 Sawyer in 1982 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bruce Alan Woyan (1959-06-14)June 14, 1959 Gallipolis, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 7, 1992(1992-02-07) (aged 32) Carmichael, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Drug overdose |
| Family | Brett Sawyer (brother) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1] |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (109 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | St. Petersburg, Florida[1] |
| Debut | 1977 |
Bruce Allen Woyan (June 14, 1959 – February 7, 1992) was an Americanprofessional wrestler, better known by hisring name"Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer.
Anamateur wrestler atDixie M. Hollins High School, he made his professional wrestling debut in 1977 and wrestled for severalNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories. Throughout his career, Sawyer wrestled forGeorgia Championship Wrestling (GCW), where he won theNWA National Heavyweight Championship andNWA National Tag Team Championship with his brotherBrett, theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF),Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), where he won theUWF Television Championship,World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he won theWCWA Television Championship,WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship andWCWA World Tag Team Championship withMatt Borne, andWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW). He also toured Japan withAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) andNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Bruce Allen Woyan was born on June 14, 1959, inGallipolis, Ohio, and grew up inSt. Petersburg, Florida, where he attendedDixie M. Hollins High School.[2][3] There, he took part inamateur wrestling and was a state champion in the 191.5 pound weight class, amassing a 32-1 record.[2][3] Woyan dropped out in 1977 to attendSeminole High School.[4] However, he only attended "for about two or three weeks" before being withdrawn by Seminole, leading to him qutting school altogether.[5][6] He briefly worked as abouncer at a bar and restaurant.[6]
Woyan decided that he wanted to be a professional wrestler at the age of five and wrestled his first match at the age of 18 againstThe Mongolian Stomper, using thering name Buzz Sawyer.[6][7] In 1979, theNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA) named him as the rookie of the year.[6] On February 16, 1980, Sawyer defeatedBobby Jaggers in the finals of a tournament to win thevacantNWA Southeastern Television Championship. The following month, he lost the title toDutch Mantel.[8] On June 8, Sawyer andMatt Borne won theNWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship by defeatingThe Iron Sheik andJimmy Snuka in a four-team tournament final, but lost the titles on September 28 toThe Sheepherders (Butch Miller andLuke Williams).[9] He also won theNWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship with his brother,Brett Sawyer, by defeatingRip Oliver andThe Destroyer on April 18, 1981. They lost the titles in a rematch on June 8.[10]
In early 1982, Sawyer began an eighteen-monthfeud withTommy Rich inGeorgia Championship Wrestling (GCW).[11] On May 2, he defeated Rich to win theNWA National Heavyweight Championship, which he lost toPaul Orndorff on June 20.[12] The following year, he became a member of theLegion of Doomstable, consisting of the Road Warriors (Hawk andAnimal),Jake "The Snake" Roberts andThe Spoiler.[1] On October 23, 1983, Sawyer lost to Rich in asteel cage match billed as the "Last Battle of Atlanta", featuring a completely enclosed cage and Sawyer'smanagerPaul Ellering suspended 20 feet above the ring in a smaller cage, ending their feud.[11] On November 27, Sawyer and Brett defeated the Road Warriors to win theNWA National Tag Team Championship. However, this title change is not recognized in Georgia.[12] AfterOle Anderson resigned as thebooker of GCW, Sawyer was given the position and spearheaded the title change.[13] The Road Warriors regained the titles in January 1984, and Sawyer was subsequently fired from GCW.[12][13]
In 1984, Sawyer briefly wrestled for theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) as "Bulldog" Buzz Sawyer, since the "Mad Dog" moniker was being used byMaurice Vachon. Managed byCaptain Lou Albano, he was often led to the ring in a dog chain and barked at fans.[1]
From October 20 to November 1, 1984, Sawyer appeared forAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) as part of the "Giant Series" tour, often teaming with Goro Tsurumi,Harley Race andTerry Gordy against the likes ofGiant Baba,Jumbo Tsuruta andThe Great Kabuki.[14]
Sawyer debuted for Mid-South Wrestling (which became theUniversal Wrestling Federation in 1986) on September 28, 1985.[15] AfterUWF Television ChampionDick Slater won theMid-South North American Heavyweight Championship, he gave the Television Championship to Sawyer to defend for him.[16] On March 16, 1986,Bill Watts tricked Sawyer into signing a contract that required him to defend Slater's North American Heavyweight Championship againstJim Duggan, ultimately losing the title.[16] Sawyer subsequentlyturned on Slater by refusing to give back the Television Championship to him.[17] On April 19, Sawyer teamed withRick Steiner in theinauguralJim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament, defeatingKoko Ware andThe Italian Stallion in the first round, before losing toMagnum T. A. andRon Garvin in the second round.[18] He then lost the Television Championship toTerry Taylor on May 25.[16]
In 1986, Sawyer left the UWF forWorld Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). On June 16, he defeatedChris Adams to win theWCWA Television Championship.[19] He also won theWCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship by defeatingBrian Adias on July 4 atIndependent Day Star Wars.[19] Later that night, he,Butch Reed and Matt Borne unsuccessfully challenged The Von Erichs (Kevin,Lance andMike) for theWCWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.[20] AtLabor Day Star Wars on September 1, Sawyer and Borne took part in a tournament for theWCWA Tag Team Championship, defeating Adams and Lance Von Erich in the finals to win the titles.[19] However, they lost the titles on November 17 to Lance andDingo Warrior, withMaster Gee substituting for Sawyer.[19] In December, Sawyer quit WCCW to open a wrestling school.[21]
Sawyer made his debut forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in January 1987 as part of the "New Year Dash" tour, teaming with his brother Brett.[22] From November 11 to December 7, 1988, Sawyer paired withKendo Nagasaki andManny Fernandez in the Japan Cup Elimination Tag League, a round-robin tournament of trios consisting of six-man tag team elimination matches. They finished with a total of 15 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[23] On April 24, 1989, Sawyer lost toVictor Zangiev in the first round of a tournament for theIWGP Heavyweight Championship.[24] He made his final NJPW appearance on August 10, teaming with Fernandez in a loss toKengo Kimura andMasa Saito.[24]
Sawyer debuted forWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) on November 1, 1989, as part ofGary Hart'sJ-Tex Corporation, feuding with theFour Horsemen.[25] AtClash of the Champions X on February 6, 1990, Sawyer,The Dragon Master andThe Great Muta lost toRic Flair and The Andersons (Arn andOle) in a steel cage match.[26] AtWrestleWar '90: Wild Thing on February 25, Sawyer andKevin Sullivan defeated The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace andShane Douglas).[27] Sawyer fractured his wrist during the match, accidentally coming down with his full weight on it after landing on Ace with aflying body press.[28] He was released from the company shortly after the event.[2] However, he returned to WCW in 1991 to work several dates in California.[2]
Woyan operated a wrestling school inSacramento, California, known as Buzz Sawyer's Pro Wrestling Academy.[7] Among the wrestlers he trained include his brother Brett,[29]Ken Shamrock,[30]Terry "Magnum T.A." Allen,[2]Tommy Rogers,[31] andMark "The Undertaker" Calaway.[32] However, Woyan had a reputation for scamming aspiring wrestlers who paid for his services; he would often take their money, legitimately hurt them, and skip town.[30][33] Calaway recounted being a victim of this scam and was involved in a backstage confrontation with Woyan over it when both men were in WCW.[34]
Woyan's younger brother,Brett Eugene Woyan, was also a professional wrestler under the ring name Brett Sawyer.[29]
Woyan was known for his antics both in and out of the ring, including his drug abuse and fighting with police outside a bar.[13][34] He was arrested forfelonious assault in July 1980 andbattery in September 1982.[35][36]
On February 7, 1992, Woyan's girlfriend found him passed out in the yard of his home inCarmichael, California.[2] He was taken toMercy San Juan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at the age of 32 fromheart failure due to adrug overdose.[3][29]
