Former WWE and WCW wrestler “The Natural” Butch Reed passed away earlier today at the age of 66 due to heart complications.
“Today we lost a great man. Due to heart complications, Bruce “Butch” Reed passed away. Butch is in heaven now with the wrestling gods,” a post on his Instagram said. Reed suffered a couple of heart attacks last month and things were not looking good for him.
After playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Reed decided to try professional wrestling and made his debut in 1978, spending his early years wrestling for Florida Championship Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling. Following a three year stint with Mid-South Wrestling, Reed joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 where he was managed by Slick. After just two years, Reed moved to WCW and tag teamed with Ron Simmons as Doom. Reed spent four years in WCW and worked the indie circuit after that. He last wrestled in November 2011.
Reed last made a TV appearance for WWE on an episode of Smackdown in September 2007, appearing in a backstage segment with Teddy Long, who managed Doom back in WCW.
While he won no titles in WWE, he managed to get the World Tag Team titles in WCW with his Doom partner Ron Simmons.