His first match came in a losing effort as he teamed with Denny Brown against The Star Riders at an FCW TV taping in Tampa, FL or May 10, 1988.
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.
Lou Perez made his debut in World Championship Wrestling on a house show in Miami, Florida on September 8, 1989 and defeated "Powerhouse" Tim Parker.
Perez re-entered WCW competition the following year on July 21, defeating Barry Horowitz at a house show in St Petersburg, FL.
[12] During an interpromotional event between the National Wrestling Alliance and Smoky Mountain Wrestling, he participated in the 1994 NWA World Heavyweight Championship Tournament fighting Osamu Nishimura to a time limit draw in the opening rounds in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on November 19, 1994.