Mark Calaway made his debut in 1984, in Dallas, Texas, in the World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) company under the name "Texas Red". His first professional fight was against Bruiser Brody. In 1988, he left the WCCW and wrestled in various promotions under different personalities and names, most notably at the United States Wrestling Association, where he won the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship, his first professional wrestling championship, on April 1, 1989, defeating Jerry "The King" Lawler.
