 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Austin Wesley Rapes[3] (1929-02-27)February 27, 1929[3] Lovejoy, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | August 12, 1981(1981-08-12) (aged 52)[3][2] |
| Cause of death | Myocardial infarction[2] |
Spouse | Carmelita Rogers[4] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Austin Rogers[1] Buddy Austin[2] Bulldog Austin[1] Francis Gabor[2] Frank Gabor[1] Frankie Gabor[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[3][2] |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (109 kg)[3][2] |
| Trained by | Roy Graham[3] |
| Debut | 1956[2][3] |
| Retired | March 30, 1977[2] |
Austin Wesley Rogers (bornAustin Wesley Rapes; February 27, 1929 – August 13, 1981) was an Americanprofessional wrestler, better known by thering name "Killer"Buddy Austin.[3][2] He is best known for his appearances with theLos Angeles,California-basedWorldwide Wrestling Associates promotion in the mid-1960s, where he held theWWA World Heavyweight Championship and theWWA World Tag Team Championship on three occasions each.
Rogers was born Austin Wesley Rapes inLovejoy, Georgia. Prior to beginning his professional wrestling career, he served in theUnited States Navy.[5]
Rogers was trained by Roy Graham, making his professional wrestling debut in 1956.[2][3] Early in his career, he wrestled under the ring name "Frankie Gabor",teaming 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 hisbleached blond hair.[6][7] During this time, he trained futureNWA World Heavyweight ChampionHarley Race while working for Gust Karras in the Midwest.[8][9]
In 1961, Austin began wrestling forHeart of America Sports Attractions as "Bulldog Austin", briefly holding theNWA Central States Tag Team Championship. In mid-1961, he reverted to "Buddy Austin", and in June 1961 he was awarded the vacantNWA Central States Heavyweight Championship. He held the championship until November 1961, when he was defeated bySonny Myers. Austin won the championship a second time that month, defeatingTarzan Tyler, His second reign lasted until February 1962, when he lost to Ray Gordon.[10][11]
Austin made his first tour of Japan with theJapan Wrestling Association in 1962, competing in the fourth annual World Big League. In June 1962, Austin and Mike Sharpe defeatedRikidōzan andToyonobori to win theAll Asia Tag Team Championship. They held the championship for slightly under a month before losing to Rikidōzan and Toyonobori in a rematch.[11]
In late-1962, Austin adopted the nickname "Killer" and was given credit for injuringBuddy Rogers, who had been involved in a car accident. He built the character of an "arrogant heel" and "ruthless rule-breaker".[3] In March 1963, Austin andGreat Scott defeated Buddy Rogers andJohnny Barend for theNWA United States Tag Team Championship(northeast version). During their reign, theCapitol 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 byBrute Bernard andSkull Murphy.[11] 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.[5][12][13]
In 1962, Austin joined theLos Angeles,California-basedWorldwide Wrestling Associates promotion, where he achieved his greatest success. In April 1966, he andEl Mongol defeatedAlberto Torres andThunderbolt Patterson for theWWA World Tag Team Championship. They lost the championship to Luis Hernández andPedro Morales in June 1966.[11]
Austin went on to compete for theWWA World Heavyweight Championship. His first reign began in August 1966 when he defeatedPedro Morales. He lost the championship toBobo Brazil in September 1966, but regained it in a rematch two weeks later. His second reign ended in October 1966 when he was defeated byLou Thesz. Austin won the championship for a third and final time in August 1967, defeatingIron Mike DiBiase. During his reign, he formed a tag team withFreddie Blassie, and the duo defeated Pedro Morales andVictor Rivera for the WWA World Tag Team Championship a second time in September 1967. In December 1967, Austin and Blassie were defeated by Morales andAntonio Pugliese, but they defeated them in a rematch later that month to regain the championship.[11]
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.[11] Austin and Blassie subsequently began feuding, facing one another in astretcher match that sold out theGrand Olympic Auditorium in November 1968.[14]
In May 1967, Austin won a 16-man tournament for the vacantNWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, defeating Paul DeMarco in the final. He held the championship until August 1967, when he lost to Buddy Moreno.[11]
In April 1969, Austin andRipper Collins defeatedBobby Shane andNick Bockwinkel for theNWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship. Their reign ended in August 1969 when they lost toEd Francis andPedro Morales.[11]
In December 1969, Austin andKing Curtis Iaukea defeatedMario Milano andSpiros Arion for theIWA World Tag Team Championship, with their reign lasting until early 1970.[11]
In June 1971, Austin andBob Orton defeatedArchie Gouldie andBob Geigel for theNWA North American Tag Team Championship. Their reign ended in August 1971 when they lost to Steve Bolus andRufus R. Jones.[11]
Austin retired on March 30, 1977.[2]
Born Wesley Austin Rapes, Rogers legally changed his name to Austin Wesley Rogers.[3]
Rogers was married to Carmelita, with whom he had several children.[4] In June 1968, Rogers' 15-month-old twin daughters drowned in the swimming pool of his home inWoodland Hills, Los Angeles,California.[15][16]
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 inKing's Cross,Sydney, Australia.[17] 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.[8][14]
Rogers died on August 12, 1981, from amyocardial infarction.[2][3]
Spattered with blood and barely able to maintain perpendicular position, an ex-Navy man from the U.S. won the vacant Canadian professional heavyweight wrestling championship Tuesday night at the Coliseum. Killer Buddy Austin, a man who give no quarter and expects none, was to say the least, a physically weary individual when promoter Howard Darwin stepped into the ring to present him with the championship belt and the key to a new Chrysler car...Ottawa has been a successful stop for Austin. Going into last night's tourney he has 11 straight wins here. Last night he won another four. And 90 per cent of the wins have come as a result or his deadly Indian death lock.
A Rogers-invented "figure four grapevine" forced Austin to 'give' in 14:20, and the Golden Gladiator was in so much pain he was unable to continue his bid for the title.
Nichols used an octopus hold to stop Buddy Austin in 11:50 but the self-styled Golden Gladiator evened up things.
Karras started young Harley on his county-fair circuit; they'd roam the back roads of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, set up a ring and take on all comers...A few of Karras' top wrestlers – namely 'Killer' Buddy Austin and Ray Gordon – became Race's mentors.
Killer Buddy Austin made his first defence of the Canadian heavyweight wrestling title.
The twin daughters of heavyweight wrestler Buddy 'Killer' Austin drowned in the family swimming pool. The 15-month-old twins, Sandrina and Christina, were pulled from the pool Wednesday by their 11-year-old brother Kevin. Their mother, Carmelita, and a neighbor administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in the back yard. Authorities said the infant girls apparently had left the house through an open sliding glass door and fallen into the pool while playing. Their father, whose real name is Austin Rogers, was not at home.
Two professional wrestlers who were due to clash on Friday night were seriously injured at a party in a luxury King's Cross penthouse early today. 'Matman' Buddy Austin, an American, was shot in the stomach with a .22 calibre rifle(sic) and Mexican Pedro Morales was gashed on the face with a broken beer bottle. Austin is in a serious condition in St. Vincent's hospital. Morales is satisfactory. More than 20 men and women were at the New Year party. Police said there was an argument. Police called to the penthouse found Morales slouched against a white marble-tile pillar in the foyer. Austin was stooped forward and clutching his stomach, near an inquiry desk. A trail of blood led from the penthouse to the lift and into the foyer.
