International Wrestling Enterprise
After his football career ended, Bruggers was introduced to professional wrestling by Wahoo McDaniel, a fellow former Miami Dolphin. Bruggers was trained as a professional wrestler by Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson, making his debut in 1972 for Gagne's Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association. In 1973, he began wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Florida. Reflecting his football past, he used a Football tackle as his finishing move. In September 1973, he made a brief tour of Japan with International Wrestling Enterprise.