When wrestling fans of the 1980s and early 1990s look back, they often remember the larger-than-life heroes — Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, The Road Warriors — and the legendary rivalries that defined an era. But the industry also thrived on a crucial tier of performers: tough, reliable professionals who could anchor a tag division, generate heat as villains, and help make stars out of others. Wayne Bloom was one of those men. Best known as half of the Destruction Crew in the AWA and later as one of the flamboyant Beverly Brothers in the WWF, Bloom carved out a career defined by teamwork, adaptability, and consistency.
Early Days and Training
Born March 22, 1958, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, Wayne Bloom was part of a region with an unusually high output of professional wrestling talent. The Minneapolis area produced legends like Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Nikita Koloff, Barry Darsow, and the Road Warriors. Bloom followed the same path, training under the respected Eddie Sharkey, who had also molded many of his contemporaries.
Initially billed as Wayne “The Train” Bloom, he broke into the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the late 1980s. At first, his singles career failed to gain traction. A telling moment came at SuperClash III in 1988, where he was dispatched in just 24 seconds by veteran Jimmy Valiant. For many, such a defeat would be discouraging. For Bloom, it was a catalyst: he needed a partner, and Sharkey had just the man.
The Destruction Crew: AWA’s Bruising Tag Team
In 1989, Bloom teamed with fellow Sharkey student Mike Enos, creating the Destruction Crew. Where Bloom had struggled alone, the chemistry with Enos was immediate. Together, they presented a throwback tag team: rugged, no-nonsense villains with a cruel streak. Their gimmick revolved around being construction-site bullies, hard hats and all, who were willing to cheat, brawl, and injure opponents to climb the ladder.
The team’s breakout came when they issued a bizarre but memorable car-lifting challenge to AWA Tag Team Champions Ken Patera and Brad Rheingans. Predictably, it was a ruse. Bloom and Enos attacked the champions, kayfabe injuring them and forcing the belts to be vacated. The Destruction Crew entered the subsequent tournament and ran through the field, defeating Sgt. Slaughter and Baron Von Raschke in the semifinals and then Greg Gagne and Paul Diamond in the finals. Overnight, they were AWA World Tag Team Champions.
Their reign was marked by brutal feuds and a reputation for underhanded tactics. In 1989, Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers voted them “Rookie of the Year,” making them the only tag team to ever win the award. In a company struggling against WWF and WCW dominance, the Destruction Crew were among the AWA’s last notable homegrown acts.
They dropped the belts in August 1990 to The Trooper (Del Wilkes) and D.J. Peterson, but the Crew’s impact was undeniable. Bloom, once dismissed as a 24-second jobber, was now half of one of wrestling’s most respected villain tag teams.
WCW: The Minnesota Wrecking Crew II
Even as the AWA crumbled, Bloom and Enos caught the attention of World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In 1990, they were brought in under masks as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew II, a modern tribute to the original Anderson family team. Managed by Ole Anderson, they were positioned as bruisers in the NWA tag division.
While the gimmick had lineage, the Crew II struggled to escape the shadow of their predecessors. They had high-profile matches against the Steiner Brothers but failed to capture the NWA Tag Team Championships. Complicating matters, Bloom and Enos were still working for the AWA simultaneously — and, in fact, held the AWA Tag Team Titles during their WCW stint.
The double duty underscored their workhorse status but limited their upward mobility in WCW. By 1991, with the AWA shutting down and WCW moving in different directions, Bloom and Enos looked elsewhere.
WWF: From Construction Helmets to Purple Capes
In May 1991, Bloom and Enos signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), rebranded as the Beverly Brothers. Bloom became Beau Beverly, with Enos as Blake. Gone were the hard hats and steel-toed boots; in their place were bleach-blonde perms, matching purple tights, and sequined capes. Their new gimmick: spoiled, arrogant rich boys who sneered at the fans.
Managed first by Coach John Tolos and later by The Genius (Lanny Poffo), the Beverly Brothers were pushed as an upper-tier heel team in a crowded WWF tag division. They debuted on pay-per-view at Survivor Series 1991, part of a victorious heel squad. At the 1992 Royal Rumble, they defeated the Bushwhackers in a comedic undercard bout, solidifying their place as villains fans loved to hate.
Their biggest moment came at SummerSlam 1992, where they challenged the Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon) for the WWF Tag Team Championship. Though they lost, the match marked their peak positioning in the company.
By late 1992, however, the Beverlys were being used more as enhancement heels. They lost at Survivor Series 1992 in an elimination match and were fed to the resurgent Steiner Brothers at the 1993 Royal Rumble. The shift reflected WWF’s changing priorities: newer teams like Money Inc., the Steiners, and the Headshrinkers had taken precedence.
In 1993, Bloom quietly left the WWF and semi-retired.
Later Career and Final Years
Though Bloom had largely stepped away from the spotlight, he wasn’t done entirely. He worked sporadically on the independent circuit, including appearances during the dying days of Herb Abrams’ UWF, where chaos reigned but opportunities for veterans lingered.
In 1998, Bloom briefly reunited with Enos in WCW, part of a nostalgia-driven tag team revival. But by 1999, after more than a decade in the business, Bloom retired for good. His career had taken him across three major promotions, highlighted by title runs in the AWA and pay-per-view appearances in both WWF and WCW.
Legacy
Wayne Bloom may not have been a main-event name, but his career is a testament to the importance of tag team wrestling and the role of the professional heel. With Mike Enos, he formed one of the last truly memorable duos of the AWA, helping keep the promotion relevant in its waning days. In WWF, the Beverly Brothers gimmick may have been over-the-top, but it gave the tag division depth and memorable moments, from feuds with the Legion of Doom to big-stage matches at SummerSlam and Royal Rumble.
For fans of 1980s and early ’90s tag wrestling, Bloom’s name still resonates. He was tough, adaptable, and consistent — a wrestler who played his role with commitment, whether as a construction-site bruiser or a spoiled rich brat.
Personal Life and Family
Beyond the ring, Bloom’s legacy continues through his son Cal Bloom (born 1994). Trained at the WWE Performance Center, Cal signed with WWE in 2019. By September 2021, he debuted on NXT under the ring name Von Wagner, quickly establishing himself as a rising star with the size and athleticism to succeed. For Wayne Bloom, whose own career was defined by tag teams and supporting roles, seeing his son positioned as a future main-eventer represents a new chapter in the Bloom wrestling lineage.
Championships and Accomplishments
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American Wrestling Association (AWA)
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AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Enos
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Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year (1989, shared with Mike Enos)
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World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
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Survivor Series 1991 & 1992 appearances
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Royal Rumble 1992 & 1993 tag matches
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SummerSlam 1992 WWF Tag Team Championship challenger
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Conclusion
Wayne Bloom’s story is not one of wrestling superstardom, but of steady, essential contribution. In the AWA, he was part of a team that carried the tag division in its final years. In WCW, he represented Minnesota toughness under the mask. In WWF, he donned sequins and arrogance to give fans a villain to boo.
Every era of wrestling needs performers like Bloom: the reliable heels, the glue guys, the ones who elevate others while building their own niche. And now, with his son carrying the torch as Von Wagner, the Bloom name continues in the squared circle.
Wayne Bloom may not have been “The Main Event,” but he was exactly what the wrestling business needed him to be — and that, in its own way, is a legacy worth celebrating.