After serving in the United States Military, Sgt Slaughter entered the world of professional wrestling and experienced his first major success in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). During the late 1970s, Sarge worked in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) with managers Lord Alfred Hayes and Bobby Heenan before signing with the WWF in 1980. He quickly became the number one contender to WWF Champion Bob Backlund based on the strength of his "cobra clutch". In late 1981, Slaughter joined Mid Atlantic Wrestling, winning several titles before returning to the WWF in 1983, where he once again feuded with WWF Champion Backlund. In 1984, Sgt Slaughter engaged in a legendary feud with the Iron Sheik which culminated in a boot camp match at a sold out Madison Square Garden that summer.

The Sarge spent 1985 - 1990 mostly with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), becoming the AWA America's Heavyweight Champion, defeating Larry Zbyszko shortly after his arrival. He returned to the WWF once again in 1990, where he defeated The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Championship at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Slaughter took a hiatus from the WWF fron 1993 until 1997 where he returned as the commissioner of the WWF, a role he served until late 1998. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 by long-time friend Pat Patterson and has continued to make appearances in the WWF over the last several years.