Austin Wesley Rogers (born Austin Wesley Rapes; February 27, 1929 – August 13, 1981) was an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

, better known by the ring name "Killer" Buddy Austin. He is best known for his appearances with the

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California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

-based Worldwide Wrestling Associates promotion in the mid-1960s, where he held the WWA World Heavyweight Championship and the WWA World Tag Team Championship on three occasions each.

Early life

Rogers was born Austin Wesley Rapes in Lovejoy, Georgia. Prior to beginning his professional wrestling career, he served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Rogers was trained by Roy Graham, making his professional wrestling debut in 1956. Early in his career, he wrestled under the ring name "Frankie Gabor",

teaming Teaming may refer to: * Link aggregation, in computing, known more specifically as NIC teaming or Network teaming * the practice of being a teamster * the formation of a team A team is a group of individuals (human or non-human) working togeth ...

with Johnny Gabor as "The Gabor Brothers". By the late-1950s, Rogers had adopted the ring name "Buddy Austin", nicknaming himself "The Golden Gladiator" in reference to his

bleached blond Blond (male) or blonde (female), also referred to as fair hair, is a hair color characterized by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin. The resultant visible hue depends on various factors, but always has some yellowish color. The color can ...

hair. During this time, he trained future NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race while working for Gust Karras in the Midwest. In 1961, Austin began wrestling for

Heart of America Sports Attractions Heart of America Sports Attractions, also known as the Midwest Wrestling Association, Central States Wrestling and the World Wrestling Alliance, was an American professional wrestling promotion that ran shows mainly in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska ...

as "Bulldog Austin", briefly holding the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship. In mid-1961, he reverted to "Buddy Austin", and in June 1961 he was awarded the vacant NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship. He held the championship until November 1961, when he was defeated by Sonny Myers. Austin won the championship a second time that month, defeating Tarzan Tyler, His second reign lasted until February 1962, when he lost to Ray Gordon. Austin made his first tour of Japan with the Japan Wrestling Association in 1962, competing in the fourth annual World Big League. In June 1962, Austin and Mike Sharpe defeated Rikidōzan and Toyonobori to win the All Asia Tag Team Championship. They held the championship for slightly under a month before losing to Rikidōzan and Toyonobori in a rematch. In late-1962, Austin adopted the nickname "Killer" and was given credit for injuring Buddy Rogers, who had been involved in a car accident. He built the character of an "arrogant heel" and "ruthless rule-breaker". In March 1963, Austin and

Great Scott "Great Scott!" is an interjection of surprise, amazement, or dismay. It is a distinctive but inoffensive exclamation, popular in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century, and now considered dated. It originated as a min ...

defeated Buddy Rogers and Johnny Barend for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship ''(northeast version)''. During their reign, the Capitol Wrestling Corporation withdrew from the NWA, and the championship was renamed the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. In May 1963, Austin and Great Scott were defeated for the championship by Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy. At this time, Austin was one of the major challengers to WWWF Champion Buddy Rogers. Austin subsequently travelled to Ottawa, where later that month he won a tournament for the vacant Canadian Heavyweight Championship.

Worldwide Wrestling Associates (1962–1969)

In 1962, Austin joined the

-based Worldwide Wrestling Associates promotion, where he achieved his greatest success. In April 1966, he and El Mongol defeated

Alberto Torres Alberto Torres (Itaboraí, 1885 - Rio De Janeiro State, 1917) was a politician and a Brazilian social thinker who was concerned about national unity and the organization of the society of Brazil. In his work, he opposed the ideas of socialism ...

and Thunderbolt Patterson for the WWA World Tag Team Championship. They lost the championship to Luis Hernández and Pedro Morales in June 1966. Austin went on to compete for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship. His first reign began in August 1966 when he defeated Pedro Morales. He lost the championship to Bobo Brazil in September 1966, but regained it in a rematch two weeks later. His second reign ended in October 1966 when he was defeated by Lou Thesz. Austin won the championship for a third and final time in August 1967, defeating Iron Mike DiBiase. During his reign, he formed a tag team with Freddie Blassie, and the duo defeated Pedro Morales and Victor Rivera for the WWA World Tag Team Championship a second time in September 1967. In December 1967, Austin and Blassie were defeated by Morales and Antonio Pugliese, but they defeated them in a rematch later that month to regain the championship. Austin's third reign as WWA World Heavyweight Champion ended in January 1968 when he lost to Bobo Brazil, while his third reign as WWA World Tag Team Champion ended in May 1968 when he and Blassie lost to Los Medicos de Mexico. Austin and Blassie subsequently began feuding, facing one another in a

stretcher match Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or " gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...

that sold out the Grand Olympic Auditorium in November 1968.

Later career

In May 1967, Austin won a 16-man tournament for the vacant NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, defeating Paul DeMarco in the final. He held the championship until August 1967, when he lost to Buddy Moreno. In April 1969, Austin and Ripper Collins defeated Bobby Shane and Nick Bockwinkel for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship. Their reign ended in August 1969 when they lost to Ed Francis and Pedro Morales. In December 1969, Austin and King Curtis Iaukea defeated Mario Milano and Spiros Arion for the IWA World Tag Team Championship, with their reign lasting until early 1970. In June 1971, Austin and Bob Orton defeated Archie Gouldie and Bob Geigel for the NWA North American Tag Team Championship. Their reign ended in August 1971 when they lost to Steve Bolus and

Rufus R. Jones Carey L. Lloyd (July 4, 1933 – November 13, 1993), also known by his ring name Rufus R. "Freight Train" Jones, was an American professional wrestler who competed in the Central States, St.Louis and Mid-Atlantic regional promotions of the Nationa ...

. Austin retired on March 30, 1977.

Personal life

Born Wesley Austin Rapes, Rogers legally changed his name to Austin Wesley Rogers. Rogers was married to Carmelita, with whom he had several children. In June 1968, Rogers' 15-month-old twin daughters drowned in the swimming pool of his home in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles,

. On January 1, 1969, Rogers was shot in the stomach and Pedro Morales was slashed with a broken bottle during an altercation at a party held in a penthouse in King's Cross, Sydney, Australia. Rogers recovered but bore a distinctive scar on his abdomen for the remainder of his life. Rogers was a heavy drinker. In the mid-1960s, Freddie Blassie refused to continue teaming with Rogers due to his propensity to wrestle while inebriated.

Death

Rogers died on August 12, 1981 from a

myocardial infarction A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ...

Championships and accomplishments

* 50th State Big Time Wrestling ** NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ripper Collins *

All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW/AJP) or simply All Japan is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established on October 21, 1972 when Giant Baba split away from the Japanese Wrestling Association and created his own promotion. Many wrestlers had left with Bab ...

** All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Sharpe * Big Time Wrestling ** NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)* * Capitol Wrestling Corporation ** NWA United States Tag Team Championship ''(northeast version)'' (1 time) – with

* Championship Wrestling from Florida ** NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship ''(Florida version)'' *

** NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times) ** NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tarzan Kowalski/Don McClarity ** NWA North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob Orton * Ottawa Wrestling **Canadian Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *

World Championship Wrestling World Championship Wrestling, Inc. (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of Natio ...

** IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with King Curtis Iaukea * Worldwide Wrestling Associates ** WWA World Heavyweight Championship (3 times) ** WWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Freddie Blassie (2 times) and El Mongol (1 time)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, Buddy 1929 births 1981 deaths 20th-century professional wrestlers All Asia Tag Team Champions American male professional wrestlers IWA World Tag Team Champions (Australia) NWA Americas Tag Team Champions People from Clayton County, Georgia Professional wrestlers from Georgia (U.S. state) Shooting survivors United States Navy sailors