Dean Peters
Encyclopedia
Dean R. Peters was an American
professional wrestler and referee
. He was perhaps best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name
s Brady Boone and Battle Kat.
promotion. He debuted for the territory under the ring name Brady Boone, and was billed as the cousin of Billy Jack Haynes
. After teaming with Haynes, Boone went on to win the Tag Team Championship
twice, first with Coco Samoa on March 29 and then with Ricky Santana
on October 4.
with the World Wrestling Federation in late 1986 until early 1988. Despite his role as an enhancement talent, Boone won a few times at house show
s and even wrestled against the Honky Tonk Man
for the Intercontinental Championship
on the December 8, 1987 and the May 10, 1988 episodes of Superstars
.
On September 13, 1990, Peters debuted at a house show as Battle Kat, a character which saw him don a cat mask
and utilize his gymnastics background to further emphasize him as a "cat", and defeated The Brooklyn Brawler
. Six days later, Battle Kat won his televised debut match after defeating Bob Bradley on the September 19 episode of Wrestling Challenge
. Battle Kat would remain undefeated on house shows and defeated Paul Diamond on the October 30 episode of Wrestling Challenge before being released from his contract.
's only pay-per-view
, Beach Blast on June 9, 1991, where he and Jim Cooper lost to The Blackhearts (Apocalypse and Destruction
). Fire Cat later wrestled in the Florida
-based Suncoast Pro Wrestling, where he won its Tag Team Championship with Jerry Lynn
. After losing the title, Peters took another hiatus before debuting in New Japan Pro Wrestling
under his Fire Cat name on March 4, 1992, losing a tag team match with Richard Slinger to Lt. James Earl Wright
and Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker
.
in 1993, and debuted on the December 7 episode of Saturday Night
under his old Brady Boone ring name, losing a tag team match with Scott Studd to Pretty Wonderful
(Paul Orndorff
and Paul Roma
). On the January 10, 1994 episode of Saturday Night, Boone lost to Steve Austin
. After being off television for several months, Boone wrestled his final match on the July 23 episode of Saturday Night, where he defeated Rip Rogers
. After retiring from in-ring action, Boone remained with the company as a referee.
Despite being smaller than most competitors, Peters inspired several up-and-coming wrestlers with his athleticism, most notably Rob Van Dam
. Both would later meet for the first time while Peters was wrestling in Florida for Suncoast Pro Wrestling. Peters helped Van Dam during his early years in wrestling, which included the successful persuasion of Giant Baba
to allow Van Dam to tour in All Japan Pro Wrestling
. The last time Van Dam saw Peters was also the only time he actually wrestled him. In tribute, Van Dam utilizes moves that Peters himself used.
in 1976 alongside fellow future wrestlers Curt Hennig
, Tom Zenk
and Rick Rude
. John Nord
and Nikita Koloff
(class of 1977) as well as Barry Darsow
(class of 1978) also attended RHS with Peters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler and referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
. He was perhaps best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
s Brady Boone and Battle Kat.
Debut (1984–1986)
Peters started his career in 1984 working for Don Owen's NWA Pacific Northwest WrestlingPacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925...
promotion. He debuted for the territory under the ring name Brady Boone, and was billed as the cousin of Billy Jack Haynes
Billy Jack Haynes
William Albert Haynes, III is a retired American professional wrestler better known as Billy Jack Haynes.-Early career :...
. After teaming with Haynes, Boone went on to win the Tag Team Championship
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship
The NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S...
twice, first with Coco Samoa on March 29 and then with Ricky Santana
Aldo Ortiz
Aldo Ortiz , better known as Ricky Santana, is a professional wrestler who has worked for World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation, World Wrestling Council and the National Wrestling Alliance.-Professional wrestling career:...
on October 4.
World Wrestling Federation (1986–1990)
While wrestling for PNW, Peters, while retaining the Brady Boone name, and Haynes also worked as an enhancement talent tag teamTag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
with the World Wrestling Federation in late 1986 until early 1988. Despite his role as an enhancement talent, Boone won a few times at house show
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
s and even wrestled against the Honky Tonk Man
Honky Tonk Man
Honky Tonk Man may refer to:*The Honky Tonk Man, ring name of professional wrestler Roy Wayne Farris*Honkytonk Man, 1982 American film starring Clint Eastwood*Honky Tonk Man , 1975 album by country singer Steve Young...
for the Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
on the December 8, 1987 and the May 10, 1988 episodes of Superstars
WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It debuted on September 6, 1986...
.
On September 13, 1990, Peters debuted at a house show as Battle Kat, a character which saw him don a cat mask
Wrestling mask
A Wrestling mask is a fabric based mask that some professional wrestlers wear as part of their in-ring persona or gimmick. Professional wrestlers have been using masks as far back as 1915 and they are still widely used today, especially in Lucha Libre in Mexico.-History:In 1915 a North American...
and utilize his gymnastics background to further emphasize him as a "cat", and defeated The Brooklyn Brawler
Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi is an Italian American professional wrestler, and road agent. He is also known by his ring name Brooklyn Brawler...
. Six days later, Battle Kat won his televised debut match after defeating Bob Bradley on the September 19 episode of Wrestling Challenge
WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Challenge is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was syndicated weekly and aired from 1986 to 1996. The show premiered as WWF Wrestling Challenge and became simply known as WWF Challenge in 1995. The show featured matches, pre-match...
. Battle Kat would remain undefeated on house shows and defeated Paul Diamond on the October 30 episode of Wrestling Challenge before being released from his contract.
Independent circuit (1991, 1992)
Upon leaving the WWF, Peters took a brief hiatus before appearing at the Universal Wrestling FederationUniversal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)
The Universal Wrestling Federation was an American wrestling promotion based out of Marina del Rey, California.-History:Herb Abrams founded the UWF in 1990 with hopes of returning professional wrestling back to its roots...
's only pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, Beach Blast on June 9, 1991, where he and Jim Cooper lost to The Blackhearts (Apocalypse and Destruction
David Heath (wrestler)
David William Heath is an American professional wrestler and pornographic film director. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Gangrel.-Beginning:...
). Fire Cat later wrestled in the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-based Suncoast Pro Wrestling, where he won its Tag Team Championship with Jerry Lynn
Jerry Lynn
Jeremy "Jerry" Lynn is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. After losing the title, Peters took another hiatus before debuting in New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
under his Fire Cat name on March 4, 1992, losing a tag team match with Richard Slinger to Lt. James Earl Wright
Dale Veasey
Dale Veasey is a retired American professional wrestler, best known by his ringname Lt. James Earl Wright, who competed in North American regional promotions including the Mid-South region and the National Wrestling Alliance, particularly the Georgia and Florida territories, as well as brief...
and Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker
Dwayne Bruce
Dwayne Bruce is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker. Bruce was a trainer at the WCW Power Plant wrestling school.-Professional wrestling career:...
.
World Championship Wrestling (1993–1998)
After yet another hiatus, Peters signed with World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
in 1993, and debuted on the December 7 episode of Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night TV show on TBS produced by World Championship Wrestling. The program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992...
under his old Brady Boone ring name, losing a tag team match with Scott Studd to Pretty Wonderful
Pretty Wonderful
Pretty Wonderful was a professional wrestling tag team composed of "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and "Pretty" Paul Roma who competed in World Championship Wrestling in 1993 and 1994-The making of the team:...
(Paul Orndorff
Paul Orndorff
Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
and Paul Roma
Paul Roma
Paul Roma is a professional wrestler who is known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling primarily as a tag-team wrestler alongside such partners as Jim Powers, Hercules, Arn Anderson and Paul Orndorff.-World Wrestling Federation :Paul Roma entered...
). On the January 10, 1994 episode of Saturday Night, Boone lost to Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
. After being off television for several months, Boone wrestled his final match on the July 23 episode of Saturday Night, where he defeated Rip Rogers
Rip Rogers
Mark Sciarra whose professional name is Rip Rogers is a former professional wrestler and trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling. He is currently a trainer for Derby City Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky.-Career:...
. After retiring from in-ring action, Boone remained with the company as a referee.
Death and legacy
On December 15, 1998 while driving home to Tampa, Florida from a WCW television taping in Orlando, Peters died in an automobile accident.Despite being smaller than most competitors, Peters inspired several up-and-coming wrestlers with his athleticism, most notably Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. Both would later meet for the first time while Peters was wrestling in Florida for Suncoast Pro Wrestling. Peters helped Van Dam during his early years in wrestling, which included the successful persuasion of Giant Baba
Shohei Baba
was a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba. Baba, along with Antonio Inoki, became one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers of his era, with a popularity in Japan comparable to Hulk Hogan's in the United States of America...
to allow Van Dam to tour in All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
. The last time Van Dam saw Peters was also the only time he actually wrestled him. In tribute, Van Dam utilizes moves that Peters himself used.
Personal life
Peters attended Robbinsdale High SchoolRobbinsdale Armstrong High School
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School is a high school located in Plymouth, Minnesota, a second-tier suburb of Minneapolis...
in 1976 alongside fellow future wrestlers Curt Hennig
Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig , also known by the ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who worked for, among other promotions, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World...
, Tom Zenk
Tom Zenk
Thomas Erwin "Tom" Zenk is a former Mr. Minnesota Bodybuilder, and most notably a American professional wrestler, also known by his nickname Z-Man.-Early career:...
and Rick Rude
Richard Rood
Richard Erwin Rood , better known by his ring name "Ravishing" Rick Rude, was an American professional wrestler who performed for many promotions, including World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation , in the 1980s and 1990s.Among other accolades, Rude was a four-time world...
. John Nord
John Nord
John Nord is a retired American professional wrestler. He lives in Bozeman, Montana.-Career:John Nord started wrestling in late 1984 as "The Barbarian" for Mid-South Wrestling under manager Skandor Akbar...
and Nikita Koloff
Nikita Koloff
Nikita Koloff is a retired American professional wrestler,. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he wrestled as "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff, which was a play on the nickname of fan favorite "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes .Nikita was brought into the National...
(class of 1977) as well as Barry Darsow
Barry Darsow
Barry Darsow is a former American professional wrestler who is known as Smash, one half of the tag team Demolition, and as Krusher Kruschev, Repo Man, and The Blacktop Bully...
(class of 1978) also attended RHS with Peters.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
- Victory roll
- Moonsault
- Signature moves
- Frankensteiner
- Superkick
Championships and accomplishments
- Pacific Northwest WrestlingPacific Northwest WrestlingPacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925...
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S...
(2 times) – with Coco Samoa (1) and Ricky SantanaAldo OrtizAldo Ortiz , better known as Ricky Santana, is a professional wrestler who has worked for World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation, World Wrestling Council and the National Wrestling Alliance.-Professional wrestling career:...
(1)
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship
- Suncoast Pro Wrestling
- SPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jerry LynnJerry LynnJeremy "Jerry" Lynn is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
- SPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jerry Lynn
Further reading
- Bernstein, Ross. Grappling Glory: Celebrating A Century Of Minnesota Wrestling & Rassling. Minneapolis: Nodin Press, 2004. ISBN 1-932472-31-2