then removed his mask , handed it to St . Paul promoter Eddie Williams , and wrestled the match as Dick Beyer . In other AWA cities , he was actually unmasked by both Lanza and Paul Diamond . In these matches , his name was revealed to be Bruce Marshall . The reason for Beyer wanting to be unmasked was that , he and his family were set to go on a world tour , where he would also wrestle again as The Destroyer . It has been speculated that by late August 1970 , Beyer had already left the AWA and that it was " jobber " Bobby Jones under the mask . When Beyer removed his own mask on the August 8 , 1970 card in St . Paul . During 1972 , Beyer had several battles with " Crippler " Ray Stevens . Their last match resulted in Beyer as Doctor X having his leg " broken . " This " injury " allowed Beyer to leave the Minneapolis area to join a wrestling tour in Japan . Japan and Canada . From 1973 , Beyer wrestled in Japan for six straight years , in a deal with Giant Baba and NTV of Tokyo . During his tenure in Japan , he had a feud with Mil Máscaras which resulted in a series of seven matches . Beyer also helped promote All Japan Pro Wrestling ( AJPW ) for Giant Baba and established himself as a television personality in a late - night TV show called “ Uwasa No Channel . ” Beyer held the PWF United States Championship until 1979 , when he left AJPW and the championship was abandoned . From 1979 , Beyer wrestled in Toronto and Montreal , against Bob Backlund , André the Giant , Terry Funk , Dory Funk , Jr . , Tony Parisi , Nick Bockwinkel , Édouard Carpentier , Mad Dog Vachon , Superstar Billy Graham , and others . Post - wrestling . Beyer went into semi - retirement in 1984 . From 1984 to 1995 , Beyer taught physical education in the Akron Central School District in Akron , New York , where he also coached football , wrestling and swimming . Beyer now lives in Akron , New York . He serves on the Board of Directors of the Cauliflower Alley Club , which holds annual reunions in Las Vegas . He is a member of Toastmasters International , a public speaking club , and caries the club designation of Certified Toastmaster . On the March 15th episode of RAW he appeared via pre - recorded footage , talking briefly about newest WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Gorgeous George . He also Inducted Gorgeous George into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 27 , 2010 . On August 27 , 2011 , Beyer , along with his son , returned to Japan to take part in All Together , a charity event held together by AJPW , New Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah . Beyer , appearing under his Destroyer mask , hosted the Destroyer Cup and presented a trophy to its winner , Kentaro Shiga . In 2013 Beyer opened Destroyer Park Golf in Akron , NY . This is the first Park golf course in the United States . Beyer learned the game while living in Japan .