The original standard bearer of the WWF Championship and as such the guy who all future Champions were modelled upon. He was the first man to hold the WWF Title back in 1963 and would have dominated longer but for a mild heart attack a month later. His legacy extends back to when Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt created what would become the WWF in 1953 (then known as the Capitol Wrestling Federation under the NWA banner) and he went on to become a top star in the territory. He became NWA Champion in 1961 and '63, which ultimately resulted in the creation of the WWF Title when the NWA no longer wanted him as Champion. Vince McMahon and guys like Triple H grew up admiring Rogers, and still aspire to the image of their Champion being good looking with an attitude. His ring style and moves also influenced men like Ric Flair, who patterned himself after Rogers' example. There simply wouldn't be a WWE without Buddy Rogers.
