Playboy Buddy Rose, who wrestled in the first WrestleMania match in history, has died aged 56.
Historic figure found dead in his Vancouver home
Playboy Buddy Rose, who wrestled in the first WrestleMania match in history, has died aged 56.
The Playboy - real name Paul Perschmann - wrestled as The Executioner on that momentous day at New York's Madison Square Garden on March 31, 1985.
Tito Santana might have emerged the victor on that occasion, but the deceptively agile Rose certainly played his part.
He had established himself as a top calibre performer in the mid to late 1970s with notable rivalries against WWE Hall of Famers Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka.
But it was not until in 1982 that the Playboy entered WWE, where he pushed the then-WWE Champion Bob Backlund to the limit in the series of matches they had in 1982 and 1983.
After his 'Mania opener Rose returned to Minneapolis, where he joined the American Wrestling Association and, alongside his tag team partner Pretty Boy Doug Somers, he enjoyed an intense rivalry against future Rockers Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty.
Rose returned for another stint in the WWE ring in 1990, where his skill as an all round entertainer truly came to the fore, before he announced his retirement.
He was found dead in his home in Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday. No cause of death has been determined, although he had reportedly been battling blood sugar issues and diabetes.
