Buzz Sawyer | Drug-Related Heart Failure

Professional wrestler Buzz Sawyer was well-known by his ring name Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer. He wrestled in a number of wrestling leagues and promotions, and he was also known for his antics in and out of the ring as well as his drug use.

Unfortunately, Buzz Sawyer died at the age of 32 due to drug-related heart failure.

How Did Buzz Sawyer Die?

Buzz Sawyer died on February 7, 1992, in Sacramento, California. His cause of death was heart failure due to a drug overdose. He was 32 years old. It’s unclear what the drug was that ultimately caused his heart to stop.

About Buzz Sawyer

Buzz Sawyer was born Bruce Woyan on October 14, 1959, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Woyan was a graduate of Dixie Hollins High School where he was a state champion in wrestling in the 186-pound weight class. In 1976, he placed third nationally.

NWA & Mad Dog

Sawyer started professionally wrestling in 1979 as part of the National Wrestling Alliance NWA. He was also part of the Jim Crockett promotions. He stayed there until 1984 while having a few stints with Georgia Championship Wrestling. He most often teamed up with his brother Brett Sawyer. 

He also had a feud with The Road Warriors after he left Paul Ellering’s Legion of Doom. Sawyer was managed by Captain Lou Albano for most of his career.

He went by the ring name Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer and his act included a dog chain and barking. \

Scams

Sawyer was known for scamming aspiring wrestlers who wanted to be trained by him. He would take their money, beat them up, and then leave town. It is rumored he did this to The Undertaker but it’s unclear whether it’s true or not.

Rivalry With Tommy Rich

He also had a huge rivalry with Tommy Rich that led to many bloody matches. 

The greatest is considered the Last Battle of Atlanta where the match was in an enclosed cage. This fight also featured manager Paul Ellering hanging 20 feet above the ring in a smaller cage. This match was so major because part of the rules were that Sawyer and Rick could never wrestle each other again.

WWF & More

Later in 1984, Sawyer had a short stint in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He called himself the Bulldog Buzz Sawyer. He couldn’t use his usual Mad Dog name because it was being used by Mad Dog Vachon. 

After his WWF stint, Sawyer began wrestling in Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF). While there, he feuded with Mike Graham, Dusty Rhodes, and Adrian Street.

In 1985, Buzz went to Mid-South Wrestling and became a protege of Dick Slater. After Slater won the North American title, he gave the Mid-South TV Title to Sawyer. 

In 1986, Sawyer left for the World Class Championship Wrestling. He formed a team with Matt Borne and they won the Pacific Northwest WCWA Tag Team Championship. He also won the WCWA Television Championship and the WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship.

He spent a brief time wrestling in the New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1989 before he returned to WCW as part of Gary Hart’s J-Tex Corporation that was feuding with the Four Horsemen. 

He then joined Kevin Sullivan’s “Slaughterhouse” stable in 1990. At the Wrestle War event in 1990, he fractured his wrist and in 1991, retired from the WCW.

In 2021, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of their annual Legacy Wing inductions.

Buzz Sawyer’s History Of Substance Abuse & Rehab

Buzz Sawyer had a long history of substance abuse and often was under the influence while wrestling in the ring. It was rumored that his drug use and his behavior while on drugs were why he only wrestled for the WWF for a short period of time.

Although Sawyer clearly had an issue with drug abuse, it doesn’t look like he took part in any form of treatment even after possibly losing his WWF job due to drug use.

Recovery Is Possible

Long-term drug and alcohol use takes a toll on the body and mind, and Buzz Sawyer serves as a tragic example of the consequences of substance abuse.

However, addiction recovery is possible with a combination of peer support, professional inpatient services, and ongoing aftercare. To learn how we treat drug and alcohol addiction, please contact Ark Behavioral Health today.