Butch Reed Biography

Bruce Franklin Reed, born on July 11, 1954, was an American professional wrestler and football player who performed under the ring name Butch Reed. He played college football at the University of Central Missouri, competed in Mid-South Wrestling, and participated in high-profile tag team matches in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. In 1976, he signed as a rookie free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League but was released before the season began. Reed and Jerry Roberts won the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship in 1980, later losing it to The Kelly Twins in January 1981. On April 7, 1982, he challenged Ric Flair for the NWA title in Miami, Florida, in a match later recognized as the first 5-star rated match by Dave Meltzer. In Mid-South Wrestling, he was known as 'Hacksaw' Butch Reed and joined as a tag team partner for the main face, the Junkyard Dog. On July 16, 1983, he captured the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship and defended it against the Junkyard Dog in subsequent months.