1. Overview
Buddy Rogers (born Herman Gustav Rohde Jr.; February 20, 1921 - June 26, 1992), better known by his iconic ring name "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, was an American professional wrestler who rose to prominence as one of the biggest stars at the dawn of the television era. His flamboyant "Nature Boy" persona, characterized by his blonde hair, arrogant demeanor, and innovative in-ring style, significantly influenced future generations of professional wrestlers, most notably "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, who adopted many of Rogers's characteristics, including his nickname, look, attitude, and the figure-four leglock. Rogers is recognized for his significant achievement as a world champion, holding the top championship in both the NWA and the WWWF (now WWE), being the inaugural WWWF World Heavyweight Champion. He is one of only four men, alongside Ric Flair, AJ Styles, and Cody Rhodes, to have held both of these prestigious titles.
2. Early life
Herman Gustav Rohde Jr. was born on February 20, 1921, in Camden, New Jersey, United States. His parents, Herman Gustav Rohde Sr. and Frieda Stech, were German immigrants. From a young age, Rogers displayed a strong athletic aptitude. He began wrestling at the age of nine at his local YMCA, joining the Camden YMCA Wrestling League and ultimately securing its heavyweight championship. Beyond wrestling, he excelled in various sports, including football, boxing, track and field, and swimming, famously winning the YMCA's three-mile swimming championship in 1937.
At 17, Rogers joined the Dale Brothers Circus as a wrestler. He later took on different occupations, working at a shipyard and serving as a police officer. His debut professional wrestling match took place on July 4, 1939, against Moe Brazen, which he won.
3. Professional wrestling career
Rogers's career saw him transform from an athletic performer into one of professional wrestling's most iconic villains, adapting his style and persona to captivate audiences, particularly with the advent of television.
3.1. Early career and rise to stardom (1939-1961)
Beginning his career under his real name, Herman Rohde, and later as Dutch Rhode in his hometown, Rogers quickly gained recognition, notably securing a major victory over the legendary Ed "Strangler" Lewis. His career continued in Houston, where he adopted the ring name Buddy Rogers and earned his first professional wrestling title, the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, which he won four times, including once from Lou Thesz. This marked the beginning of a long and significant rivalry between them, both inside and outside the ring.
After departing the Texas territory for Columbus, Ohio, Rogers bleached his hair, a distinctive change that led promoter Jack Pfefer to dub him "Natural Guy." This moniker soon evolved into the more famous "Nature Boy." In the early 1950s, Lillian Ellison, known as Slave Girl Moolah, served as his valet. Ellison later stated that their partnership ended after she refused Rogers's advances for a sexual relationship.
With the rise of television, Rogers's flashy appearance, impressive physique, and bombastic personality instantly garnered attention from audiences. His impact was evident in his involvement with Sam Muchnick's rival promotion in St. Louis, Missouri, a major wrestling market, where he was positioned against Lou Thesz as a significant draw. Rogers's success as the main star of Muchnick's promotion eventually led to the merger of the two organizations. He maintained control of the Midwest as both a booker and wrestler, particularly in Chicago, frequently selling out the 11,000-seat arena. Throughout the 1950s, Rogers expanded his reach, wrestling in Vincent J. McMahon's Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) and the Al Haft promotion out of Columbus, Ohio, which he continued until 1963.
Rogers became known as the original "dirty champ," innovating tactics such as performing illicit moves behind the referee's back and intentionally getting disqualified to retain titles. He would also often shout "Oh, No!" when in a precarious situation. His sophisticated, villainous style, including his blonde hair and arrogant persona, influenced many subsequent wrestlers, such as Jackie Fargo, Ray Stevens, Buddy Colt, the Valiant Brothers, and the Hollywood Blonds. He was also known for entering the ring carrying a white towel, a practice later adopted by Nick Bockwinkel and Curt Hennig.
During his prime, Rogers was often disliked by fellow wrestlers for his habit of taking advantage of opponents in the ring. A notable incident involved Karl Gotch and Bill Miller. While it was widely believed that Gotch attacked Rogers, the clarified account states that after a verbal altercation between Gotch and Rogers, Miller, who was accompanying Gotch, kicked a door, causing Rogers's arm to be caught and injured as he attempted to leave the dressing room. Despite these controversies, Rogers remained a highly popular and effective performer.
3.2. National Wrestling Alliance (1961-1963)
In 1961, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) selected Buddy Rogers for a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On June 30, 1961, Rogers defeated Pat O'Connor to capture the title in front of 38,622 fans at Comiskey Park in Chicago. This event set a new North American professional wrestling attendance record, which stood until 1984. The gate revenue of 175.00 K USD also established a professional wrestling record that lasted for almost two decades. The contest, billed as the "Match of the Century," was a two out of three falls match. Rogers won the first fall with a counter double-boot into a pin, and O'Connor took the second fall with an O'Connor Roll. In the decisive third fall, O'Connor missed a dropkick and hit his head, allowing Rogers to pin him for the victory and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. A rematch for the title several months later saw Rogers successfully retain.
During his reign, some promoters expressed discontent, feeling that Rogers favored northeastern promotions over other territories. He sustained an injury in Montreal against Killer Kowalski, sidelining him for a period. Upon his return, the NWA Board of Directors voted to transfer the title back to Lou Thesz, who harbored a public dislike for Rogers. The title change match took place on January 24, 1963, in Toronto. Rogers was initially reluctant to drop the title, leading promoter Sam Muchnick to implement three safeguards to ensure Rogers's cooperation. First, the match was formatted as a one fall finish, deviating from the traditional two out of three falls. Second, Muchnick threatened to donate Rogers's mandatory 25.00 K USD championship deposit to charity instead of returning it if he didn't cooperate. Third, Thesz himself was present and capable of physically taking the title if necessary. Ultimately, Thesz won the match and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Rogers was also an active and successful tag team wrestler during this period. He held the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) twice. His first reign was with Johnny Valentine, and his second was with "Handsome" Johnny Barend. On July 5, 1962, Rogers and Barend won the championship from Johnny Valentine and "Cowboy" Bob Ellis on Capitol Wrestling's regular Washington, D.C. television show. Arnold Skaaland substituted for Ellis, whose flight was delayed. Rogers forced Skaaland to submit with his figure-four leglock to win the first fall. Valentine continued alone in the second fall, but was eventually worn down. "Cowboy" Bob Ellis then ran to the ring and pinned Barend to win the second fall. In the chaotic third fall, Rogers threw an unconscious Barend on top of Ellis for the victory. They successfully defended the championship against Valentine and Ellis in a rematch at Madison Square Garden on July 13, 1962, until March 7, 1963, when they lost to Killer Buddy Austin and The Great Scott. Rogers and Barend briefly feuded but later reunited that summer, defeating Bobo Brazil and Bruno Sammartino in a two out of three falls tag team match. Before his reign with Barend, Rogers frequently teamed with the "Big O" Bob Orton. In the 1950s, his primary tag team partner was The Great Scott.
3.3. World Wide Wrestling Federation (1963)
Following Rogers's loss of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Lou Thesz, northeastern promoters Toots Mondt and Vincent J. McMahon decided to withdraw their membership from the NWA. They believed Thesz was not a strong draw in their territory and, as a result, formed the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), now known as WWE. The WWWF recognized Buddy Rogers as their world champion from January 25, 1963, a claim also supported by Fred Kohler's Chicago promotion.
Rogers was formally recognized as the first-ever WWWF World Heavyweight Champion on April 11, 1963, when promoter and first WWWF President Willie Gilzenberg presented him with the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship belt during a television broadcast in Washington, D.C. Although it was a fictional claim, Gilzenberg announced that Rogers had won a wrestling tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. WWE.com currently lists April 25, 1963, as the official start of Rogers's reign.
Despite being a significant draw for the newly formed promotion, Rogers's reign was short-lived. He suffered a mild heart attack, which severely impacted his endurance and in-ring performance. Toots Mondt and Vincent J. McMahon, panicking over Rogers's hidden medical issues, arranged for an emergency title change. On May 17, 1963, Rogers lost the title to Bruno Sammartino in a mere 48 seconds at Madison Square Garden. The match was deliberately kept short to prevent Rogers from suffering a more severe heart attack or dying in the ring.
3.4. Later career and semi-retirement (1963-1992)
After losing the WWWF title to Sammartino, Rogers's health issues limited his in-ring activity to a few short singles matches lasting only a minute or two. He occasionally participated in tag team matches with Handsome Johnny Barend, often spending most of the match on the ring apron while Barend did the wrestling. He did manage to defeat Hans "The Great" Mortier in less than a minute with his figure-four leglock in Madison Square Garden and teamed with Barend to defeat Sammartino and Bobo Brazil in a two-out-of-three falls match, with Rogers pinning Sammartino for the final fall. A highly anticipated rematch against Sammartino was scheduled for October 4, 1963, at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey, but Rogers was announced as retiring, and Gorilla Monsoon replaced him after winning a tournament.
From 1966 to 1967, Rogers wrestled in 18 brief matches in Canada. In 1969, he appeared in 19 quick matches for an Ohio-based promotion called Wrestling Show Classics before acknowledging that his health was not improving enough to continue wrestling regularly. He also made television appearances, engaging in interviews with his former manager Bobby Davis.
In 1979, despite being in his late 50s, Rogers returned to wrestling as a fan favorite in Florida. He later moved to Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) in the Carolinas, transitioning to a villainous manager role. He managed wrestlers such as Jimmy Snuka, Ken Patera, Gene Anderson, Dewey Robertson, and Big John Studd. A pivotal moment during this period was his feud with the emerging "Nature Boy," Ric Flair, whom Rogers ultimately put over (helped establish) on July 9, 1978, symbolically transferring the "Nature Boy" gimmick.
After his stint in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (MACW), Rogers returned to the WWF (formerly WWWF) as a fan-favorite manager and part-time wrestler. He also hosted his own interview segment, "Rogers' Corner," until 1983. Rogers was instrumental in helping turn Jimmy Snuka into a fan favorite, leading to Rogers managing Snuka in his feud against Lou Albano and Ray Stevens. During this storyline, Rogers broke his hip, leading to his final retirement from professional wrestling. His show, "Rogers' Corner," was replaced by "Victory Corner," which later evolved into "Piper's Pit" hosted by Roddy Piper. Rogers continued to make sporadic appearances in the WWF until 1984, just before the beginning of the Rock 'n' Wrestling Era.
In early 1992, at the age of 71, Rogers was scheduled to wrestle another "Nature Boy," Buddy Landel, in a comeback match for the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (TWA), a precursor to Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). However, the promotion went out of business before the match could occur, leaving his final comeback attempt unfulfilled.
4. Personal life
Buddy Rogers married Ruth "Debbie" Nixon in 1969 and subsequently adopted her son, David Buddy Rogers. After his retirement from full-time wrestling, Rogers took on a management position at a Playboy Club casino. He resided in Haddonfield, New Jersey, until he relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1987.
A notable incident occurred in 1989 when Rogers, then 68 years old, was eating a turkey sandwich at a hoagie shop in Florida. A man in his late 20s, described as being approximately 6 in tall and weighing about 230 lb (230 lb), began verbally abusing two female employees. Rogers intervened, telling the man to stop shouting. The man responded by calling Rogers "old" and challenging him to a fight. Rogers promptly pushed the man into a wall, prompting the man to throw a chair at him. Rogers retaliated, throwing the man about 5 ft into a refrigerator. He then struck the man in the stomach, knocking him into the kitchen. The man, holding onto Rogers's hair, repeatedly asked him to stop before fleeing the shop. Rogers required 14 stitches after the altercation. He later commented to a reporter that the worst part of the incident was being called "old," adding, "Hell, I'm only 68, that's not so old."
5. Death
In early 1992, Buddy Rogers's health significantly declined. He suffered a broken arm and experienced three strokes, two of which occurred on the same day. At his own request, he was not placed on life support. Rogers died on June 26, 1992, at the age of 71, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While some reports indicate his death was due to a heart attack, it was also noted that he had previously suffered a fall at a supermarket, which led to him undergoing heart-bypass surgery.
6. Legacy and influence
Buddy Rogers's lasting impact on professional wrestling is profound, with his character and in-ring innovations influencing countless performers and shaping the industry's evolution.
6.1. Pioneering style and character
Lou Thesz, a long-time colleague and frequent opponent, extensively praised Rogers's early impact in his memoir, Hooker, stating that Rogers "broke into the business somewhere around 1941 as a hero-type personality, with little more going for him than a good body and natural charisma in the ring... and he was a hit almost from the start." Thesz further emphasized that Rogers "invented the character" of the "Nature Boy," the "prototype of the cocky, strutting, sneering, arrogant peroxide blond villain that is almost a tired wrestling cliché today," and that he "did it better than anyone."
Rogers was also a pioneer in incorporating "flying" moves into his matches, a style that later became commonplace. Thesz noted that while moves like body slams, dropkicks, piledrivers, and ricochets off the ropes into his opponent existed before Rogers, they were used sparingly. Most wrestling prior to Rogers's emergence focused on mat-based grappling. Rogers was the first to use these "flying" moves in quantity, staying off the mat, and this style became so popular that other wrestlers, including Thesz himself, adopted it.
Another significant contribution from Rogers was his bombastic and arrogant interview style. While wrestlers before him conversed with interviewers, Rogers would brag and boast about his superiority and demean his opponents. After winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in Chicago in 1961, he famously took the microphone and declared, "To a nicer guy it couldn't happen!" This smug catchphrase, along with his distinctive "peacock-like strut," became his signature. He was skilled at generating "heat" from the audience, often delivering cruel yet humorous put-downs of his opponents. Coupled with his equally charismatic manager, Bobby Davis, Rogers would dismiss opponents as undeserving of being in the ring, with Davis lamenting that "this is a sport of kings!"
6.2. Influence on future generations
Rogers's "Nature Boy" gimmick, persona, and signature moves, such as the figure-four leglock and the Atomic Drop (which he claimed to have invented, naming it after his nickname "Atomic Blonde" from the 1940s), were widely adopted and evolved by subsequent generations of wrestlers. Most notably, Ric Flair built his entire career around the "Nature Boy" persona, adopting Rogers's nickname, look, attitude, the figure-four leglock, and even developing his own variation of the Rogers strut. Similarly, Buddy Landel also utilized the "Nature Boy" gimmick as a tribute to Rogers's enduring legacy. Other wrestlers who continued to use Rogers's gimmick included Jackie Fargo, Ray Stevens, Buddy Colt, the Valiant Brothers, and the Hollywood Blonds. The tradition of entering the ring with a white towel, which Rogers popularized, was later carried on by Nick Bockwinkel and Curt Hennig.
6.3. Public and critical reception
Despite his villainous character, Rogers consistently remained a fan favorite in cities across Ohio, likely due to his long-standing appearances for the Al Haft Promotion in Columbus.
Throughout his career, Rogers garnered a range of assessments from his peers. Giant Baba, who was the only Japanese wrestler to face Rogers in his prime, lauded him as the "greatest wrestler" he had seen during his time in America, emphasizing Rogers's blend of popularity and skill. Vince McMahon Jr. also recalled Rogers as the wrestler he most admired. Genichiro Tenryu, who wrestled Rogers, commented on Rogers's "shoot" ability, stating that his techniques were authentic wrestling moves applied seriously, and that while he started and ended as a showman, the core of his matches was "severe and stiff."
However, Thesz also noted a more manipulative side to Rogers, describing him as a schemer behind the scenes who famously said: "Screw your friends and be nice to your enemies, so your enemies will become your friends, and then you can screw them too." Despite these criticisms, Rogers eventually mellowed with age, becoming a respected veteran and spokesman for professional wrestling. He demonstrated one of the longest consistent periods as a top main event draw, spanning 15 years, and possessed the ability to attract crowds successfully in various territories.
7. Championships and accomplishments
Buddy Rogers achieved numerous championships and accolades throughout his illustrious career, cementing his status as a legendary figure in professional wrestling.
| Championship / Accomplishment | Number of Reigns / Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version) | 1 time | |
| AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Ohio version) | 3 times | |
| AWA Eastern States Heavyweight Championship | 1 time | |
| WWWF World Heavyweight Championship | 1 time | Inaugural champion |
| NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Northeast version) | 1 time | Inaugural champion |
| NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) | 2 times | With Johnny Valentine (1) and Johnny Barend (1) |
| WWF Hall of Fame | Class of 1994 | |
| International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame | Class of 2021 | |
| MWA Ohio Tag Team Championship | 7 times | With Great Scott (6) and Juan Sebastian (1) |
| World Heavyweight Championship (Jack Pfefer version) | 4 times | |
| World Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version) | 3 times | |
| NWA World Heavyweight Championship | 1 time | |
| NWA Hall of Fame | Class of 2010 | |
| NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version) | 1 time | |
| NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship | 1 time | Inaugural champion |
| NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) | 1 time | With Ronnie Etchison |
| NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) | 1 time | |
| Stanley Weston Award (from Pro Wrestling Illustrated) | 1990 | |
| Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum | Class of 2002 | (Television Era) |
| NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | 7 times | Five of Rogers's reigns with the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship occurred before the title came under the control of the NWA and before the NWA was created. |
| NWA Texas Tag Team Championship | 1 time | With Otto Kuss |
| St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame | Class of 2008 | |
| WWWA World Heavyweight Championship | 1 time | |
| Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame | Class of 1996 | |
| Maryland Eastern Heavyweight Championship | 12 times | |
| VCW Hall of Fame (from Victory Championship Wrestling) | Class of 2018 |
8. Anecdotes
- Buddy Rogers claimed to have conceived the figure-four leglock, drawing inspiration from an existing move called the "figure-four body scissors."
- Rogers also stated that he invented the Atomic Drop. According to him, the move's name derived from his own nickname "Atomic Blonde," which he used around the time of World War II.
- The legendary Japanese promoter Rikidozan made significant efforts to bring both Buddy Rogers and Antonio Rocca to Japan, but he was ultimately unsuccessful. Both wrestlers were incredibly popular in the American wrestling scene at the time and lacked the availability to travel to Japan. Rogers never made an appearance in Japan throughout his life.
- Giant Baba, who had the rare opportunity to wrestle Rogers in his prime, held him in extremely high regard, often calling him the "greatest wrestler of all time" and confessing that he became Rogers's fan during their matches.
- Rogers shares his birthday, February 20, with other notable figures such as Japanese professional wrestler Antonio Inoki and baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima.
- In 1980s WWE, when Rogers was managing Jimmy Snuka, his interview segment was called "Rogers' Corner."