The teams of the National Football League passed on Utah’s Manny Fernandez, but he landed a job with the Miami Dolphins, who signed him in 1968, and he would subsequently make the team.

Prior to his career in the squared circle, the “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez played football at West Texas and was a legitimate tough guy.  He took this manly resume into the world of pro wrestling where he proved to be a natural for the business.  He looked tough, acted tough and could cut a mean promo when needed.  Fernandez became a star in Mid Atlantic and parlayed that into a NWA World Tag Team run with Rick Rude.  Had Fernandez ever had a WWE run, it is possible that he could have done something special there, but those who saw him perform knew they were seeing a star.