"Nature Boy" Buddy Landel (real name William Ansor), a wrestling legend from the territory days, has passed away at age 53.

According to the Wrestling Observer, he was involved in a car accident this past Sunday, and checked himself out of the hospital after a short period of time. He was found dead by his wife the next day after going to sleep.

Landel, whose career took a turn for the worst after behaviour problems, held a number of titles during his heyday. He was a four-time NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Champion, a two-time AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, and won major titles in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling. He also had a very short stint in WWE during the mid-1990s.