Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
He was once voted “Las Vegas’ Most Colorful Character.” A former wrestler, turned wrestling promoter and also an auto mechanic. He had his own column in a local newspaper and hosted a TV show. He hobnobbed with many of Las Vegas’ elite including Hollywood celebrities, politicians and professional wrestlers. He was a very popular, eccentric individual in Las Vegas with a huge Muhammad Ali memorabilia collection. So when he was found dead in a random hotel room…there were more questions than answers. How did such a beloved character end up dead? This is the story of ‘Buffalo’ Jim Barrier.
Buffalo Jim partnered with the former two time WWF champion Yokozuna to open a wrestling school and promotion called the Buffalo Wrestling Federation based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Barrier was also an auto mechanic and insurance salesman who opened up his shop. It was that shop that caused several issues for Barrier.
His landlord was a man named Rick Rizzolo, who owned a strip club called ‘The Crazy Horse Too’ on the same piece of property where Barrier had his auto repair shop and wrestling school. Rizzolo was also considered an alleged member of the modern day mafia in Las Vegas. Both Barrier and Rizzolo battled each other over parking spaces on the property. Their private battle became very public with Barrier getting the news involved. Rizzolo wanted to evict Barrier off the land, so he could expand his gentlemen’s club to which Barrier refused.
Buffalo Jim was receiving death threats in letters and phone calls. Despite the threats, Barrier continued his media pressure on Rizzolo to back off. While feuding with Rizzolo publicly, Buffalo Jim was working side by side with the local authorities and the FBI who were building a case against the night club owner. With Barrier’s help Rizzolo was arrested on tax evasion charges and was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Barrier was able to get the Crazy Horse Too shut down in the process as well.
Buffalo Jim always hosted various wrestlers from both WCW and the WWF when they were in town. He’d provide a limousine and show them a good time on the Vegas strip. The late William Moody aka Paul Bearer was a good friend of Barrier’s. He recalled how Buffalo Jim partied with the Undertaker and Bearer all through out the night. So much so, the Undertaker just wanted to go back to his hotel and go to sleep. Eventually, both Bearer and Taker skipped out on Barrier who still had enough energy to party longer. Despite his ability to out drink and party with some of the most hardcore partying wrestlers like the Undertaker…Bearer loved Buffalo Jim. He was always fun to be around and a gracious host.
After Rick Rizzolo served his sentence and was released from prison…strange things began happening. Barrier’s shop was broken into, but nothing was stolen. All that was left was a piece of paper with Jim Barrier’s home address. Buffalo Jim also received an anonymous typed letter which warned Jim to be on the lookout for Rizzolo and a few of his associates.
Buffalo Jim immediately faxed the letter over to the FBI. That was on the morning of April 5th, 2008….on April 6th…he was found dead at a Motel 6 laying face up with his pants down by his ankles. An empty bottle of Valium was found on the night stand next to the bed. A woman identified as only ‘Lisa’ admitted to spending the night with Barrier. She claimed that Barrier suffered a seizure and was scared to call 911. A toxicology report would reveal a small amount of cocaine in his system. The official ruling was a heart attack brought on by the drugs in his system. Foul play was ruled out by the Las Vegas police.
Buffalo Jim’s friends and family are convinced that he was murdered and possibly by Rick Rozzolo. Jim’s lawyer was quoted as saying…”Nothing is adding up here, It makes no sense.” The Las Vegas PD apparently didn’t treat the Motel 6 as a crime scene. Barrier’s car was not reported as being at the motel by police initially….but was later discovered in the back of the motel completely cleaned. The family hired their own private investigator to look into all the loose ends the police did not tie together. Despite new evidence that the investigator uncovered….the police refused to reopen the case.
Jim Barrier’s wake and funeral became a circus like atmosphere with wrestlers, politicians, the FBI and various celebs paying their final respects. His family continue to try and persuade the police to reopen his case and are still convinced he was murdered to this day. Buffalo Jim Barrier was just 55 years old at the time of his death.