{{Short description|American professional wrestler (1943–2012)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Mike Boyette |image = |alt = |caption = |birth_name = Michael Bowyer |names = '''Mike Boyette'''<ref name=OWOW/><br />'''The California Hippie'''<ref name=OWOW/><br />Hollywood Hippie<br />Hippie Boyette<br />Grenade Boyer<br />Grenade Bowyer<br />The Beastman<ref name=OWOW/><br />Apocalypse |height = |weight = |birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1941|4|24}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Remembering professional wrestling's hippie Mike Boyette |author=Sharp, John |url=https://www.al.com/live/2012/12/remembering_mike_the_californi.html |newspaper=AL.com |date=December 8, 2012 |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> |birth_place = Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|2012|12|6|1941|4|24}} |death_place = Alabama, U.S. |death_cause = Colon cancer |spouse = |children = Kristi Bowyer<br>Lance Bowyer<br>Steve Bowyer |billed = San Diego, California |trainer = Eddie Sharkey<br>Verne Gagne |debut = 1966<ref name=OWOW/> |retired = 1988 }} '''Michael Bowyer'''<ref name=OWOW>{{cite web|title=Mike Boyette - Wrestling Profiles|url=http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/m/mike-boyette.php|publisher=Obsessed With Wrestling|access-date=December 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212180555/http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/m/mike-boyette.php|archive-date=December 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> (April 24, 1941 – December 6, 2012), also known by the ring name '''Mike "The California Hippie" Boyette''', was an American professional wrestler, who made his debut in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remembering professional wrestling's "Hippie," Mike Boyette|url=http://blog.al.com/live/2012/12/remembering_mike_the_californi.html|publisher=The Alabama News|access-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref>
==Early life== Boyette was born in Tucson, Arizona. Prior to his career in wrestling, he became a judo champion while serving in the United States Marines and earned a place in the 1964 Olympic team in Tokyo, but broke his leg and had to give up his spot.<ref name=OWOW/>
==Professional wrestling career== In 1966, Boyette began his wrestling career and was trained by Eddie Sharkey and Verne Gagne. He became second in all three United States Tag Team title competitions. In the early 80's he was given a push in Southwest Championship Wrestling as Grenade Boyer, a heel character who could "explode" at any time. The character was not popular and Boyette was relegated to jobber. In 1985, Boyette wrestled in the Universal Wrestling Federation and had a total of 197 losses.<ref name=OWOW/>
Boyette died in Alabama, survived by his daughter Kristi Bowyer and 2 sons, Lance & Steve. He had 7 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren.
==Championships and accomplishments== *'''Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling''' **NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship (4 times) **NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Bearcat Brown, Frank Dalton and Ken Lucas **NWA United States Tag Team Championship (8 times) – with Cowboy Bob Kelly, Ken Lucas, Calvin Pullins (2), Mickey Doyle (2) and The Wrestling Pro (2) * '''NWA Mid-America''' **NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **City of Mobile Heavyweight Championship (2 times) **NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship (Alabama version) (1 time) – with Mickey Doyle
==References== ;General *{{cite web |url=http://www.kayfabememories.com/Regions/uwf/uwf32.htm |title=The Man... the Legend... the Hippy |author=Laffere, Charles |date=2004 |website=Kayfabememories.com |publisher= }} *{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2012/12/07/20416476.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625160016/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2012/12/07/20416476.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |title=Mike "The Hippie" Boyette dies |author=Oliver, Greg |date=December 7, 2012 |website=Canadian Online Explorer |publisher=SLAM! Sports }} *{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article10028728.shtml |title=WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross on the death of Mike Boyette |author=Powell, Jason |date=December 8, 2012 |website=Prowrestling.net |publisher= }}
;Specific {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://sites.google.com/site/wrestlingscout/profiles-by-country/profiles/boyette "The Hippie" Mike Boyette (1943-2012)] *[http://www.gccwhistory.com/gcwa-wrestlers/gcwa-wrestlers-k-through-s/mike-the-california-hippie-boyette/ Mike Boyette at GCCWhistory.com] *[http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=15051&name=Mike+Boyette Mike Boyette at Cagematch.net] *[http://www.oklafan.com/v4/bios/1888/profile.html Mike Boyette at Oklafan.com] *[http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=3348 Mike Boyette at Wrestlingdata.com] *[http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/mike-boyette-8442.html Professional wrestling record for Mike Boyette from The Internet Wrestling Database]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyette, Mike}} Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:1943 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Professional wrestlers from Arizona Category:United States Marines Category:People from Tucson, Arizona