After his three-year stint in the service, he entered Southern Illinois University, and began pursuing amateur wrestling.

Roop was 25 years old, 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 270 pounds (120 kg) entering the Games in Mexico City in 1968.

Roop finished in seventh place, losing to Aleksandr Medved, who went on to win the gold medal.

[3] Roop began his professional career in 1969 after a meeting with his long-time friend Larry Heiniemi, better known as Lars Anderson.

[3] Working as an arrogant villain and flaunting his genuine amateur wrestling credentials, Roop challenged for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on five occasions.

[4] In 1976, Bob Roop received a possible career ending knee injury while wrestling Eddie Graham.

[5] The promotion at the time featured such future wrestling superstars as 'The Macho Man' Randy Savage,[6] 'The Genius' Lanny Poffo,[7] "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr.[8] and Ronnie 'Hands of Stone' Garvin.

[8] Roop later became part of the Army of Darkness stable in 1982 which included Kevin Sullivan, Purple Haze, Luna Vachon and Lock, Kharma/Molokai and Fallen Angel.

[4] An early student of his was Lawrence Pfohl, the future Lex Luger,[4] who Roop broke into the business before turned over training duties to Hiro Matsuda.