A consummate heel, "Playboy" Buddy Rose learned the ropes from Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson in the early 1970s and began wrestling for the American Wrestling Association (AWA), World Wide Wrestling Federation and Pacific Northwest Wrestling, where he carried on a legendary feud with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. In 1985, Rose (wrestling as "The Executioner") was defeated by Tito Santana in the first match at WrestleMania I. The following year, Rose and "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship. Rose retired after an appearance at Wrestle Reunion 2005 in Tampa, Florida. Rose was found dead by his wife at their home in Portland, Oregon, on April 28, 2009. The cause of death is still unknown although a "family friend" told Fox 12 Oregon that "Rose was morbidly obese and was battling diabetes." For more information about "Playboy" Buddy Rose, visit www.playboybuddyrose.com.
Buddy died April 28, 2009. A sad, sad day
I remember watching The Playboy Buddy Rose at the Showboat in Las Vegas back in the middle to late 80's at 271 oops I mean 217 pounds and being managed by Sherri Martel. He always put on a good (not great) show! His best matches in the AWA were against The Midnight Rockers. Those were the days! RIP Buddy!
I remember when he jobbed for the AWA under his real name, Paul Pershmann.