Gypsy Joe
Petit attended the University of Tampa, where he played for the football team. While there, he met former Olympic wrestler Dale Lewis. They became friends, and Lewis paid Petit to drive him to his bookings at professional wrestling events. Petit stated that he began wrestling after spending a couple of weeks practising in a gym. At one of Lewis' events, the company did not have enough wrestlers and Petit was asked to fill in. He teamed with Lewis and Gypsy Joe Rosario in a six-man match. After his first match, in which he wrestled under his real name, he competed with the ring name Gene Lewis. He and Dale Lewis competed as kayfabe (storyline) brothers due to their similar appearance.