Buddy Rose Death – Natural Causes
“Playboy” Buddy Rose – Dead at 56. photo: wwe.com
1952-2009 (age 56)
Paul Perschmann, best known to wrestling fans as “Playboy” Buddy Rose, started his wrestling career in the early 70s, working all the way into the early 90s.
Buddy Rose wrestled for Pacific Northwest Wrestling, the AWA, as well as two brief runs with the WWF in both 1982-1983 and 1990-1991.
Rose primarily worked as a heel, although in June of 1983 he made one of the biggest face turns in Portland wrestling history:
NWA Pacific Northwest: Buddy Rose with his manager, the Grand Wizard, interviewed by a young Vince McMahon. 10/9/82. photo: youtube.com
Buddy Rose and the WWF
Buddy’s first run with the WWF was the most successful of the two stints – he was managed by the Grand Wizard and was an upper carder.
Rose also holds the distinction of wrestling in the very first match of the very first WrestleMania – working under the moniker of “The Executioner” against Tito Santana.
Buddy’s second WWF run in the early 90s would prove disappointing.
Saturday Night’s Main Event, 1990: Buddy Rose takes on the Texas Tornado (his WWF TV debut). photo: wwe.com
Buddy Rose Death
Buddy Rose died in his Vancouver home on April 28, 2009. According to the medical examiner, it was due to natural causes, although Rose had been suffering from diabetes.
Buddy Rose was cremated. His ashes were given to his wife.
Buddy Rose is one of those territory era guys who was so talented that he made it look easy. Despite his size, Buddy could move around the ring and like Dusty, had the stamina to go the distance. He was an icon in the Pacific Northwest territory, ruling it as a much-hated heel for years, then for months in a shocking babyface turn. I only saw Buddy in the WWF when he feuded with Bob Backlund, but his talent was undeniable. His run in the AWA with Doug Sommers was fun too.
Was just watching an Instagram video someone posted of Buddy’s face turn in Portland. I found a YouTube video of it: https://youtu.be/Tx0T3zVIULs I know I sound like a typical old jaded guy when I say this, but compare the crowd reaction then to now, it’s night and day. I guess broken kayfabe has a lot to do with it, but still sad to see how bored the crowd is for 90% of modern WWE compared to the 80s.
Thanks for sharing that. I love watching some of those old school gems. Naturally, not everything was gold, but the territories had their good stuff. Portland had a lot of fantastic talent pass through the territory. Jay Youngblood, Jesse Ventura, Buddy Rose, Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, Rick Martel, and many others.