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‘Nature Boy’ Buddy Landel Dies At 53: Found In Home After Car Accident [Video]

By Maat van Uitert
Published on: 00:58 PST, Jun 24, 2015

WWE pro wrestler Buddy Landel, also known as “Nature Boy,” was found to have died in his home after he was in a serious car accident. After the accident, Buddy was taken to a local area hospital where doctors examined him. For reasons unknown, Landel checked himself out of the hospital against medical advice.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, although the actual reasons why Buddy died are unknown and being investigated, what is known is that Buddy told his wife he was “feeling bad” and wanted to go to sleep. Landel later was found by his wife in their home in Virginia and had died, reports the New York Daily News.

Landel, who is reportedly considered a 53-year-old cautionary tale, was at one time a huge professional wrestling superstar before he died, but flamed out in a long-running battle with drug addiction.

Buddy once recalled a story in which he overslept, and, according to Sport Act, lost his role in pro wrestling.

“I fell asleep at a hotel and took a bunch of good cocaine that whole night and did a bunch of valiums. Black Bart [Rick Harris] was with me and told me that we had to go TV. I had just bought a brand new Lincoln and threw him the car keys and told him that I would catch a cab and be there later. They started [the tapings] at 9 o’clock that morning, and by 11 o’clock I had hung up on Dusty [Rhodes] and [Jim] Crockett and told them to not call me again. I was National champion at the time. When I got there, Dusty told me to give him the belt, and that I didn’t work there anymore. I said OK.”

After learning that he died, the sports entertainment giant made a statement of condolence.

“WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of William Ansor, aka ‘Nature Boy’ Buddy Landel.

Buddy Landel made his in-ring debut in 1979, performing in regional promotions before signing in 1985 with the NWA’s Jim Crockett Promotions. With flowing blond locks, glittering robes and WWE Hall of Famer J.J. Dillon in his corner, Landel set his sights on then-NWA World Champion ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. Though he left Crockett Promotions by the end of the year, Landel left his mark, defeating Terry Taylor at Starrcade 1985 to capture the NWA National Championship.

Buddy Landel continued to compete in various promotions in Tennessee and Alabama, then returned to the NWA in 1990 to face off with Flair in a ‘Battle of the Nature Boys,’ before moving on to compete in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. He also made brief appearances in WWE in 1995 and 1996. WWE extends its condolences to Landel’s family, friends and fans.”

Although Buddy Landel has died, his memory lives on with his family, friends, and fans.

[Image from YouTube]

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