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Buddy Landel
William Fritz Ensor (August 14, 1961 – June 22, 2015) was an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel. He was best known for his work in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories.
Landel first became interested in professional wrestling when a friend of his sister, Lou Anne Smith, introduced him to Bob Orton, Randy Savage and Boris Malenko. Landel was an amateur wrestler in high school, but dropped out during his junior year. While he was training with Boris Malenko, Landel lived in an apartment with Olympian Bob Roop.
Landel started his career in 1979. In 1980 he worked for Angelo Poffo's International Championship Wrestling in the Midwest.
In 1981, he became a part of Bill Watts's Mid-South Wrestling. Landel made his debut on May 25, 1981, in New Orleans, LA and defeated Kelly Kiniski. The young wrestler was quite active, wrestling Ken Mantell, Carl Fergie, Jake Roberts, and The Great Kabuki. On August 18, 1981, he received his first title opportunity, but fell in defeat to Mississippi Champion Bob Orton. On September 29, 1981, he teamed with Jim Garvin in an unsuccessful challenge to MSW Tag-Team Champions The Wild Samoans, and after this moved on to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.
Less than two weeks later Landel surfaced in Jim Crockett's Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, defeating Mike Miller in Asheville, NC. He was largely victorious against a number of opponents, including Charlie Fulton, Mike Miller, and Jeff Sword.
Landel returned to Mid-South Wrestling on March 3, 1982, defeating Bob Orton in a match held in Baton Rouge, LA. He stayed in Bill Watt's territory for the next few months, facing Rick Ferrara, Paul Orndorff, and One Man Gang. After several months in the promotion, Landell jumped to the Continental Wrestling Association on August 30, 1982. Teaming with Mike Graham, they battled Spike Huber and Steve Regal to a double count-out. After several months in the CWA, Landel returned to MSW and would split time between several National Wrestling Alliance promotions, including Mid-South, the CWA, and Houston Wrestling.
On March 8, 1983, he traveled to Capitol Sports Promotions and defeated Pierre Martel to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title. This was Landel's first title, and he held the belt until June 25, 1983, when he lost to Pedro Morales in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. That summer Landel defeated Dutch Mantell to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship in Memphis, TN. He held the title until August 29, 1983, when he was defeated by Koko B Ware. Landel regained the title on September 10, then holding it until he was defeated by Terry Taylor on December 1, 1983, in Lexington, KY. Landell spent all of 1984 splitting time between Mid-South and Houston Wrestling, facing competitors such as Terry Taylor, Jose Lothario, and Brickhouse Brown.
In 1985 he returned to Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling (Jim Crockett Promotions), defeating Denny Brown at "MACW Title Night '85" in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 6. Landel joined manager J. J. Dillon's stable, and he unsuccessfully challenged Magnum T. A. for the United States Heavyweight Championship on March 29, 1985. He would wrestle Magnum several more times that spring but was unable to gain the title. On June 15, 1985, Buddy Landell received his first ever shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, falling in defeat to "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in Greensboro, NC. A wrestling card with a Landel-Ric Flair main event on July 31, 1985, drew an overflow crowd at J.S. Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Landel often claimed this crowd broke Elvis Presley's attendance record at the arena, but this has not been independently confirmed.) He won the NWA National Heavyweight Championship from Terry Taylor at Starrcade '85 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Buddy Landel
William Fritz Ensor (August 14, 1961 – June 22, 2015) was an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel. He was best known for his work in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories.
Landel first became interested in professional wrestling when a friend of his sister, Lou Anne Smith, introduced him to Bob Orton, Randy Savage and Boris Malenko. Landel was an amateur wrestler in high school, but dropped out during his junior year. While he was training with Boris Malenko, Landel lived in an apartment with Olympian Bob Roop.
Landel started his career in 1979. In 1980 he worked for Angelo Poffo's International Championship Wrestling in the Midwest.
In 1981, he became a part of Bill Watts's Mid-South Wrestling. Landel made his debut on May 25, 1981, in New Orleans, LA and defeated Kelly Kiniski. The young wrestler was quite active, wrestling Ken Mantell, Carl Fergie, Jake Roberts, and The Great Kabuki. On August 18, 1981, he received his first title opportunity, but fell in defeat to Mississippi Champion Bob Orton. On September 29, 1981, he teamed with Jim Garvin in an unsuccessful challenge to MSW Tag-Team Champions The Wild Samoans, and after this moved on to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.
Less than two weeks later Landel surfaced in Jim Crockett's Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, defeating Mike Miller in Asheville, NC. He was largely victorious against a number of opponents, including Charlie Fulton, Mike Miller, and Jeff Sword.
Landel returned to Mid-South Wrestling on March 3, 1982, defeating Bob Orton in a match held in Baton Rouge, LA. He stayed in Bill Watt's territory for the next few months, facing Rick Ferrara, Paul Orndorff, and One Man Gang. After several months in the promotion, Landell jumped to the Continental Wrestling Association on August 30, 1982. Teaming with Mike Graham, they battled Spike Huber and Steve Regal to a double count-out. After several months in the CWA, Landel returned to MSW and would split time between several National Wrestling Alliance promotions, including Mid-South, the CWA, and Houston Wrestling.
On March 8, 1983, he traveled to Capitol Sports Promotions and defeated Pierre Martel to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title. This was Landel's first title, and he held the belt until June 25, 1983, when he lost to Pedro Morales in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. That summer Landel defeated Dutch Mantell to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship in Memphis, TN. He held the title until August 29, 1983, when he was defeated by Koko B Ware. Landel regained the title on September 10, then holding it until he was defeated by Terry Taylor on December 1, 1983, in Lexington, KY. Landell spent all of 1984 splitting time between Mid-South and Houston Wrestling, facing competitors such as Terry Taylor, Jose Lothario, and Brickhouse Brown.
In 1985 he returned to Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling (Jim Crockett Promotions), defeating Denny Brown at "MACW Title Night '85" in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 6. Landel joined manager J. J. Dillon's stable, and he unsuccessfully challenged Magnum T. A. for the United States Heavyweight Championship on March 29, 1985. He would wrestle Magnum several more times that spring but was unable to gain the title. On June 15, 1985, Buddy Landell received his first ever shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, falling in defeat to "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in Greensboro, NC. A wrestling card with a Landel-Ric Flair main event on July 31, 1985, drew an overflow crowd at J.S. Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Landel often claimed this crowd broke Elvis Presley's attendance record at the arena, but this has not been independently confirmed.) He won the NWA National Heavyweight Championship from Terry Taylor at Starrcade '85 in Greensboro, North Carolina.