Playboy Buddy Rose Passes Away At 56

Written: April 29, 2009

Playboy Buddy Rose (Paul Perschmann), one of the most unique individuals ever to compete inside the squared circle, passed away April 28 in Portland, Ore., at the age of 56.

In the early 1970s, Rose began his wrestling career in Minneapolis. From there, he moved on to the Pacific Northwest. It was there where Rose blossomed into a top caliber performer in the mid to late 1970s. Two of his most notable rivalries from that area at that time were against WWE Hall of Famers Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.(Career Photos)

It was in 1982 that the Playboy entered WWE. He painted the picture that he had money to burn, and lived a lavish lifestyle that he flaunted, saying the fans could only dream that they were him. Despite his physical appearance, Rose was deceivingly quick and agile when in action, saying that he was “heavy in the seat, but light on the feet.” He pushed the then-WWE Champion Bob Backlund to the limit in the series of matches they had during the 1982-1983 time frame.

Another highlight of Rose’s WWE career came while wearing a mask. As the Masked Executioner, he and Tito Santana were the participants in the very first match to have taken place at WrestleMania in 1985.

In 1986, Rose returned to Minneapolis, and while competing anew in the AWA, he and his tag team partner Pretty Boy Doug Somers had an intense rivalry against a young, upstart team known as the Midnight Rockers, a.k.a. Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty.

Rose returned for another stint in WWE rings in 1990, and gained even more notoriety by humorously promoting a product known as the “Blow Away Diet.” And despite his even bigger girth of being 317 pounds at that time, Rose would correct the ring announcement of his weight, adamantly saying that he was a “slim, trim 217 lbs.”

World Wrestling Entertainment offers its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Paul Perschmann, a.k.a. Playboy Buddy Rose.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/10066160

Howard Finkel Remembers Playboy Buddy Rose

When I came into my office this morning here at wwe.com, I received an e-mail informing me of the passing yesterday of Playboy Buddy Rose, at the way too young age of 56. Now I know that a lot of you probably are unaware of this individual from a standpoint of prominence and performance, but for those of you who do remember, the Playboy was one of a kind.

He flaunted his lifestyle when he entered WWE rings in 1982. If it was wine, women, and song, the Playboy was right there, and he knew how to tug on the emotional strings of our fans back then. And his body composition was the exact opposite of what a playboy should look like; that definitely was a key to his getting over with our fans from a "negatively positive" standpoint.

Yet in the ring, he could move with the best of them. Deceivingly quick and cat like, Rose could go toe to toe with the best of them. His first meeting against Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden even had my jaw dropping in amazement. This man gave the then WWE Champion a run for his money, in addition to the great Pedro Morales, and others as well. And the night that Buddy faced Bob for the first time in MSG, there were two of the Playboy's fine ladies by his side, accompanying him. They wore top hats, tuxes, and tails, pretty classy. One of those ladies was a very young Sensational Sherri Martel, who of course would go on to manage the Playboy and Doug Summers in the AWA in 1986.

When Buddy returned back to WWE around 1990, he was carrying a little more "excess baggage" around his midsection, and he took that supposed "handicap" and capitalized on that as well. Remember the Blow Away Diet? He was the subject. And in the ring, I would introduce him at his weight of 317 pounds, to which he would come up to me, as cool as a cucumber, take the microphone from me, and say: "Correction. Tonight I weigh in at a slim and trim 217 pounds." Boy, did he ever get booed for that. But that was the secret to his success. He knew what his role was, and he always seemed to press the right buttons to make himself a most unique character that stood out from the rest of the pack.

Playboy Buddy Rose was one of my favorites, and I'm saddened by the fact that he had to leave us so soon. Godspeed my friend, and the "wrestling arena up above" will now be welcoming one heck of a performer!!!

Source: http://fans.wwe.com/howardfinkel/blog/2 … preciation

You use one of your 5 trades to choose anyone you like who's left.

I have to say though, I'd be surprised if Jeff didn't renew his contract.

Estranged

"The Motion Picture", not the TV Series .