In 1985 Brooks had a nationally televised match with WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan.

On television he also faced then World Tag Team Champions Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda and The British Bulldogs.

In the WWF, Brooks primarily played a heel jobber (a wrestler who was used to make the top stars look good).

After leaving the WWF in late 1985, he competed on the independent circuit in Florida, including a stint in International Championship Wrestling (ICW) as Super Duper Mario.

He spent the next decade in various independent promotions, where he won several tag team titles with Dr. Red Roberts, Matt Otto, Jumbo Baretta, "Pretty Boy" Aldo Lane (Ricky Santana), Soulman Alex G and Gangrel.

During his time in southern Florida, he also faced Hack Meyers, Barry Horowitz, and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine before his retirement in 2002.

Koski trained students in his Rusty Brooks Pro-Wrestling Academy, which operated in his backyard in the late 1980s and in a warehouse in the 1990s.

[1] Students trained in the school include Konnor,[1] Luna Vachon,[1] MVP,[1] Gangrel,[1] Angel Rose,[1] and Norman Smiley.