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Brett Sawyer

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Brett Sawyer
Birth nameBrett Eugene Woyan[1][2]
Born(1960-08-10)August 10, 1960[1]
Orlando, Florida, U.S.[3]
Died8 September 2023(2023-09-08) (aged 63)
FamilyBuzz Sawyer (brother)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Brett Sawyer[3]
Brett Wayne[3]
Brett Wayne Sawyer[3]
The Bubble Gum Kid[3]
Billed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Billed weight224 lb (102 kg)[3]
Trained byBuzz Sawyer[2]
Ricky Steamboat[2]
Debut1976[2]
Retired1998[3]

Brett Eugene Woyan (10 August 1960 – 8 September 2023) was an American professional wrestling trainer and professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Brett Sawyer.[1][2][3]

Early life

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Woyan grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. He attended Dixie M. Hollins High School, where he took part in amateur wrestling.[2]

Professional wrestling career

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Brett (right) and Buzz Sawyer (left), circa 1980s

Woyan was trained to wrestle by Ricky Steamboat and his elder brother Bruce Woyan, who wrestled as Buzz Sawyer. He debuted in 1976 at the age of 16.[2] Woyan eventually adopted the ring name "Hacksaw" Brett Sawyer and formed a tag team with his brother. In the early 1980s, Sawyer competed for the Portland, Oregon–based Pacific Northwest Wrestling promotion. Between 1982 and 1984, he held the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship four times and the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship five times.[2][4][1] In 1983 and 1984, the Sawyers competed for the Atlanta, Georgia–based Georgia Championship Wrestling promotion, where they feuded with The Road Warriors, defeating them for the NWA National Tag Team Championship in 1983. Sawyer also won the NWA National Heavyweight Championship in 1983.[2][4][1][5] In 1984, Sawyer wrestled for the San Antonio, Texas–based Southwest Championship Wrestling promotion, winning the SCW Southwest Tag Team Championship with Chicky Starr.[4][1]

In early 1985, Sawyer began wrestling for the Charlotte, North Carolina–based Jim Crockett Promotions, with he and his brother losing a "loser leaves town" cage match to The Midnight Express in September 1985.[6] In late 1985, he wrestled for the Kansas City, Missouri–based Heart of America Sports Attractions promotion, winning the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship.[4][1] Sawyer returned to Jim Crockett Promotions in 1986, competing in the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament.[6] In 1987, Sawyer and his brother toured Japan with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, competing in the NJPW New Year Dash 1987.[6] In 1989, Sawyer wrestled for Championship Wrestling from Florida, where he teamed with Jim Backlund as "The Playboys". The duo briefly held the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship in the summer of 1989.[4] In the late-1980s, the Sawyer brothers trained Ken Shamrock to wrestle.[7] In 1991, Sawyer wrestled three matches for World Championship Wrestling as "Brett Wayne".[6]

Sawyer retired from professional wrestling in 1998.[3] He opened a professional wrestling school in St. Petersburg, Florida called Mad Dog's Palace School of Professional Wrestling.[2]

Personal life and death

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Woyan was married with two children.[2]

Woyan's elder brother, Bruce Alan Woyan, was also a professional wrestler under the ring name Buzz Sawyer. On February 7, 1992, Bruce Woyan died of drug overdose-induced heart failure.[2] Woyan's nephew, Bruce Woyan's son Travis, also wrestled.[3]

Brett Woyan died on 8 September 2023, at the age of 63.[8]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Harris M. Lentz III (October 21, 2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 311. ISBN 978-1-4766-0505-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Russo, Ric (October 20, 2000). "What Ever Happened to...Brett Sawyer?". Orlando Sentinel. Tronc. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Brett Sawyer". Cagematch.de. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Brett Sawyer: Titles". Cagematch.de. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  5. ^ Joe Laurinaitis; Andrew William Wright (February 8, 2011). The Road Warriors: Danger, Death and the Rush of Wrestling: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling. Medallion Media Group. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-1-60542-164-3.
  6. ^ a b c d "Brett Sawyer: Career". Cagematch.de. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  7. ^ Frank Shamrock; Charles Fleming (2012). Uncaged: My Life as a Champion MMA Fighter. Chicago Review Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-61374-465-9.
  8. ^ Upton, Felix (September 9, 2023). "Brett Wayne Sawyer Passes Away At 68-Years-Old". Ringside News. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  9. ^ Rodgers, Mike (2004). "Regional Territories: PNW #16 Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
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