49 Facts About Buddy Landel

1.

Buddy Landel was best known for his work in the National Wrestling Alliance territories.

2.

Buddy Landel was an amateur wrestler in high school, but dropped out during his junior year.

3.

Buddy Landel started his career in 1981 in Bill Watts's Mid-South Wrestling.

4.

Buddy Landel made his debut on May 25,1981 in New Orleans, LA and defeated Kelly Kiniski.

5.

Less than two weeks later Buddy Landel surfaced in Jim Crockett's Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, defeating Mike Miller in Asheville, NC.

6.

Buddy Landel was largely victorious against a number of opponents, including Charlie Fulton, Mike Miller, and Jeff Sword.

7.

Buddy Landel returned to Mid-South Wrestling on March 3,1982, defeating Bob Orton in a match held in Baton Rouge, LA.

8.

Buddy Landel stayed in Bill Watt's territory for the next few months, facing Rick Ferrara, Paul Orndorff, and One Man Gang.

9.

That summer Buddy Landel defeated Dutch Mantell to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship in Memphis, TN.

10.

Buddy Landel held the title until August 29,1983 when he was defeated by Koko B Ware.

11.

Buddy Landel regained the title on September 10, then holding it until he was defeated by Terry Taylor on December 1,1983 in Lexington, KY.

12.

Buddy Landel would wrestle Magnum several more times that spring but was unable to gain the title.

13.

Buddy Landel was set to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Flair in 1985.

14.

However, Buddy Landel had a falling out with the management of Jim Crockett Promotions and left the company after dropping the National Heavyweight Championship to Dusty Rhodes on December 19,1985.

15.

Buddy Landel resurfaced in the Continental Wrestling Association January 4,1986 and defeated David Haskins at a television taping in Memphis, TN.

16.

Buddy Landel briefly vacated the belt that month, then regained it in a tournament finale over The Flame.

17.

On July 27,1986 Buddy Landel returned to Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling and defeated George South at a television taping in Atlanta, GA.

18.

Buddy Landel joined Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation on October 10,1986 and defeated Jeff Raitz at a house show in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

19.

Buddy Landel was unbeaten, defeating Joe Savoldi, Jeff Gaylord, and Chavo Guerrero.

20.

Buddy Landel next jumped to National Wrestling Alliance affiliate Continental Championship Wrestling in February 1987, winning the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship.

21.

Buddy Landel joined Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association on September 18,1987, defeating ML Williams at a TV taping in Las Vegas, NV.

22.

Buddy Landel's stay was short-lived and consigned only to that TV taping, where he defeated Lance Allen and Chris Bassett.

23.

Buddy Landel made his first trip to an overseas promotion in January 1988 when he joined All Japan Pro Wrestling.

24.

Buddy Landel returned once more to the CWA on August 1,1988 and unsuccessfully challenged AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler in Memphis, TN.

25.

Buddy Landel returned to the CWA and remained with the company as it transitioned into the United States Wrestling Association.

26.

Buddy Landel joined Jim Cornette's new promotion Smoky Mountain Wrestling for its inaugural TV taping on November 27,1991 in Morristown, TN.

27.

Buddy Landel stated that he had refused to do favors for major promotions and had joined SMW to hurt people.

28.

Buddy Landel's first wrestling match would not come until April 18,1992, however; he defeated Reno Riggins on SMW television in his debut match.

29.

Buddy Landel feuded with Tim Horner that spring but was generally unsuccessful.

30.

Buddy Landel rejoined the USWA on August 17,1992, teaming with Brian Christopher, Doug Gilbert and Eddie Gilbert to defeat Bill Dundee, The Rock 'n' Roll Express and Tommy Rich.

31.

On December 25,1994 Buddy Landel appeared at Christmas Chaos '94, defeating SMW Heavyweight Champion The Dirty White Boy via disqualification.

32.

Buddy Landel became one of the main eventers managed by Jim Cornette.

33.

Buddy Landel held the SMW Heavyweight Championship and the SMW Television Championship in 1995.

34.

Buddy Landel remained a heroic character until the promotion folded in late 1995.

35.

Buddy Landel continued to use a very similar image to Ric Flair, even using Flair's early 90s WWF entrance music.

36.

Buddy Landel made his Raw debut the next night, defeating Bob Holly.

37.

Buddy Landel defeated Matt Hardy on the December 23,1995 episode of Superstars.

38.

Buddy Landel was out of action for six months as a result.

39.

Buddy Landel wrestled Bret Hart in a WWF World Heavyweight Championship match shown on Mania on January 13,1996, although the match was taped prior to Buddy Landel's injury.

40.

Buddy Landel returned to the WWF for a one-night appearance on February 20,1997, wrestling against TL Hopper.

41.

Buddy Landel retired in 2003 where he teamed with Jerry Lawler and Jimmy Valiant defeating Bill Dundee, Mabel, and Jimmy Hart for Memphis Wrestling on September 28,2003.

42.

On October 24,2009, Buddy Landel appeared at the TWA Reunion Show in Vorhees, NJ.

43.

Buddy Landel wrestled his final match at the NWA Wrestle Birmingham: The Big Bang event on November 19,2010, where he teamed with Cameron Valentine and Greg Valentine to face Brutus Beefcake, Brickhouse Brown, and Jake Roberts.

44.

Buddy Landel acknowledged that in 1985 he began abusing drugs, using them for 10 to 15 years.

45.

Buddy Landel hoped by talking about the rampant drug abuse in pro wrestling, that he could help newcomers to avoid the trials he went through.

46.

Buddy Landel had some trouble with the IRS, but wrestling promoter Jim Crockett helped him pay the tax bill.

47.

On June 21,2015, Buddy Landel was involved in a car crash.

48.

Buddy Landel was hospitalized and reportedly checked himself out against his doctor's wishes, eventually returning to his home in Chilhowie, Virginia.

49.

Buddy Landel told his wife Donna that he was "feeling bad", and she found him dead the next morning.