His father left before he was born, and his mother moved away to find work when Nelson was two years old.

He found employment at a vegetable packing plant and later worked as an elevator operator at a store.

He teamed with Bearcat Brown and Charlie Cook and had a series of matches against Jerry Lawler, Jim White, and Sam Bass.

After losing a tar-and-feather match, which saw Jones end up covered in molasses and feathers, Jimmy Golden came to the ring and asked to team with him.

After the match in Mississippi, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) protested and several wrestling shows were cancelled as a result.

Nelson continued to reside in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, where he found work as a forklift operator after retiring from wrestling.