Doug Somerson

Douglas Duane Somerson was an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Pretty Boy Doug Somers He worked in the American Wrestling Association AWA in the mid1980s as part of a tag team with Playboy Buddy Rose managed by Sherri Martel and twice held the AWA World Tag Team Championship Douglas Duane Somerson born September 22 1951 in the heart of South Minneapolis Minnesota was the youngest of seven children of Carl and Dorothy Somerson He had four brothers Jack Russ Dennis and Gene and two sisters Barbara and Shirley He was also uncle to author Julie Somerson In Minneapolis in 1986 as part of Verne Gagnes American Wrestling Association AWA Somers teamed up with Playboy Buddy Rose and manager Sherri Martel The duo captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship by defeating Curt Hennig and Scott Hall via countout on May 17 1986 They went on to feud with The Midnight Rockers over the belts for the remainder of 1986 culminating with Michaels and Jannetty winning the title on January 17 1987 Somers would continue to wrestle for the AWA as both a singles wrestler and tag team wrestler with both Buddy Wolfe and Kevin Kelly throughout 1987 He would also be a last minute replacement for Boris Zukhov who jumped to the World Wrestling Federation as Soldat Ustinovs tag team partner in a title defense against Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee Somers resurfaced in the AWA in 1989 managed by Johnny Valiant Somers went on to wrestle on the independent circuit and for the Global Wrestling Federation in 1991 taking part in their TV title tournament He has also wrestled for Georgia independent company Folkstyle Championship Wrestling in a feud with Frankie Valentine At WCW Halloween Havoc 1991 Somers lost to Van Hammer in the first PPV match of his career In 1992 Somers made several appearances for the World Wrestling Federation as an enhancement talent on their weekly syndicated programming On May 1 2011 at the Memorial Mayhem 2 show Somers debuted for NWA Rampage He was on guest commentary during the television title match between champion Jeremy Vain and Somers trainee Frankie Valentine Vain defeated Valentine after Somers turned on Valentine and cost him the match Afterwards Somers attacked Valentine On May 15 Somers accompanied Vain Sal Rinauro to the ring during their semifinal match in the NWA RPW tag team title tournament against Valentine Kyle Matthews Matthews Valentine won the match Somers interfered several times in the match On May 29 Somers interfered in the finals of the tournament between Valentine Matthews and Cru Jones Chip Day costing Valentine Matthews the match Somers died on May 16 2017 at the age of 65