10 Most Iconic Masks In Wrestling History

7. The Destroyer

Wrestling Masks
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When it comes to old-school wrestlers, they don't get much tougher than Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer. Originally breaking into the sport as a babyface, when The Destroyer donned the mask and turned heel, his career took off. In 1962, he won the WWA World Heavyweight Title, making him a star in both the U.S. and Japan.

Beyer's career continued to rise, as he would claim the AWA World Heavyweight Championship (under the name Dr. X), then return to Japan later in his career to headline for fledgling promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling.

During the time that The Destroyer became a star, he was recognized for his fearsome look - which involved a unique mask. Revealing almost as much as it covered, The Destroyer's mask had holes for his piercing eyes, his broken grin, and perhaps most unusually, his enormous nose. He looked like a barroom brawler in the mold of Dick the Bruiser or The Crusher, but for some reason, he'd decided to stuff his head in a sweatsock. Fans didn't ask why, they simply cowered.

 
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Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried. *Best Crowd of the Year, 2013