Pro wrestler ‘Nature Boy’ Buddy Landel dies at 53

[RandySF]

Former pro wrestler “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel died on Monday, wrestling officials confirmed.

Landel, a 53-year-old cautionary tale, was once among the superstars of the NWA but flamed out in a long-running battle with drug addiction.

He died in his sleep at his home in Virginia — a day after he was involved in a car crash, WATE reported.

The cause of death wasn’t immediately clear.

Landel cleaned up in his later years and spoke candidly about the hard-partying ways of his youth.


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/pro-wrestler-nature-boy-buddy-landel-dies-53-article-1.2268570

[NaturalHigh]

1. "The cause of death wasn’t immediately clear."

He had a car wreck a few days back. As I understand it, he checked himself out of the hospital and went home then died from undetected injuries.

I saw Buddy many times when he worked for Bill Watts in Tulsa. Always a great worker.

[RandySF]

2. I remember his short stint at WCW

and wondered why he was gone so quickly.

[NaturalHigh]

3. Reputation.

He could still work, but by then he had a bad reputation as a drugged-out no-show artist. It's too bad because he was really starting to straighten himself up some by then. Of course, by then Dusty was the booker, and he was the one who had fired Landell back in 1985 for a major no-show.