 Trained by Boris Malenko, Perez began wrestling in Championship Wrestling from Florida in late 1988 facing Scotty the Body and later teamed with Rex King and Austin in a 6-man tag team match against Scotty the Body, Bob Cook and Jim Backlund.Briefly appearing in the Professional Wrestling Federation the following year, Perez feuded with PWF Junior Heavyweight Champion Jim Backlund facing him on March 11, 1989.Perez became a mainstay in the area within several years and later teamed with Mark Starr to defeat Jumbo Baretta & Dennis Knight for the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship in Tampa, Florida on November 12, 1989.