[6][7] Mantell began his wrestling career in 1977 in Louisiana while attending university studying Physical Education.
Mantell, began using a gimmick, The Hood a masked wrestler for NWA Hollywood Wrestling in 1980.
On October 31, 1983, Mantell defeated Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Championship where he held it for nearly a month dropping the title to The Super Destroyer on November 28.
[9] After WCCW folded, Mantell went to the new Texas promotion Global Wrestling Federation in 1991 where he teamed with Black Bart as the Rough Riders.
Mantell is the current president of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in its new location of Wichita Falls, Texas since 2015.