Early Life and Wrestling Roots
Kurt Beyer was born on September 23, 1960, in Buffalo, New York, into one of wrestling’s most unique family situations. His father, the legendary masked wrestler Dick “The Destroyer” Beyer, was one of the most famous foreign stars in Japanese wrestling history. Growing up, Kurt’s childhood was less about little league and more about locker rooms, arenas, and long road trips.
Raised in Akron, New York, and later in Tokyo, Japan, young Kurt had an unusual upbringing. He was constantly surrounded by stars of the National Wrestling Alliance during his father’s tours, rubbing shoulders with names like Nick Bockwinkel, George “The Animal” Steele, Maurice and Paul Vachon, and his uncle Billy Red Lyons. There’s even a story from 1964 when, as a child, Kurt twice leapt over the guardrail to “save” his father in a match against Mr. Moto, forcing the timekeeper to restrain him for the rest of the bout.
In Japan, where his father became a national icon during the boom of All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Kurt immersed himself in sports. He became an amateur wrestling standout and won the Far East Heavyweight Championship in 1979, an achievement that foreshadowed his eventual step into the squared circle.
Before Wrestling: Journalism and Corporate Work
Unlike many second-generation wrestlers, Kurt did not immediately chase a wrestling career. After graduating from the University of San Francisco, he pursued journalism, working as a writer and editor for The Daily Yomiuri, one of Japan’s largest English-language newspapers. He later shifted into advertising, working for Tokyo-based Odyssey, Inc..
But by 1990, the pull of wrestling proved too strong to resist. At 30 years old—an age when many wrestlers are already veterans—Kurt decided to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Training in the Dojo
Kurt returned to the U.S. to train at his father’s Destroyer Pro-Wrestling Academy in New York before heading back to Japan, where he was accepted into the notoriously grueling All Japan Pro Wrestling dojo. This was no ceremonial pass for being The Destroyer’s son; AJPW’s dojo had one of the toughest regimens in the world. Training demanded 1,000 sit-ups, 500 squats, 1,000 push-ups, endless sparring, and 300–500 bumps (falls) every day.
He even trained under future AJPW legend Kenta Kobashi, and was one of the rare foreigners allowed into the dojo system.
All Japan Pro Wrestling Career (1993–1994)
Kurt made his official AJPW debut in January 1993, competing regularly at Tokyo’s iconic Budokan Hall. He faced established stars, including a singles match against Dory Funk Jr. on February 28, 1993, and later teamed with Al Perezin a losing effort against Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas on June 1.
Teaming with His Father
The highlight of Kurt’s career—and a historic moment in Japanese wrestling—came in July 1993 when he teamed with his father, The Destroyer, for his father’s farewell tour. In what was billed as the first father-son tag team match in Japanese wrestling history, Kurt joined The Destroyer and Giant Baba in a six-man tag match against Masao Inoue, Haruka Eigen, and Masa Fuchi.
The match, held on July 29, 1993, at a sold-out Budokan Hall, was a major media event in Japan. It symbolized the passing of the torch, as The Destroyer—beloved in Japan since the 1960s—finished his career alongside his son.
1994 Summer Action Series
Kurt returned for the 1994 Summer Action Series, working alongside an American contingent that included Terry Gordy, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, Tom Zenk, Abdullah the Butcher, Johnny Ace, and The Eagle.
Highlights included:
-
Teaming with Tom Zenk in a loss to Jun Akiyama & Tamon Honda.
-
A singles match against Tom Zenk at Korakuen Hall on July 21, 1994.
-
A six-man tag victory at Budokan on July 28, teaming with Terry Gordy & Richard Slinger against Tom Zenk, The Eagle & Johnny Smith.
Although Kurt’s AJPW tenure was brief, it placed him on big stages against world-class opponents and gave him a unique role in his father’s celebrated sendoff.
European Tour: Catch Wrestling Association
In the mid-1990s, Kurt also competed in Europe’s Catch Wrestling Association (CWA), based in Germany and Austria. There, he feuded with Franz Schumann over the CWA Middleweight Championship, wrestling in cities like Bremen. While he didn’t capture the belt, the program added international depth to his résumé.
Later Career in the U.S.
By the 2000s, Kurt Beyer was working primarily in the United States, wrestling on the independent circuit. In 2002, he won the IAW Television Championship from “Flying” Andy Chene in Indiana All-Star Wrestling. He later dropped the belt back to Chene in July 2003 at Clash at the Cove in South Bend, Indiana—a show that also featured legends like Hacksaw Jim Duggan, The Barbarian, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
He wrestled sporadically afterward, including:
-
2004: Appearing at South Bend’s Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium.
-
2005: A rematch loss to Andy Chene.
Championships and Accomplishments
-
IAW Television Championship (1 time)
Legacy
While Kurt Beyer never reached the same fame as his legendary father, his career was unique. He balanced journalism and corporate life with a mid-life plunge into one of the toughest training environments in professional wrestling. He competed in Japan’s AJPW at its peak, wrestled across Europe, and capped his father’s legendary run by standing in the ring with him during his final matches.
For Japanese fans, the image of The Destroyer raising his son’s hand in Budokan Hall remains a poignant moment—a symbol of legacy, family, and the bridge between generations of wrestling.