Rest in Peace "Nature Boy" 3.0

Rest in peace Buddy Landel

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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The wrestling world is mourning once again this week, as "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel has died.  He was just 53 years old.  Reports indicate he had been involved in a car a few days earlier, and was found unresponsive Monday.  No other details have been released as of this writing.

I remember Landel from his days in the NWA under the management of JJ Dillion.  This was prior to the Four Horsemen and the other "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.  Both men used the moniker, but of course Buddy Rogers was the originator of the name.  Flair beat Landel, who was talented in my opinion, but stayed on the midcard for the most part.  I loved his corkscrew elbow drop.  He had the trademark bleach blond hair and fancy robes too.

Landel vs. Bob Holly during his brief WWF run
Photo courtesy: WWE

Landel bounced around to various independent promotions, including a pretty successful run with Jim Cornette's Smokey Mountain Wrestling.  That led to matches with WWF Superstars like Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart as the two companies worked together briefly.  Landel also wrestled for a short time for WWF and against Ahmed Johnson at In Your House: Seasons Beatings in December 1995.  That contest lasted under a minute with Johnson winning.  I'm pretty sure Landel faded away from the WWF at that point.  He did wrestle at least one other time in 1999 against Triple H in an enhancement match.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Landel's family, friends and fans.  Rest in peace, Nature Boy.