Remembering Bruce "Butch" Reed (1954-2021)

 The news knocked me for a loop yesterday.

Bruce "Butch" Reed, the original "Hacksaw" when he was with Mid-South Wrestling in the early 80's, passed away at 66 from heart failure.

Reed followed Hall of Famer Ernie Ladd's path to wrestling. Played football with the Kansas City Chiefs, then turned to the ring. He worked as both a babyface (hero) and a heel (villain) with Mid-South, then signed with the then-World Wrestling Federation in the winter of 1986-7, managed by Slick (Ken Johnson). However, Reed lasted a year there without winning any gold.

He resurfaced in WCW as half of a masked tag team known as Doom with another future Hall of Famer in ex-Florida State star Ron Simmons. Doom won the tag titles under the management of referee-turned-manager Teddy Long, but it wasn't long (no pun intended) before Reed & Simmons were split up, feuded, and then Reed left the scene.

Reed took up rodeo in his post-wrestling years. The use of a bulldog headlock more common with cowboy characters, as shown in this jobber clip from Superstars of Wrestling, might've been a clue as to Reed's future plans.

They say Vince McMahon's decision to have Reed bleach his hair didn't do Reed any favors. I'd have to agree. If it isn't broken, why fix it?

Rest in peace.