The Destroyer® Fan Mail
| The
Star
I've lived, I've loved, I've been a star Your Friend, |
An
Answer To My Friend Ox
I came to L.A. without a mask,
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| The
Destroyer In February of ’99 I received the following letter from Steve Yohe from Montebello, California and I quote. “Last Sunday, in a WWF match that was more an example of stunt work than wrestling, Nick Foley won what’s left of the anlinear world title by pinning Rocky Maivia with the use of a forklift. In February 1963 I attended my first major wrestling card. I was drawn to the card at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles by a main event consisting of the WWA World Champion, a masked villain called The Sensational Destroyer undefeated up till 2 weeks earlier and the challenger, Shohie Baba, a seven foot giant from Japan who had easily won the previous match via DQj and was promising to use his almost super strength to rip the mask off the champion. For 40 minutes, in the only match I’d ever give ‘5 Stars’ - Baba chased The Destroyer around the ring with the champ somehow escaped every trap. Then just as the title appeared to have slipped away The Destroyer tackled Baba coming off the ropes and pinned the Japanese giant. The heated arena became silent; as if a vacuum had sucked every noise from the building. Slowly a moans were heard followed by a few muffled laughs, then as The Destroyer began to strut around the ring pointing to his brain the boos returned. It didn’t matter, from that day forward the champ would be called The Intelligent Sensational Destroyer. That night at the Olympic never left my mind, and every time I went to the matches I hoped to experience the same excitement, but even though it had moments, it never reached that level again. From that moment forward no criticism, reticule or group pressure could change the fact that I love the sport.” |
Interesting
things written about Dick Beyer, Doctor X and The Destroyer Oct. 20, 1999 William Burnett of North Little Rock Arkansas wrote a letter to Dick Beyer. Burnett now 52 has been a wrestling fan since growing up in 1959 and 1960. He writes, “Since I was a youngster, I have been a fan of Pro-Wrestling. While the current version does not hold my interest to watch or attend matches, I do very much enjoy the publication of my friend Scott Teal “Whatever Happened to?” He continues, “I enjoyed the interviews he did with you a few years back!” He says, “I subscribe to most of the major newsletters about Pro Wrestling and like - the way wrestling used to be the best. He said he was born in Rochester, New York and first ‘got hooked’ on wrestling while watching one of the Buffalo TV stations on an old black and white TV set. There a match that stands out is Duke Keomuka, where it was announced your wife had just given birth to your son.” “You got the snot kicked out of you and those white trunks and shoes got covered in blood.” “While you were doing the commentating of a Rochester TV station in 1960 I won concession from my father that I could go to the Rochester War Memorial and attend my first live Wrestling event. It was Dick Beyer vs Fritz Von Erich.” “Well as you have read, I have a lot of wonderful memories of 1960’s wrestling from Buffalo and Rochester and also from Memphis, Tennessee where I lived from 1967 – 1995.” “There are two matches that always stand out in my memory for emotion, crowd noise and response it pulled out of me and others attending (1969) Dory Funk Jr. vs Bearcat Brown for the NWA title 2 out of 3 falls. The noise the emotion that flowed down from the upper reaches of the auditorium was something – even as I type this – It still gives me a chill remembering that match.” “My other most-memorable” match was the first Rochester main event – Dick Beyer vs Fritz “The Claw” Von Erich. It was the first time in my life to learn I could produce sweat stains under my arms” “(I think my parents were a bit concerned as to what had gone on at those matches—to cause their son to get so worked up.)” “How you jumped over all the ropes, the blood, the noise, the crowd – It is still so clear!” |
Doctor
X Jeff Mamola from Ft. Worth, Texas recently wrote and I quote, “ I grew up when professional wrestling was professional wrestling, not the glitz and glamour that it is now. I remember sitting around the television watching UHF (remember when they called it that) and the Verne Gagne Wrestling out of Minneapolis – the mighty AWA Dr. X - your alter ego – was definitely one of my favorites. Even when you were a heel – Dr. X was my favorite. I remember just waiting for you to slap the figure 4 leg lock on your opponent. Probably the two best matches that stick out in my mind were the time Cowboy Bill Watts challenged you to put the figure 4 on him – then all heck broke loose and he took off your mask. You covered up and we couldn’t see your face. Let me tell you that everyone in my house was screaming at the TV to see your face. Great television! The other one I remember is when The Crusher was doing that judge Character – wearing a robe and holding a sledgehammer – and he took a swing at your face with the sledge – you ducked (knew you would) and again all heck broke loose and everyone in my house was again screaming like crazy. Thanks for all the excitement you provided! I yearn for the good old days – when wrestling was moves and holds. Again, thanks for the memories that will never be forgotten.” Jeff Mamola Ft. Worth, Texas |
| A
Sincere Fan
I am age 60 and discovered professional
wrestling in the mid to late '50's. From the beginning, I was attracted
to the business-end" of wrestling; Bill Sellier |
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