He later moved to the World Wrestling Federation in 1982, working a storyline as the protégé of Bob Backlund until leaving the company in 1984.

Gilbert wanted to become a professional wrestler by the second grade,[3] and wrote articles and took photographs for newsstand and ringside magazines as a way to become involved in the business.

[3][4] He was once rumored to have missed his own high school graduation so he could make it to Memphis to lose in the first match on the undercard at the Mid-South Coliseum.

[7] In May 1983, Gilbert was seriously injured in a car accident, suffering severe injuries to his neck, arms, chest, and back.

[1][3] They held the AWA Southern Tag Team titles in 1984 until dropping them to Phil Hickerson and the Spoiler (Frank Morrell).

[3] The two had a brief but intense feud, which memorably began on television when the two were presented with a "Tag Team of the Year" award by announcer Lance Russell and two guests.

Rich immediately got the upper hand, running Gibert into the steel ringpost several times, bloodying him in the process before the cameras went to a commercial.

Eddie also worked as a booker, who came up with the famous Battle of New Orleans angle in late-1987 involving Chris Adams, Terry Taylor, Sting, and himself.

As Adams pleaded his case with Anderson, Gilbert and Taylor attacked him, and Sting eventually evened the sides.

The angle eventually spilled outside the ring into the stands, and near the concession area, featuring a huge brawl involving beer kegs, chairs, trash cans, tables, popcorn machines and other objects.

[3][2] The CWF was broadcast nationally on the Financial News Network, and Gilbert's creative work was widely praised by wrestling journalists.

[7] Eddie and his brother Doug were "fired" from the promotion, and in retaliation hit Lawler with their car and fled the scene.

Numerous home viewers, fearing for Lawler, immediately called the police to report what they had just seen as a legitimate vehicular assault.

[5][10] Due to a pay dispute, Gilbert, along with his brother Doug (who wrestled under a mask as the Dark Patriot) left the GWF in 1992.

[1][11] In early 1994, Gilbert sat down with Bob Barnett and conducted a filmed shoot interview titled "Looking For Mr.

[11] On February 18, 1995, Gilbert died of a massive heart attack in his sleep at his apartment in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.