Butch Reed was a multi-talented individual, born Bruce Reed, who made a name for himself in various fields. He was a professional football player, a skilled wrestler, and even a rodeo cowboy. Reed played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and was trained by wrestler Ronnie Etchison. He went on to wrestle for numerous promotions, including the NWA, WWE, WCW, Mid-South Wrestling, and many independent circuits.
Throughout his wrestling career, Reed achieved numerous accolades. He was a three-time Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion, a former NWA World Tag Team Champion, and a former USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion, among others. He was also a part of the legendary tag team Doom, alongside Ron Simmons, and held the WCW World Tag Team Titles.
Reed's wrestling journey was marked by significant milestones. He was part of the main event at Survivor Series (1987) and had a notable match against Randy Savage at WrestleMania IV (1988). Although he left WWE due to racial discrimination, Reed continued to wrestle in various promotions, including the USWA and Mid-South Wrestling.
In his later years, Reed transitioned to independent wrestling and eventually retired in 2013. Sadly, he passed away on February 5, 2021, after suffering two heart attacks. Despite his passing, Reed's legacy in the world of professional wrestling remains, and he is remembered as a talented and accomplished wrestler.