Wiskoski broke into the business in 1975, after receiving training in the St. Louis area from 8-time NWA World Heavyweight champion Harley Race and midget wrestling legend Lord Littlebrook. It may be hard for younger fans to believe this former defensive tackle for Northwest Missouri State University started out as a babyface, but it’s absolutely true. Wiskoski said, “I was a big star in collegiate football at the time, and I was pushed based on that popularity. Of course, I had to be the good guy!”

Wiskoski held the Central States Heavyweight title and held his own against former NWA champion Gene Kiniski. During this time, Wiskoski wrestled an impressive young talent named Paul Perschmann, who would later gain fame as Playboy Buddy Rose. In a few short years he and Rose would become partners and the toast of the west coast, wining the Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles and the NWA World Tag Team belts. “Buddy’s the best partner I have ever had… and he’s one of my best friends, “said Wiskoski. “I sometimes wonder where I’d be now if we never met in KC.”

No matter what he accomplished across the country or internationally – an impressive list that includes the Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title and United States Heavyweight title – it is his run in the American Wrestling Association as the dastardly Col. DeBeers that every fan will first think of. Employing Wiskoski’s penchant to take advantage of current events, mixing this with his condescending interview style, Col. DeBeers became one of the most hated men in the history of the AWA.

Wiskoski said, “See, I knew what that South African gimmick was about because I read the newspaper. At the time it was a hot topic. Verne Gagne felt the same way – he saw it as a way to press the fan’s buttons. But the problem is most of the fans didn’t understand world events – if they did they wouldn’t have been calling me a communist. I have always said I credited the fans with too much intelligence.”