As a wrestler, he made his wrestling debut under his real name in Green Bay, Wisconsin. From there, he moved to Chicago, where he was given the ring name Don Sparrow by promoter Karl Pojello, who thought that Stansauk "moved like a bird". He was later given the name "Hard Boiled Haggerty" by promoter Wally Karbo while wrestling in Minneapolis. Haggerty wrestled as a heel and was hated by the crowds because he portrayed an arrogant character.