Bruce Alan Woyan, a renowned American professional wrestler, initially entered the world of wrestling in 1978, commencing his illustrious career within the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliate, Jim Crockett Promotions, a prominent entity in the professional wrestling landscape.
Sawyer's professional wrestling career commenced with a stint in Jim Crockett Promotions, where he spent considerable time, punctuated by brief intervals in Georgia Championship Wrestling, until the year 1984. Throughout this period, he primarily teamed up with his brother, Brett Sawyer, and engaged in a long-standing feud with The Road Warriors, following his departure from their manager, Paul Ellering's, esteemed wrestling organization, known as the Legion of Doom.
Sawyer's illustrious professional wrestling career was characterized by a series of intense and memorable rivalries, with one of the most notable being his prolonged and often brutal feud with the talented Tommy Rich. This tumultuous tenure was marked by a string of bloody and physically demanding matches, each one pushing the limits of both competitors to the extreme.
Among the most storied and celebrated of these showdowns was the "Last Battle of Atlanta," a historic and groundbreaking encounter that took place in the year 1984. This electrifying contest was distinguished by its unique and innovative setting: a completely enclosed cage, suspended a staggering 20 feet above the ring, which was carefully crafted to ensure the utmost safety and security for all involved, particularly Paul Ellering, who was present to oversee the proceedings.
The legendary match between Sawyer and Rich served as the catalyst for the conception of the Hell in the Cell concept, a notorious stipulation that would go on to be famously employed by the WWE. This landmark encounter was accompanied by a promise that Sawyer and Rich would never again step into the ring together, their rivalry brought to a definitive close.
In the aftermath of this monumental bout, Rich suffered a devastating loss to Ted DiBiase in a loser leaves town match, a crushing defeat that left his career hanging precariously in the balance.
However, Rich refused to accept his fate, and the following week, he made a dramatic reappearance on television, his identity shrouded in mystery as he emerged from beneath a mask, introducing himself to the world as the enigmatic Mr. R.
Sawyer embarked on a brief yet notable sojourn within the realm of professional wrestling, specifically within the esteemed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) organization in the year 1984, adopting the moniker "Bulldog" Buzz Sawyer, with the illustrious Captain Lou Albano serving as his trusted manager.
Throughout his tenure, Sawyer's on-screen persona was characterized by a distinctive array of gimmicks, including the donning of a dog chain, the employment of a distinctive barking sound effect, and the execution of a novel finishing maneuver known as the "bulldog" finisher.
Following his departure from the World Wrestling Federation, the individual in question made a significant appearance in the National Wrestling Alliance territory, specifically Championship Wrestling from Florida, where he found himself under the psychological manipulation and control of the enigmatic and cunning Kevin Sullivan.
During this time, he engaged in a series of intense and often brutal feuds with a trio of formidable opponents, including the esteemed Mike Graham, the legendary Dusty Rhodes, and the cunning and agile Adrian Street.
In the year 1985, a pivotal moment in the career of the esteemed professional wrestler, Sawyer, unfolded as he transitioned to the renowned Mid-South Wrestling organization, where he had the privilege of being mentored by the accomplished Dick Slater. During his tenure, Sawyer achieved a significant milestone by claiming the coveted Mid-South Television Championship title.
However, Sawyer's subsequent quest for the North American title culminated in a title loss, which led to a rift between him and Slater. The situation escalated when Sawyer refused to relinquish the Mid-South TV belt back to his mentor, ultimately resulting in his departure from the promotion.
Sawyer's illustrious career trajectory next took him to the esteemed World Class Championship Wrestling, where he embarked on a collaborative venture with the talented Matt Borne, forging a formidable tag team that ultimately went on to claim the coveted WCWA Tag Team Championship. In addition to this impressive achievement, Sawyer also distinguished himself by capturing the WCWA Television Championship and the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, thereby solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with within the wrestling realm. Notably, his tenure at WCW also saw him engage in a series of intense and highly publicized feuds with the formidable Brian Adias, further cementing his reputation as a formidable competitor.
Sawyer, a wrestler of considerable renown, found himself entangled in a heated rivalry with the formidable Dingo Warrior, a legendary grappler in his own right. This bitter feud culminated in a shocking turn of events, as Sawyer's tag team partnership was terminated, with Master Gee serving as his substitute, when Warrior and Lance Von Erich emerged victorious in a high-stakes match. The aftermath of this defeat proved to be particularly devastating for Sawyer, as he was reportedly relieved of his duties following a failed drug test, a development that sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling community.
After a brief hiatus, he made his triumphant return to World Championship Wrestling in 1989, as a key player in Gary Hart's formidable J-Tex Corporation, a faction that was deeply embroiled in a bitter and intense feud with the legendary Four Horsemen stable.
Throughout this period, he engaged in a series of grueling and hard-hitting matches against the cunning and ruthless Arn Anderson, a rival who would stop at nothing to emerge victorious.
As the year drew to a close, he made the bold decision to abandon his association with the J-Tex Corporation and join forces with the enigmatic and brutal Kevin Sullivan, the mastermind behind the notorious "Slaughterhouse" stable.
Sawyer, a professional wrestler, suffered a wrist fracture as a result of his triumph in a tag team match, partnering with Sullivan, against The Dynamic Dudes, at the Wrestle War event held in 1990.
After leaving World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1991, Sawyer's life took a tragic turn. He passed away at his Sacramento, California apartment on February 7, 1992, due to heart failure, which was ultimately caused by a drug overdose.
