Michael Bowyer was a professional wrestler known as "The California Hippie." Before his wrestling career, he was a judo champion in the Marines and qualified for the 1964 Olympics, but an injury forced him to withdraw. He debuted in 1966 and, although he had some opportunities, he never won major titles. In the 1980s, he tried to revive his career with a character called Grenade Boyer, but it was unsuccessful. He passed away in 2012 in Alabama, leaving behind a large family.