Hall of Fame Professional Wrestler. He was best known as Mr. Wonderful" who competed in the main event of the first WrestleMania with Rowdy Roddy Piper against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. in 1985. He started out as a running back for the University of Tampa in the early 1970s and later was a 12th round pick for the New Orleans Saints in the 1973 NFL Draft. He never played for the Saints and played for the World Football League's Jacksonville Sharks for one year. In 1976, he began a career in pro wrestling with the Mid-South Wrestling promotion. He went on to wrestle in both the southern United States and Japan before signing with the World Wrestling Federation in 1983. After joining the then WWF in 1983, he adopted the nickname "Mr. Wonderful" and a rivalry with the promotion's champion Hulk Hogan. This rivalry culminated in the main event of WrestleMania, a pay-per-view event promoted by Vince McMahon Jr. in 1985. He partnered with Rowdy Roddy Piper in the main event match against Hogan and actor Mr. T.. He and Piper lost the match and he went on to wrestle for the WWF for the next several years before retiring in 1988. Two years later, in 1990, he joined the promotion World Championship Wrestling and wrestled for them for only one year before leaving for other independent promotions. In 1992, he came back to WCW and wrestled for them sporadically for the next several years before retiring again in 2001. In 2005, he was named to the WWE Hall of Fame. He later made occasional appearances both in the WWE and other independent promotions for the rest of his career. He passed away after a battle with dementia.
Hall of Fame Professional Wrestler. He was best known as Mr. Wonderful" who competed in the main event of the first WrestleMania with Rowdy Roddy Piper against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. in 1985. He started out as a running back for the University of Tampa in the early 1970s and later was a 12th round pick for the New Orleans Saints in the 1973 NFL Draft. He never played for the Saints and played for the World Football League's Jacksonville Sharks for one year. In 1976, he began a career in pro wrestling with the Mid-South Wrestling promotion. He went on to wrestle in both the southern United States and Japan before signing with the World Wrestling Federation in 1983. After joining the then WWF in 1983, he adopted the nickname "Mr. Wonderful" and a rivalry with the promotion's champion Hulk Hogan. This rivalry culminated in the main event of WrestleMania, a pay-per-view event promoted by Vince McMahon Jr. in 1985. He partnered with Rowdy Roddy Piper in the main event match against Hogan and actor Mr. T.. He and Piper lost the match and he went on to wrestle for the WWF for the next several years before retiring in 1988. Two years later, in 1990, he joined the promotion World Championship Wrestling and wrestled for them for only one year before leaving for other independent promotions. In 1992, he came back to WCW and wrestled for them sporadically for the next several years before retiring again in 2001. In 2005, he was named to the WWE Hall of Fame. He later made occasional appearances both in the WWE and other independent promotions for the rest of his career. He passed away after a battle with dementia.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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