Upon turning pro, he relocated to California and became a regular workout partner of fellow catch wrestler Ad Santel.

[3] He gained some notoriety in 1936 when he faced heavyweight boxing contender Kingfish Levinsky in what is considered an early mixed martial arts (MMA) contest, which Steele won in 35 seconds.

Steele's biggest accomplishment in the sport was winning the National Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Championship from Bronko Nagurski in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 7, 1940.

Steele would hold the belt for over a year before losing it back to Bronko Nagurski on March 11, 1941, in Houston, Texas.

Sauer served as a mentor and coach to many young stars, including Lou Thesz before his death of a heart attack[4] in September 1949.