Cormier began training, and later moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, to continue his preparation under trainer Les Ruffen, and made his debut in 1963.

[5] The Beast spent part of his early career competing for Stampede Wrestling, where he faced such wrestlers as Stu Hart.

He defeated Stampede veteran Dave Ruhl to win the Calgary version of the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship.

He won the NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship and held it for several months before losing it in a match against Ricky Romero on February 2, 1970.

[13] On July 27, The Beast regained the IW North American Heavyweight Championship from The Stomper and held it for over two months.

They held the title until dropping it on August 3, 1971, to The Beast's former partner Freddie Sweetan and former rival Eric Pomeroy.

Four weeks after dropping it to Sweetan and Pomeroy, he regained the title from them with the help of his new partner Archie Gouldie, with whom The Beast had once feuded over the North American Heavyweight Championship.

Pomeroy and Sweetan held the title for only one week, however, as The Beast recruited his brother Rudy Kay to help him win the championship back on October 12.

[11] During the ESA off-season, The Beast returned to Texas and reformed his tag team partnership with brother Leo Burke.

In January 1974, the brothers defeated Don Fargo and Hank James to win the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship.

Within two months, however, they lost the title to long-time rival Romero and his partner Dory Funk, Jr.[13] Returning to the ESA, The Beast and Bobby Kay defeated Sweetan and Dubois to win the vacant Tag Team Championship.

[11] The following month, The Beast had another short reign with the IWA North American Heavyweight Championship, winning the title and losing it back to Great Kuma in less than two weeks.

He and Leo Burke won a tournament for the vacant NWA Western States Tag Team Championship, defeating Romero and his son Silver Streak to win the title.